Safer Bath Time for Kids

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Bath Time Products: What to Avoid

Children’s skin is much more gentle than adults. Because it’s protective barrier and oil production mechanisms are still developing, it’s naturally thinner and more sensitive to irritants. 

One of the TOP ingredients I would avoid are a common type of household/cosmetic preservatives called isothiazolinones, especially methylisothiazolinone (MI), methylchlorosiothiazolinone (MCI), and benzisothiazolinone.

Empower yourself to learn how to read labels. These are some of the top “avoid” ingredients to look for.

• Cocamidoropyl Betaine 

• Diazolidinyl Urea 

• DMDM Hydantoin 

• Ethanolamine Benzophenones

• Formaldehyde

• Imidazolidinyl Urea 

• Lanolin

• Methylisothiazolinone (MI)

• Methylchlorosiothiazolinone (MCI)

• Parabens 

• Propylene Glycol

• Phenoxyethanol 

• Tocopherol 

• Tocopherol Acetate 

• Quaternium 15

• Fragrance / Parfum*

*Fragrance/Parfum is not the immediate red flag people think that it is. You have to know what to look for and what to ask. See my fragrance guide for more.

You Don't Need to Wash Everyday

According to Harvard Health, frequent bathing can strip the skin of its natural protective oils and beneficial bacteria, which play a key role in keeping us healthy. This can leave the skin dry and irritated, as its natural defenses are washed away.

Unless the body is overly stinky, has been in the pool, or is covered in bug spray, bathing 2-3 times a week is just fine. For many kids, just once or twice a week is fine. You can always do a quick wipe with a wet cloth, or a bath with no soap.

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Bath Mats & Shower Curtains

If this is a battle you wish to choose, the ingredient to avoid is PVC (polyvinyl chloride). It is a low-cost, durable thermoplastic often used to make products that resist water and weather. The strong plastic odor from items like a new shower curtain or bath mat comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released as the PVC off-gasses.

One study identified more than 108 different volatile compounds released into the air from a new shower curtain. PVC can also trigger skin irritation, and in some individuals, has been linked to notable cases of allergic contact dermatitis.

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