Can phthalates from personal care products affect infant brain development?
Prenatal phthalate exposure was linked with newborn metabolic changes and infant neurobehavior scores in a 2025 cohort study. Baby skin care can add phthalate exposure, so simple fragrance-free care is a smart swap.
What we know
Phthalates are used in some plastics and fragranced personal care products. A 2024 Environmental Health Perspectives study found that children's skin care product use was linked with higher urinary levels of several phthalate or phthalate-replacement markers.
A 2025 Nature Communications study measured prenatal phthalate metabolites and newborn blood-spot metabolites. The study found links between prenatal phthalate exposure, changes in the newborn metabolome, and infant neurobehavior scores.
What this means for your family
This does not prove that one lotion changes a baby's brain development. It does show that phthalate exposure during pregnancy and childhood deserves care.
The easiest place to start is scented personal care. Labels often hide fragrance ingredients under one word: fragrance.
Simple safer steps
Choose fragrance-free baby soap and lotion. Skip perfume near babies. Avoid vinyl items when a wood, cotton, glass, or stainless steel option fits the job.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Impact of Skin Care Products on Phthalates and Phthalate Replacements in Children: the ECHO-FGS. | Environ Health Perspect | 2024 |
| Impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on newborn metabolome and infant neurodevelopment. | Nat Commun | 2025 |