Harmful chemicals to watch out for in your Baby’s products!

It is a bit tricky nowadays to watch out and choose the right products for your little ones, especially since the label that claims- “Natural”, “Free From” and “ Organic” etc all over it!
The good news is you can play safely by choosing products that are free from potentially harmful chemicals – but first, you’ll have to learn to pronounce those unpronounceable names.

So here are some of the top chemicals that you need to look out for when you select any product for your baby:

1. Talc:
This is a powdered mineral that is added to your baby powder and many other cosmetic powders. Make sure any baby powder you use is “talc-free” since talc is now a known lung irritant and may also be carcinogenic.

2. Mineral Oil:
Most baby oils are essentially made of mineral oil with fragrance, this combination is pretty nasty for your baby. Mineral oil acts as a plastic wrap on your baby’s skin, holding back the skin’s ability to release toxins, mineral oil is a cheap byproduct of petroleum, is said to be the largest contaminant of our body, and doesn’t actually add anything good back to your skin

3. Fragrance:
To mask the smell of some chemicals or to just add a particular smell to a product, the fragrance is added to most of the products. The fragrance has a long-lasting effect on your baby’s body, lingering on the skin for hours, and can cause respiratory, neurological, skin, and eye damage. There is evidence that exposure to fragrance as a child may lead to asthma.

4. Parabens:
Parabens, unfortunately, are present everywhere. While it’s good to have ingredients that prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold, parabens have been listed as Category 1 priority substances by the European Commission on Endocrine Disruption, based on evidence that they interfere with hormone function.

5. Propylene glycol:

This chemical is a penetration enhancer that is easily absorbed by the skin and may be carcinogenic. Its job is basically to open up all the pores and let the other chemicals in. Propylene glycol is used in wiper fluid and to de-ice airplanes, and yet it is often found in baby wipes, which is not safe. Look out for polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) on labels, too.

6. Triclosan:
This preservative is used to prevent bacterial contamination. It is suspected of interfering with hormone function (endocrine disruption) though and in one study, scientists detected triclosan in the urine of nearly 75% of those tested.