What to watch for when buying baby care ♡

• April 23 2021
• 10 min reading time

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New mothers and moms-to-be want to do everything right; they want the best for their baby. Especially when it comes to caring for the baby’s skin. Understandable, what is pure must remain pure. The chance of redness, diaper rash, or dry baby skin is present. You naturally want to keep the care pure, so no toxic substances enter your little one. It must consist of active ingredients that solve the problem in a natural way. 

Although a baby has perfect skin at birth, we must be aware that the baby has delicate and sensitive skin. The skin is not yet fully developed, so it also absorbs more than you as a parent. 

Which baby care products do you really need and how do you choose the best care product that suits your baby? And when we look at the available baby care products, what do you actually find (in terms of ingredients) in the products? 

 

What do parents want in care products for their baby?

The Attitude Living team has not been idle. They went out and asked new parents what they find important in care products and body lotions for their dear baby. They also spoke with cosmetic specialists and dermatologists to discover exactly what parents are looking for. It has been shown that the following is important:

• Fragrance-free and perfume-free products
• Products that do not irritate the skin
• Recommended by dermatologists
• Products that are non-greasy and hydrate well

The delicate and sensitive baby skin loses moisture faster than adults, because the skin’s protective layer does not renew itself quickly.*. That’s why parents are always looking for super soft, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic care products specially developed for baby skin. However, it has become clear that mothers and fathers do not read the labels because they are too complicated to understand. 

*The skin consists of 3 layers, the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, which are not yet fully developed in a baby. 

 

In the first few weeks of your baby:

1. The three layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous connective tissue) epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis are not yet fully developed.
2. The epidermis cells are not yet fully connected, making the baby’s skin extremely sensitive and permeable.
3. The sebaceous glands in your baby’s skin are not yet fully active. As a result, the baby’s skin is not yet protected by the hydro-lipid film (which is why baby skin smells so wonderful!). This film consists, among other things, of sweat and sebum; sebum is better known as oil or skin grease. Hence the skin grease on a baby, so the baby’s skin does not dry out! 
4. Your baby’s skin has a neutral pH value and is not protected by a protective layer that prevents excessive bacterial growth. The skin flora is kept in balance in adult skin.
5. Your baby’s skin does not yet produce melanin and is therefore not protected against the sun. Developed skin protects itself against the sun. 

After one year, the baby’s skin is fully developed and protects itself against external irritations.
Rita Stiens, La Vérité sur les Cosmétiques, 2012, p. 223.

 

“More than 98% of parents admitted they do not check the ingredients in their baby products.”

Care products specifically aimed at babies are not necessarily the best for the baby’s skin or health. It may be that certain ingredients cause concern, just like with some household and personal care products for adults. According to the EWG, many harmful ingredients found in numerous baby care products can penetrate the delicate baby skin and are easily absorbed by the body. With all the consequences that entails. 

Children are more susceptible to the effects of harmful ingredients than adults because their skin absorbs them better. And in this case, that is not a good thing. Before kids turn 2 years old, they are up to ten times more sensitive because they eat, drink, and breathe more frequently. 

The impact these ingredients can cause is even more alarming when it comes to newborns and young kids. Why? They go through critical periods of development and growth.

  

Which harmful ingredients are found in the most popular baby body lotions?

The scientific team at Attitude has examined the most popular baby lotions and baby care products for sensitive skin. According to the analysis and the EWG criteria, the team discovered that most baby care products contain carcinogenic substances, various allergens and irritants, as well as synthetic petroleum-based substances and animal-derived ingredients. 

“Baby lotions contain up to 57% ingredients of concern.”

 

How do you recognize carcinogenic substances on baby care product labels?

• Tocopheryl Acetate and Tocopherol - are natural antioxidants that can contain a carcinogenic substance toxic to humans and the environment. 
• Polysorbate-60 and Polysorbate-20 - are synthetic solvents that can contain carcinogenic substances.
• Petrolatum - is a synthetic emollient that can contain carcinogenic substances (EWG score: 4) PAHs
• Triethanolamine - is a toxic and allergenic pH regulator that can contain carcinogenic substances. (EWG score: 5).
• PEG-100 Stearate (and other PEGs) - are synthetic emulsifiers that can contain carcinogenic substances (EWG score: 3). These petroleum-based polymers can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, resulting in residues known as carcinogens according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
• Ceteareth-20 - is a synthetic solvent that can contain carcinogenic substances. (EWG score: 3)
• Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice extract - is a natural, active ingredient that in its non-bleached form can contain carcinogenic substances (EWG score: 1-2) according to IARC and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the US government.

