Baby Safety / Compounds / Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol)

Is Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are exposed to Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol) through residues on laundered clothing, baby wipes, and bathing products. Immature skin barrier increases dermal absorption.

What is lauryl alcohol (1-dodecanol)?

Also known as: 1-DODECANOL, Dodecan-1-ol, Dodecyl alcohol, Dodecanol.

CAS number
112-53-8
Molecular formula
C12H26O
Molecular weight
186.33 g/mol
SMILES
CCCCCCCCCCCCO
PubChem CID
8193

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are exposed to Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol) 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 Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol) 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 Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Unknown——

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 lauryl alcohol (1-dodecanol)

  • Personal Care — shampoo, soap
  • Consumer Products — detergent, industrial surfactant precursor

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol):

  • Sodium cocoyl isethionate; Decyl glucoside; Amino acid surfactants
    Trade-offs: Bio-based (from corn/coconut); mild to skin/eyes; biodegrades rapidly (>99% in 28 days); comparable foaming and cleaning at higher concentration; 15-30% cost premium over SLS; compatible with sensitive-skin formulations.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is lauryl alcohol (1-dodecanol) safe for kids?

Infants are exposed to Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol) through residues on laundered clothing, baby wipes, and bathing products. Immature skin barrier increases dermal absorption.

What products contain lauryl alcohol (1-dodecanol)?

Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol) appears in: shampoo (Personal care); soap (Personal care); detergent (Consumer products); industrial surfactant precursor (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to lauryl alcohol (1-dodecanol)?

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 Lauryl alcohol (1-Dodecanol) in the baby app

Look up products containing lauryl alcohol (1-dodecanol), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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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 →