Baby Safety / Compounds / Stearyl alcohol

Is Stearyl alcohol safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants face elevated exposure to Stearyl alcohol through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

What is stearyl alcohol?

Also known as: 1-OCTADECANOL, Octadecan-1-ol, 1-Hydroxyoctadecane, Octadecyl alcohol.

CAS number
112-92-5
Molecular formula
C18H38O
Molecular weight
270.5 g/mol
SMILES
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO
PubChem CID
8221

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants face elevated exposure to Stearyl alcohol through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

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

Pregnancy alters metabolism and increases susceptibility to Stearyl alcohol. Dietary additives consumed during pregnancy cross the placenta; safety margins for adults may not protect the developing fetus.

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 Stearyl alcohol.

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 stearyl alcohol

  • Personal Care — conditioner, lotion, cream, shaving cream, deodorant

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Stearyl alcohol:

  • Plant-based oils (jojoba, shea); Squalane
    Trade-offs: Alternative food ingredient; efficacy in target food matrix requires validation; regulatory approval status varies by jurisdiction (FDA GRAS, EU Novel Food, Codex Alimentarius); consumer acceptance testing recommended.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is stearyl alcohol safe for kids?

Infants face elevated exposure to Stearyl alcohol through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

What products contain stearyl alcohol?

Stearyl alcohol appears in: conditioner (Personal care); lotion (Personal care).

What should I do if my child is exposed to stearyl alcohol?

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 Stearyl alcohol in the baby app

Look up products containing stearyl alcohol, 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 →