Practically every product on the store shelf — from baby lotion to laundry detergent — has some kind of fragrance. So what’s the problem? Scented products are more likely than fragrance-free varieties to trigger asthma symptoms and eczema flare-ups in susceptible kids. Nor are artificial perfumes the only offenders — natural fragrances can also set off symptoms. What’s more, some essential oils, such as citrus, can severely irritate skin, even in people who aren’t eczema-prone.

Barbara Harris, a representative of the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia, contends allergies to fragrances are becoming more common, and the ubiquity of perfumed products is partly to blame. “When you’re constantly exposed to something, the chance of sensitization is greater,” she says.

While there’s no proof that exposure to scented products can actually increase the probability a child will develop eczema, allergies or hay fever, if any of these “allergic diseases” runs in your family or your partner’s, that’s reason enough to consider going fragrance-free when it comes to baby’s skin.

What keeps that body wash bottle squishy? Or prevents the perfume in baby lotion from evaporating as soon as it’s exposed to air? Often, the chemical in question is a phthalate, a group of chemicals recently thrust into the media spotlight. Some research — most of it on animals — suggests these chemicals block the effects of testosterone, which could potentially cause reproductive system abnormalities in baby boys, and alter the normal balance of sex hormones in older boys.

All that sounds scary, but many mainstream medical experts argue that while phthalates may interfere with the male hormone, the amounts we encounter every day seem to be too low to cause health problems. And that’s keeping in mind these chemicals are also widely used in a host of other products, such as vinyl toys, plastic bags, household cleansers and air fresheners, notes Warren Foster, a phthalate researcher and director of the Centre for Reproductive Biology at McMaster University in Hamilton. Health Canada is taking a two-pronged look at phthalates. First, it’s measuring phthalate levels in blood and tissue samples taken from 5,000 Canadians. Second, it has launched a study of 2,000 pregnant women, and their newborns, that will broaden our understanding of how environmental chemicals affect the population.

Harris, for one, will be examining the study’s findings. She says that phthalates are linked to miscarriages, birth defects, infertility and cancer. Certain pesticides, she points out, when combined in low doses, are much more toxic than much higher doses of either single chemical. “These things are very difficult to study because the more things you combine, the more complex and expensive the research is,” she says. Harris also asserts babies may be particularly vulnerable to the potential ill effects of phthalates and other chemicals; because their immune systems and organs (including those that get rid of toxins) are still developing, they breathe in more air relative to their body size and chemicals can more easily penetrate their skin.

Regardless of which side you believe, you may still want to minimize your baby’s exposure to phthalates. So what can you do?

First, choose products specifically formulated for kids.According to Luisa Carter-Phillips, head of Health Canada’s cosmetics division, no children’s toiletries sold in Canada contain phthalates as one of the main ingredients. And even though the agency doesn’t consider them to be a health threat, Health Canada, as a precautionary measure, plans to ban certain phthalates from kids’ personal care products, replacing the current voluntary ban.

Skip the scent.Phthalates are often found in synthetic scents, so you can reduce exposure further by going scent-free.

Limit your child’s use of perfumes, colognes and nail polishes.According to tests conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), some perfumes and colognes contain much higher concentrations of diethyl phthalate than other personal care products. (To find out more, visit nottoopretty.com, select Scientific Reports, and click on Not Too Pretty.) A more recent round of testing by the EWG also revealed relatively high levels of dibutyl phthalate in many nail polishes. While there’s no proof the chemicals are harmful, advocates like Khatter argue it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it’s possible to avoid unnecessary exposure (Today's Parent, December 2008).

 Bremmy, 3 yrs old & new baby sister Vienna (below)