I just found out something that everyone should take note of, especially nursing mothers. Stop using BABY WIPES to clean the nose of your children whenever they got the flu/catarrh. Some nannies and child teachers are in the habit of doing this in schools due to ignorance; they even transmit this harmful practice to parents of the children as well.

One of the baby wipes in the market contains an ingredient (Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Hydrochloride) that is very harmful to the respiratory system, and can be a major cause of pulmonary disease and problems.

Now, I have noticed that my toddler do have this frequent dry cough and catarrh that seems to be recurrent. I didn’t mind it very much other than to treat it once the symptoms occur, since it is common to infants due to the fact that their respiratory systems are just developing. However, I knew from his school that the nanny there encourages the use of wipes to clean their noses (especially the one containing the ingredient above) because it seems better than using toilet tissue or cloth.

It’s not long after he has been treated with antibiotics following an issue with vomiting and diarrhea and when he resumed school, same week, this cough and flu came on again and made him look pale. In my puzzlement about what could lead to the cause, I was led to research about the ingredients in his wipes one after the other, and when I got the result about Polyhexamethylene Guanidine, I froze. I also saw that it was a major cause of lung disease and deaths in south korea since 2006 because it was being used as a disinfectant.

The coincidence was too close to be ignored. I had to stop the use of the wipes immediately even though I just bought a new one. I had to lock it away. I even had to believe that it is not even only about using it on the nose or face. It could be a possible cause of allergic cough and flu when smelled and perceived. And of course, I noticed my child recovered and responded to treatment when I put it away and is better and in high spirits day by day.

This is not to spoil any company’s market. It is about using safe products in the country we live in and be vigilant. Now, there are also ingredients in other baby wipes that are not too good as well, but I am only pointing the one that has to deal with me directly. Do not use any baby wipes at all to clean the nose of children. And take care of yourself if you are in the habit of sniffing the fragrance (some people love sweet aroma).

I will enjoin the authorities to research this out and spread this message on all social media and educate nursing mothers in the hospitals, and nannies at schools. Also, the company affected should be invited with all baby wipes producing companies in Nigeria about the ingredients in their wipes and the necessary steps should be taken to stop the spread of sickness by using safe, tested and well researched ingredients.

Note: this harmful ingredient is POLYHEXAMETHYLENE GUANIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE. A baby wipes company uses it as one of their ingredients.
Let everyone research it out and figure out. I’m doing this in the best interest of all! Please share and spread info!

Cc: Seun Mynd44