As parents, I think many of us are so busy caught up in our daily activities and routine that we go into robot mode and sometimes don’t realize that the products we could be using could be harmful to us or our children. The FDA has the big job of regulating the safety of personal products sold in the United States but currently, the FDA does not require companies to test products before selling them or disclose the use of harmful contaminants in our products. Most of us are not chemists so we do not know what the ingredients are on our child’s bubble bath, shampoos or lotions but we assume that they are safe. Here is some information for you that may help you decide what products to buy for you and your family and which ones to avoid.
The two most concerning chemicals that are found in many of our children’s bath products are; Dioxane and Formaldehyde. You most likely will not find them listed on your bottle of shampoo, lotion or other products but you will find them listed in the manner below. Dioxane is a known eye and respiratory tract irritant as well as a Group 2B Carcinogen, which means that it is classified as a probable carcinogenic in humans because it is a known carcinogen in tested animals. Formaldehyde can cause allergies and is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the EPA and already has been banned from the cosmetics industry in other countries (Europe, Sweden, and Japan).
Ingredients likely to be contaminated with 1, 4 Dioxane
· Peg-100 Stearate
· Sodium Laureth Sulfate
· Polyethelene
· Ceteareth-20
Ingredients likely to be contaminated with Formaldehyde
· Quaternium-15
· DMDM hydantoin
· Imidazolidinyl urea
· Diazolidinyl urea
· Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Of the products tested by an independent consumer organization (Environmental Working Group), some of the top offenders of Dioxane and/or Formaldehyde in children’s products are; Bath and Body Works, The Body Shop, SpongeBob Square Pants Bubble Bath, Neutrogena, L’Oreal Kids, Dora Bubble Bath, CVS Foam Bath, Caress Bath & Shower, Calgon, Baby Magic, Huggies Clean time Bath Wash Johnson and Johnson and Avon Kids. You can quickly check the products you’re using by visiting http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/.
Read labels! Try to avoid brands that contain these ingredients or added fragrances which are an indicator of phthalates (which are linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity in animals). As a recommendation, I found the following products free of Dioxane and Formaldehyde or other toxic chemicals that may be harmful.
Bubble Bath
1. California Baby Bubble Bath which can be found at Target Stores or various stores online.
2. Burt’s Bee’s Baby Bee Bath which can be found at Target Stores or various stores online.
Shampoo
1. Burt’s Bee’s Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Shampoo which can be found at Ulta Stores, your local Health Food Store or at various stores online.
2. California Baby Shampoo and Body Wash (Super Sensitive or Tea Tree & Lavender) which can be found at Target stores or online.
3. Aubrey Organics Shampoo which can be found at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Wild Oats or most Health Food Markets.
Conditioner
1. Burt’s Bee’s (Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet, Avocado Butter) Conditioner
2. Aubrey Organics Conditioner
3. California Baby Conditioner (Calming or Super Sensitive)
Lotion
1. Aveeno Baby Daily Baby Lotion
2. Aubrey Organics Natural Baby and Kids Body Lotion
Toothpaste
1. Burt’s Bee’s Children’s Toothpaste
2. Jason Natural Kids Toothpaste
3. Tom’s of Maine Natural Toothpaste
Diaper Rash Cream or Powder
1. California Baby Diaper Area Wash
2. California Baby Calendula Cream
3. California Baby Non-Talc Powder
Wipes
1. Seventh Generation Unscented Baby Wipes
2. Avalon Organics Baby Wipes
Interesting Reads:
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Report: Toxic Chemicals found in Kid’s Bath Products, ENews March 12, 2009 http://www.ewg.org/report/toxic-tub/31209
Beauty: Not Just Skin Deep, Minneapolis Examiner March 23, 2009 http://www.ewg.org/node/27755
ATSDR- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
MyChildCareGuide Blog 