WRONG! Think again. There is actually cause for GREAT concern due to a cancer causing chemical: 1,4-dioxane that has been found in many of today’s children’s bath products. Keep in mind that a baby’s skin (the largest organ on their body) is five times thinner than that of an adult. With that being said, we are all familiar with “The Patch” – that is placed on our skin for either hormone therapy or to assist you in quitting smoking. The reason why “The Patch” works so well is due to the level of absorption of the hormone/drug through the skin into the bloodstream. Whatever you put on your skin absorbs directly into your skin and then into your bloodstream. This same rule applies for babies and children, but, since their skin is five times thinner the damage that is being done to our children is five times worse!

A public health advocacy organization called EWG (Environmental Working Group) recently published a report on kids shampoos and body washes. Their report was a real eye opener. The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that several of these washes and shampoos that we assumed to be safe for our children contain 1,4-dioxane which they refer to as a “probable human carcinogen.” Dr. Philip Landrigan, professor of pediatrics and founder of the Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, states that “Infants and children, whose brains are still developing, are more vulnerable to chemicals than adults are – so why take the risk?” My feeling is why should ANYONE in our family be exposed to this risk? It is up to us, as informed parents, to avoid chemicals like 1,4-dioxane because the FDA doesn’t regulate chemicals in bath products.

Just what is 1,4-dioxane? It is a petroleum-derived contaminant considered to be a “human carcinogen” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The National Toxicology Program clearly states that it is an animal carcinogen and 1,4-dioxane is on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected by the state to cause cancer or birth defects!

What is even worse and is cause for total outrage is the fact that these companies, who I so lovingly refer as “The Big Guys”, will spend significant amounts of money on “entertainment” licensing agreements that entice parents and hook children into buying these bath products, yet won’t spend a single penny to REMOVE these contaminants like 1,4-dioxane.

Did you know that the FDA has been measuring 1,4-dioxane levels since 1979 and it hasn’t been until the year 2000 that they recommended that cosmetic products should not contain concentrations of this chemical that are greater than 10ppm (parts per million)? An independent testing laboratory that specializes in trace chemical analysis called West Coat Analytical Service produced this enlightening report. Please notice the levels of concentration of 1,4-dioxane:

Disney Clean as Can Bee Hair & Body Wash (Water Jel Technologies) 8.8ppm
Disney Pixar Cars Piston Cup Bubble Bath ( MZB Personal Care) 2.2ppm
Gerber Grins & Giggles Gentle & Mild Aloe Vera Baby Shampoo 8.4ppm
Hello Kitty Bubble Bath (Kid Care) 12ppm
Huggies Baby Wash Shea Butter 4.0ppm
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wash Extra Gentle and Tear Free 4.2ppm
Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash (Johnson & Johnson) 5.3ppm to 6.1 ppm
Johnson’s Kids Tigger Bath Bubbles (Johnson & Johnson) 5.6 ppm to 7.9ppm
Johnson’s Kids Shampoo Watermelon Explosion (Johnson & Johnson) 10ppm
Lil’ Bratz Mild Bubble Bath ( Kid Care) 3.7ppm
L’Oreal Kids Orange Mango Smoothie Shampoo 2.0ppm
Mr. Bubble Bubble Bath Gentle Formula with Aloe 1.5ppm
Rite-Aid Tearless Baby Shampoo 4.3ppm
Scooby-Doo Mild Bubble Bath (kid Care) 3.0ppm
Sesame Street Wet Wild Watermelon Bubble Bath ( The Village Company) 7.4ppm

And let’s not forget us Moms…!!!…Take a look at these few Adult Bath Products that were tested:

Clairol Herbal Essences Rainforest Flowers Shampoo 23ppm !!
Olay Complete Body Wash with Vitamins (normal skin) 23ppm !!
Suave Naturals Passion Flower 2.0ppm

I truly believe that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and that AWARE PARENTS make all the difference when it comes to making healthy skincare choices for our families.For more information on pure,safe and effective skincare for your family, feel free to visit: www.lovemebabyme.com.

I want to propose a CHALLENGE to each and every parent that reads this article…………………………..
Go to your bathrooms!!!..Make that decision!!!…Check and see what is in the products that you are currently using. EMPOWER yourselves by choosing products that are free of chemicals like: parabens, propylene glycol, mineral oil, sodium laurel sulphate and 1,4-dioxane…I want to hear from you…and for each and every person that responds to this article and shares what they found…with me (on my CONTACT US page of my website)… when they examined the products in their BATHROOM CHALLENGE – they will automatically be entered into my Love Me Baby Me ”Giveaway” !! I will take all entries until September 14th at midnight PST. On the 15th of September, I will randomly pull a name and the the winner will receive my Gift Set Collection of my entire product line (A $104.95 value)! Go ahead… I CHALLENGE you…and I look forward to hearing from you all !!!

Until next time…”Happy Parenting!!”
Rosemary Anthony

As a parent, you only want the best for your children. You feed them the right foods, make sure they get exercise, read books to them and spend most of your time and energy helping them become the best people they can be. But you may also be putting them at risk for rashes or allergic reactions as a result of the lotions, shampoos, and diaper creams you use on a daily basis.

We all know that babies have delicate skin, but did you know that a baby’s skin is five times thinner than that of an adult? As a result, their skin (the largest organ in the entire body) is at much higher a risk for irritation by harsh chemicals found in many skincare products, even by those targeted to children. While irritation can occur from synthetic fragrances, humectants, and surfactants in the products (used to create lather in soaps and shampoos), the real danger may lurk in the preservatives.

Preservatives are a necessary part of any product and play an important role in limiting the growth of bacteria that could harm delicate skin. Some such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are relatively safe since they are mostly salt, but can irritate a baby’s skin. However, many baby products contain a class of preservatives called parabens (methyl, ethyl, propel and butylparaben), which act like hormones and disrupt the body’s immune system.

This hormonal link may be the most cause for concern. Parabens, used as food preservatives, are flushed out of the body during the digestive process, making them less harmful. However, when parabens are applied to the skin in a cream or lotion, they are absorbed directly into the body. I have had the pleasure of interviewing, British researcher, Dr. Phillipa Darbre, on one of my radio shows…(you may visit: www.lovemebabyme.com/previousshows.php to hear this “enlightening” interview…on January 28, 2007)! Dr. Darbre conducted a study on samples of 20 breast tumors and found traces of parabens in eighteen of them, suggesting that parabens applied to the skin were absorbed and remained in breast tissue1. This danger does not only apply to girls and women. Recent studies in China and Japan have linked parabens to low sperm count and decreased testosterone levels.2

Although it is not yet proven that parabens are the sole culprits in this health crisis, A NEW GENERATION OF AWARE PARENTS™ is opting not to take the risk with their children. These parents are looking for a safer, gentler alternative to the synthetic preservatives found in most baby products (both name brand products and those found in the local health food stores). Remember, not all ‘natural’ products are created equal. I invite you to join this quest, by committing to read each and every label of skincare products BEFORE you apply it to your child’s skin.

Parents owe it to themselves and their children to know all about the products they use. Whatever you choose for your children’s skincare, make sure you understand the benefits and any potential risks. Knowledge is Power, and Aware Parents make all the difference in happy, healthy children!!

Until next time….”Happy Parenting!!”

Rosemary Anthony