3 Harmful Chemicals Found in Baby Products
By: Samantha Eubanks
Tags: Baby, Organic, Health, Parenting

It’s pretty crazy that our parents probably ate lead paint, right? I mean there was actual lead paint on their toys.

While we may think long ago were the days when toxic chemicals lurked in children’s toys and products, we’d be wrong.

In fact, baby products, in particular, have lots of sneaky chemicals that can have harmful effects on the health of our very little ones.

Here are a few of the dangerous chemicals that can be found in common baby items today.

1. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a chemical used to embalm bodies, but it can also found in some baby products.

Uhm. What?

You may not have seen Formaldehyde written directly on an ingredients label, however, there are formaldehyde releasers in things like baby soap and baby shampoo that discharge small amounts of formaldehyde. Keep in mind that even small amounts of formaldehyde are dangerous because they are carcinogenic.

Meaning, it is probable that it could cause cancer.

Be on the lookout for these formaldehyde preservatives on your labels:

Formaldehyde, quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol)

2. Talc

Everyone at some point has had baby powder on their shelf. I’ve even used it as an alternative to dry shampoo, but it looks like I will be finding an alternative to my alternative. Researchers have found that the talc in baby powder has several, potentially harmful effects on its users.

For example, if babies breathe in the powder, it can cause damage to their lungs. If baby powder is used excessively, it could cause symptoms of asthma or pneumonia. There have even been cases where children have died from overexposure to talcum powder.

The most famous of these powders come from Johnson & Johnson who have recently awarded 4.7 billion dollars to 22 women who have claimed that the J&J baby powder caused them to develop ovarian cancer because of trace amounts of asbestos that were allegedly found in the powder.

Yeeessshhh…

There are even more trials like these to come in 2019.

3. Fragrance

It turns out that the word “fragrance”, when listed in an ingredient label, is pretty vague. This is because companies aren’t obligated to disclose what is actually in the fragrance. In some cases, these fragrances are used to cover up the heavy smell of chemicals used in certain products.

Fragrance is used in diapers, baby lotions, laundry detergent, shampoos, and more. You see it everywhere and the concerning thing is that the FDA has acknowledged that fragrances are responsible for 30% of all allergic reactions.

Yes, your baby can smell like an ocean breeze, however, consider that fragrance can cause eczema, eye problems, neurological issues, asthma, and respiratory damage.

There’s a lot of potential for big moments of YIKES with that list.

The Good News

Here’s the thing, though. We’re lucky enough to live in a time where there are lots of green, clean, and transparent companies like Weleda, Seventh Generation, The Honest Company, Dr. Bronner’s, and many more who take the time and effort to make safe products for the little ones in our lives.

There are also apps like “Think Dirty” that keep companies accountable for what they’re putting in products. Just by scanning the barcode of an item, the app tells you if there are any potentially harmful chemicals in the product.

It’s a lifesaver, literally.

Awareness is the first step toward a healthier life for the little ones in our lives.

Because let’s be real — chemicals like those mentioned above have no place in baby products and we all deserve better from companies claiming to care about their consumers.