Is Phenoxyethanol in baby prod Safe for Babies 0–12 months?
For babies 0–12 months, Phenoxyethanol in baby prod is best avoided. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used in many lotions and wipes.
Why this rating?
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used in many lotions and wipes. In 2008 the FDA warned consumers not to use a nipple cream that contained phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin, saying the ingredients could interact to cause slow or shallow breathing in nursing infants and that phenoxyethanol could cause vomiting and diarrhea; the FDA had received no reports of injury. European rules limit phenoxyethanol to 1 percent in cosmetics, and France's medicines agency recommended 0.4 percent for children under 3 and no use in the nappy area. Use caution and ask your pediatrician.
Editorial summary
This summary is editorial and is not part of the reviewed rating above. Ratings are unchanged.
At 0 to 12 months
The FDA warning concerned nursing infants exposed through a nipple cream, so the first year is the period of most concern. Check any product used on the breast, the nipple area or a baby's skin.
What phenoxyethanol is
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used in lotions, wipes, washes and many other personal care products. European rules limit it to 1 percent in finished cosmetic products, and the European scientific committee on consumer safety concluded that it is safe in cosmetics at that level.
The FDA warning
Our rating comes from a specific FDA warning in 2008, which advised mothers not to use a nipple cream that contained phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin. The FDA said the ingredients could interact to cause slow or shallow breathing in nursing infants, and that phenoxyethanol on its own could cause vomiting and diarrhea that lead to dehydration. The FDA had received no reports of injury, but it issued the alert because of the potential harm. The product's manufacturer said it had stopped marketing it.
Products for young children
In 2012, France's medicines agency concluded that the maximum concentration of phenoxyethanol in cosmetics for children under 3 should be lowered to 0.4 percent and that it should not be used in products for the nappy area, a more cautious position than the European maximum. Phenoxyethanol appears in many baby wipes and lotions, so read the ingredient list, and ask your pediatrician if your baby has a reaction.
In short
In short, phenoxyethanol is a common preservative that European regulators accept at up to 1 percent, with a more cautious French recommendation for young children, and the FDA's 2008 warning concerned a nipple cream that combined it with another ingredient. Read labels for wipes, lotions and anything applied near a nursing baby's mouth.
How Phenoxyethanol in baby prod is rated by age
The same ingredient can carry a different rating as a child grows. These are the ratings for each age group that has a guide for Phenoxyethanol in baby prod.
| Age group | Rating |
|---|---|
| babies 0–12 months | Avoid |
| toddlers 12–24 months | Avoid |
Other age group
Is Phenoxyethanol in baby prod safe for toddlers 12–24 months?Sources
- FDA 2008 consumer warning: Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream — regulatory_or_public_health_body
Reviewed by Morvarid Nikousokhantayar, MSc Nutrition, Certified Naturopath & Nutritionist — last reviewed September 27, 2026.
This is general feeding information, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about your child's allergies and needs.
Checking a whole product?
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