Why do some parents still use Talc?

[Daisyv2]

Tests of talc products, including Johnson & Johnson's popular baby powder, have revealed they can contain asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that can be caused by talcum powder contaminated with asbestos. www.asbestos.com/products/talcum-powder/

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44816805

It's not hard to dry your baby with a towel.

I don't want to breathe in your carcinogen or for my baby to breathe it in either

• * [Title edited by MNHQ] **

The issue was a huge amount of talc being inhaled over a long period of time. A little talc carefully applied to babies moist areas is going to be as hazardous as everything else we inhale in small doses

Or drink or smoke

Do you follow a whole food based plant based diet with no alcohol?

@QuestionableMouse

I use talc to get properly dry before getting dressed. Can't stand feeling claggy. Iirc modern talc doesn't contain asbestos.

You need better towels then. I have never felt the need for talc.

Fair enough, I assumed it was that people didn't realise the links but it appears they don't care which is sad.

Aren't you good lol

@1940s I eat two strawberries on Wednesdays, one iceberg lettuce on a Thursday and almonds on Sunday evenings

God how dramatic

I use liquid talc on myself to stop chafing.

You're mocking the question but since you're so so so so risk averse I wonder what other measures you put in your life to protect you and your family from cancer.

Congrats on being such a perfect parent OP.

@Daisyv2

Fair enough, I assumed it was that people didn't realise the links but it appears they don't care which is sad.

Oh yes that right. People don’t care about their babies? You do and of course others don’t. It’s not that they’ve considered the risk is minuscule alongside a myriad of other things that will kill us over time. It’s that they don’t care

@Daisyv2

Fair enough, I assumed it was that people didn't realise the links but it appears they don't care which is sad.

Pretty sure having read this that no one is saying that?

Mind you coming from a tropical country it is VERY common to use talcum powder on babies to prevent nappy rash. My mum swears by it and still use it on herself. We just hate that sticky feeling even if you just come out of the shower.

I also use it on my kids and they NEVER suffered from nappy rash or eczema around their necks whenever they are teething. I only dab a bit around the area where it has the tendency to get wet before I can give them a bath.

@RampantIvy I don’t use it anywhere near there now but when I was a kid I was taught to use it on my groin. This was the late 90s/early 2000s!

How's about feck off and let people make their own parental choices, seeing as most things we do have a cancer risk.🙄

Agree op. Never brought it for my little one. Never needed it either, I'm honestly not sure what the purpose is tbh.

I took it one step further as I have no trust in J&J and have not used any of their products on my child - except cotton buds. Oops!

@Daisyv2

Fair enough, I assumed it was that people didn't realise the links but it appears they don't care which is sad.

Most people have said they don’t use it, a few people have said they use it on themselves and only two people have specifically said they use it on children, both occasions on their feet.

Literally no one has said they use it on their baby because they just don’t care.

@inloveagain2022 I took it one step further as I have no trust in J&J and have not used any of their products

That's really interesting. I used to love their baby bath soap but I was given some by my mum for my baby and I can't stand the smell anymore! 😂

@QuestionableMouse

I use talc to get properly dry before getting dressed. Can't stand feeling claggy. Iirc modern talc doesn't contain asbestos.

This is going to sound like a silly question, but how do you use it to dry yourself? I’m not sure I know how people really use talc.

This is going to sound like a silly question, but how do you use it to dry yourself? I’m not sure I know how people really use talc.

Just use a towel. I don't put conditioner in with towels when washing because it affects their absorbency.

@RampantIvy yes, I do use a towel. I was only asking out of curiosity, do people just sprinkle it on themselves? What does it achieve?

Maybe I sound like an idiot, I’ve just never used it, or seen anyone use it.

The only thing I use it for is my wetsuit, but I don't thinks it's worth getting so anxious about it anyway. You don't need to use it, I never did with my kids, why worry about other peoples choices. Nearly everything is a possible carcinogen in some conditions, life is about balanced risk - I would consider talking to someone professionally about your health anxiety as it gets harder as they grow older.

There is a much clearer link between ham and cancer than talc and cancer

Do you think parents should stop feeding their children ham? After all, it’s not that hard to use chicken..?
Or ban ham altogether..?

[quote SickAndTiredAgain]@RampantIvy yes, I do use a towel. I was only asking out of curiosity, do people just sprinkle it on themselves? What does it achieve?

Maybe I sound like an idiot, I’ve just never used it, or seen anyone use it.[/quote]
I don’t use it but you sort of put it in moisture gathering places. Under the belly, boobs etc.

When I worked in home care many elderly people use it as it absorbs moisture, in places they struggled to dry themselves.