Baby Ate Soap – Should I Be Worried?

What should you do if your baby ate soap? It’s one of those things that gives you a sudden heart attack, but is it really that serious?

I don’t know what it is about soap, but it seems to look so appetizing to my kids! I guess I have to admit that some soap does look quite yummy. The fruity scents and vivid colors – I think the real question here is why are manufacturers making soap look so delicious??

It’s easy for a baby to eat soap, especially since babies love to eat everything they see. So, if your baby ate soap, don’t feel alarmed. Just prepare yourself for incidents like these because they can happen. 

And, we’re here to help you with all the questions you have on babies eating soap. Read on to learn more.   

What To Do if Baby Ate Soap or Shampoo 

If your baby ate a tiny bit of soap or shampoo, they will probably be just fine. 

Soaps and shampoos that don’t contain any fragrances, phthalates, parabens, and/or formaldehyde are far less likely to make your baby sick. Organic shampoos and baby shampoos usually do not contain these ingredients so be sure to clearly identify the contents of the soap your baby ingested.

Nonetheless, no matter what type of soap your child consumed, rinse their mouth out with clean water immediately to dilute the soap. If you aren’t sure how much soap your child ingested, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 to get helpful advice on what to do.

If your child begins throwing up or has diarrhea after eating soap, the best thing to do is take them straight to the emergency room.

Signs and Symptoms 

Eating a significant amount of soap can upset the stomach and cause pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your baby begins showing any of these symptoms, you should seek medical care right away. 

Usually, symptoms appear shortly after ingesting soap, but they can also take time to show depending on how slowly the soap moves through your child’s stomach and digestive system. 

Treatment 

The most immediate treatment is to rinse the mouth out if your baby ate soap. Let your child drink water in case they swallow some of the soap.

It’s also important to stay calm and alert for symptoms. Don’t put too much stress on yourself or your child. If you’re unsure about anything, contact your pediatrician for advice.

Can Eating Soap Harm My Baby? 

If your baby ate soap, there’s always a chance that it could be harmful. But, most times, your baby is usually going to be alright (especially if it’s a small amount).

There are some soaps and shampoos that are more dangerous than others considering what ingredients they contain. It’s always best to use soap recommended for babies, or organic soaps that only have safe ingredients that won’t do harm if ingested. 

Shampoo/Conditioner

Most shampoos and conditioners are pretty mild, but could potentially cause some issues if your baby swallows it.

A regular shampoo or conditioner may have some ingredients that upset your baby’s stomach. However, a medicated shampoo will have stronger chemicals which can be very harmful if ingested.

Body Wash

If your baby swallows a small bit of body wash, there shouldn’t be much of a concern.

All-natural body wash ingredients won’t irritate your baby’s tummy as much. he real concern is the chemicals added to make the soaps smell good. It’s the fragrances that will make your little one sick.

Bar of Soap

If your baby ate bar soap, they’ll probably be okay. It’s important to always look at the ingredients in the bar of soap. Some ingredients are more harmful than others if they are consumed.

Bar soaps are also solid and really tempting for kids to grab (when they’re dry) so it’s possible that your little one will take a chunk out of it rather than just a taste. If this happens, it’s possible they’ll ingest more of this type of soap. Bars of soap can pose as a choking hazard for babies and small children.

Cleaning Soap

Cleaning soap has strong, harmful chemicals that can be dangerous and even poisonous if your baby were to swallow them.

Soaps that are used for cleaning your home, like the floor, mirrors, tables, etc. are more than likely going to contain more harmful ingredients. They’ll also contain more chemicals than a soap intended for your baby’s bath. These cleaning products should be kept locked away and completely out of baby’s reach.

Even some natural cleaning products can be very dangerous when consumed. They can often include high concentrations of the active ingredient.

Keep in mind that if a baby drinks even a tiny bit of a harmful cleaning product it can be very dangerous. Be sure to take them to the emergency room right away, or contact a doctor or poison control if this happens.

Do Shampoo and Soap Contain Unsafe Ingredients?

Unfortunately, some shampoos and soaps contain ingredients that are not considered to be safe when consumed. Some are even considered unsafe for your skin, which is surprising considering that’s what they’re made for.

