As a first-time mom, you should be ready for many diaper changes. However, this experience might lead to skin irritations from the use of diapers and diaper rashes. Therefore, the need to familiarize yourself with talc-free powder for babies. So, there is no cause for alarm – because these experiences are all part of the newborn’s growing process.
Why baby powder? It is considered very useful in taking care of messy situations such as irritated baby skin and for issues that have to do with diapers.
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Before now, baby powder was made mostly from talc but lately, there has been a lot of talk about talc-based baby powder – bordering majorly on its health implications on babies. Therefore, this has paved the way for the acceptance of talc-free baby powder.
Is It Safe To Use Baby Powder?
Yes! It is safe to make use of baby powder. However, there is a need to be careful about the type of baby powder to be used on your baby.
Therefore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has strongly advised desisting from the use of talc-based powder for both baby and adult. This body specifically said it should be avoided for the buttocks and genital regions because of the possibilities of asbestos – which is carcinogenic.
Besides, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have said a continuous exposure to talc could pose some respiratory problems.
What Is Talcum Powder?
Talcum powder is a product of talc – a mineral that is composed of magnesium, oxygen, and silicon. So, talcum is a good moisture absorbent thereby creating dry skin and helps to prevent rashes.
It is a common raw material in baby powder, makeup, adult facial and body powder, and other cosmetic items.
Today, most parents still make use of talcum powder in their baby’s diaper and even women make use of it to stay dry, clean, and fresh all day long.
However, with all these amazing qualities, doctors have recommended that women and children should desist from the use of talcum powder.
Why Is Talc Bad?
Talc contains asbestos when in its natural state – asbestos causes cancer when inhaled. The talc particles can easily be inhaled by children which might cause some breathing and respiratory problems and even deaths.
Also, women who use talc-based powders in their genital region are at the risk of developing ovarian cancer. So, the need to make use of talc-free baby powder.
And to this effect, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA) – a trade association that oversees the cosmetics and personal care product industry in the United States highlighted some voluntary guidelines stating that all talc used in cosmetics products in the US should not contain a detectable amount of asbestos based on their standard.
Alternatives To Talc Powder
So, if you are concerned about the safety of talcum powder, you can embrace talc-free powder substitutes. You can get some of these online, from local grocery stores, and drug stores.
Besides, you can make homemade baby powder from one or a combination of the following ingredients.
Cornstarch: This is the most commonly used alternative to talcum powder. You can easily locate cornstarch at the bakery section of grocery stores. Also, get it from online, the drug store, or stores like Walmart or Target.
So, the brands that use cornstarch blend are as follows;
- Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Pure
- The Honest Company Organic Baby Powder
- Burt Bee’s Baby Dusting Powder
Tapioca Starch: This is a product from the cassava plant and can absorb oil and moisture. Tapioca starch can be purchased from grocery stores and Amazon
So, the following brands make use of Tapioca starch;
- California Baby Calming Organic Powder
- Nature’s Baby Dusting Powder
- Peas in a Pod Sweet Baby Powder
Baking Soda: This is not only meant for deodorizing your fridge or for baking, it’s a safe baby powder alternative. However, this might be abrasive for sensitive skins. So, you should go for a blend of baking soda and cornstarch or kaolin clay.
So, the brands that use baking soda are;
- Avalon Organics Silky Cornstarch Baby Powder
- Honeybee Gardens Deodorant Powder
Kaolin Clay (cosmetic clay): Very absorbent and suitable for sensitive skins. It is used in many scrubs, soaps, and deodorants.
So, the brands below use kaolin clay (cosmetics clay) blend;
- Ora’s Amazing Herbal Pure Body Powder
- Country Comfort Baby Powder
Rice Starch: It was previously used in the production of face powder before the introduction of talc. However, it cakes easily and cannot be easily seen around except you order online.
So, the brands that use rice starch blend are;
- Organic Eve Rice Baby Powder
- Reiscare Rice Baby Powder
Baby Powders Without Talc
The following are the best talc-free baby powder products with reviews that are available in the market.
So, while the research to ascertain the connection between talcum powder and cancer continues – it is highly advised to settle for a talc-free powder. It is essential to have a powder with a high moisturizing power to prevent skin irritations and rashes.
Here are the top talc-free baby powders to keep your newborn’s bum dry and soothed without any risk attached.
Burt Bees Talc-Free Baby Powder
The Burt Bees 100 percent natural dusting powder is talc-free making it the top pick for parents that are not interested in talc-based powder. It is free from scary raw materials like parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), petrolatum, and some other unwholesome chemicals.
Also, it is approved and recommended by the pediatrician. Besides, its cornstarch content and the light scent make it the parent’s choice. Its price is okay when compared with other powders in the same category.
