Diaper Bag Duds
There’s a lot to learn when you have a baby, and it’s all too easy to inadvertently fill your diaper bag with things that could accidentally harm your little one. Here’s a list of five things from ConsumerSafety.org that you should definitely leave out!
1. Talcum Powder
- Uses: To treat diaper rash, and as an intimate care product by women.
- Danger: Linked to ovarian cancer and lung diseases
- Alternative: Use talc-free products that contain arrowroot, earth clays, cornstarch or rice powder
2. Baby Oil
- Uses: To moisturize skin
- Danger: Usually made from mineral oil (a petroleum byproduct) and “fragrance.” Mineral oils act like liquid plastic, inhibiting breathability and toxin release
- Alternative: Opt for natural oils like coconut, almond and olive
3. Antibacterial Soaps
- Uses: To kill germs
- Danger: Nearly all antibacterial soaps contain Triclosan, a carcinogenic endocrine disruptor
- Alternative: Babies are generally clean until they become mobile, so you shouldn’t have to swab them down with antibacterial cleansers. Evidence suggests that having some exposure to bacteria may actually strengthen a baby’s immune system
4. Belladonna
- Uses: Homeopathic teething remedy
- Danger: Linked to seizures and adverse health complications in children due to inconsistent amounts in products (teething toys have also been found to contain contain BPA – and are not regulated by the FDA (because they aren’t considered a food or drug)
- Alternative: Try a chilled damp washcloth, or gentle pressure from a parent’s finger on the gums. For older children, some frozen banana in a mesh feeding tube will provide some comfort
5. Fragrance
- Uses: To mask chemical odours from other ingredients
- Danger: Often contain petroleum-derived synthetic chemicals which can cause respiratory, neurological, and skin damage, and may lead to asthma (companies are not required to disclose what ingredients are in “fragrance”)
- Alternative: Use fragrance-free, organic, or sensitive products
Feel free to share/download the image below. Want to learn more about harmful ingredients in children’s products? Click here to read more. For more on talc, click here.
ConsumerSafety.org strives to make information about recalls and safety-related news about drugs, medical devices, food, and consumer products accessible to everyone in a transparent, easily understandable way.
