Aquaphor Baby Wash & Shampoo

shampoo & bodywash & conditioner • For 0-6 month old infants • Skin contact 🧴

shampoo & bodywash & conditioner

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Ingredient List

Aquaphor Baby Wash & Shampoo - Ingredients

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Is this safe for 0-6 month old newborns to use Aquaphor Baby Wash & Shampoo?

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NO - AVOID

Danger Score: 11 (Lower is safer)

Quick Answer: Aquaphor Baby Wash & Shampoo contains 12 ingredients. 1 concerning, 4 caution. Concerning - Has Problematic Ingredients ⚠️ Always consult your pediatrician for newborns.

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Ingredients Analysis (12 found)

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

🚨6/10

For infants (0–6 months) this cleansing ingredient is commonly used in washes and wipes but should be used with care. It can sometimes irritate or cause allergic reactions, and some batches can carry trace contaminants. Babies’ skin is more delicate, so caution is advised.

Immune system - Cosmetic safety reviews (Cosmetic Ingredient Review and draft safety reports) report limited evidence that cocamidopropyl betaine can sensitize skin or trigger allergic reactions. That means it can affect the immune system in some people, especially those with sensitive skin.

Irritant - Industry safety assessments note limited evidence of skin sensitization and explicitly warn the ingredient may be unsafe in products left on the skin (not rinsed off). This shows it can cause redness, itching, or irritation for some users.

Eczema - Safety panels and reports observed cases of sensitization and recommend limits on use and product types. Because it can provoke skin reactions, it may trigger or worsen eczema in sensitive children.

Cancer - Regulatory and industry reviews flag contamination concerns for this ingredient, including nitrosamines and related amines. Nitrosamines are known to be carcinogenic, so impurity risks raise a cancer concern unless impurities are controlled as industry reviewers recommend.

Banned - Expert panels and tentative regulatory reports recommend use, concentration, and manufacturing restrictions for this ingredient and note it is unsafe in some product types (leave-on). While not universally banned, it is subject to regulatory or industry limits in some contexts.

Environmental - A national environmental agency (Environment Canada) flagged this ingredient as a suspected environmental toxin, indicating possible harm to ecosystems if released into the environment.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Sodium Myreth Sulfate

⚠️5/10

For newborns and babies (0-6 months) this ingredient is a common cleanser but can irritate delicate skin or eyes in some babies. The biggest worry comes from possible contamination during making the ingredient, not from long-term cancer or developmental risks.

Cancer - The ingredient data flags contamination with ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane. Those impurities are linked to cancer risk when they are present in products, so the main worry is not the ingredient itself but these contaminant chemicals (listed in the ingredient data and noted in safety reviews).

Long-Term Risk - Because contamination with ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane is called out, there is a possible long-term health risk from repeated exposure. The ingredient record also shows safety-review gaps and limits on use, which means long-term safety is not fully settled (see Cosmetic Ingredient Review and the ingredient data notes).

Confidence: MEDIUM

Citric Acid

⚠️4/10

For newborns and infants (0–6 months), citric acid is generally low risk for long‑term harm but can irritate sensitive baby skin or eyes. It is used to balance acidity in many products, but special care is needed for very young babies.

Banned - Health Canada has placed restrictions on the use, concentration, or manufacturing of citric acid in cosmetics in Canada. An industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) also says safe use depends on product concentration and notes data gaps, so makers must limit or document how they use it. Because of these government and industry limits, some safety-verification programs will not allow this ingredient in products without proof it is used safely.

Confidence: HIGH

Decyl Glucoside

⚠️4/10

For infants (0–6 months): Decyl Glucoside is a gentle cleansing ingredient that is usually safe, but a few babies have had skin reactions. Because newborn skin is extra delicate, I recommend being cautious.

Immune system - Human patch-test studies and clinical case reports have found that decyl glucoside can trigger allergic immune responses in some people. A 2020 UK/Ireland prevalence study and multiple patch-testing reports show possible immune or allergenic effects, so this ingredient can cause allergy-type reactions in sensitive children.

Eczema - Clinical case reports and patch testing have linked decyl glucoside and related alkyl glucosides to allergic contact dermatitis (skin rashes). Because these documented cases show true allergic skin reactions, the ingredient can trigger or worsen eczema in babies with sensitive skin.

