A baby is the face of all that is clean and pure and in this increasingly toxic world reducing their exposure to potentially harmful toxins appears more necessary than ever. It is not just airborne environmental pollutants either; toxins are in our food, water and items we use on a daily basis. Time and again a study is released revealing the potential dangers of an ingredient or product that we have utilized for years and it can be very confusing and difficult to determine what is safe and what isn’t and it can be especially frustrating when it comes to the health of your baby.

A great deal of ingredients used in baby products have never gone through toxicity testing for adults, let alone on the more delicate skin of infants. A baby’s skin is more vulnerable and susceptible to toxic chemicals and overload because their sensitive systems are still developing their elimination and detoxification processes and their ability to excrete these toxins is limited.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and has the ability to absorb whatever chemicals you come into contact with it, whether through deodorant, makeup or crèmes. In a baby’s routine that can include; shampoo, soap, powder and diaper rash crème, all of which can contain potentially toxic chemicals. Without the ability to properly filter out these chemicals, they can be absorbed through the skin, accumulate and possibly have detrimental effects on your baby’s health.

One ingredient used in some diaper rash crèmes is boron, also labeled as boric acid and sodium borate. Oddly and frightening, this ingredient is the number one roach, rodent and ant pesticide and is also found in paints, glass fiber manufacturing, and photography chemicals, among other places. The University of Maryland Medical Center states, “Boric acid is a dangerous poison. Poisoning from this chemical can be acute or chronic. Acute boric acid poisoning usually occurs when someone swallows powdered roach-killing products that contain the chemical. Chronic poisoning occurs in those who are repeatedly exposed to boric acid…The infant death rate from boric acid poisonings is high. However, boric acid poisoning is considerably rarer than in the past because the substance is no longer used as a disinfectant in nurseries.”

Some companies removed boric acid from their diaper rash ointment formulations as early as 1993 because of toxicity related issues associated with boric acid. Unfortunately, boric acid is still found in some infant products today despite this information and the fact that the Cosmetic Ingredient Review grades it as, “not safe for use on infant or injured skin.” Though boric acid is typically present in quantities of less than 5% in these infant products, its use is not recommended and over a period of time the accumulation of the small daily amount could have potentially hazardous effects that are still being investigated.

Given these statements and scientific opinions, it would be best to find a diaper rash ointment and other infant products that do not contain boric acid and preferably are free of other harsh chemicals, dyes and fragrances. Bentley Organic Baby Products, Earth Mama Angel Baby and Weleda are all wonderful baby products that are natural, safe and non-toxic and will gently care for your baby’s skin.