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 sub-populations. 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 the next generation.
Substances identified in childcare 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 old. 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, because the effects of several endocrine disruptors can be cumulative—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 some 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 sheets, independent certifications, and the European SCIP register (Substances of Concern In articles as such or in complex objects / Products) can help objectify purchasing choices.
Parabens and substances in baby cosmetics
In the field of cosmetics, European Regulation 1223/2009 regulates the use of parabens. Some, such as propylparaben and butylparaben, are prohibited in products intended for children under 3 years old for the diaper area. ANSES has also published opinions on allergenic fragrances and certain UV filters used in sunscreens for children, highlighting uncertainties that justify caution.
How to read certifications and labels in 2026
Given the regulatory complexity, several certifications allow parents to have guarantees that complement 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 however guaranteeing the absence of all worrying substances not yet regulated.
ANSES provides on its website a database of evaluated substances and published opinions, freely accessible. The ECHA website also offers a register of registered substances. These resources, although technical, allow parents wishing to deepen their research to access 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.
Some concrete lines of action 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 communicates transparently about the composition of the materials used.
The play and developmental mat: a major point of contact
Play mats represent a particularly important contact surface for infants, who spend significant time on them in prone or supine positions, and who are likely to put the materials they are made of in their mouths. The composition of foams, coverings, and dyes deserves specific attention. A play mat whose materials are certified and whose traceability is documented constitutes a choice consistent with 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 regulations
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 restricted substance lists under REACH. These developments aim to better integrate the harmonized identification criteria for endocrine disruptors, defined at the European level since 2018 for biocides and plant protection products, and progressively extended to other sectors.
For parents, these regulatory developments represent increasing protection, but whose 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 the safety issues of products intended for infants, you can consult our article on baby product recalls 2025-2026 as well as our analysis of the 2026 baby bathtub regulation. The works and opinions published by ANSES are freely available on www.anses.fr.
