Choosing Safe and Green Bath and Body Products

Buying Organic and Healthy Toiletries for Children

Aug 14, 2009 Tamiko Nicholson

Learn about what is in soaps and shampoos to make more informed and greener choices. Here is information about some common ingredients and what to look out for.

There are all sorts of chemicals that go into soaps, creams, shampoos and toothpastes. Some of these are helpful, but others can actually be toxic. Reading the list of ingredients on packaging is important because it helps parents know what they are putting into their children’s mouths and on their skin. If parents find a child has sensitive skin, it may be even more important to keep tabs on what exactly is inside the products they are using.

Getting the Dirt on Soap

Washing hands is key in preventing the spread of illness, and companies have hooked into the fear of germs by coming up with soaps that offer super strength power and antibacterial agents for cleaning. They are, in fact, unnecessary. Using regular soap and water are all that are needed to kill germs. Twenty to 30 seconds of washing will do the trick and parents can get their children to sing "Happy Birthday" as a fun way for kids to learn how much time they should be spending washing their hands.

Chemicals to watch out for are triclosan, benzalkonium chloride and chlorohexidine. They are used in antibacterial products that also include toothpaste and mouthwash. They can cause skin irritation and there are some concerns that long-term use of antibacterial soaps might promote resistance to bacteria.

Bubble Bath, Bath Oil and Shampoo

Chemicals are often added to shampoo and body wash to make the texture and smell more appealing to consumers. They include thickeners to make the consistency of the shampoo more gel like and detergents to make a bubblier lather. Some ingredients to watch out for are sodium lauryl sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine,ammonium laruyl sulfate, Cocamide DEA, and Cocamide MEA.

Health Canada suggests that children should not have too many bubble baths or bath oils added to their baths. Spending a long time in bubble baths or having them too often can lead to a child getting red itchy skin or a rash. Bath products can also cause urinary tract infections.

Parfum in Products Marketed for Children

Nice-smelling soaps are attractive to many people, but the fragrances used to make them could come with some side effects. Parfum is a common additive and it is a catchall for a combination of many different chemicals. Fragrance is a term that is also used. Both have been linked to skin irritation, nausea, asthma and even mood changes.

Be aware that "fragrance-free" or "unscented" labels can have two meanings. It can mean that there are no fragrances added to a product or it can mean that chemicals have been added to mask the smell of other ingredients in the product.

Lotions and Creams can Irritate Skin

Parents put creams and lotion on their children to help their skin if it is getting dry or irritated. But some of the chemicals in these products can actually cause skin irritation. Mineral oils such as parafinnum liquidum and petrolatum can irritate skin and can cause allergic reactions. Mineral oils are also used in bath and baby oils.

Silicones are a key ingredient in lotions. They can be listed as cyclomethicone, dimethicone, simethicone and cyclopentasiloxane. They too can cause skin irritation as well as block pores. They are not biodegradable and are also found in hair conditioners and make-up.

Preservatives help products last longer, but they can also lead to skin irritation and allergic reactions. Parabens is one of them and it can be listed in many forms like methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, or propylparaben. Other preservatives are ETA, formaldehyde, quaternium 15 and methylisothiazolinone.

When buying soaps, lotions and other products used by children, it’s a good idea to read what they are made of. Choose ones that offer organic ingredients and are free of unnecessary chemicals like bacteriocides, perfumes, mineral oils and preservatives.

Parents can also read about eco-friendly clothing for the family, going green with school supplies for kids and making greener choices for toys for children.

References: Goldsmith, Sheherazade.A Slice of Organic Life NY: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2007.

The copyright of the article Choosing Safe and Green Bath and Body Products in Parenting Methods is owned by Tamiko Nicholson. Permission to republish Choosing Safe and Green Bath and Body Products in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.