Johnson & Johnson Marketing Toxic Baby Perfume?
The other day my friend told me that she has a friend that puts perfume on her baby.My immediate thought was: WTF?
I questioned her about it and found out that this woman does indeed put perfume on her infant. Cuz, you know, she wants to make her baby smell good.
Why anyone would want to mask the wonderful natural baby smell by putting synthetic fragrances on a baby is beyond me.
But my next thought was: Companies actually sell baby perfume? People actually buy it? Nooooo. I really didn't believe it. I figured she must just be using a lotion or something.
So today I decided to research it further. I knew that if baby perfume existed, Google would tell me.
And guess what I found during my 30 second Google Search?
Perfume makers are looking to infants as a "new market."
Yep, baby perfumes exist alright. There is more than one brand out there, but for the sake of brevity, let's talk about Johnson & Johnson's Baby Cologne.
Here's how Johnson and Johnson describes their product:
JOHNSON'S® Baby Cologne has a gentle, fresh fragrance with a pleasant combination of floral and citrus hints. It leaves your baby smelling clean and fresh. This clinically proven mild formula is alcohol free, making it just right for your baby's delicate skin.
So what's so bad about putting perfume on a baby - aside from the fact that I think we can all agree that that is WEIRD.
Well, I took a quick look at the ingredients because I was sure they'd be 100% safe - especially since this stuff is meant to be used for "your baby's delicate skin."
So here are the ingredients:
Water, Polysorbate 20, Trideceth-9, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Simethicone, Ext. Violet 2, Blue 1
Yikes. Not so safe after all. For a quick snapshot of how hazardous most of these ingredients are, click here for the analysis.
The fact that Johnson and Johnson and other companies are marketing totally unnecessary and clearly hazardous products like baby perfume to parents who may not realize the toxicity of the products they are buying is unethical and shameful.
Johnson & Johnson has some explaining to do. I'd like to know what they have to say for themselves. Perhaps if they'd just put a "poison" warning on the baby cologne, we'd call it fair. But their product description reads with phrases like "Clinically proven mild and gentle" and they encourage parents to "use JOHNSON'S® Baby Cologne anytime you want to give your baby a clean, fresh scent."
Do they think we're stupid? Do they think we're going to sit back and let them sell us products that we don't even need and that contain carcinogens and hormone-disrupting chemicals and then PAY them for their toxic crap?
Really, J&J, you just had a big old conference bringing together mommy bloggers right? Did you talk about the fact that your company is selling toxic baby products? Perhaps we can do a breakout session on that at your next event. I think I can find a few mommies that would like to attend to hear what you have to say. In the meantime, I'd like to propose a boycott on all of your products. Readers, if you'd like to show your support for this idea, please leave a comment and tell Johnson & Johnson what you think.
posted by Mommy off the Record @12:07 AM
24 Comments:
why on earth would they make this ?
and who on earth is buying it ??? i do not use perfume for myself cept about 3 times a year ??? this is crazy. i am sharing this for sure.
That is terrible. I can't believe that they would market something like that to babies.
As a teacher, I have issues with other teachers who put plug in air fresheners in their classrooms as well. Kids, like adults, have perfume allergies. Many students may not know that they have these allergies and will suffer in the classrooms. Others, who know, don't want to say anything against their teachers and so they just sit in those rooms and suffer.
Can you imagine what it would be like for a mere baby to be forced to wear the baby perfume and suffer from some sort of allergy from that perfume. How will that baby be able to communicate?
I've been boycotting J&J for years already. This baby cologne is beyond stupid. Grrr..
I agree, this is just WEIRD! Seriously, if there hadn't been a picture I might have been tempted to think you made this up. Yikes!
and maybe I'm completely sans brain, but isn't
Phenoxyethanol
alcohol? and don't they claim that the product is alcohol-free?
unless, maybe they meant the kind you can drink. 'cause they didn't want to infer that you could get wasted on baby perfume. you know. for those of us who are that desperate.
oyyyyyy.
Ridiculous. I'd think of something coherent to say on the matter, but I'm too busy beating my head against my keyboard.
fabulous idea. i already stay away from j&j, including aveeno.
Amen sister!! They are so beyond clueless it's really insulting.
I linked you up today on Strollerderby..
Rachael
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2008/05/14/baby-smells-awful-like-hell.aspx
You have got to be kidding me.
One step forward, two steps back. Good job J&J. Maybe they'll start making baby deodorant for those smelly babies too.
*scream*
I always thought my babies smelled like fresh-baked bread, but maybe it would have been more fun if they smelled like tropical fruit or something. We moms deserve choices in how our babies smell. [rolling eyes]
This is a new low in baby marketing. Great post.
