Pediatricians Advise Against Talc Use on Infants in New Practice Bulletin

New advice for parents says they shouldn't use talc powders on babies because of worries about cancer and breathing problems

Sunday, July 20, 2025 - A new practice bulletin from major pediatric groups strongly cautions against using talcum powder on babies since it could be harmful to their lungs and health in the long term. The new advice is based on additional evidence that talc can irritate the lungs, especially when breathed in, and may be connected to more serious illnesses such as chronic inflammation or, in rare cases, cancer. For years, talcum powder was sold as a must-have for taking care of babies. People used it a lot when they changed diapers to soak up moisture and keep rashes from getting worse. But now, pediatricians argue that the risks are greater than the benefits. In other situations, caregivers may not know that talc is a mineral that can have small amounts of asbestos in it, which is a proven cancer-causing substance. This makes people worried about even low-level, recurrent exposure during the early stages of development. A lawyer for talcum powder cancer cases welcomed the news, saying that the change in medical opinion could help families who say they were harmed by early exposure to talc make their cases in the future. More and more people are suing talcum powder companies for cancer, which has helped bring these issues to the attention of the public and professionals.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that the alert is based on both clinical observations and peer-reviewed research that reveal that talc particles in the air are very dangerous for babies to breathe in. Babies' airways are smaller and more fragile, so even short bursts of fine powders might make it hard for them to breathe, wheeze, or cause more serious problems. The alert also says that talc doesn't have any established medical benefits over safer options like cornstarch, which don't have the same amount of respiratory or cancer risk. In response, a lot of pediatric clinics and hospitals have started to stop using talc-based products and are telling parents to do the same at home. In the past, regulators like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have said similar things, and now professional medical groups are taking a stronger posture. As more healthcare providers and advocacy groups spread the word, the new suggestions may affect how products are labeled, packaged, and even sold in stores. The AAP also asked manufacturers to be more open and stressed how important it is for people to learn about how to keep babies safe with their products.

The rising agreement among pediatricians could change how businesses work and how people think about things for a long time. As more doctors and nurses tell parents not to use talc on their babies, stores may stop carrying talc-based powders altogether. Talcum powder cancer lawyers will probably use the warning as more proof that corporations didn't do enough to warn customers, even when there were clear symptoms of risk. As professional standards change, families who have been sick from talc in the past may have new legal options.