Experts Caution Parents Against Viral Kids-Care Hacks

Bengaluru: A viral DIY ingredient. An adult serum "gentle enough for kids." A trending oil massage routine. Parenting advice travels faster than ever, making it increasingly important for parents to know what to look for when choosing products and routines for children. This was the focus of “Trust Before Trends,” a panel discussion hosted in Bengaluru.

The panel featured Dr. Sayed Mujahid, pediatrician, neonatologist, and parenting coach, Dhruv Sayani, Managing Director & CEO, KT Kids and Dr Ramya, Dermatologist and was moderated by Kamalika Sikdar and brought together mom creators from across Bengaluru.

Dr. Sayed spoke about the importance of being mindful while choosing skincare products and remedies for children, particularly those found online. Dr. Ramya reinforced the importance of keeping children’s skincare simple, reminding parents that “boring is beautiful” and that children do not need elaborate, 10-step skincare routines.

Label literacy drew the most questions from mothers in the audience. Dr. Sayed advised parents to look past front-of-pack claims, understand the ingredient list for added fragrance and sulphates, and distinguish between terms such as, "dermatologically tested" and "pediatrician recommended." On viral routines, his advice was simple - when in doubt, particularly with infants, consult a pediatrician.

Bringing the manufacturer's perspective, Dhruv Sayani, MD & CEO of KT Kids spoke about the thought and testing that go into developing products specifically for children, and the responsibility brands have to substantiate every claim they make.

"Sharing a panel with some of Bengaluru's leading pediatricians reinforced an important conversation around product safety, ingredient consciousness and the responsibility brands carry when creating products specifically for children," said Mr Sayani, adding that "At KT Kids, safety has always been central to how we approach the category. Today's parents are far more informed and discerning, and rightly so. They want to understand what goes into the products their children use and the basis behind the claims brands make."

With mom creators often being the first point of reference for a new mother for product advice, the panel also explored how creators can share information responsibly — by being transparent about partnerships, encouraging followers to seek professional advice where appropriate, and prioritising responsible information over virality.

Natasha Garyali, said, "Parents today don't lack information, they lack clarity. A single scroll can give a mother ten contradicting opinions on what to use on her kid’s skin. Mom creators have become the most trusted voice in that noise, and with that trust comes responsibility. 'Trust Before Trends' was about putting pediatricians, credible brands and creators in the same room, so that the conversation around children’s products is more informed and responsible.."

The discussion was part of the Bengaluru edition of M-Pact Awards, held at Hilton Bangalore Embassy GolfLinks, which recognises mom creators for their impact on India's parenting community. The evening was presented by KT Kids, in association with Tedibar, with Motherhood Women & Children's Hospital as healthcare partner, and powered by Footprints Childcare, Philips Avent and Titan eye+.