Hygiene is essential for all ages.
There are many products that cater to our daily bathroom needs. However, there should be an emphasis on these products being non-toxic, especially for babies. To know more about non-toxic bath products, click here.
What you have to look out for in these products is the possible inclusion of chemicals. These can be especially dangerous for children.
Common Chemicals Found in Bath Products
Chemicals are present in a lot of bath products, and even for those catered to babies and young children.
Unlike older children and adults, the immune systems of babies are not yet fully developed. This means that they are more vulnerable to the dangerous effects of chemicals.
Here are some of the chemicals that can be found in bath products you need to look out for.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is commonly found in children’s bath products, which can be an issue.
It is usually present in these products because it helps preserve the shampoo’s shelf-life. While not a complete hazard, it does come with issues.
One of the biggest concerns it causes is skin irritation. This can be even more dangerous if your child has a skin allergy, making the effects a lot more drastic.
To be extra cautious, avoid products with this chemical, especially if you do not know your child’s skin type.
Sulfates
Sulfate is one of the most common ingredients in bath products because of its ability to remove dirt seamlessly.
But that doesn’t mean it can be positive. After all, anything that has chemicals will be detrimental to a child.
Some negative effects sulfates can cause include skin irritation and hair dryness.
Sulfates can remove natural oils from the hair, which are important.
I highly recommend avoiding products with this present especially if you are unsure whether your child has a skin allergy.
Parabens
This is a synthetic preservative found in a lot of baby cleaning products. They can also be found in adult makeup and skin care products.
These are present in ensuring that mold, fungi, and bacteria don’t form and develop.
While parabens do not have any drastically adverse effects, it is still wise to avoid them for your baby. As much as possible, avoid any chemicals whatsoever.
Here are some other chemicals to be wary of:
- Polyethylene
- Polyethylene Glycol
- Polyoxyethylene
- Phthalates
- Oxynol
Negative Effects
Children will not use all the products mentioned out of their own volition, but having them there will increase the chances of children encountering them. So just having them lying around the bathroom out in the open could put a child in harm’s way.
Here are some reasons why having bath products with an abundance of chemicals can be detrimental.
Vapor
Chemicals are more likely to vaporize when exposed to hot temperatures. When you go for a hot shower, steam will start to form. Once chemicals start to dissolve, they mix with the steam, which could enter our lungs when we inhale.
This can be dangerous for children who don’t have fully developed immune systems.
In worst cases, this could leave the bathroom and spread throughout the rest of the house. Having fewer chemicals in the product decreases the chances of this from occurring.
Stinging
The following negative effect is when it comes into contact with our eyes. When shampoo hits our eyes, it can sting. Experiencing this stinging sensation over extended periods of time can hurt your eyes even more.
To minimize the dangerous effects of chemicals, decrease the number of toxins in your products. As much as possible, you want to ensure that there are little to no chemicals that can be found in your bath products.
Skin Irritation
As mentioned earlier, a lot of the chemicals found in shampoos can cause skin irritation.
Skin irritation can be detrimental to babies as their skin can be more sensitive than older children and adults. Add in the fact that they could have a sensitive skin type, then the issue can escalate quickly.
How To Look Out For Toxin-Free Products
Now it shouldn’t be too difficult to identify which ones are free of them.
You can check the ingredients as they are usually located in the back section of the product’s packaging.
To detect formaldehyde, check for formaldehyde releasers. These are what you will find on the back of the packaging.
Common formaldehyde releasers include:
- Quaternium-15
- Urea
- Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
The same can be said for sulfates.
Common sulfates found in shampoos include:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
If you see any of these chemicals, avoiding the product for your baby is the best thing to do.
Bath Products with Natural Ingredients
The most effective way in achieving this is by buying and using naturally-made bathroom products. Luckily, there should be environment-friendly and non-toxic alternatives out there for you to choose from.
By having these products around, you are keeping children and yourselves safe and protected.
Environmentally friendly products don’t have chemical steam mixed with the air. They also do not leave any adverse effects on the child’s immune system.
Most of them come with fragrance-free options. This is beneficial if you want to avoid strong scents for your child without losing out on quality.
Of course, they also leave a positive impact on the environment. By avoiding the use of products with synthetic chemicals in them, you are decreasing the chances of chemicals lying around your house and contaminating it.
Making Your Own Natural Baby Shampoo
You can even make your own baby shampoo yourself if you are up for it.
Common ingredients are castile soap, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera, and almond/coconut oil.
Conclusion
For a baby, health is the number one priority. They should be treated with utmost care and consideration. Giving them baths is not enough. The products you use for their baths should also not compromise their health and immune system development.
To make this happen, make sure that toxic-free and all-natural products are what you use for their bathroom needs.
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