Baby Safety / Compounds / Butylparaben

Is Butylparaben safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are exposed to Butylparaben through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.

What is butylparaben?

The IUPAC name is butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate.

Also known as: butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, Butyl paraben, Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Butoben.

IUPAC name
butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate
CAS number
94-26-8
Molecular formula
C11H14O3
Molecular weight
194.23 g/mol
SMILES
CCCCOC(=O)C1=CC=C(C=C1)O
PubChem CID
7184

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are exposed to Butylparaben through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

High risk

Endocrine disruptor crosses placental barrier; anti-androgenic effects in fetal development

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Butylparaben.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EDC Assessment2024Suspected endocrine disruptor

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter butylparaben

  • Personal Care — lotion, sunscreen, cosmetics, deodorant
  • Food — food preservative (E214 class)
  • Consumer Products — pharmaceuticals

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Butylparaben:

  • Phenoxyethanol
    Trade-offs: Alternative preservation system; spectrum of antimicrobial activity differs (gram+/gram-, yeasts, molds); pH range of efficacy varies; challenge testing per ISO 11930 required for cosmetics.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Ethylhexylglycerin
    Trade-offs: Alternative preservation system; spectrum of antimicrobial activity differs (gram+/gram-, yeasts, molds); pH range of efficacy varies; challenge testing per ISO 11930 required for cosmetics.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Sodium benzoate
    Trade-offs: Alternative preservation system; spectrum of antimicrobial activity differs (gram+/gram-, yeasts, molds); pH range of efficacy varies; challenge testing per ISO 11930 required for cosmetics.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is butylparaben safe for kids?

Infants are exposed to Butylparaben through personal care products (lotions, wipes) and food. Immature skin barrier and hepatic metabolism increase effective dose per body weight.

What products contain butylparaben?

Butylparaben appears in: lotion (Personal care); sunscreen (Personal care); food preservative (E214 class) (Food); pharmaceuticals (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to butylparaben?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Butylparaben in the baby app

Look up products containing butylparaben, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem Compound Database (2026) — database

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →