Anisha Riggs
The use of perfumes and fragrances on and around babies is a topic of concern for many new parents. Babies have a highly developed sense of smell from birth, which they use to identify their mothers and navigate the world around them. However, the public is increasingly exposed to chemically fragranced products, with fragrances added to perfumes, cosmetics, household cleaners, and even retail stores. Many of these products contain toxic chemicals, and babies may be at an increased risk of reacting to airborne fragrances. This has led to concerns about the potential health hazards of fragrance exposure in babies, with some sources recommending that parents avoid using perfumes and fragranced products on and around their babies, especially in the early months.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Babies' sense of smell | Highly sensitive from day one |
| Babies' recognition of their mothers | Through their natural scent |
| Effect of perfumes on babies | May cause allergies, interfere with their recognition of their mothers, and cause other health issues |
| Toxicity of perfumes | Many perfumes contain toxic chemicals, including phthalates, which are suspected to be hormone disruptors |
| Regulation of perfume ingredients | Companies are not required to list all ingredients on product labels |
| Safety of perfumes for babies | Not recommended for use near babies or infants |
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What You'll Learn
Babies' sense of smell is highly sensitive
A baby's sense of smell is highly sensitive from the day they are born, and they use it to help them understand the world around them. In fact, a baby's olfactory system develops in the womb, and by the time they are born, they can smell about as well as adults. This sense of smell is closely related to taste, influencing what a baby likes to eat.
The sense of smell is processed by a part of the brain that also controls memory. It creates strong associations between particular scents and experiences. A scent may trigger a memory for a child years later, reminding them of a time or feeling from the past. Babies start using their sense of smell in the womb, as they breathe and swallow amniotic fluid, becoming familiar with its scent. This is useful because the smell is similar to that of their mother's breast milk, which they will need soon after birth.
Babies are born with all senses, but their sense of smell is one of the strongest and will continue to get stronger for the first eight years of their life. It is an essential sense to help them feel comforted and promote the development of their other senses, especially taste and vision. A baby's vision is still developing after birth, so they recognize people and places by their scent. They may not feel as comforted by you if you mask your natural scent with perfumes. Babies also develop a bond with their mothers through their sense of smell. They will know their mother by her natural scent, which is why it is not good to mask it with perfumes right after birth.
Babies are routinely exposed to a multitude of chemicals each day in food, water, and personal care products. Many chemicals have not been assessed for safety by regulatory bodies. These products can include perfumes, cosmetics, colognes, detergents, air fresheners, soaps, and deodorants. Contained in these fragranced products are often chemicals that can be harmful to human health and children's development.
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Fragrances are allergens for babies
Babies have a highly sensitive sense of smell from birth. They use it to understand the world around them and to identify their mother. However, they are routinely exposed to a multitude of chemicals, including those found in perfumes and fragrances.
Fragrances are added to many personal care products, including those intended for babies, such as baby bath additives and baby lotions. These fragrance chemicals can act as respiratory irritants or sensitizers, and they are easily absorbed by the lungs and can reach the bloodstream. The exact health effects of fragrance exposure are not yet fully understood, but it has been suggested that fragrances may elicit headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, difficulty in concentrating, and exacerbation of allergies and asthma in some individuals.
Fragrances are one of the main causes of allergic contact dermatitis in children. A study found that fragrances were the second most common allergens identified in children referred for patch testing, with sensitization rates ranging from 26.6% to 96%. This indicates that a significant proportion of children are allergic to fragrances.
To protect babies and children from potential health risks, it is recommended to avoid using highly perfumed or fragranced skin products, especially in the early days of a baby's life. It is important to keep the chest area completely natural-smelling so that the baby can recognize their mother's scent and form a strong bond. Instead of using perfumes, a wide range of natural smells can stimulate a baby's senses and help them form neurological connections and evolve different brain centers.
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Babies can inhale toxic chemicals from perfumes
A baby's sense of smell is highly sensitive from the very beginning. They use it to navigate their world and form bonds with their caregivers. However, they are also highly susceptible to the harmful effects of toxic chemicals commonly found in perfumes and fragrances.
Perfumes and fragrances are known to contain toxic chemicals. A study by Steinemann (2015) found that out of 156 chemicals, 42 were classified as toxic or hazardous. These chemicals can be easily absorbed by the body when applied to the skin or inhaled. When you smell a fragrance, you are essentially breathing in these chemicals, which are then absorbed by the lungs and quickly reach the bloodstream.
Babies are especially vulnerable to the effects of these toxic chemicals due to their smaller weight, which can result in higher concentrations of toxic compounds in their bodies. Their developing bodies and brains are also more susceptible to the disruptive effects of these chemicals, which can impair functions such as growth and repair. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, for example, have been linked to a range of health problems, including cancer and reproductive system disorders.
