Is triclosan exposure linked with child allergy symptoms?
A 2025 HOME Study analysis linked higher childhood urinary triclosan with higher reported eczema and allergic rhinitis risk. It did not show that antibacterial soap during pregnancy causes child allergies.
Short answer
The pregnancy claim needs a caveat. A 2025 Environmental Health Perspectives study followed mother-child pairs in the HOME Study and measured urinary triclosan up to 10 times from pregnancy through age 12.
Each 2-fold higher childhood triclosan level was linked with 1.23 times higher risk of reported eczema and 1.12 times higher risk of allergic rhinitis. Gestational triclosan was not linked with eczema, allergic rhinitis, or wheeze in the full sample.
So this page should not say antibacterial soap during pregnancy causes kid allergies. The honest takeaway is to avoid routine triclosan exposure when plain soap works.
What to do
Use plain baby soap for normal handwashing and baths. Skip antibacterial products unless a clinician tells you to use them. Check labels for triclosan, triclocarban, and active antimicrobial claims.
The research at a glance
What to use instead
Choose plain baby soap for routine washing. Check labels for triclosan, triclocarban, and active antimicrobial claims.
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