Safe Bath Time Bubbles for Toddlers
Kids usually love bubble baths -- bubbles can tempt your recalcitrant toddler into the tub. But some bubble bath solutions could cause skin or eye irritation or, in little girls, vaginal irritation or urinary tract infection. Choose your bubble bath solution carefully and stop using any bubbles -- despite the complaints you'll get -- if your toddler develops any signs of a reaction from bubbles. Or just stick to fun toys in the tub from the start, since your child won't miss bubbles if you never introduce him to them.
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Ingredients
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Many baby bubble bath solutions contain ingredients that sound more like chemical soup than a healthy product for small children to sit immersed in. And sometimes these solutions include potentially carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde or 1,4-dioxane. Manufacturers don't deliberately add these chemicals; they occur as byproducts of the manufacturing process. Specifically, the process of ethoxylation, which breaks harsh chemicals down to make them less harsh, produces them. Read labels and avoid those with ingredients such as sodium myreth sulfate, PEG compounds and chemicals with "xynol," "ceteareth" and "oleth" somewhere in their names, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics advises. Also avoid products that can accompany formaldehyde, including quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate or 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol) in the ingredients list.
Skin Risks
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Some toddlers have very sensitive skin; bubble bath solutions could cause an uncomfortable rash. To reduce the risk of rashes, rinse your toddler thoroughly in clear water before letting him out of the tub. Watch for signs of rash or irritation, such as redness or scratch marks, and discontinue the product if you see signs of skin irritation. If your child gets bubbles in his eyes, rinse with clear water for at least 15 minutes, MedlinePlus recommends. If your child's eyes turn red, see his pediatrician.
Girls and Vaginal Irritation
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Bubbles can irritate skin inside the vagina as well as on the outside, but you might not see the effects immediately. If your toddler seems uncomfortable when she urinates or seems to be picking or pulling at her diaper or underwear, she might have an irritated vulva or urethra. If you look, the area might appear red or scratched. Studies haven't proved that this type of irritation will lead to urinary tract infections, although it's possible, a point made in an article published in the "Archives of Disease in Children" in October 2006. If you notice irritation, let it clear up, then try switching brands if bubbles are the highlight of your toddler's day.
Ingesting Bubbles
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As often as you tell your toddler not to drink bath water, bath products or anything else in an unfamiliar container, they rarely listen. Get in the habit of recapping bath products and putting them out of your toddler's reach in the tub. Bubble bath is generally considered nonpoisonous, MedlinePlus reports, but ingestion of toxic chemicals over time could have cumulative effects. Call the poison control center -- the number is 1-800-222-1222, regardless of where you live in the United States -- if your child starts vomiting or has diarrhea after ingestion.
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