Is it safe to use baby skincare products without checking for plastic additives?
Use caution. A 2026 study found 121 plastic additives in baby skincare products, with wide chemical diversity across lotions, powders, and shampoo-bath foams.
What's actually in it
Baby lotions, powders, and shampoo-bath foams can contain plastic-related additives. These include non-phthalate plasticizers, organophosphate esters, UV stabilizers, phthalates, synthetic antioxidants, parabens, and bisphenols.
Not every detected additive means high risk from one product. The concern is repeated use during a sensitive window of development.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Environment International screened 55 baby skincare products. Researchers identified 121 plastic additives, and 99 were confirmed and quantified using reference standards.
The median total concentration of plastic additives was 3,220 nanograms per gram. Estimated skin exposure was generally low, but the authors raised concern about cumulative and mixture exposure in infants and toddlers.
What to do at home
Use fewer products. For many babies, a simple bath routine and a short-ingredient soap is enough.
Avoid added fragrance when you can. For dry skin or diaper rash, choose products with short ingredient lists and avoid using several creams, lotions, and scented washes every day.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Suspect screening of plastic additives in baby skincare products. | Environ Int | 2026 |