Is Perfume Bad For Babies? Can It Harm Them?

Being a parent is difficult as it is. More so if you happen to be a new one. But things get worse when you realize that there are many things that you consider harmless, but in reality, they pose a severe danger to your toddler or baby. Out of the numerous harmful substances, we’ll have a look at perfumes. So, is perfume bad for babies? Can it harm them, or is it just a myth?

In short, yes, perfumes do pose a threat to infants. If a baby inhales the fragrance, the strong scents of the perfume will affect their senses. It will lead to sneezing, coughing, and even trigger an allergic reaction. It will be more detrimental if the baby has asthma. Some even put it in the same category as second-hand smoking.

There are many reasons why I will advise babies to be kept away from perfumes and many other cosmetic products. This is primarily because the ingredients to make them are quite troublesome and are known to cause complications. So, let’s take a closer look at the subject to understand it better.

Is Perfume Safe For Babies?

Perfumes are highly discouraged for babies. It’s not recommended nor safe for you to expose your babies to artificial scents composed of various chemicals. Not only is it harmful, but it may also trigger allergic reactions, long-lasting health complications, or cause accidental poisoning.

There have been multiple instances where perfumes and similar products are specifically designed for kids. They are being modeled by A-list celebrities such as Madonna and Angelina Jolie. The ads even suggest that they are dermatologically and clinically tested, but in reality, they pose quite a bit of a threat to children. 

So, what is the bigger picture? Well, once you come to know the types of chemicals and other denatured products used in perfumes, you will refrain from using them yourself. Ads are there to sell while the models promoting these products don’t even use them themselves in real life.

A perfume will contain 77% to 94% denaturalized ethyl alcohol. In addition to that, you’ll also find synthetic or natural essential oils and glycerin. A chemical called phthalates are used to preserve the perfume for extended periods.

When it comes to kids’ perfumes, manufacturers usually use lower percentages of alcohol, but that doesn’t mean that the whole perfume is alcohol-free. And if it has anything to do with babies, do not allow a single percentage of alcohol to touch their skin as long as you can.

Even if the perfume promises to be alcohol-free, it will contain all the chemicals I just talked about. Essential oils, glycerin, and phthalates are no better either. They’re also infamous for triggering allergic reactions and causing harm to babies.

And that’s not all of it. When you look at various studies conducted by professionals, you’ll see that the chemicals in these perfumes are known to cause health risks to babies and adults alike. If you have sensitive skin, it will trigger rashes and even dermatitis. 

It can be even more detrimental if you or your baby have asthma because the smell of these perfumes triggers it further. So, is smelling good worth all this risk?

Should You Wear Perfume Around Babies?

Many of you love the smell of perfumes. You might have worn it regularly and have gotten used to it for most of your life without facing any complications. But can you expect the same for your newborn baby? No, you can’t! You need to stay alert because your baby will smell the perfume on you, which might most likely trigger an allergic reaction.

When you use perfume, what do you usually do? Spray it on your wrists and your neck? That’s the go-to for most people. Now it may have manifested and turned into a ritual for you while you were growing up, but your baby’s skin might not be so welcoming towards it.

So, when you hold your baby, you’re using your wrists and pulling him/her close to your chest and neck. The baby will inhale the jumble of chemicals and toxins buzzing around you. That’s not safe even the slightest bit!

And it’s not that the baby will give you an immediate reaction. It will only start with minor headaches that lead to coughing and sneezing. And once you understand that your baby has an allergic reaction, it might even be too late in some cases. So, it’s better always to be careful when it comes to your babies.

What Is The Alternative?

While it’s understandable that you might want your baby to smell cute all the time, at the same time, you also need to be aware of the fact that babies’ skin is more prone to absorb the chemicals and toxins in perfumes than adults. This will result in various reactions and often skin allergies. So, the best alternative would be to use soap and water. 

The fragrance that comes with soap and baby wash is more than enough to keep your baby smelling fresh throughout the day.

And if that’s still not enough, you could always spray the perfume on your baby’s clothes rather than their skin. This way, the chemicals won’t come into direct contact. But even then, you should handle the quantities with care. 

But soap and water are a better alternative, as spraying the perfume on clothes is the same as spraying it yourself. And we already discussed the reasons why you shouldn’t use perfumes around babies. 

Is There A Way To Choose A Safe Perfume?

Even after going through all the pros and cons, you might still feel the obligation to have your baby wear perfume once in a while. If you’ve decided on that, I’d recommend that you use a safer perfume. And choosing a safer perfume might be easier than you think. Just search for a product that is essential to natural ingredients.

The natural ingredients would include natural and unaffected extractions and aromas from flowers and leaves. The source of this fragrance is purely from them without adding any other chemicals. 

Thus, these perfumes do not contain chemicals or toxins—no synthetic chemicals like phthalates or aldehydes, etc. Even more reassuring is that some of these natural perfumes are also vegan and cruelty-free. This means their synthesis and formulations have nothing to do with animal products. And this is a big deal in this day and age.

And as times have progressed and consumers have become more aware of what goes on inside a product, the manufacturers have also learned to cater to their customers’ newly discovered needs. As a result, you’ll find many modern perfumes from the highest-quality flowers and plant extracts. Jasmine, rose, lily, vanilla, and so on.

But how will you know which ones are made from natural ingredients? Just look for the label that says “vanilla extract”, “rose extract”, “rosemary essential oil blend”, etc. And you’ll be good to go.

Conclusion

Now that we’re at the end of the article, you might have concluded that perfumes are indeed not safe for babies. It’s also apparent that the fragrance industry is doing as they please without having any regulations. Thus, it’s not a surprise that the FDA has not investigated the majority of these fragrances and the safety of their ingredients.

Thus, it’s always a good idea not to expose your babies to such harmful chemicals that might lead to severe health complications. So, is perfume bad for babies? Absolutely! Thus, be sure to look for a natural alternative instead. I hope this article was able to provide more insights. Thank you for giving it a read, and I hope you have a great day ahead.