Betaine

0-6 month old newbornsSkin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Is this safe for 0-6 month old newborns to use Betaine?

⚠️
USE WITH CAUTION
Danger Score: 5 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Betaine use with caution for 0-6 month old babies when used in topical products. Always consult your pediatrician for newborns.

ℹ️General Overview

For newborns and babies 0–6 months: Betaine is a moisturizing ingredient used in some lotions and wipes. Most safety reviews find low risk for cancer or developmental harm, but there are noted risks of contamination with industrial pollutants and some reports of mild skin or eye irritation. Because babies’ skin is very delicate, I recommend a cautious approach.

What to Do

If you want to use a product that lists betaine on a baby younger than 6 months: choose products made for infants from reputable brands, use sparingly, test a small patch of skin first (a tiny area on the inner thigh) and wait 24–48 hours to watch for redness or rash, avoid using it on broken skin or near the eyes, and prefer rinse-off items over leave-on when possible. If you have any concerns, choose formulations that do not list betaine.

⚠️Warnings

Watch for redness, rash, swelling, eye irritation, unusual fussiness after applying a new product. The caution comes from safety and chemical reviews that list contamination concerns (dioxins, PAHs, PCBs, lead) and limited evidence of skin/eye irritation reported by agencies such as Environment Canada, the European Chemicals Agency, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, and notes about additive/food uses from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Also note some product-certification programs restrict use of this ingredient unless manufacturers provide extra safety documentation.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Are you holding the product?

Scan the full ingredient label and understand if it's safe for your child.

Scan the full label for free
Get instant analysis of all ingredients together

Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Cancer: The ingredient's contamination listing names dioxins, PAHs and PCBs as possible impurities. Those contaminants are known to raise cancer risk, so if the ingredient is contaminated there is a real cancer concern (based on the ingredient's contamination listing).
Organ Risk: Lead and some of the listed contaminants (for example PCBs) can harm organs such as the brain, liver and kidneys in children. The ingredient's contamination listing includes lead, so organ damage is a possible hazard if contamination occurs.
Long-Term Risk: High contamination concerns plus note that the ingredient may be used in food or as an additive mean repeated or combined exposures could lead to long-term health problems over time (this is noted in the ingredient profile and the FDA-related exposure note).
Builds Up: The contamination profile lists chemicals (PCBs and dioxins) that are known to accumulate in body fat. If those contaminants are present, they can build up in a child’s body with repeated use (based on the ingredient's contamination listing).
Breast Milk: Some contaminants named in the ingredient's contamination listing (for example dioxins and PCBs) are known to pass into breast milk. That means contaminated exposure could reach nursing infants (based on the ingredient's contamination listing).
Environmental: The listed possible impurities (PCBs, dioxins, PAHs) are persistent pollutants that can harm the environment. Their presence as contamination is flagged in the ingredient profile, so there is an environmental concern if they are present.

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for Betaine

This ingredient may also be listed as:

(TRIMETHYLAMMONIUMYL)ACETATECAPRYLIC AMIDOPROPYL BETAINEEC 203-490-6GTPL4550CHEMBL1182BMSE0009484-04-00-02369 (BEILSTEIN HANDBOOK REFERENCE)AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, SUBSTITUTED, (CARBOXYMETHYL)TRIMETHYL-, HYDROXIDE, INNER SALT (7CI)Z2756787719METHANAMINIUM, 1-CARBOXY-N,N,N-TRIMETHYL-, INNER SALT (9CI)betaineL BetaineBetain

Always check ingredient labels carefully, as ingredients may be listed under different names.

Products Containing Betaine

This ingredient is found in the following products:

This list shows products that contain Betaine or its alternative names.

Common Questions About Betaine

Is this ingredient safe for newborns to use Betaine?

Use caution with Betaine for 0-6 month old babies. Some safety concerns have been identified.

What are the cancer risks of Betaine for newborns?

Connected to cancer risk with long-term or repeated exposure. This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

What are the organ risk risks of Betaine for newborns?

May harm organs like liver, kidneys, or lungs with repeated use. This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

What are the long-term risk risks of Betaine for newborns?

Linked to long-term health effects after years of use or exposure. This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

What are the builds up risks of Betaine for newborns?

Builds up in the body over time with repeated use. This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

What are the breast milk risks of Betaine for newborns?

Detected in breast milk, meaning it can pass from mom to baby. This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

What are the environmental risks of Betaine for newborns?

Possible negative effects on the environment This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

What products contain Betaine?

Betaine is commonly found in skincare products, cosmetics, and topical applications. Always check ingredient labels before use.

When can infants start using products with Betaine?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredient properties and concentration. This analysis is for 0-6 month old babies. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

📱

Want to scan another product?

Use our camera scanner to analyze more ingredient labels

Scan Another Product