Baby Safety / Compounds / Ethylparaben

Is Ethylparaben safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

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

What is ethylparaben?

Also known as: ETHYL 4-HYDROXYBENZOATE, Ethyl paraben, Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Tegosept E.

CAS number
120-47-8
Molecular formula
C9H10O3
Molecular weight
166.17 g/mol
SMILES
CCOC(=O)C1=CC=C(C=C1)O
PubChem CID
8434

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants are exposed to Ethylparaben 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

Context-dependent

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Ethylparaben.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EDC Assessment—Suspected 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 ethylparaben

  • Consumer Products — personal care, cleaning, industrial

Safer alternatives

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

  • Phenoxyethanol; Organic acid systems
    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: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is ethylparaben safe for kids?

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

What products contain ethylparaben?

Ethylparaben appears in: personal care (Consumer products); cleaning (Consumer products).

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

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 Ethylparaben in the baby app

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

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (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 →