In addition, fragrances are one of the most frequent allergens causing allergic skin reactions in children. A baby's exposure to fragrances can also interfere with their sense of smell, which is crucial for their development and bonding. For instance, a baby naturally recognises their mother's scent and the smell of breast milk, which aids in feeding and forming a deeper connection. Strong fragrances can confuse a baby's natural ability to recognise these scents.
To reduce the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals, it is recommended to avoid using highly perfumed or fragranced products, especially during the early days of a baby's life. Instead, opt for unscented detergents, baby-friendly perfumes, and natural-smelling chest areas to facilitate bonding and a baby's understanding of the world.
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Babies can ingest toxic chemicals from perfumes on skin
A newborn's senses are not as developed as an adult's. They have poor eyesight and rely on their sense of smell to identify their mother and other family members. They also smell breast milk, which prompts them to feed. Babies start using their sense of smell while still in the womb. As they breathe and swallow amniotic fluid, they become familiar with its scent, which is similar to that of their mother's breast milk.
Perfumes and fragrances can interfere with this process. A baby's sense of smell is highly sensitive, and they use it to help them understand their world. Using a fragrance near a baby can be dangerous because the public is bombarded with chemically fragranced products every day. These products include cosmetics, colognes, detergents, air fresheners, soaps, deodorants, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, body wash, perfumes, and scented candles.
When you apply fragrances to your skin, your body absorbs the chemicals in them. These chemicals are then breathed in and easily absorbed by the lungs, reaching the bloodstream within a few minutes. Companies are not required to list all ingredients on product labels, which results in people being unknowingly exposed to potentially harmful chemicals.
Babies may be at an increased risk of reacting to airborne fragrances. One study found that the concentration of room freshener fragrance was higher at children’s breathing height compared to adult breathing height in the minutes following the use of fragranced air fresheners. In addition, infants, toddlers, and young children may not be able to metabolize (detoxify) chemical compounds as efficiently as adults. Their smaller weight may also contribute to increased concentrations of toxic compounds in their bodies.
Therefore, it is recommended to avoid using highly perfumed or fragranced skin products in the early days of a baby's life. This will help the newborn get to know your scent and form a deeper bond with you.
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Toxic chemicals in perfumes can cause cancer
The public is exposed to chemically fragranced products every day, including perfumes, cosmetics, colognes, detergents, air fresheners, soaps, and deodorants. These products contain a complex mixture of chemicals, many of which have toxic effects on humans. For example, a 2015 study identified more than 150 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) distributed from 37 aromatic consumer products in the United States, 42 of which were classified as toxic or hazardous.
Perfumes and colognes are widely used, but they can have side effects on consumers. Phthalates, aldehydes, parabens, and aluminum-based salts are the most important contaminants in aromatic products that cause side effects such as allergies, breast cancer, reproductive disorders, skin allergies, nervous system damage, and migraine headaches. Other toxic chemicals found in perfumes include diethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, and triclosan, an antimicrobial substance that was banned by the FDA in 2016 but is still used in some compounds.
The fragrance industry is largely self-regulated, and there are gaps in standard safety testing, which makes it difficult to determine the safety of fragrance chemicals. A 2018 study by the Silent Spring Institute found 45 endocrine-disrupting or asthma-causing chemicals in six types of African American hair products, with diethyl phthalate among the highest concentrations. Endocrine disrupters, which mimic human hormones, are of particular concern as they can have effects even in tiny doses.
The exact health effects of exposure to fragrances are not yet fully understood, but collaborative efforts by industry, regulatory, scientific, and medical communities are needed to address this issue. In the meantime, it is recommended to avoid highly perfumed or fragranced skin products, especially around babies and young children, as their sensitive sense of smell can be overwhelmed, and their health and development can be impacted by toxic chemicals.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, perfumes can be toxic to babies. A baby's sense of smell is highly sensitive from day one, and they use it to understand their world and bond with their mother. Exposure to toxic chemicals in perfumes can impair body functions such as growth and repair and have been linked to health problems including cancer and reproductive system disorders.
It is recommended to use baby-friendly perfumes and scents that are free from toxic chemicals. Apps like Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep project, Think Dirty, Detox Me, or Clearya can help evaluate personal care products’ active and inactive ingredients.
Toxic chemicals in perfumes can cause adverse health effects in babies, including allergies, asthma, aggression, conduct and attention problems.
Avoid using highly perfumed or fragranced skin products, especially in the early days of your baby's life. Keep your chest area completely natural-smelling so that your baby doesn't confuse your scent. Avoid using air fresheners and scented candles, as these can decrease air quality and expose your baby to harmful chemicals.
