Johnson's baby cream

lotion • For 0-6 month old infants • Skin contact 🧴

lotion

Product Images

Product Photo

Tap to enlarge

Ingredient List

Tap to enlarge

Is this safe for 0-6 month old newborns to use Johnson's baby cream?

🚫

NO - AVOID

Danger Score: 36 (Lower is safer)

Quick Answer: Johnson's baby cream contains 16 ingredients. 5 concerning, 5 caution. Concerning - Has Problematic Ingredients ⚠️ Always consult your pediatrician for newborns.

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Ingredients Analysis (16 found)

Phenoxyethanol

🚨7/10

For infants (0–6 months): be careful. This preservative can irritate delicate baby skin and some countries limit how it’s used. It is not known to cause cancer or birth defects at normal cosmetic levels, but irritation is the main concern.

Irritant - Official hazard listings show this chemical can cause skin, eye, and lung irritation. Regulators classify it as an irritant, so it can make skin red or itchy and bother the eyes or breathing passages.

Asthma - Because it can irritate the lungs, it may make asthma or breathing problems worse. Workplace and hazard listings note lung irritation and limits on inhalation exposure.

Organ Risk - There is limited evidence that it can affect the nervous system and it is listed as toxic/harmful in official hazard codes. That means repeated or high exposures could harm organs like the nervous system.

Absorbed - Safety reviews and workplace data note systemic effects tied to how it is used, and nervous-system findings suggest the chemical can get into the body after skin or workplace exposure.

Banned - Some governments set limits on its use in cosmetics (for example, concentration limits from national health authorities), and some product standards require special proof before it can be used.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Fragrance

🚨6/10

Premium Fragrance Oil is a vague term for fragrance blends that may contain allergens or irritants not disclosed. Fragrances often cause skin sensitivity in babies under 6 months.

Irritant - Fragrance mixtures often contain chemicals that can cause skin irritation, redness, or rashes, especially on sensitive baby skin.

Eczema - Fragrances are known triggers for eczema flare-ups and can worsen symptoms in babies with sensitive or atopic skin.

Asthma - Fragrance chemicals can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may worsen asthma or breathing issues in babies and children.

Hormones - Some fragrance ingredients, such as certain phthalates, are suspected endocrine disruptors that may interfere with hormone development.

Absorbed - Certain fragrance chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and detected in the bloodstream, raising concerns for systemic exposure.

Breast Milk - Some fragrance components, including phthalates, have been detected in breast milk, indicating they can pass from mother to baby.

Banned - Some fragrance ingredients are banned or restricted in the EU and other countries due to health concerns.

Builds Up - Certain fragrance chemicals, such as some phthalates and musks, can accumulate in the body over time with repeated exposure.

Long-Term Risk - Long-term exposure to some fragrance chemicals has been linked to chronic health effects, including hormone disruption and allergic diseases.

Confidence: HIGH

Sodium Hydroxide

🚨6/10

For infants and newborns (0–6 months): sodium hydroxide is a strong chemical that can burn or irritate when concentrated. In baby lotions and cleansers it is usually used in tiny amounts to set the product’s acidity and is neutralized in the finished product. Still, because babies have very thin, delicate skin, this ingredient is more worrisome for newborns than for older children or adults.

Banned - This ingredient is restricted for use in cosmetics in some regions. The EU cosmetics rules list limits on its use, and industry safety reviewers say it can only be used safely at certain low concentrations or when specially handled.

Organ Risk - Authorities have flagged possible harm to organs with repeated or high exposures. A national health agency classified it as expected to be toxic or harmful and gave it a medium human-health priority, and a U.S. assessment found toxic effects in animal studies. There is also limited evidence of breathing-related toxicity noted by a medical literature source.

Asthma - There is limited evidence that breathing in this chemical can hurt the lungs or airways. Medical literature notes possible respiratory toxicity, so it could make breathing problems worse if a child is exposed to vapor or mist.

