5 Best Baby Powders

Buying guide for Best baby powder

Baby powder is an inexpensive and effective way to keep your baby happy by preventing diaper rash, chafing, and irritation. It does its job by absorbing moisture, which in turn keeps the delicate skin in the diaper area dry and smooth. Baby powder is often used by adults to keep their feet and hands dry and to absorb sweat and odor.

When choosing a baby powder, talc is an ingredient that many people are familiar with, though it can be problematic. In this buying guide, we explore talc-based baby powders and their alternatives, explaining the aspects of each so you can make an informed decision. We also examine some of the other key components that you may be interested in, like aloe vera and vitamin E.

Whether you’re shopping for a baby or yourself, baby powder is a handy item to have around the house.

Key considerations

Safety

As with any product for babies, use care when choosing and applying baby powder. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using talc-based baby powders because, if inhaled, they can cause severe lung damage and breathing problems in babies. While talcum powders are of particular concern, studies have warned about the dangers of inhaling baby powder since the early 1980s. Breathing in fine particulate matter isn’t good for anyone’s lungs, but it’s especially bad for babies.

Talc is a soft mineral made from finely ground magnesium sulfate. It is so finely ground that its tiny particles can easily get into your lungs. Cornstarch and tapioca starch have bigger particles that aren’t so easily inhaled.

Whichever powder you choose, avoid applying more than is necessary, and keep the powder away from the baby’s face. When using baby powder, don’t set the container down where baby can knock it over.

Talcum powders

Talc is a clay mineral that has been in use for decades to absorb moisture and odor, but there have been claims over time that the use of talc may be linked to the development of cancer. There have only been a few properly done clinical trials concerning talc, and none have established a causal link — just a correlation. Talc deposits sometimes contain asbestos, which we know does cause cancer. 

That said, if you’re concerned about exposing your baby or yourself to talc, it’s easy to find a baby powder that doesn’t contain it.

Talc-free powders

Many baby powder products are advertised as talc-free. Common ingredients include zinc, cornstarch, arrowroot starch, rice starch, oat flour, or tapioca starch.

Zinc, or zinc oxide, is a mineral commonly used in organic baby sunscreen formulas as well as in baby powders. It’s been in use for more than 2,000 years as a treatment for burns and wounds. It contains electrolytes that are beneficial for babies as well as adults. It is white and powdery in appearance and acts as a gentle astringent when used on the skin. It also contains antiseptic properties and is used to treat chapped skin and diaper rash.

Starches absorb moisture and odors.

Scented or unscented

You can choose between unscented and scented baby powder. If you want scented baby powder, be aware that the manufacturer will have to add chemicals to produce the scent. The added ingredients may be substances that irritate your little one’s skin. Therefore, it’s best to perform a patch test first. Apply just a little bit of scented powder to one leg and wait a few hours. If no negative reaction occurs, you can continue to use the powder.

Features

Absorbency

The degree of absorbency in baby powder depends, in large part, on whether it contains talc or a talc substitute. Talc has astringent properties, meaning it causes body tissues to constrict. This prevents the skin from releasing sweat. As we’ve mentioned, talc also absorbs moisture directly from the skin, like a sponge.

Talc-free baby powder contains zinc or different varieties of starch instead of talc. Starch doesn’t have astringent properties. Therefore, it only absorbs moisture and doesn’t prevent the release of sweat.

Ingredients

The star ingredient in baby powder may be cornstarch, tapioca starch, or talc, but there are additional ingredients to be aware of. These may include aloe vera, chamomile, and vitamin E. They’re added to soften your child’s skin and relieve irritation and chafing.

Why would you want a baby powder that contains these additional ingredients? Here’s a look at the potential benefits.

• Aloe vera, known in ancient Egypt as the “plant of immortality,” has been used for over 6,000 years to treat burns, cuts, rashes, scrapes, and wounds. Many caregivers have found it to be a safe and effective treatment for diaper rash in babies. Due to its widespread use, aloe vera has many names in dozens of different cultures, but nearly all of them include some version of the word aloe.

• Chamomile has natural soothing effects when applied to the skin. However, a word of caution: chamomile should not be used on babies less than three months old. Wait until they’ve grown a little, and never use it on broken skin, regardless of age. 

• Vitamin E naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables. It is required for human health, wether we consume it through our diet or man-made supplements. Vitamin E is necessary for proper skin nutrition and health. It can protect a baby’s skin from UV rays as well as environmental pollutants. It stabilizes the cell membranes in the skin and promotes the growth of healthy hair. It’s a vital antioxidant vitamin that is safe for a baby’s sensitive skin.

A note about baby powder application

Once you’ve cleaned your baby, dry the skin gently before applying baby powder. Otherwise, the powder may absorb even more moisture and ball up, creating irritation as well as a mess.

When applying powder, sprinkle it gently from the container or apply a small amount ot your hands and rub the powder onto your baby’s skin. Some people like to diaper their baby while they still have powder on their hands, as a little bit of powder stays on the diaper and further helps prevent the chafing and rubbing that can occur.

Baby powder prices

Inexpensive

Low-cost baby powder starts at around $0.32/ounce and goes up to about $1/ounce. In this lower range, you’ll find talc as the main or only ingredient. Talc is less expensive than other ingredients, so the prices of products containing talc will naturally be lower than products with other ingredients.

High-end

Baby powder that is organic or contains specialty ingredients could cost anywhere from $1/ounce to $8/ounce. That said, the majority of these “higher-end” baby powders cost from $1/ounce to $3.50/ounce. 

Tips

• Keep air quality in mind. Baby powder will blow around the room if you use it near an AC vent or fan. Keep your changing station comfortably far away from these appliances, or turn them off before using baby powder.

• Baby powder has sometimes been used to keep floorboards and stairs from squeaking.

• Baby powder can be used in latex gloves to absorb sweat when you’re working.

FAQ

Q. Where did baby powder come from?

A. Baby powder was originally a product name created by Johnson & Johnson for their talcum powder product, which as intended to be used on babies.

Q. When should I start using baby powder on my child?

A. You can begin using it the day they’re born. Newborn babies have skin that is especially sensitive. Using baby powder can help avoid rashes and painful skin irritations.

Q. Does baby powder reduce friction?

A. Yes. Parents often use baby powder as a dry lubricant when babies get their hands or arms stuck in something. It’s very effective.