Can personal care products used during pregnancy affect your baby's size at birth?

What's actually in it

Everyday personal care products like body lotion, shampoo, makeup, perfume, and deodorant contain a mix of chemicals including phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and synthetic fragrances. You absorb these chemicals through your skin every time you apply them. During pregnancy, they cross the placenta and reach the developing baby.

A pregnant woman using a typical morning routine of lotion, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and makeup is exposed to dozens of these chemicals before breakfast.

What the research says

A 2026 systematic evidence map in Reprod Toxicol reviewed studies on the link between personal care product chemicals and fetal growth outcomes. The review found consistent associations between prenatal exposure to these chemicals and changes in birth weight, birth length, and head circumference.

Several of the chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with hormones that control how the baby grows. Some studies found that higher exposure was linked to smaller babies, while others found associations with larger-than-expected birth weight, which carries its own risks during delivery.

The review highlighted that the effects depend on timing, dose, and which chemicals are involved. But the overall pattern is clear: the chemical cocktail from personal care products reaches your baby and can change how they grow. Switching to fragrance-free, paraben-free, and phthalate-free products during pregnancy is a practical way to reduce exposure.