Baby Safety / Compounds / Decyl glucoside

Is Decyl glucoside safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are exposed to Decyl glucoside through residues on laundered clothing, baby wipes, and bathing products. Immature skin barrier increases dermal absorption.

What is decyl glucoside?

The IUPAC name is 1-O-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Also known as: 1-O-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, n-decyl beta-D-glucopyranoside.

IUPAC name
1-O-decyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside
CAS number
54549-25-6
Molecular formula
C16H32O6
Molecular weight
320.42 g/mol
SMILES
CCCCCCCCCCOC1C(C(C(C(O1)CO)O)O)O
PubChem CID
3033856

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are exposed to Decyl glucoside through residues on laundered clothing, baby wipes, and bathing products. Immature skin barrier increases dermal absorption.

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

Context-dependent

Prenatal exposure to Decyl glucoside through consumer products may affect fetal development. Surfactant compounds can enhance dermal absorption of co-occurring chemicals during pregnancy.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Decyl glucoside.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EU_CLP—Not classifiedEU Ecolabel approved; natural sugar-derived

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 decyl glucoside

  • natural shampoo
  • eco-friendly cleaners
  • baby care
  • facial cleansers

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Decyl glucoside:

  • Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) — low irritation potential
    Trade-offs: Alternative surfactant; performance characteristics (foaming, emulsification, wetting) vary; biodegradability and aquatic toxicity should be assessed; formulation adjustment may be needed.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Sodium lauroyl glutamate — amino acid-based, very mild
    Trade-offs: Extremely mild (pH 5.5-6.5); biodegradable; derived from amino acids and fatty acids; premium ingredient cost; excellent consumer perception; lower foam volume than sulfate surfactants.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Cocamidopropyl betaine (amphoteric) — gentler than anionic surfactants
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is decyl glucoside safe for kids?

Infants are exposed to Decyl glucoside through residues on laundered clothing, baby wipes, and bathing products. Immature skin barrier increases dermal absorption.

What products contain decyl glucoside?

Decyl glucoside appears in: natural shampoo; eco-friendly cleaners; baby care.

What should I do if my child is exposed to decyl glucoside?

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 Decyl glucoside in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. PubChem Compound CID 51404756 — database
  2. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 54549-25-6 — reference

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 →