Nowadays, many parents are well aware that baby wipes are inevitably filled with chemicals, otherwise they will become mouldy in a humid environment (the shelf life of most baby wipes falls between 2 to 3 years).
Please note that none of the brands of baby wipes currently available in the market explicitly state that they are "preservative-free"!
However, if you have to use wet baby wipes when you cannot use the natural Roaze dry and wet baby towels, you need to be careful not to use wet baby wipes that contain the following ingredients.
Otherwise, once the baby's skin is damaged, it is easy for the condition to recur, which is not only uncomfortable for the baby but also affects the caregiver's mood.
Remember that wet baby wipes should not contain the following four ingredients.
1. Parabens and phenoxyethanol preservatives
The EU recommends that the use of "paraben" should be banned, as studies have shown that chronic ingestion of "paraben" or "phenoxyethanol" preservatives may lead to hormonal imbalances, and the former may also impair male fertility.
Phenoxyethanol, an oily liquid, is toxic to the blood and liver, and it can also cause allergies. The current European requirement for the concentration of this preservative in the manufacture of hygiene and beauty products is less than 1%, but this is still a huge concentration for newborns. Many countries have strictly banned the use of this ingredient in baby products until the age of 3.
2. Propylene glycol
Most wet wipes contain propylene glycol, so what is propylene glycol? Propylene glycol is a viscous, slightly sweet liquid with moisturizing, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. In addition to the daily use of wet wipes, shower gel, body lotion, cosmetics, etc., propylene glycol is also contained in ointments and vitamin solvents in the pharmaceutical industry.
It is undeniable that as long as the amount of propylene glycol does not exceed the prescribed limit, a small amount of intake or skin contact is acceptable to the general public, and normal use of wet wipes is unlikely to cause any "poisoning" problem.
Nevertheless, propylene glycol is still a toxic product and long-term use is not good. Moreover, long-term use of these wipes will irritate the skin of babies with delicate skin and make them prone to allergies and other skin problems.
Many big brands of baby wipes also contain this ingredient, but the content is not listed. Therefore, parents should use baby wipes for infants and young children as little as possible.
Why is propylene glycol added to baby wipes if it is a bad ingredient for babies?
One of the most common reasons for this is to moisturize. Propylene glycol is similar to glycerin in that it absorbs some moisture from the air onto the skin to avoid the dryness of the skin caused by the evaporation of liquid after using wet wipes.
The other reason is antibacterial. Most of the wet baby wipes are not in single-piece packages, but because they contain water, airborne bacteria can easily grow on the surface of the wet baby wipes after they are opened, which may pose a health risk when they are used afterwards. The antibacterial activity of propylene glycol is designed to slow down the growth of bacteria inside the wipes.
3. Alcohol and fragrances
What is known is that alcohol is irritating and volatile, and if rubbed on the skin, it takes away moisture from the skin and creates a tight feeling. And such ingredients, if used on infants and young children, can cause discomfort. And the essence of irritation to the skin, easy to cause baby skin allergies.
4. Fluorescent agent
As long as it is not used in excess, it is unlikely to have any significant adverse effects on the human body. Special attention should be paid to the fact that once this substance enters the human body through wounds, it will combine with proteins and is difficult to be excreted, which may also lead to cell mutation and potential carcinogenic risk.
When choosing baby wipes, parents should not only pay attention to the ingredients of the wipes, but should also give the baby a try first and stop using them if there is any allergic reaction.
In addition, try to avoid using baby wipes on the more sensitive parts of your baby's body, ex: buttocks, cheeks, neck, facial features... etc. Avoid using baby wipes when your baby has skin conditions (ex: drool rash, nappy rash, dermatitis, allergies...etc.).
In general, water or a combination of wet and dry baby gauze towels is the most suitable choice for newborns/young children.
For reference, the following table shows the common ingredients of baby wipes.
