Johnson & Johnson are investigating after dozens of parents claimed their baby wipes caused painful ‘burns’ to their children’s faces.
Pictures from concerned parents show red rashes which they say appeared after using Johnson’s cotton touch ultra sensitive wet wipes, and the company’s review page has been flooded with comments complaining of ‘burn-like’ marks.
Gemma Adamson from Tadworth, Surrey, complained that her two children were left ‘in tears’ after they both developed the same reaction to the wipes last week.
She said her six-month-old son Jesse was left with a painful rash on his face and blistering skin on his bottom after Ms Adamson used the wipes to change his nappy. Pictures show Jesse’s face still red two days after his mother stopped using the wipes.
Another photo shows ten-year-old son Jake’s flushed red face – which he said ‘felt like it was on fire’.
Gemma Adamson’s six-month-old son Jesse was left with a painful rash on his face and blistering skin on his bottom after Ms Adamson used the wipes to change his nappy
Pictures show Jesse’s face still red two days after his mother stopped using the wipes
Now Johnson & Johnson have revealed they have stopped shipping the wipes while they investigate. The company said in a statement: ‘Our first responsibility is to the mums, dads and families who use our products and we were saddened to learn that some babies had skin reactions.
‘Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, we have stopped shipping Johnson’s Cottontouch Extra Sensitive Wipes in the UK while we conduct a full investigation.’
An Asda Spokesperson said: ‘The safety and wellbeing of our customers is really important to us and we are currently investigating this with the brand to understand what has happened.’
On Thursday morning more than half of the reviews left on the product’s Johnson’s Baby web page rated the wipes just one star out of five.
The wipes have 140 one-star reviews, five two-star reviews, nine three-star reviews, 32 four-star reviews and 65 five-star reviews.
Sarah Tattersall from Pembroke, Wales reported her son Oska, pictured, developed a similar rash back in 2018
Now Johnson & Johnson have revealed they have stopped shipping the wipes while they investigate
One of the negative reviews is titled ‘Burnt my baby… this product should be recalled!’, and another said they left her son with a ‘bright red and burning face’.
One review, titled ‘Awful’, was from a parent who said their one-year-old daughter ‘came out in a red burn like a rash… she cries in pain as it has made her so sore’.
Another reviewer, from Birmingham, writes: ‘I have used all other types of Johnson’s baby wipes with both my children and never had an issue however these new wipes have caused my sons face to go bright red and look like he has burns.
‘I have tried them on myself and I don’t know what chemicals are in them but you can feel your face burn as soon as you use them. This product needs to be reviewed ASAP.’
A grandmother from Burnley said she had been using extra sensitive wipes for nine months and her grandson loved them, but the ‘new cotton touch wipes are dreadful’.
Ms Adamson said her 10-year-old son Jake, pictured, was ‘left in tears, saying his face felt like it was on fire and it was incredibly hot to touch’
Ms Adamson said: ‘You never assume wipes would cause such a huge reaction especially when they are deemed extra sensitive and hypoallergenic.’ Pictured is her son Jesse
She writes: ‘Face and neck was bright red like it had been burnt. Hot to touch and baby crying terribly. Will never use again. Took pictures as I was so horrified!! What products have been added to these? You have let us all down terribly Johnson’s.’
Posting on the Johnsons Baby website, Gayle Gray, from Dundee, said: ‘I used the cotton touch wipes on my little boy’s face and within minutes he developed a bright red rash and was very irritated.
‘It was still red a couple of hours later. I tried the gentle all over wipes but the smell is over powering and is nipping not only his eyes but mine too.
‘I am appalled considering they are both supposed to be extra sensitive and safe for babies!
‘I have used Johnsons wipes for years on my older daughter and now my son – What have you put in these to make them so bad. I cannot use these and have resorted to other brands.’
On Thursday morning more than half of the reviews left on the product’s Johnson’s Baby web page rated the wipes just one star out of five.
One review, titled ‘Awful’, was from a parent who said their one-year-old daughter ‘came out in a red burn like a rash… she cries in pain as it has made her so sore’
Donna Gibbons, from Cork, Ireland said her 21-month-old son Ethan, pictured, was left with ‘blotchy burn marks’ pictured after she used the wipes on him last week
Ms Adamson, 32, had bought a £5.95 box of the wipes at her local Asda and took to social media to warn other parents about them. She posted photos of the wipes with the caption: ‘Do not use these wipes! Biggest Parenting Fail!’
She said two of her children, including her six-month-old, both experienced ‘burns to their face immediately after using them’, adding that when she used them herself her ‘face was on fire’.
‘I looked on the Johnson’s website for contact info and whilst there saw what bad reviews this product has!’ she added. ‘Loads of children had suffered burns to their skin after using them! Absolutely shocking!
‘This is meant to be a reputable brand, and the product is extra sensitive & hypoallergenic. Although my children don’t have sensitive skin they had a very bad reaction.’
The wipes have 140 one-star reviews, five two-star reviews, nine three-star reviews, 32 four-star reviews and 65 five-star reviews
Ms Adamson’s post, which has clocked up more than a thousand likes online, prompted many other parents to come forward.
Valerie McCabe wrote: ‘I bought two boxes of these. My daughter and granddaughter both got burnt faces.’
Jenna Ridley added: ‘This has happened to my son too! I wasn’t sure why until I stopped using the wipes and his face is slowly calming down – still pretty bad though.’
Donna Gibbons, from Cork, Ireland said her 21-month-old son Ethan was left with ‘blotchy burn marks’ pictured after she used the wipes on him last week.
Similarly, Sarah Tattersall from Pembroke, Wales reported her son Oska Asbury developed a similar rash back in 2018.
Gemma Adamson, 32, had bought a £5.95 box of the wipes at her local Asda and took to social media to warn other parents about them
The company said in a statement: ‘Our first responsibility is to the mums, dads and families who use our products and we were saddened to learn that some babies had skin reactions’
Johnson’s wipes are branded as ‘extra sensitive’ and safe for use on ‘delicate’ faces.
Ms Adamson said: ‘Our baby was crying every time we wiped his face or nappy changes but as you do, we assumed he just disliked it.
‘Now with great guilt we realised what the real reason is.
‘At the time of use our six-month was hitting the usual milestones of teething and weaning so we assumed these may be the causes initially.
‘Until our 10-year-old helped himself and used one that’s when the penny dropped.
‘Jake was left in tears, saying his face felt like it was on fire and it was incredibly hot to touch.
‘We were obviously using the same wipes to change Jesse’s nappy and his bottom was blistered and bleeding from them.
‘You never assume wipes would cause such a huge reaction especially when they are deemed extra sensitive and hypoallergenic.’
Asda told Ms Adamson the product would need to be sent back to Johnson’s for testing.