Baby Powder

Some people find baby powder irresistible. Others do not see the need for it. Although, there are opposing stands on the use of baby powder, it remains to be one of the most popular baby products available.

Using baby powders to prevent diaper rash is not a rare practice. However, because there have been “talks” about its harmful effects on the baby’s health, some parents are starting to use ointments instead of baby powder.

So, why use baby powder? Majority of parents would say that powder, sorts of, guarantee better moisture absorption. Also, it gives them the feeling that friction between the diaper and the baby’s bottom is prevented. And these are not all the reasons. There are actually some parents who use baby powder on the other parts of their babies’ bodies with the belief that perspiration is quickly absorbed as well. However, after years of existence, baby powders have been regarded by the medical field as unfavorable due to the following reasons:

Baby powder consists mainly of talc. The grinding of talc may have eliminated some trace minerals, but it does not work to get rid of the tiny fibers, very much the same as asbestos. Since, baby powders are widely used, they bring about the greatest health risks. Some of the minute fibers that come with talcum powder are magnesium silicates, zinc stearate, and some others. These particles are so fine that they are easily swept into the air and are exhaled into the lungs. Doctors have been warning parents against the use baby powders for this particular reason. There are actually a lot of reports wherein babies were rushed to the hospital due to serious conditions caused by the inhalation of the powder. Some studies even showed that most cases happened when babies had their usual diaper change. Even if there were strict adult supervision during those times, adverse effects still took place.

Another reason why the use of baby powder is debunked is because most dermatologists cannot find any additional benefit that baby powder can offer over ointments. Further, ointments are seen without any serious complications.

Powder cakes are also said to accumulate in the creases of the baby’s skin, eventually leading to irritation and/or rashes. Moreover, some of these built-up powder cakes cause the fungal infections.

The use of powder is not only limited for the purpose of absorbing moisture. In fact, a lot of parents have baby powders handy to give their babies a quick sprinkle every time they need them to smell nice. However, fragrance contained in powders can act as irritants or trigger allergies. Moreover, the irresistible, natural fragrance of babies is lost in favor of these artificial scents. The unscented baby powder is a better option since it would not have the additives present in the fragranced ones.

For parents who still insist on using baby powder for their babies, they should give the extra effort to look for the best possible option. There are several varieties available in the market. When you shop, make sure you read the label. Avoid those that contain talc. Even if the labels say that it has gone through extensive processes to get rid of the most minute traces of harmful fibers, no one has so far achieved this feat.

The use of cornstarch in favor of those talc-based powders is more advantageous. But parents still need to ensure that safe use is practiced at all times. Since the hazard of inhaling the powder has been established, make sure that you sprinkle a small amount of baby powder on your clean hands before applying it on the baby’s skin. Otherwise, you will have more than just moisture problem to worry about.