If you have a young child, then you likely have more than a few packs of baby wipes laying around. From diaper changes, cleaning your child’s hands, and wiping down pacifiers and toys, baby wipes can make big messes simple to clean up.
While baby wipes are helpful, they can also be harmful. Depending on the brand you use, they may contain ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin and have consequences on long-term health. That’s why it’s important parents pay attention to the ingredient listed in baby wipes before making a purchase.
Below, we review what ingredients to avoid in baby wipes so that you can choose a brand that’s right for your family.
Polysorbate 20
This chemical is often treated with ethylene oxide, which raises the risk of cross-contamination with by-products. Polysorbate 20 has been linked to skin irritations and allergic reactions.
Formaldehyde-Releasing Chemicals
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring chemical compound, but don’t let the fact that it’s natural fool you into thinking it’s safe.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that it can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and even throat, which can contribute to respiratory issues. Prolonged and/or high levels of exposure can also increase the risk of developing cancer.
As Go New Mommy explains, formaldehyde-releasing chemicals include:
- Benzylhemiformal
- Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin
- 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
- 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Glyoxal
- 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (or DMDM hydantoin)
- Methenamine
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
- Quaternium-15
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Polyoxymethylene Urea
Unfortunately, baby wipes aren’t the only common product to contain formaldehyde-releasing chemicals. They can also be found in makeup products, building materials, and preservatives in medicine and food.
Parabens
Parabens are a group of chemicals that started gaining popularity in the 1920s when they were used as preservatives in makeup products. Since then, however, research has underscored the dangers of using products that contain parabens.
They’ve been linked to hormonal disruptions, reproductive issues, adverse birth outcomes, and increased risk of cancer. In products like baby wipes, parabens can irritate the skin.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)
Research has found that the presence of MIT in baby wipes can cause contact dermatitis, an itchy rash that occurs after contact with a substance. Though not life-threatening, it’s very uncomfortable.
Babies have more sensitive skin than adults, which means the presence of MIT in infant products can be more irritating on their skin.
Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs)
Many baby wipes include PEGs because they allow other ingredients to better penetrate the skin, thereby improving effectiveness, Hello Natural Living explains.
However, this compound is often contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. Ethylene oxide can cause “headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulty, drowsiness, weakness, exhaustion, eye and skin burns, frostbite, and reproductive effects,” the CDC says.
Conversely, 1,4-dioxane can cause skin irritation, drowsiness, headaches. Long-term and/or high levels of exposure can lead to more serious consequences by causing damage to body parts like the eyes, lungs, and throat.
Fragrance
The problem with fragrances in products like baby wipes is that they contain various synthetic chemicals. This includes phthalates, which can disrupt the endocrine system and cause fertility problems. They’ve also been linked to cancer.
Go New Mommy warns that some baby wipes companies list fragrance as an ingredient without disclosing that this also includes phthalates. As such, it’s important to be wary of any baby products that contain fragrances or perfumes.
Additionally, even if a product advertises itself as fragrance-free, it still may have a smell. Fragrance-free simply means it doesn’t include synthetic chemicals, but it’s still common to use essential oils to add a natural fragrance, which can also irritate sensitive skin.
Triclosan
Often used a perseverative in baby wipes, triclosan is another ingredient to avoid. It’s a known endocrine disruptor and can lead to fertility problems. Research has also found it increases resistance to bacteria and raises the risk of birth defects as well as cancer.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
SLS and SLES are often added to baby wipes in order to improve their cleaning ability. However, they’ve been linked to a myriad of health consequences, including cancer, organ toxicity, endocrine disruption, and fertility issues.
Go New Mommy warns the SLS and SLES may go by different names in ingredient lists, including, “sodium salt sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester, sodium salt, monododecyl ester sodium salt sulfuric acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, aquarex me or aquarex methyl.”
Sodium Benzoate
Avoid this ingredient in all baby products, including wipes. Sodium Benzoate is a synthetic preservative that has been linked to organ damage and an increased risk of cancer.
Please speak with your doctor for more information on the best and worst ingredients in baby wipes.
Sources: EPA, Go New Mommy, CDC, Hello Natural Living,
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