Confidence: HIGH

PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate

⚠️4/10

For newborns and babies up to 6 months: this ingredient itself is not highly toxic, but there is a higher risk from manufacturing residues (like ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane). Because infants have very delicate, thin skin, we recommend extra caution.

Cancer - This ingredient has high contamination concerns with ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane. Those two chemicals are linked to cancer by major health agencies, so their presence as impurities makes cancer a real risk if exposure happens.

Long-Term Risk - Because the contaminant chemicals are tied to cancer and other harm over time, repeated or ongoing use could raise health risks years later. The U.S. FDA also notes there can be multiple sources of exposure, which adds to long-term risk.

Organ Risk - One of the listed contaminants (1,4‑dioxane) is known by health authorities to affect organs like the liver and kidneys with repeated exposure. The finding of this contaminant makes organ harm a possible concern.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Bisabolol

✅3/10

Soothing agent and fragrance. Low toxicity and low sensitization at typical levels, but infants may be sensitive. Likely used for anti irritation and mild scent.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Sodium Benzoate

✅3/10

For newborns and babies 0–6 months: sodium benzoate is a preservative that is generally considered low risk at the small amounts used in skin products, but infant skin is delicate so we take extra care.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Polyquaternium-10

✅2/10

For newborns and babies (0-6 months): Polyquaternium-10 is usually considered low risk in rinse-off baby products like shampoos, but there is limited information specifically for very young infants. Because babies’ skin is more delicate, we stay cautious.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Sea Salt

✅2/10

For infants and newborns (0–6 months), sea salt is usually safe on the skin in small amounts. It is not linked to cancer or long-term harm. Still, baby skin is very sensitive and salt can sting or dry the skin.

No Known Risk - Sea salt has no clear health risks for topical use. U.S. regulators list it as safe for food use, and a Canadian health agency finds it unlikely to harm organs, calls it a low human-health priority, and says it does not build up in the body or the environment.

Confidence: HIGH

Panthenol

✅1/10

Panthenol (provitamin B5) is generally safe for infants and newborns. It helps moisturize and soothe baby skin and is rarely irritating. Studies and government reviews do not show it to be toxic when used on skin.

No Known Risk - Health and regulatory reviews (including Canadian and U.S. assessments and industry safety panels) find panthenol has no reported hazards above a low level for topical use. It is not expected to harm organs, does not appear to build up in the body or the environment, and common concerns (cancer, allergies, reproductive effects) were rated low. There are some industry notes about safe use levels and a few data gaps, but no higher-level health risks were identified.

Confidence: HIGH

Sodium Chloride

✅1/10

For infants and newborns (0-6 months) this ingredient is generally safe when used in the small amounts found in baby wipes, creams, and saline drops. It is the same simple salt used in food and is not considered toxic in these low amounts.

No Known Risk - Regulatory reviews flag no meaningful health hazards for topical use. Food and health authorities list it as safe for limited use, and environmental assessments find it unlikely to harm organs, build up in the body, or damage wildlife. Overall expert sources rate concerns as low across cancer, allergies, development, and use restrictions.

Confidence: HIGH

Water

✅0/10

Water is very safe for a newborn’s or baby’s skin. Tests and regulatory reviews find no meaningful health risks from water used on the skin.

No Known Risk - Regulatory reviews (Environment Canada) find plain water is not expected to be toxic, not bioaccumulative, and not an environmental toxin. Safety summaries list no concerns above a low level for organ harm, reproductive effects, or other long‑term risks for topical use, so no specific health risks are identified for use on skin.

Confidence: HIGH

Common Questions About Aquaphor Baby Wash & Shampoo

Is this newborn-safe? Aquaphor Baby Wash & Shampoo

Aquaphor Baby Wash & Shampoo is not recommended for 0-6 month old babies due to potentially harmful ingredients.

What ingredients should I watch out for?

We analyzed 12 ingredients in Aquaphor Baby Wash & Shampoo. 1 concerning, 4 caution. Check the detailed analysis above for specific concerns.

When can newborns start using shampoo & bodywash & conditioner?

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

⚠️ Important Disclaimers

Product Recognition: Product names are identified programatically and may be incorrect. Always verify product identity yourself.

Safety Analysis: Evaluations are for research only - consult pediatricians for medical decisions. Do not rely solely on this analysis.

No Guarantees: Results may be incomplete or inaccurate. Do not rely solely on this analysis.