Interestingly, you can either order this powder without talc online, at the pharmacy stores, or the grocery stores.
Ingredients in Burt Bees talc-free baby powder include; Corn Starch, sodium bicarbonate, montmorillonite, bentonite, myrrh extract (Commiphora Myrrha Leaf Cell Extract), slippery elm bark powder (Ulmus Fulva Bark Powder), cabbage rose extract (Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract), perfume, and limonene.
Ora’s Amazing Herbal Baby Powder
The Ora herbal baby powder is one of the powders without talc. Also, it is grain and corn-free – which makes it suitable for skins that are easily irritated or that can easily suffer yeast infection.
Besides, it does not contain mineral oils, parabens, or other unwholesome chemicals. It contains a very low scent of natural amber and vanilla.
Ingredients found in Ora’s amazing herbal baby powder include; Pure Kaolin Clay, organic plantain leaf powder, arrowroot powder ( Maranta Arundinacea powder), baking soda, and a few drops of amber and vanilla essential oil.
Johnson’s Talc-Free Baby Powder With Cornstarch
This talc-free powder is made with Aloe and Vitamin E. Also, it uses cornstarch as one of the main raw materials for its production.
However, Johnson’s baby powder is a talc-free cornstarch based-powder that has fragrance, has been tested to be dermatologically okay, proven clinically to be gentle on the skin, and majorly produced for highly sensitive skin.
Therefore, this powder without talc is rated fair because of the presence of the fragrance and some other questionable raw materials.
Ingredients in Johnson’s talc-free baby powder include; Organic Corn Starch, calcium hydroxyapatite, fragrance.
Best Organic Baby Powders
Era-Organics Talc-Free Organic Dusting Powder
The Era-Organics baby powder is a talc-free baby powder that is gentle and nutrient-rich and is suitable for several delicate baby skins. Also, it does not contain any form of fragrance. It is made in the US and has received a 100 percent USDA certification on organic and talc-free powder. The Era organics also received certification on cruelty-free powder from PETA.
It is made with natural, non-toxic, fragrance-free raw materials and it’s offered at a good price when compared with talc-free powders in the same category. So, if you want something that can be used with cloth diapers or a powder that guarantees the dryness and softness of your baby’s bum – then go for the Era-Organics.
Its ingredients include; organic arrowroot powder, organic cornstarch, kaolin Clay, organic calendula extract, and organic rosemary extract.
Nature’s Baby Organics Silky Talc-Free Dusting Powder
Nature’s Baby Organics Silky Talc-Free Dusting Powder is another organic baby powder that is effective and at the same time safe for your baby. It has good absorbing qualities that will help keep your baby’s bum dry and fresh at all times. it has no harmful chemical additives.
Also, it is certified cruelty-free by PETA and all the ingredients have received USDA approval for organic. If you are concerned about yeast infection – this powder is cornstarch free. It is tapioca starch-based; this makes it rank as one of the safest and cleanest baby markets in the marketplace.
Its ingredients include; Organic tapioca starch, organic aloe, sunflower oil, and rosemary extract as main ingredients.
Bee All Natural Organic Talc-Free Baby Powder
This organic talc-free baby powder is specially made with no added preservatives, mineral oil, or added perfumes. The ingredients used for this powder have been hand-selected to give all the qualities required by a baby’s delicate skin.
Also, it is a USDA certified organic powder that uses 100 percent organic ingredients and it’s manufactured in the US. However, it comes in two variants – the fragrance (organic essential oil) and the non-fragrance variant.
Ingredients in the Bee all-natural organic talc-free baby powder include; Organic calendula flower powder, organic arrowroot powder, organic chamomile powder, organic plantain leaf powder, and organic marshmallow root powder.
How Best To Use A Baby Powder
The following guidelines should be adhered to when administering the talc-free baby powder;
Do not apply the powder directly to the genital regions.
Do not shake the powder close to the face because this might cause eye irritation and inhaling it might also cause some respiratory problems.
Ensure to keep all powders away from the reach of your little one.
In using the powder, put the required quantity on a clean, dry piece of handkerchief and gently apply it to the desired regions.
Conclusion
Being a first-time mom can be overwhelming especially with having to choose the right products that will not pose any health hazard to your little one. Baby powders are either made with organic, natural, or synthetic raw materials. It can also be a talcum-based powder or talc-free baby powder.
So, as a mom – you should choose your baby powder based on the ingredients used whether it can pose any health hazard, and the price.
Also, you should as a matter of urgency discontinue the use of talcum powders if you are presently using one and embrace the use of only talc-free powder. You also need to watch your baby closely in case they develop a rash after using a talc-free powder – discontinue and try another brand with different ingredients – your baby might just be reacting to a particular ingredient.
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