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What you put on your baby's skin does make a difference. The following is an excerpt from the Pittman Post, a newsletter for parents and child-care providers:

SKIN DANGER

"Newborn infants are exposed to an average of fifty (50) different environmental chemicals through the use of skin products, according to a recent study published in Clinical Pediatrics. Because newborn skin has a poorly developed outer layer, chemicals are much more easily absorbed when compared to adult skin. This means a much greater risk of chemical poisoning. The authors believe that all over-the-counter skin products should be studied extensively for their possible hazards."

COMMENTARY

"The most astonishing findings from this study were: by using common "disposable" diapers, diaper wipes, soaps, baby powders, baby shampoos and diaper rash ointments, we are exposing our baby's skin to approximately forty-eight (48) different chemicals. Of these chemicals, 12% are known to be "moderate" to "very Toxic" when ingested, while for another 64% no information was available. Given the fact that newborn skin absorbs chemicals much more easily than adults, the study implies that skin exposure could be as dangerous as ingesting chemicals known to be poisonous."

From "Pittman Post" Volume 1, Issue 2, reprinted with permission