Awkward Moment Over...Baby Powder

[MissAnn]

40 years ago when my oldest kids were little, it was the thing every parent used on their babies. Some time after that it became an issue with particles getting into the lungs so some people went to using the cornstarch.

Personally, I don't like using any type of powdery substance on infants because from what I've observed, when it gets wet, it will clump in the creases and cause a worse problem.

That's what I've heard too, about it causing pneumonia....my oldest is 25.

[MsLaura529]

I've never used baby powder on my own kids or DCKs ... like PP's have mentioned, I was told it was unsafe as it could be inhaled.

That being said, my mom/grandma/aunts all used baby powder on us as kids and we are fine. I have never heard of needing a dr's note for it ... I just figured either you used it or you didn't.

[AnneCordelia]

I use corn starch baby powder. In my contract I list the products I use regularly: corn starch powder, vaseline, sunscreen, witch hazel (for minor scrapes), polysporin.

[Cradle2crayons]

I don't use it for every diaper change, but I have one dcg who I use it on regularly. She's a hefty one and sweats down there a lot. It REALLY helps prevent problems with her.

OP if you've been using it without an issue, keep using it. Just have parents sign if you don't already. I've used it in nearly every kid at some point just not with every diaper change.

I've never in 25 years known it to cause a UTI or any other issue.

[momofboys]

I've never used baby powder on my DS or DCKs, ever. I was under the impression it was an outdated practice that wasn't really safe. Could be wrong, just what I thought I've heard and so I've never used it, never seen a need for it.

Ditto this - our dr always recommended using creams/vaselines etc for any diaper-related issues. I could be wrong but isn't there a risk of inhalation or something that makes the powder potentially dangerous? Not sure if that is correct just the first thing that popped in my head!

[preschoolteacher]

I also heard it's outdated and not recommended, BUT I think that needing a prescription to use it is incorrect.

I think saying something like, "Oh, I have used baby powder for years under these circumstances, and I think it really helps. Would you rather I used something else instead?"

And then just go from there.

[Mom2Five+]

I have used cornstarch with my kids,foster kids and daycare kids but not at every change like mentioned before. I mostly have to use it on Mondays when the kids have not been changed on a schedule like mine and come back with redness and irritation. I can really see a difference by the end of the day with using the cream and cornstarch. I just make sure that when I apply it that I don't shake it out where a big puff of it comes out and is in the air. No problems with any of the kids I used it on and my oldest if 26.

[just_peachy]

Corn is the #1 GMO crop in America. So I pass on the baby powder. <------------(crazy theory conspirist, I admit. ...Or am I? )

[Willow]

My mom (was is a nurse) was adamant that I avoid it when I had my first child 10 years ago.

Original "baby" powders contained asbestos, which is a well known carcinogen and has been identified as such for some time. Although your run of the mill grocery store shelfed stocked powders been asbestos free for 40ish years now the safety of even asbestos free "baby" powders is still hotly debated.

Some studies have definitely indicated an increase in risk of certain cancers, particularly in the lungs due to the potential inhalant factor and also in the reproductive organs of girls and women.

I never used it on my kids and I won't use it in my daycare, not only for the kids sake but the impact I believe it could have on my health long term as well. Breathing in the particles day after day for what could shape up to be decades of work in this field I may as well be a guinea pig to the product.

No thanks

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/talcum-powder-and-cancer

"Based on limited evidence from human studies, IARC classifies the perineal (genital) use of talc-based body powder as "possibly carcinogenic to humans"."

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/talc.htm

[BumbleBee]

Personally I won't put anything on a dck w/o a signed medication form.

I have a sheet that parents fill out upon enrollment. It's a check list of sorts & has the following:

Lotion (unscented & hypoallergenic)

Vaseline (for chapped cheeks in the winter, under noses that are raw, butt's if there's no diaper cream)

Sunscreen (unscented & hypoallergenic)

Diaper cream (parent provided)

Baby powder (parent provided)

Bug spray (parent provided)

They check the box next to what can be used on their child then sign & date - renewed every year.

Anything else needs a seperate med form (tylenol, ibprofen, neosporin, etc) and is provided by the parent.

[Willow]

Corn is the #1 GMO crop in America. So I pass on the baby powder. <------------(crazy theory conspirist, I admit. ...Or am I? )

My husband and I are super into exploring the effects of GMO's and their effect on health lately.

Ever see the picture of the organic cob of corn and GMO cob of corn left out for the squirrels? We plan to try that in our own mini experiment this summer after growing both ourselves. We're skeptics to the core and want to see for ourselves if animals can tell the difference (if they can we may be making even more changes than we already have!)

[MarinaVanessa]

OK....can't believe I'm going to tell you this. Slightly off topic.

One day we went to Pigeon Forge. We had a foreign exchange student at the time who wanted to go to Dollywood. We left early in the morning. I like to put a little baby powder in my undies....just to feel a little fresh. LOL Anyway, we arrived in Gatlinburg and ate at a pancake place. We walked in and I plopped myself down on the chair.....then POOF! I big cloud of baby powder surrounded us! I don't "do" baby powder any more!

ROFL :::::::: I laughed out loud and cried a little bit when I read this. My DH looked at me like I had cracked and then just rolled his eyes "On your daycare forum again?"

[itlw8]

because it gets into the lungs we can not use it here. plus if they have a yeast infection that feeds on the cornstarch according to many drs it will may that kind of diaper rash worse.

other drs say use it.

[DAYCAREPROVIDER242]

Registered but logged out for this post...

Today dcg arrive after spending 5 day at home ( she is here 3 days only). She has redness in the diaper area, not a rash, but it looks mostly like an irritation due to sweat, and not perspiration... not huge deal.. I notified Mom, ad I went on with my day...

As I always do with all diapered babies, I use baby powder (cornstarch, scent free) at each diaper change, especially now that is getting hot here, and they sweat quite a bit..

Today at pick up I was explaining Mom about the redness, and after I said " the baby powder helped to keep her dry...etc", she looks at me and said "oh, really? we never use baby powder unless we have a prescription or an order by her doc to use it"...

I didn't know what to say, and I think I was left there with my mouth open for a few seconds, thinking within myself if today we truly need prescription or permission to use plain, baby powder...

I had my son almost 4 years ago... did something change since then? I used tons of it with him, and I've been using it in my diaper changing routine with the daycare kids...

FYI: this are first time parents, with a "I have no clue" kind of attitude...


How many of you use baby powder without big issues?? I'm still thinking about it...

I used it all the time with all of my children, all my dck's and any other child I watched that needed changed. Heck I used it on older kids' underarms and behind the knees too to keep them dry!

[mama0609]

I never used baby powder on my kids. Like others have said i heard it was an outdated practice and not safe due to inhalation. In fact I still have the container of it I got for my ods's baby shower over 7 years ago and it is almost completely full. I have recently started using it myself on my armpits and chest and back after I shower now that it's getting hot out.