Marketing of baby products is very clever. The companies know exactly which buttons to press to get us to buy their goods. They use words like ‛hypoallergenic, natural, soft and gentle, dermatologically tested...

What they don't tell you though, is that these products can still contain some ingredients which are not only unnecessary but, in some studies have been shown to have worrying effects.

Manufacturers will add foaming agents and colorants to their products to make these more appealing to children and parents but what is worrying is what effect that colourant or perfume may have on your baby's skin.

In general, think about whether your baby needs this product before you use it. Babies and toddlers should not need conditioner on their hair, there's no real need to use a foaming bubble bath, just a gentle, natural soap is all that is needed. When under 3 months old you should use only water to clean your baby.

What to look out for:

SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) - This is one of the most commonly used ingredients, found in shampoos, bubble bath, shower gel - even car wash and floor cleaner. Avoid any products that contain this ingredient.

Colourants and perfumes - these kinds of additives are a major cause of skin reactions on babies and children. Try to avoid products that are strongly fragranced or brightly coloured.

In general it is best to avoid any products containing talc - in some studies it has been linked to the development of ovarian cancer. Whilst there is no hard evidence of this, as yet - there is real evidence of the dangers of inhaling talc. Talcum powder is usually made up of various combinations of zinc stearate, magnesium silicates, as well as other silicates which are finely ground. The size of particles is so small that they are both easily carried in the air like dust and can reach even the smallest areas of the lung.

If you are worried about particular products, check them out on The Cosmetic Safety Database. This site scores products out of 10 depending on which chemicals are used in them, with 0 being very low hazard and 10 being very high hazard.