Confidence: HIGH

Steareth-2

🚨6/10

For newborns and babies 0–6 months, treat Steareth‑2 with caution. It’s usually used to help mix oil and water in creams and wipes, but tiny amounts of unwanted contaminants can be found from manufacturing and it can sometimes irritate sensitive baby skin.

Cancer - The ingredient is flagged for contamination with ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane. Those contaminants are known to be linked with cancer risk, and they are listed in the ingredient's contamination notes.

Environmental - An environmental agency review (Environment Canada) lists this ingredient as a suspected environmental toxin, meaning it may harm wildlife or waterways if released.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Steareth-21

🚨6/10

For newborns and babies 0-6 months: use caution. The ingredient itself is not strongly linked to cancer or long-term harms, but there are concerns about contamination during manufacturing and it can sometimes irritate skin or eyes. Baby skin is very delicate, so avoiding this ingredient when possible is safest.

Cancer - The ingredient record lists high contamination concerns for ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane as possible manufacturing impurities. Those contaminants are known by public health authorities to be linked to cancer, so contaminated batches of this ingredient could raise a cancer risk.

Environmental - A government environmental agency flagged this ingredient as a suspected environmental toxin. That means it may harm fish, plants, or other wildlife if released to the environment.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Petrolatum

⚠️5/10

Usually okay for infants when very pure and used sparingly as a moisture barrier, but purity matters a lot at this age.

Banned - In the EU, this ingredient is restricted unless it is very pure, because it can carry PAH leftovers from oil. This rule comes from the EU Cosmetics Directive.

Organ Risk - Canada’s environmental health agency lists it as expected to be harmful and a high health priority. With repeat use, it may stress organs like the liver.

Builds Up - Studies in people (2015) and in lab rats (2017) found mineral oil parts can collect in body tissues over time. Small daily amounts can add up.

Long-Term Risk - Because it can build up in the body and may carry PAH impurities, risks can grow with years of use. Purity limits in the EU were set to lower this risk.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract

⚠️4/10

For infants (0–6 months): chamomile flower extract is usually low risk for adults, but babies’ skin is much more sensitive. It can sometimes cause a rash or allergic reaction, so avoid using it routinely on newborns or very young babies.

No Known Risk - Major safety reviews find only low or unclear concerns. A cosmetic safety panel says this chamomile extract is generally safe in products when used with limits, and the European chemicals agency notes only limited evidence of skin allergy. A few small human studies and a review reported unclear (equivocal) findings for nerve or pregnancy effects, but the data are not strong. No health concern here is rated above low.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Dimethicone

⚠️4/10

Safety information not properly formatted for easy understanding

Builds Up - Regulators have said some forms are persistent and can bioaccumulate in people and wildlife. A REACH substance evaluation and Environment Canada findings name persistence and bioaccumulation as a concern, so this ingredient (or its related siloxanes) can build up over time.

Environmental - Environment Canada flagged this chemistry as suspected to harm the environment. The same evaluations note persistence in wildlife, meaning it can stay in nature and affect animals and ecosystems.

Organ Risk - An assessment by Environment Canada classified non-reproductive organ system toxicity as a concern, meaning repeated exposure may harm organs (for example, liver or kidneys) according to that regulator.

Banned - Some related siloxanes listed as contaminants (for example, cyclopentasiloxane / cyclotetrasiloxane and similar substances) have been heavily restricted by regulators under REACH and by other national reviews. Industry safety reviews also recommend limits or product-type restrictions.

Long-Term Risk - Because parts of this class are persistent and regulators and industry panels recommend use limits, there is a potential for long-term harms from repeated use or environmental build-up, as noted in REACH and Cosmetic Ingredient Review summaries.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Ethylhexylglycerin

⚠️4/10

For newborns and infants (0–6 months): this ingredient is not among the most dangerous, but it can sometimes cause skin or eye irritation and has been linked to allergic rashes in people. Because babies have very delicate skin, we recommend being careful.

