Safety Guide To Children's Personal Care Products
Parent's buying guide
Printable PDF guide
Brand buying guide
Ingredients to avoid

EWG Report
Summary
Exposures add up
Children are vulnerable
Why aren't all products safe?
Methodology
Survey results
References
News release

Products Targeted to Children Contain Hazardous Chemicals and Ingredients Not Found Safe for Kids

This new children's products safety guide helps parents navigate around bogus claims and find safer products with fewer ingredients linked to allergies, cancer, and other concerns for childrens.

Choose safer products.

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash and liquid soap
• Toothpaste
• Sunscreen
• Baby Wipes
• Lotion and moisturizer
• Diaper cream
• Baby powder
• Play makeup

Shampoo and Conditioner

Keeping hair clean and healthy should not expose kids to potentially harmful ingredients. When choosing hair care products for your family, avoid harmful preservatives, "fragrance," and petrochemicals possibly contaminated with cancer-causing impurities.

Avoid these ingredients:

• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals
• Ceteareth and PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities

Better/best picks from common brands Products that are easy to find but may still contain some ingredients to avoid. product hazard score Burt's Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar with Oat Protein and Pro Vitamin B5 1 California Baby Shampoo & Bodywash Super Sensitive 1 Jason Natural Cosmetics Aloe Vera 84% Conditioner Hair Smoothing Conditioner 3 Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo, Tear Free (Fragrance, PEG compounds, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate) 4 Johnson & Johnson Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Original (Fragrance, Dyes, PEG compounds) 4

Best picks from all brands** Products free of ingredients to avoid but may be hard to find. product hazard score Aubrey Organics Rosa Mosqueta Rose Hip Seed Oil 0 Carol's Daughter Hair Oil 0 Dr. Bronner's Castile Liquid Soap-Peppermint 0 Earth Tribe Tribe Kids Pure Botanical Baby Shampoo and Bath Gel 0 Keys Soap MetaCare 0 see more>

see brand buying guide | survey responses for shampoo | survey responses for conditioner

Body wash and liquid soap

Let's keep our kids clean - and free of harmful chemicals. Avoid unnecessary ingredients like antibacterial agents, suspect preservatives, and "fragrance" in your children's products. Bar soaps often contain fewer chemicals of concern than body washes and liquid hand soaps.

Avoid these ingredients:

• Triclosan - Linked to thyroid disruption, produces toxic byproducts in tap water
• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Better/best picks from common brands Products that are easy to find but may still contain some ingredients to avoid. product hazard score California Baby Shampoo & Bodywash Super Sensitive 1 Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal, Fragrance Free (PEG compounds) 3 Huggies Baby Wash, Extra Sensitive, Fragrance Free (PEG compounds) 3 Arbonne Cleansing Gel (Parabens) 4 Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash (Fragrance) 4

Best picks from all brands** Products free of ingredients to avoid but may be hard to find. product hazard score Aubrey Organics Evening Primrose & Lavender Skin Care Bar 0 Betadine Skin Cleanser 0 Clarisonic Daily Cleanser 0 Dancing Dingo Rose Patchouli with Rose Petals Botanical Soap 0 DDF Doctor's Dermatologic Formula Nourishing Buffing Beads 0 see more>

see brand buying guide | survey responses for body wash | survey responses for liquid hand soap

Toothpaste

Fluoride is great for teeth, but it can be harmful if swallowed. High doses cause ugly blotches to stain teeth, and have neurotoxic effects. The American Dental Association recommends fluoride-free toothpaste for children under 2. For children under 6, the Centers for Disease Control recommends "child-strength" toothpastes with around 0.08% fluoride (0.075% W/V fluoride ion or sodium monofluorophosphate 0.35% or sodium fluoride 0.12%), or about 1/2 of what's found in regular strength toothpaste. Low fluoride children's toothpaste is common in the E.U. but hard to find in the U.S. If your children use a fluoride toothpaste, make sure they use a pea-sized amount and thoroughly spit and rinse.

Avoid these ingredients:

• Fluoride - Neurotoxic agent that can discolor teeth at high doses
• Triclosan - Linked to thyroid disruption, produces toxic byproducts in tap water
• PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities

Better/best picks from common brands Products that are easy to find but may still contain some ingredients to avoid. product hazard score Tom's of Maine Natural Homeopathic-Style Whitening Toothpaste, Apricot 1 Weleda Calendula Toothpaste 1 Colgate Toothpaste, Regular (Sodium Monofluorophosphate) 2 Crest Neat Squeeze Toothpaste for Kids (Dyes, Sodium Fluoride) 3 Gerber Toddler Tooth & Gum Cleanser, Natural Mixed Berry Flavor 3

Best picks from all brands** Products free of ingredients to avoid but may be hard to find. product hazard score Peelu Company Dental Fibers Fresh Spearmint 0 Peelu Company Dental Fibers Spearmint 0 Peelu Company Spearmint Toothpowder 0 Burt's Bees Children's Toothpaste 1 Burt's Bees Childrens Orange Cream Toothpaste 1 see more>

see brand buying guide | survey responses

Sunscreen

Stay safe in the sun! Our survey was administered in the summer so 3/4 of our parents reported using sunscreen on their children. Infants under 6 months don't belong in the sun. For older babies and children, use sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB protection, and reapply often. Our Sunscreen Investigation can help you choose safer and more effective products for you and your children.

