Trust before trends: Experts urge parents to look beyond viral kids-care hacks
Pediatric and dermatology experts at a Bengaluru panel advised parents to prioritise ingredient awareness, simple skincare and professional guidance over viral routines and social media claims.
The panel featured Dr Sayed Mujahid, consultant pediatrician, neonatologist and parenting coach; Dr Ramya Nagaraj, dermatologist and aesthetic physician; and Dhruv Sayani, Managing Director and CEO of KT Kids. The discussion was moderated by Kamalika Sikdar, Editor-in-Chief of MomJunction.
BENGALURU: With parenting advice increasingly shaped by viral social media trends, pediatric and dermatology experts have urged parents to exercise greater caution when choosing skincare products and remedies for children and to rely on ingredient labels and professional advice rather than online hype.
The advice came at “Trust Before Trends,” a panel discussion hosted by MomJunction in Bengaluru, which brought together more than 100 mom creators to discuss children’s product safety, ingredient awareness and responsible parenting information.
The panel featured Dr Sayed Mujahid, consultant pediatrician, neonatologist and parenting coach; Dr Ramya Nagaraj, dermatologist and aesthetic physician; and Dhruv Sayani, Managing Director and CEO of KT Kids. The discussion was moderated by Kamalika Sikdar, Editor-in-Chief of MomJunction.
Read the label, not the claim
Dr Sayed Mujahid highlighted the need for parents to be cautious about skincare products and remedies recommended online, particularly for children and infants.
He advised parents to look beyond front-of-pack claims and examine ingredient lists, including the presence of added fragrance and sulphates. He also stressed the importance of distinguishing between claims such as “dermatologically tested” and “pediatrician recommended”.
On viral skincare routines and home remedies, his advice was to seek professional guidance when in doubt, particularly in the case of infants.
Dr Ramya Nagaraj emphasised the importance of keeping children’s skincare routines simple. She cautioned against elaborate, multi-step routines and said children do not need complex skincare regimens.
Responsibility extends to brands
Dhruv Sayani brought the manufacturers’ perspective to the discussion, focusing on the testing and development involved in products designed specifically for children.
He said the discussion reinforced the importance of product safety, ingredient awareness and substantiation of claims made by brands. According to Sayani, parents are increasingly seeking greater transparency about the ingredients used in products and the basis for claims made by manufacturers.
Role of mom creators
The panel also examined the growing influence of mom creators, who are often an early source of product and parenting information for new mothers.
The discussion emphasised the need for creators to be transparent about brand partnerships, encourage professional advice where appropriate and prioritise responsible information over the pursuit of virality.
Natasha Garyali, Vice President, MomJunction, said parents today have access to abundant information but often face difficulty separating reliable guidance from conflicting advice. She said the event aimed to bring pediatricians, brands and creators together to encourage more informed conversations around children’s products.
The discussion formed part of the Bengaluru edition of MomJunction’s M-Pact Awards, held at Hilton Bangalore Embassy GolfLinks, which recognises mom creators for their impact on India’s parenting community.
The event 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+.
The Bengaluru edition follows earlier editions held in Hyderabad and Delhi.
