Warning about baby toiletries
February 10th, 2008
A friend of ours recently forwarded an article from the USA Today regarding potential infant risks associated with baby toiletries such as shampoo, lotion and baby powder. To read the entire article, click here.
The article cites a new study by the journal of Pediatrics that found that the use of baby toiletries seems to increase the levels of a certain type of chemical (called phthalates) in an infant’s urine.
What’s the problem with phthlates? Previous studies indicate that these chemicals have been associated with reproductive abnormalities, allergies and eczema (among other problems) and have a stronger impact on unborn children and infants.
What exactly are phthalates? They are colorless, oily liquids used in a number of products ranging from everyday use to medical use. Their main purpose is to soften plastics and they can commonly be found in flexible vinyl products. Everyday items including toys (teethers, squeeze toys, etc.), cars, medical equipment (catheters, IV lines, etc.) and other home products (wallpaper, vinyl flooring, dishes, baby bottles, plastic wrap, etc.) often contain phthalates. These chemicals are also present in cosmetics (nail polish, perfume, etc.) and toiletries. For a comprehensive list of risk ratings for health and beauty products that contain phthlates, visit the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database. Be sure to check out the Baby Care section.
It is still unclear exactly how phthlates get into our bodies, but it is believed that they can be absorbed into the skin (as evidenced by the higher concentrations of phthlates in infants that used baby toiletry products).
So what does all of this mean? It means that I will likely be hosing my kids down with a garden hose in the backyard instead of bathing them in the tub with their no more tears baby shampoos and extra gentle body washes. And if they’re really grimy, I’ll use a high pressure hose. Now that I think about it, that is the same bathing method that our bachelor friend (the one that sent us this article to begin with) said he would use on his kids if he ever had any. I guess he’s not so crazy after all. Maybe. Never mind, I’ll reserve judgment for later.
For more information on phthlates and its health impacts, visit Environmental Health News.
