Why endocrine disruptors directly concern parents of young children
Infants and young children are among the populations most vulnerable to exposure to endocrine disruptors. Their developing bodies, immature metabolic pathways, and exploratory behaviors—putting objects in their mouths, crawling on floors—expose them to relatively higher levels than adults. This observation, documented by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), justifies particular attention to products that come into daily contact with babies.
ANSES defines an endocrine disruptor as an exogenous substance that alters the functions of the hormonal system and induces adverse effects on the health of an intact organism, its offspring, or subpopulations. This definition, aligned with that of the World Health Organization, reminds us that effects can manifest at very low doses, sometimes below traditional regulatory thresholds, and that some effects may only appear in adulthood or in the next generation.
Substances identified in baby products
Phthalates and current European regulations
Phthalates are plasticizers used to soften PVC. Several of them—notably DEHP, DBP, and BBP—are classified as substances of very high concern under the European REACH regulation and are prohibited or strictly limited in toys and childcare articles intended for children under 3 years of age. The European Toy Safety Directive (Directive 2009/48/EC) sets usage limits, and revisions are regularly conducted to incorporate new toxicological data.
ANSES has contributed to several European evaluations of these substances within the framework of the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The published work highlights the need to consider not an isolated substance, but mixtures, as the effects of several endocrine disruptors can accumulate—what scientists call the "cocktail effect."
Bisphenol A and its substitutes
Bisphenol A (BPA) has been banned in France in all food containers since 2015, and in toys. However, ANSES studies have shown that certain substitutes used to replace it—bisphenol S, bisphenol F—have similar worrying toxicological profiles. The Agency has recommended applying a principle of vigilant substitution, meaning not replacing a problematic substance with another whose hazard profile has not been sufficiently evaluated.
For parents, this means that a product labeled 'BPA-free' does not guarantee the absence of all bisphenols. Consulting product data sheets, independent certifications, and the European SCIP register (Substances of Concern In articles as such or in complex objects / Products) can help to objectify purchasing choices.
Parabens and substances in baby cosmetics
In the field of cosmetics, European Regulation 1223/2009 governs the use of parabens. Some, such as propylparaben and butylparaben, are prohibited in products intended for children under 3 years of age for the diaper area. ANSES has also published opinions on allergenic fragrances and certain UV filters used in children's sunscreens, highlighting uncertainties that warrant caution.
How to read certifications and labels in 2026
Given the regulatory complexity, several certifications allow parents to have additional guarantees beyond the minimum mandatory regulations. However, it is important to distinguish truly rigorous approaches from marketing claims.
The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label certifies that every component of a textile product has been tested for the presence of harmful substances, according to a regularly updated list incorporating recent toxicological data. The GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification goes further by also covering manufacturing processes. For plastics, the CE marking attests to compliance with applicable European directives, without guaranteeing the absence of all worrying substances not yet regulated.
ANSES provides a freely accessible database of evaluated substances and published opinions on its website. The ECHA website also offers the register of registered substances. These resources, although technical, allow parents who wish to deepen their research to have verifiable information.
The precautionary principle in daily choices
Reducing sources of exposure without anxiety
The current scientific consensus does not advocate eliminating all plastics or industrial products from the infant's environment—this would be unrealistic and potentially a source of counterproductive parental anxiety. What ANSES and health authorities recommend is a reasoned reduction of exposures identified as concerning, primarily for uses involving direct and prolonged contact with the infant.
Several concrete guidelines emerge from the available recommendations: favor materials whose composition is traceable and certified, avoid heating food in plastic containers, regularly ventilate the infant's living spaces to reduce the concentration of volatile organic compounds, and choose products whose manufacturer transparently communicates on the composition of the materials used.
Play and activity mat: a major point of contact
Activity mats represent a particularly important contact surface for infants, who spend significant time there in prone or supine positions, and who are likely to put the materials they are made of in their mouths. The composition of the foams, coatings, and dyes deserves specific attention. An activity mat whose materials are certified and whose traceability is documented constitutes a coherent choice in an approach to reducing exposure to concerning substances.
The challenge is not to find a perfect product—a notion that does not exist in a constantly evolving regulatory context—but to rely on objective and verifiable criteria rather than unsubstantiated marketing claims.
Towards strengthened European regulation
The European 'Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability', published in 2020 as part of the Green Deal, foresees a significant strengthening of regulations on endocrine disruptors. Several regulatory revisions are underway, including the revision of the toy safety directive and the updating of lists of restricted substances under REACH. These developments aim to better integrate harmonized identification criteria for endocrine disruptors, defined at the European level since 2018 for biocides and plant protection products, and gradually extended to other sectors.
For parents, these regulatory developments represent increasing protection, but their effects are gradual. Pending their full application, the combination of regulatory compliance, independent certifications, and manufacturer transparency remains the best available guidance tool.
To learn more about product safety issues for infants, you can consult our article on baby product recalls 2025-2026 as well as our analysis of the baby bathtub regulation 2026. The work and opinions published by ANSES are available directly on www.anses.fr.
