Because we want the “best” for our offspring, because the Morange Talc scandal is on everyone’s mind, because children’s skin is fragile, because no risk is admitted for this type of product… the environment of cosmetic products for babies is very particular. Estelle Dehier, from Labosphere, explains.
Firstly, it is important to give some definitions that will help to understand the approach to the development of “baby” products. Even if these are not purely regulatory definitions, we often see restrictions for certain ingredients, such as “Not for use in children under 3 years of age”, for example.
Age groups
Feedback on the subject, as well as regulatory restrictions and the toxicological approach to assessing the safety of products intended for young children, lead us to reason in terms of three distinct age groups.
The infant
From birth to 1 year, a baby (born at term) is an infant. It should be noted that babies born before term, premature babies, are not in this category. Cosmetic products specifically developed for them are subject to maximum alert and a different development rationale.
The baby
A child is considered a baby until the age of 3.
For them, cosmetic products are technically the most complicated to develop. And they are subject to a specific toxicological evaluation.
It is interesting to ask whether cosmetic products for infants and babies should remain within this regulatory framework.
The child
Child status applies until the age of 12.
And then what?
How to consider …