Baby Powder

[Fruitwood]

Hi, I recently read an article advising new mothers not to use Talc on their newborns and then my mum read a similar article which said that Talc powder has been proven as a link to cervical cancer and that it should be avoided on the genital area and not to use it in nappies or underwear. My question is with Johnson's baby powder under the ingredients list it lists Talc and fragrance. Is this safe to use on babies ? I've been using corn flour to prevent nappy rash which so far has worked really well but love the scent of baby powder. Has anyone else heard this is dangerous ?

Thanks
Sharon

[Danni]

ive never heard of this but i dont believe everything they say about ancer links either.

talc has been used for a long time on babies... i hope you find the answer you are looking for

[mooshie]

i remember reading about this along time ago

also something about talc being so fine it can cause respitory problems can't remember the gist of it all.

we actually don't use it, but not for those reasons, just we never have lol

[Trillian]

I have always used J&J baby powder on my kids, but never on their nappy area, as I think it can get a bit irritating on the bottom when they wee, plus I always worried about it getting into every nook and cranny. I sort of don't believe in putting anything on their skin if they don't need it. I don't see how talc can be a link to cervical cancer because it is not like you put it there IYKWIM?

[bon]

I have known about this for a while. Obviously the risk of cervical cancer is only a problem in girls and only then if you manage to get some right, er, inside. But it is better to be safe I think. I have never used it except sometimes on my kid's tummies cos it smells nice. You can buy johnson's cornstarch powder and other brands of powders which have no talc in them and still smell nice.

I think they found a link because particularly years ago some women would powder themselves down there to help stay fresh. Nowadays we know not to use deodorants and other products on our nether regions.

[Angel]

I read recently that the cancer link is because talc is very similar chemically to asbestos?!

We've never used powder on Kynan, but like Bon mentioned you can get scented cornstarch powders now, even organic ones I think.

[Liz]

The respiratory danger - I remember seeing on TV a family who's baby had died because of inhaling the talc. But this was because the older toddler had spilt it over the baby's face or something. So there was lots of it. But that.. together with baby oil being just as dangerous if inhaled makes me not even want it near the change table. I've considered cornstarch powder.. but haven't really had a need for anything yet.

[Beckibee]

I was also warned by my MCHN not to use it on the genitals because of the cancer link; but I just use it on Maddy after a bath when she is dry - but behind the knees and those kind of places with rolls where dampness gets caught. Thus, she smells all yummy but doesn't have it on her girly bits.

[hannanat]

I dont like powder anyway as it becomes like a paste when wet. How yuck would that be on your bum after you've wet your nappy

[nikbrad]

My mum manages a doctors surgery and is right onto anything like this, she did mention an article she read in a medical journal (sometimes I think she is a Doctor!) about the powder/cancer link. I've never used powder on Mackenzie and never will because of the possibility of the cancer link, but I do use a nappy rash cream with each nappy change as a preventer.

[Astrid]

This is what I found on the Choice Australia website (Australian Consumers' Association
)- Is talc dangerous for babies?

What is talc?
Talc (hydrous magnesium silicate) is a soft greenish grey mineral found throughout the world. It’s crushed, dried and milled to create talcum powder.
In its raw form, talc is often contaminated with asbestos (a known carcinogen) and crystalline silica. In theory, contaminants are removed during the purification process but in reality some of these dangerous substances remain. Talc particles have the potential to enter and lodge themselves in the body -- reports focus on lungs and ovaries -- and cause tumours, lesions and other damage.


Accidental inhalation
Another safety issue relates to accidental inhalation of the powder: it’s said to dry out the lining of the lungs and can obstruct small airways, resulting in respiratory distress or even death.
Accidental inhalation of talc is a fairly common reason for people phoning a poisons information centre. A typical scenario involves an infant grabbing the talc container while having their nappy changed, and shaking the powder around before parents can stop them. Symptoms are flu-like (cough, fever, runny nose) and start about four to six hours after inhalation; hospitalisation may be required. Babies have died from the effects.


Talc and ovarian cancer
Recent studies have suggested a link between use of talc and ovarian cancer, with the risk of ovarian cancer up to double among those using talc (the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer for Australian women is approximately 1%). But other studies have found no increase in risk and say there’s no link.

Research supporting the talc-ovarian cancer link found that using talc on any part of the body elevates ovarian cancer risk, as does using it on sanitary products and underwear. So using it around baby’s bottom area probably isn’t a great idea.

It’s not clear why cancers form, although talc shares chemical similarities to asbestos (and before the mid-seventies, when many of us were babies, may even have contained asbestos). So if talc does cause cancers, they may be related to those resulting from asbestos exposure.


The verdict
Despite a lack of definitive evidence, it would seem prudent to avoid using talcum powder if there’s an alternative (such as a cream), especially on girls. If you use it, be careful — try to minimise airborne particles and keep the container out of your baby’s reach. A cornstarch-based powder may be suitable, but it’s still a risk if inhaled.

[Tigergirl1980]

Yup I've heard that you shouldn't use it because of the cancer risk. Our birth class midwife also told us that too. She said if you want to use talcum poweder to use the curash one because it has different stuff in it, or you can just use a shaker with cornflour in it.

[~Jo~]

Yep heard this also and also the probs of inhaling as well. I dont use it at all.

Jo

[Lucy]

The other thing I have heard (I am not sure of its accuracy) is that use of talc can increase the occurance of "labia fusion".....

We haven't ever used talc on either Cahrlie or Olivia, because of the potential risks........its a shame really, cos I love the smell of J&J!!

[mummy2Kaitlyn]

I have heard about the respitory problems that talc can cause. We stopped using it on Kaitlyn when she was a month or so old as it can apparently irratate dematitis which she had.

[Lea13]

This is definately an interesting thread. I was using it on Emerson but because of his nappy rash I stopped. I think I'll just revert to using it on his chest so he smells yummy!

[Tigergirl1980]

Zinc oxide is natural and it occurs in nature as the mineral zincite. It's also known as zinc white and calamine. I guess that's where calamine lotion comes from

[totalbabe77]

oh my god!!i have never heard of this!!!am so glad that i read this thread!!my DH and i are in absolute shock at the damage such a common baby product can cause!!!we don't use it, but we have an unopened bottle which we probably would have used otherwise..we also have curash powder(which we also haven't used) but am not sure of the difference..
we use the curash cream..it is great and if owen's bottom is a bit red we just put the cream on and by the next nappy change he's fine again..will stick to that i think!!