 

Why do baby care products contain carcinogenic substances?

Canadian and American legislation continues to tolerate the presence of carcinogenic substances in small concentrations in the products we use daily. Why? Generally, any amount below 0.1% is not considered an ingredient. Therefore, manufacturers are not legally required to list contaminants as ingredients on the label if they are residues, impurities, or substances in minimal amounts generated during the manufacturing process (not directly added).

 

Allergens and irritants: how to spot them on the label of babycare!

• Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil - is a synthetic emollient suspected to be toxic to organs. (EWG: 1-3) 
• Parfum - a mixture of often synthetic, fragrant molecules, not listed on the label, that are toxic and allergenic. (EWG score: 8) 
• Phenoxyethanol - is a widely used synthetic preservative that can be irritating and allergenic. (EWG score: 4) 
• Lavandula Augustifolia (Lavender) Oil - is an essential oil containing linalool, an allergenic substance. (EWG score: 5)
• Benzyl Alcohol - is on the European Union’s list of 26 allergenic substances: a synthetic allergenic preservative suspected to be toxic to organs. (EWG score: 5) 
• Distearyldimonium Chloride - is an irritating synthetic antistatic agent. (EWG score: 3) 
• Geraniol - is a component of essential oils. This fragrant molecule is used for its natural scent, is allergenic and toxic to humans and the environment. (EWG score:5)  
• Citronellol - is a component of essential oils, citronellol is an allergenic natural fragrance (EWG score: 5) 
• Cinnamal - is a component of essential oils, an allergenic natural fragrance. (EWG score: 7)
• Dimethicone - is a synthetic emollient suspected to be toxic to organs and the environment. (EWG score: 3). 

The aforementioned substances do not all have the same allergenic or irritating potential, and it is impossible to know the concentration just by reading the ingredient list. For these reasons and as a precaution, it is recommended not to expose babies to these substances.

 

How do you recognize animal ingredients on baby care product labels?

Cera Alba Beeswax Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax is an animal-derived ingredient that is NOT harmful to your baby but is often omitted due to personal and ethical preferences. Therefore, always look for the PETA certification on care products if you want to avoid animal ingredients.

 

What exactly are synthetic ingredients?

You read about it more and more, synthetic ingredients and avoiding them. Synthetic ingredients were used in the cosmetics industry around 1920-1960. Even better, they helped the modern cosmetics industry mature. The development of petroleum-based raw materials led to a boom. The ingredients are often extremely cheap and therefore very popular, which led to the mass production of beauty products. 

Then technology advanced rapidly, and they were able to synthesize new molecules or reproduce naturally occurring molecules. Now studies are emerging that show the risks and effects of these synthetic ingredients on human health and the environment. Paraffinum Liquidum and Petrolatum, discovered in the analysis conducted by the Attitude team, are hydrocarbons. 

In other words, these ingredients are petroleum-based mineral oils. Other substances are silicones and polymers. These are polluted artificial substances that are not easily biodegradable and are also toxic to living organisms in the water.

 

Are natural baby products really much better?

The ATTITUDE team conducted a survey among its subscribers. More than 97% of parents indicated that they looked for natural baby lotions and other baby care products for the baby's sensitive skin, such as dry skin, and they stated that they wanted to avoid chemicals. 

There are now many natural and “organic” baby products available; however, it is important to always read the labels and check the ingredients, regardless of what the packaging says as a marketing tool. Why? Although the product is natural or organic, that does not necessarily mean it is suitable for the baby’s sensitive skin. 

During the analysis of baby lotions, they also examined the natural baby products recommended by pharmacies and valued by parents. They discovered the following:

 

There are two natural ingredients the team is concerned about:

Tocopherol and Tocopherol Acetate: are modified forms of vitamin E contaminated with hydroquinone.

This is a known carcinogenic, irritating, and allergenic hormone disruptor that is increasingly prohibited in cosmetics. 

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is a natural active ingredient that is not bleached and may contain carcinogenic substances according to the IARC. This ingredient is also listed on California’s Proposition 65 List. This is a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm.

 

3 crucial tips to help you choose the best baby care

You are now well informed and know what to look out for. In part 2 of this mini series, we give you 3 tips so you can get started right away with the best baby care that perfectly matches your needs and wishes. In the next article "3 tips to help you buy the best baby care!" we provide 3 crucial tips so you can choose the best baby care. So keep a close eye on the webshop!