baby powder

Hi everyone,

This is a naive "new mom" question. My twins are 3 weeks old and are bathing every 3 days or so. In two gift baskets I have received baby powder - the kind that has been around forever. Well, this evening my mom came over and bathed the girls and my husband said to me - is it okay to use baby powder? A lady we had over the other day went in the girls' room while my husband was changing the babies and was apparently aghast to see baby powder in our drawer and said something like, "I certainly hope you aren't using this on the babies". My husband never asked why and I have never heard that there was something wrong with baby powder. Does anyone here have any info for me?

Thanks! Deni

 

Hi everyone,

This is a naive "new mom" question. My twins are 3 weeks old and are bathing every 3 days or so. In two gift baskets I have received baby powder - the kind that has been around forever. Well, this evening my mom came over and bathed the girls and my husband said to me - is it okay to use baby powder? A lady we had over the other day went in the girls' room while my husband was changing the babies and was apparently aghast to see baby powder in our drawer and said something like, "I certainly hope you aren't using this on the babies". My husband never asked why and I have never heard that there was something wrong with baby powder. Does anyone here have any info for me?

Thanks! Deni

 

Here is the answer from one of the BabyCenter docs:

"Question: Is baby powder really unsafe for my baby?

Answer: Baby powder may smell good, but it can get into your baby's lungs, swelling and irritating them, and lead to breathing problems. It can also cause an inflammatory reaction in some children when exposed to the broken skin of a diaper rash. A better choice all around for reducing rubbing and preventing diaper rash is cornstarch, which is coarser and safer than talcum powder.

Whichever you decide to use, dump a small amount into your hand and then apply it to the diaper area. Never shake the powder directly on or near your baby. Also be careful to wash away any powder that may have accumulated in her skin folds. If it cakes there, it can create a breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to infections."

There has also been some talk about talc (in talcum powder-baby powder)being linked to ovarian cancer.

That said our pedi said it was okay to use baby powder that does not contain talc (uses cornstarch aka zea mays) by sprinking directly into the diaper away from baby. You want to make sure they don't breathe any of the dust from the powder. But, she also said that ointments and butt paste might be a better alternative. Hope that helps.

 

We use it sparingly on the bums after they take a bath, but its usually when they look a little red down there. I used it with my oldest and he is 4 and in perfect health.

 

I have five kids....the only place I have ever used baby powder is in shoes. I have never used it on bums or any other place. I don't plan on using it with these twins, either. I am sure somewhere a long time ago it was a useful thing, however, I know of no one that uses it.

 

my little nate has lots of fat folds at the top of his legs that sometimes gets a little red or stinky. I will put a little powder on him to preven this. But I don't use it often at all. I heard about it being bad for their lungs too.

 

we use baby power with cornstarch in it as for my girls can't use anyof the butt creams so we use just alittle in there diapers when they are red. our ped told us what kind to get so that is what we use only.