Burkholderia Infection in Babies: Warning Signs to Watch For After the Target Wipes Recall

By Your Health Magazine Contributor

Your Health Magazine Contributor

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Burkholderia Infection in Babies: Warning Signs to Watch For After the Target Wipes Recall

If you used Target’s recalled Up & Up baby wipes on your child, the most important thing you can do now is know what to watch for. In June 2026, Target voluntarily recalled two of its Up & Up baby wipe lines nationwide after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found two types of bacteria in product samples – bacteria that pose a real risk to infants. Here’s how those bacteria can affect a baby, the warning signs worth taking seriously, and when to seek care.

Why Babies Are Especially Vulnerable

The bacteria identified in the recalled wipes are Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli. These are naturally occurring organisms found in soil and water, and for most healthy adults they cause little harm.

The concern is the people who actually use baby wipes. According to the FDA, contamination with these bacteria may cause serious and potentially life-threatening infections in newborns, infants, and young children, whose immune systems are still developing. In a healthy person, contact with broken skin may cause only a local infection. In a vulnerable child, the FDA warns the infection is more likely to spread into the bloodstream, where it can lead to sepsis or pneumonia.

That’s why warning signs that might seem minor in an adult deserve closer attention in a baby.

Skin and Eye Warning Signs

Target and the wipes’ manufacturer have received reports of adverse events potentially associated with the product, including skin irritation, eye irritation, and infections. Because wipes are used directly on a baby’s skin and near the eyes, these are often the first places problems show up. Watch for:

–       Redness, rash, or irritation in the diaper area or anywhere the wipes were used that doesn’t improve

–       Skin that becomes warm, swollen, tender, or develops blisters or pus

–       A small cut, scratch, or patch of broken skin that isn’t healing or looks worse

–       Eye redness, discharge, swelling, or signs your baby’s eyes are bothering them

A mild diaper rash is common and usually harmless. What’s worth a call to your pediatrician is irritation that lingers, spreads, or starts to look like infection.

Signs of a More Serious Infection

The bigger concern with these bacteria is an infection that moves beyond the skin. Because babies can’t tell you how they feel, you’re watching for changes in how they look and behave. Contact a medical professional promptly if you notice:

–       Fever-and in newborns and very young infants, any fever is a reason to call right away

–       Poor feeding, refusing to eat, or far fewer wet diapers than usual

–       Unusual sleepiness, difficulty waking, or limpness

–       Persistent or unusual fussiness that you can’t soothe

–       Fast, labored, or grunting breathing

–       Skin that looks pale, mottled, or bluish

These can be early signs of a spreading infection, and in an infant they should never be waited out.

When to Call vs. When to Go to the ER

For lingering skin or eye irritation, call your pediatrician and describe what you’re seeing. For any of the more serious signs above-especially fever in a young infant, breathing trouble, extreme lethargy, or a baby who simply seems very unwell-seek emergency care without delay. When it comes to infants and possible infection, it is always reasonable to err on the side of being seen.

If You Suspect Your Child Was Affected

Take a few practical steps:

1. Stop using the recalled wipes immediately and check your pack against the FDA recall notice, which lists every affected UPC code and includes package photos.
2. Have your child evaluated by a medical professional and mention that they may have been exposed to the recalled wipes.
3. Keep the packaging-including the lot and expiration codes-rather than throwing it out, and hold onto receipts and any medical records.
4. Return remaining wipes to any Target store for a refund once you’ve documented what you have.

Your Legal Options

For most families, a checkup and a refund will be the end of it. But if your child was diagnosed with an infection or another health problem that you believe is connected to these wipes, the costs-medical bills, follow-up care, time off work-can add up quickly, and a refund won’t touch them. Attorneys are now investigating claims on behalf of affected families. You can learn more about the Target baby wipe lawsuit to understand how these cases work and whether yours may qualify. Consultations are typically free, with no obligation to move forward.

Watch your child’s skin, eyes, and overall behavior, and trust your instincts-you know your baby better than anyone. Call your pediatrician about anything that lingers or worsens, and seek emergency care for serious signs. For more on the recall itself, Consumer Reports has a parent-focused breakdown. And if your family was harmed, know that you have options beyond a refund.