Baby Safety / Compounds / Stearalkonium chloride

Is Stearalkonium chloride safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

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

What is stearalkonium chloride?

The IUPAC name is N,N-dimethyl-1-octadecanaminiumchloride.

Also known as: N,N-dimethyl-1-octadecanaminiumchloride, dimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride.

IUPAC name
N,N-dimethyl-1-octadecanaminiumchloride
CAS number
122-19-0
Molecular formula
C18H40ClN
Molecular weight
317.97 g/mol
SMILES
CC(=O)OCC1=C(N2C(C(C2=O)NC(=O)CC3=CC=CS3)SC1)C(=O)[O-].[Na+]
PubChem CID
23685268

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are exposed to Stearalkonium chloride 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 Stearalkonium chloride 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 Stearalkonium chloride.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EU_CLP—Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Irrit. 2AApproved for cosmetics; conditioning use in rinse-off products

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 stearalkonium chloride

  • conditioner
  • hair treatment
  • fabric softener
  • skin care

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Stearalkonium chloride:

  • Alkyl polyglucosides (APGs) — plant-derived, very mild (e.g., decyl glucoside)
    Trade-offs: Consumer preference for 'natural' label; many natural fragrance compounds are potent allergens (limonene, linalool, eugenol); 'natural' ≠ 'safe'; often more expensive than synthetic equivalents.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
  • Amino acid-based surfactants (e.g., sodium lauroyl glutamate, sodium cocoyl glycinate)
    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×
  • Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) — low irritation potential, solid surfactant
    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×
  • Amphoteric surfactants (e.g., cocamidopropyl betaine) — milder than anionic types
    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 stearalkonium chloride safe for kids?

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

What products contain stearalkonium chloride?

Stearalkonium chloride appears in: conditioner; hair treatment; fabric softener.

What should I do if my child is exposed to stearalkonium chloride?

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 Stearalkonium chloride in the baby app

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

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Sources (2)
  1. PubChem Compound CID 23685268 — database
  2. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 122-19-0 — 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 →