Irritant - The ingredient is classed as an irritant by EU hazard labeling and safety reviewers. Animal studies also show skin, eye and lung irritation. That means it can cause redness, stinging, sore eyes, or breathing discomfort if used on or near a child’s skin or eyes.

Immune system - Human case reports and safety reviews describe allergic contact dermatitis from this ingredient and call it a relevant sensitizer in some cosmetics. This shows it can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive children.

Eczema - Because there are human reports of allergic contact dermatitis, this ingredient can start or make eczema and similar skin rashes worse in children who are sensitive.

Asthma - Animal studies reviewed by safety assessors show respiratory irritation at moderate doses. If the ingredient is inhaled (for example from sprays), it could make breathing issues or asthma worse in susceptible children.

Organ Risk - Safety assessments and animal studies report liver effects at low doses and limited eye toxicity. These findings point to possible harm to organs with repeated or higher exposure.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Mineral oil

⚠️4/10

Mineral oil is a common baby moisturizer and can protect skin, but for newborns and babies 0–6 months there are some reasons to be careful. Studies and regulatory reviews have noted possible buildup of some mineral-oil components in body tissues and some people can have allergic or breathing reactions.

Immune system - There is evidence that mineral oil can act as an allergen or harm the immune system. Health review groups and medical literature list it as a possible immune or allergic toxicant, and workplace guidance notes strong evidence for immune effects in people.

Asthma - Mineral oil has been identified as a human respiratory allergen/toxicant, which means it can make breathing problems or asthma worse for some people. Occupational health sources report strong links to respiratory effects.

Organ Risk - Regulatory health assessments classify mineral oil as expected to be toxic or harmful to organs with repeated exposure, and list it as a medium human health priority for non-reproductive organ effects.

Builds Up - Research studies found mineral oil hydrocarbons accumulating in animal and human tissues, showing this ingredient can build up in the body over time.

Absorbed - Because mineral oil hydrocarbons have been measured inside body tissues, they can be absorbed into the body from topical use and not stay only on the skin.

Long-Term Risk - Given its tendency to accumulate in tissues and classifications showing organ toxicity concern, there is a potential for long-term health effects with repeated exposure over time.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Carbomer

✅3/10

For infants (0-6 months): Carbomer is a common ingredient used to thicken creams and wipes. By itself it is not known to be dangerous and does not easily get into the body, but babies have very delicate skin so we treat it cautiously.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Stearyl Alcohol

✅3/10

For newborns and babies (0–6 months), stearyl alcohol is a common ingredient used to make creams and lotions feel smooth. Most experts see low risk for long‑term problems, but it can cause skin or eye irritation in some people. Because babies have very delicate skin, we should be extra careful.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Cetyl Alcohol

✅2/10

For newborns and infants (0–6 months): cetyl alcohol is usually safe when used in small amounts in baby products. It helps creams feel smooth and rarely causes reactions, but baby skin is extra sensitive and some experts want more safety data.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Glycerin

✅2/10

For newborns and infants (0–6 months): glycerin is a common, mild moisturizer found in many baby lotions and wipes. When used at normal levels in products made for babies, it is usually safe and well tolerated.

Confidence: HIGH

Isopropyl Palmitate

✅2/10

For infants (0–6 months): generally considered low risk and used to make skin feel soft and spread products easily. Because baby skin is very thin and more absorbent, use it with care.

No Known Risk - Reviews and government assessments did not find health hazards above a low level for normal topical use. Safety panels note use limits and some data gaps, but regulators have called it low priority for human health, do not expect it to build up in the body or the environment, and allow limited food uses. Taken together, current evidence does not show any health risks above low for typical use.

Confidence: MEDIUM

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 Johnson's baby cream

Is this newborn-safe? Johnson's baby cream

Johnson's baby cream is not recommended for 0-6 month old babies due to potentially harmful ingredients.

What ingredients should I watch out for?

We analyzed 16 ingredients in Johnson's baby cream. 5 concerning, 5 caution. Check the detailed analysis above for specific concerns.

When can newborns start using lotion?

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.