Children are not little adults. Pound for pound, kids are exposed to more contaminants in air, water, food, and personal care products than adults. Immature organ systems are often less capable of fending off chemical assaults. Subtle damage to developing bodies may lead to disease later in life.
Parents can make healthy choices by using fewer personal care products for their children, ignoring ad hype and following these tips shared by the EWG :
| Baby wipes | Avoid:
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| Diaper cream | Avoid:
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| Toothpaste | Use a small amount of fluoride-free toothpaste until kids can reliably rinse and spit (none for kids under 2). Use child-strength toothpaste for children 6 and younger. Use only a pea sized amount and supervise child’s brushing and rinsing (to minimize swallowing) |
| Sunscreen | Infants under 6 months don’t belong in the sun and they shouldn’t wear sunscreen. For older babies and children, use protective clothing and sunscreen that provides good UVA and UVB protection. Use enough and reapply often. |
| Baby powder | Skip it! Just like auto exhaust or secondhand smoke, tiny airborne particles can damage baby’s delicate, developinglungs |