Avoid these ingredients:

• Oxybenzone - In sunlight, can produce allergy- and cancer-causing chemicals
• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Triethanolamine - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants

Better/best picks from common brands Products that are easy to find but may still contain some ingredients to avoid. product hazard score Blue Lizard Australian Suncream, SPF 30, Sensitive (Parabens, PEG compounds) 1 California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion No Fragrance (PEG compounds) 1 Coppertone Endless Summer Ultrasheer Sunscreen Stick (Parabens) 1 Banana Boat Surf Sunblock Lotion with AquaShield H2O Protection, SPF 30 (Parabens, PEG compounds) 2 Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion SPF 30 (Parabens, Triethanolamine) 2

Best picks from all brands** Products free of ingredients to avoid but may be hard to find. product hazard score Keys Soap Solar RX Therapeutic Sunblock, SPF 30 0 Badger SPF 30 1 California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick Everyday/Year-Round 1 California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick No Fragrance 1 ColoreScience Sunforgettable Rock and Roller Ball, SPF 30 1 see more>

see brand buying guide | survey responses

Baby wipes

Wipes should leave babies clean - not exposed to traces of harmful chemicals. Choose wipes with fewer potential health concerns. Avoid wipes with added "fragrance" or preservatives like 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (or Bronopol) and DMDM Hydantoin.

Avoid these ingredients:

• 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol (or Bronopol) - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Better/best picks from common brands Products that are easy to find but may still contain some ingredients to avoid. product hazard score Seventh Generation Unscented Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E 1 Pampers Baby Wipes Unscented (Benzyl Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate) 3

Best picks from all brands** Products free of ingredients to avoid but may be hard to find. product hazard score Seventh Generation Unscented Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E 1 Tushies Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera, Unscented 1 Avalon Baby Flushable Biodegradable Baby Wipes 2 Avalon Organics FLUSHABLE BIODEGRADABLE BABY WIPES 2 Inspiration Vibration VIBEbaby herbal baby wipes 2 see more>

see brand buying guide | survey responses

Lotion and moisturizer

Soft, smooth skin has a healthy glow - take care not to use harmful chemicals to moisturize your baby's skin. Avoid harsher soaps to keep your child's skin from drying out. Choose moisturizers free of harmful preservatives, "fragrance," and petrochemicals laced with impurities.

Avoid these ingredients:

• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals
• Ceteareth and PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities

Better/best picks from common brands Products that are easy to find but may still contain some ingredients to avoid. product hazard score Aveeno Daily Baby Moisturizing Lotion (Benzyl Alcohol) 2 California Baby Botanical Moisturizing Cream 2 Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream (Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone) 2 Arbonne After Sun Lotion (Parabens, Triethanolamine) 4 Burt's Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion (Fragrance) 4

Best picks from all brands** Products free of ingredients to avoid but may be hard to find. product hazard score AROMABABY Natural Baby Lotion 0 BABYBEARSHOP cheeky baby butter - organic shea butter baby Cream 0 Badger Healing Balm 0 Cosmic Tree Essentials Simply Shea and Tamanu Cream for Baby 0 Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Skin Ointment 0 see more>

see brand buying guide | survey responses

Diaper cream

A baby's delicate skin is more easily penetrated by many chemicals in diaper creams and other products. Our survey shows parents using diaper cream typically apply it to their children once a day. Safer diaper creams are free of BHA and "fragrance," and do not contain boric acid or sodium borate, ingredients that the cosmetic industry's own safety advisory panel says are unsafe for infants.

Avoid these ingredients:

• BHA - Banned in other countries because it can cause skin depigmentation
• Boric Acid and Sodium Borate - Industry authorities caution against use on infant or damaged skin
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Better/best picks from common brands Products that are easy to find but may still contain some ingredients to avoid. product hazard score Aquaphor Hydrophor Baby Diaper Rash Ointment 1 Triple Paste Medicated Ointment for Diaper Rash 1 Balmex Extra Protective Clear Ointment 2 Burt's Bees Baby Bee Diaper Ointment 2 Weleda Diaper Care 2

Best picks from all brands** Products free of ingredients to avoid but may be hard to find. product hazard score AROMABABY Barrier Balm 0 Baby Cakes Rear Repair & Over There Ointment 0 Badger Diaper Cream 0 Cosmic Tree Essentials Simply Shea and Tamanu Cream for Baby 0 Earth Tribe Tribe Kids Baby Balm 0 see more>

see brand buying guide | survey responses

Baby powder

Just like auto exhaust or secondhand smoke, tiny airborne particles from baby powder can damage a baby's delicate, developing lungs. Parents who use baby powder on their children typically apply it daily. It's best to avoid using baby powder altogether. If you must use it, choose powders without suspect preservatives, "fragrance," or sodium borate, an ingredient that the cosmetic industry's own safety advisory panel says is unsafe for infants.

Avoid these ingredients:

• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Sodium Borate - Industry authorities caution against use on infant or damaged skin
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Play makeup

Dressing up can be fun, but it shouldn't pose risks. Many children like to wear cosmetics or nail polish. Make sure they're using safer products, and applying them appropriately, sparingly, and infrequently.

Avoid these products:

• Lipstick - can contain harmful impurities that children swallow in small amounts
• Nail polish containing dibutyl phthalate and toluene - Linked to hormone disruption and cancer
• Cosmetics in powder form - Children can inhale these powders, damaging their lungs
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

** "Best products" do not contain any of the ingredients of concern highlighted in this report. Nearly all personal care products contain untested ingredients that may still pose health risks. Some "natural" or botanical ingredients can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Read the labels of products carefully, and compare them to what you see in our Skin Deep database. While we strive to keep our database current, cosmetics companies change their formulas frequently.