That is so funny, but I have something for you that is even funnier and you are going to thank me. Two of my best mom friends that are sometimes my therapist recommended the best book, "The Book of Mom" by Taylor Wilshire. The mom's in the book don't put perfume on their kids, but they drink coctails, laugh, go to therapy and offer insights to life. It was a little self-helpie for me, but I loved it and think you would too!
My husband bought baby perfume from a high end boutique... He had no idea it could be bad(he just wants to spoil our little girl). I am furious at the store for selling it, and talking my husband into buying it!!!
AAAuugghhh!! Thank you for the info., I knew I had a valid argument.
That's actually a Hispanic thing, at least here. If you go to a store that serves our Cuban and Puerto Rican population, you will find a variety of "baby perfumes" on the shelves. I always thought it was kind of odd. I don't know why but I'm really surprised to hear that J&J is making it, too.
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This isnt a surprise, Johnson and Johnson have harmful ingredients in ALL of their BABY products. This just shows, that the babies health truly isnt a priority to them. I found outstanding Hair & skin care products that have DO NO HARM philosophy, and comes in SAFE plastic so no leaching is taking place. For more information take a look at my website. www.mytrivani.com/tiffanycorrea
A very generous portion of the proceeds go to children in Africa. They really have a great purpose.
Childrens perfume is popular in France (birthplace of perfumery), South America and Malaysia.
These consist of essential oils, purified water and are free of alcohol and unnatural preservatives.
I use a European baby perfume on myself and my baby's clothing. We are happy and healthy and smell yummy.
Now that is so crazy, I have 3 young children of my own. Lately I have been constantly learning more and more about what items have in them and it is crazy. It is just like some deodorants have aluminum in them which many people with breast cancer are found to have high counts of aluminum in that area.
I am glad I have found Trivani which has a "Do No Harm" Product philosophy, unfortunately they do not have a baby line yet.
Thank you so much for sharing this,
Rusty
www.PurposeofHope.info
you guys have way to much time on your hands i mean ..its good your looking out for our kids but you know what theres other f-ing things to worry about like crack mothers...young girls having babies..child abuse.etc.. so lay off the baby cologne its not killing anyone!!!
God will come to get us when our time is ready..enjoy your life and you kids..it's too short to research every little thing..mother of a 2 year old
Ladies what yall need to understand is that there is not a lot of responsible mothers like us unfortunately that give their babies a bath everyday or a shower with them everyday like your supposed too. A lot of this mothers are young and first timers and have no idea what to do or how to take them a shower. I am a first time mom but unlike others I shower with my baby girl and as wonderful as she smells just the way she is it doesnt hurt when you put natural perfumes on them, lets say just when you go out. You have no idea how much people like the idea of a baby smelling fresh and good. The ones that dont have alcohol and some of those toxic ingrediants, just because you have a baby does not mean that you have to buy products that are johnson & johnson there are actaully a lot of products that you can find that are better suited for the skin of your baby. But theres no one that knows her baby more then a mother so whatever you do is because you know what is best for your baby so don't let anyone tell you different.
Ladies what yall need to understand is that there is not a lot of responsible mothers like us unfortunately that give their babies a bath everyday or a shower with them everyday like your supposed too. A lot of this mothers are young and first timers and have no idea what to do or how to take them a shower. I am a first time mom but unlike others I shower with my baby girl and as wonderful as she smells just the way she is it doesnt hurt when you put natural perfumes on them, lets say just when you go out. You have no idea how much people like the idea of a baby smelling fresh and good. The ones that dont have alcohol and some of those toxic ingrediants, just because you have a baby does not mean that you have to buy products that are johnson & johnson there are actaully a lot of products that you can find that are better suited for the skin of your baby. But theres no one that knows her baby more then a mother so whatever you do is because you know what is best for your baby so don't let anyone tell you different.
Each to their own. I use the Johnson and Johnson cologne on my 2 year old all the time and I love it. I do not put it on my toddlers skin at all. I just put a dab on the bottom of his shirts and it is just wonderful. Johnson and Johnson has been around so many years. People are going to buy what they want and other products also. We cannot change that-get over it.
I was given this many years ago by a Philipino friend's mother as a gift. I used it on my son who is now almost 11 and he has been fine. As a matter of fact, I only found this site b/c I was online looking for the baby cologne. To each his own and God bless. --Mom of 4 (11, 9, and n/b twins)
Whee! Late comment!
This is an interesting topic to stumble into (I was looking for some mild baby products for my sensitive skin). I suppose it seems weird to put cologne on a baby, but I think its popular in really humid climates. Anyway, I hope J&J keeps making this because paying about 4 bucks for a perfume for ME sounds pretty sweet in the current economy. >____>
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