Laboratory tests have confirmed and proven that many children’s bath products contain formaldehyde and/or 1,4-dioxane. These chemicals have been shown to be linked to various skin allergies and even cancer. 

Many years back, Johnson & Johnson got in big trouble when a report from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics came out that revealed the dangerous and harmful ingredients in their baby shampoo. Because of this report, they have since rebranded and changed their ingredient list. Now all of their ingredients used are considered safe for babies.

Medicated shampoos aren’t typically poisonous if swallowed, but they can definitely irritate a baby’s stomach and can cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Ingredients to Avoid

So now that you know that some soap and shampoo contain unsafe ingredients, let’s talk about which to avoid in soaps and shampoos you use for your baby.

For the safest, baby-friendly soaps and shampoos, avoid:

• Parabens – Parabens are synthetic preservatives, and unfortunately, they are found in a ton of products. You will definitely want to completely avoid these since they’re linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and can irritate the skin.
• Phthalates – In case you didn’t know, Phthalates hide within fragrances, so you won’t always see this one listed on the shampoo or soap label. They aren’t recommended for babies since they are associated with asthma and other respiratory problems.
• Formaldehyde – Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, which causes cancer. It’s certainly something that you want to steer clear of in baby’s soap and shampoo.
• 1,4-dioxane – This is a sneaky one that shows up in soaps and shampoos for babies a lot of times, especially in the ones that are branded as being “tear-free.” It’s been shown to be linked to cancer, reproductive issues, as well as kidney and liver damage.
• Fragrance – Fragrances are the least to worry about, but are still best to avoid especially for newborns who have extremely sensitive skin. This is added to make soaps smell nice, but sometimes it can cause allergies and irritate a baby’s skin.

Recommended Baby-Friendly Soap 

With all the harmful ingredients in soap and shampoos, it can seem difficult to find one that’s safe for your child. But, if you’re worried about your baby eating soap, purchasing soap with safe ingredients is the first step to keeping your baby safe.

Keep in mind that when purchasing baby-friendly soaps and shampoos, that the front of the bottle is marketing. To see the list of ingredients, check the small print on the back because even if a soap is branded as all-natural, it could mean several different things. 

Some websites are even kind enough to break down all the ingredients in their product to help you better understand what it contains. 

Here are some of the best baby-safe shampoos and soaps on the market:

Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby 2-in-1 Shampoo & Wash – This one is fragrance-free, made in the USA, and carries the EWG Verified seal.

California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash – Family-owned and operated, this is made in California and is free of added fragrance, common allergens, and irritants.

Burt’s Bees Baby Shampoo & Wash – It’s fragrance-free and tear-free while leaving out harmful ingredients like phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, and SLS. Plus, unlike many natural or organic brands, Burt’s Bees is available at most major retailers.

How to Prevent Baby From Eating Soap

If your baby ate soap, or you’d just like to keep your baby from eating soap or shampoo, the best way is to make sure it doesn’t happen to begin with.

Babies are known for getting into everything, but there are some simple ways to make soaps, shampoos and other cleaning products out of their way or less tempting at the least. 

• Keep soap out of baby’s reach during a bath – Instead of keeping the soap or shampoo on the side of the tub, it might be better to leave it on the floor while you bathe your baby. This way your child won’t be so tempted to grab it and play with it in the bath.
• Don’t purchase yummy scented soap – This one should be obvious. Babies and kids love fruit juice and anything with vivid colors. If your baby sees a soap that looks and smells good, he’ll more than likely want to taste it. Stick with a mild scent or even opt for fragrance free soaps. 
• Lock soap and shampoo away out of sight – Once you’ve given your baby a bath, it might be a good idea to keep soap and shampoo locked away inside a cabinet or closet. You can purchase child locks to keep your baby out of cabinets and drawers. 
• Always lock soap pumps – If you like to purchase soap and shampoos with pump tops, keep them locked whenever you aren’t using them. You can easily turn them to the side to lock them or you can tie a hair tie around the pump to prevent it from pushing down. 

Conclusion

There’s no need to panic if your baby ate soap, just be prepared and take extra precautions to prevent it from happening. And, even if you do everything you can to keep your baby away from the soap and shampoo, don’t beat yourself up if she still gets into it. Babies are babies, after all…