Is Camphor Safe for Babies? What Every Parent Should Know About Creams, Labels, and G6PD Safety

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Is Camphor Safe for Babies? What Every Parent Should Know About Creams, Labels, and G6PD Safety

By Alpro Pharmacy

July 21, 2025

Camphor Is Everywhere, But Is It Safe for Babies?

“Many moms have asked me: ‘Is camphor in creams harmful to babies? Why isn’t it on the label and is it safe for G6PD babies?” Let’s unpack it clearly, without fear, just facts.

Camphor is found in everyday products like balms, chest rubs, baby creams, mothballs, and even lavender-scented shampoos. While it offers soothing and cooling effects, questions remain about its safety for infants.

🌿 What Is Camphor & Why Is It Used?

Camphor is a natural compound from the Cinnamomum camphora tree, commonly added to:

Relieve itching or pain
Provide a cooling sensation
Add herbal fragrance (e.g., lavender, mint, eucalyptus)

It’s found in products like Tiger Balm, Vicks, Cap Kapak, mothballs, herbal oils and sometimes even baby creams.

Sudocrem has come under scrutiny recently, so here are the facts:
It contains only 0.008% camphor, derived from lavender fragrance not as an active component. This amount is far below the ANSM and EU baby safety limit of 0.015%.

✅ Used for decades globally with no camphor-related toxicity reports
✅ Safe when used on the nappy area for babies under 3 years old

🧾 Why Is It on the Label Now?

Camphor only needs to be listed if it exceeds:

0.01% in leave-on products (creams)
0.1% in rinse-off products (shampoos)

Sudocrem contains only 0.008% camphor, confirmed directly by the Sudocrem company team. This trace amount is naturally derived from lavender fragrance and remains well below the international safety threshold of 0.015% for babies under 3 years old (Council of Europe, 2020). As part of this proactive update, Sudocrem listed camphor (even though just a trace of fragrance) on its ingredient list. The label also specifies that the product is intended for use in the nappy area only for children under 3 years of age, a thoughtful measure to minimize any potential risk of inhalation or ingestion, and a strong reflection of the brand’s commitment to safe pediatric care.

💡 Important: Just because “camphor” isn’t listed on the label doesn’t mean the product is camphor-free, trace amounts may still be present, especially in products containing lavender, rosemary, mint, or eucalyptus oils.

🔍 How to Spot Camphor in Baby Products

Now let’s explore how to tell if camphor is there even if it’s not clearly listed.

✅ Clues to look for:

Explicit listing:
- If camphor is added as an active ingredient (e.g., for itch, pain, cold), it must appear on the label.
Fragrance loophole:
- If camphor exists in trace amounts (<0.01%), it can legally be grouped under “fragrance” or “parfum” without being named.

🧼 Wording that may hint at camphor or similar terpenes:

“Cooling effect”
“Refreshing herbal scent”
“Contains lavender/mint/eucalyptus oil”
“Soothing vapors” or “chest rub aroma”

These natural oils may naturally contain trace camphor, even if not listed separately.

⚠️ What About Camphor Poisoning?

According to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (2023):

30 mg/kg or more can cause seizures within 90 minutes
Symptoms: vomiting, hallucinations, convulsions, breathing issues
Highly toxic if ingested, especially from products like: Tiger Balm (11–25%), Cap Kapak (5%). Mothballs (90–100%).These are not safe for babies under 2 years.

But what if your baby has G6PD deficiency? Is camphor still a concern, even in small amounts? Let’s look at what science says.

At trace levels, camphor does not trigger hemolysis in G6PD-deficient babies. The mechanism of hemolysis in G6PD-deficient individuals is typically triggered by oxidizing agents. Camphor in trace concentrations, such as in Sudocrem, is not considered a strong oxidizer and is not listed as a high-risk agent.

What about active camphor? So far, there is no clinical evidence showing that topical camphor alone causes hemolysis in G6PD-deficient babies. Still unsure which product is okay and which to avoid? Here’s a quick reference chart to help.

✅ Quick Camphor Safety Guide

👉 Bottom line: Avoid high-camphor products in babies under 2, regardless of G6PD status, but trace amounts in baby creams are considered safe.

📅 Age Safety Guidelines

Still Unsure About Your Product’s Safety?

If you have any questions about camphor-containing products or their safety for your babies , including for G6PD or sensitive skin, feel free to walk into any Alpro Pharmacy or Alpro Clinic to speak to our family docors and pharmacists or you can join our MamaBe Telegram Group for daily parenting tips!

References

Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. (2023). Camphor poisoning guideline. https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/Camphor_poisoning/
Council of Europe. (2020). Safe cosmetics for young children: Guide for manufacturers and safety assessors.
European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare.