Stack of white disposable diapers against a blue background.

I wrote this Best Non Toxic Diapers Guide for the first time when Felix was still wearing them! My original introduction to this section read something like, “Sure, we all know we should use cloth diapers, but how realistic is that, especially here in New York City where many of us don’t even have washing machines? Thank God for these biodegradable diapers from Seventh Generation!”

This was back in 2010, and I was using cloth diapers about 25% of the time (and my husband was using them never). After doing the research for this guide, I came away realizing that there really isn’t a truly “green” way to use disposables. So I started putting Felix in non-toxic disposable diapers only at bedtime or for long car rides and stopped using the Seventh Generation disposables completely.

But I had many relapses before potty training was done, and when my second son was born in 2013, I didn’t even attempt cloth diapers. My excuse: a busy business and two children. At least this time I used diapers I felt better about (see “The Best Stuff,” below).

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Best Diapers

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Updated Biodegradable Diapers Guide

In 2019, nearly a decade after I first published this guide, I hired Dr. Michael Hopkins, PhD, to revisit the guide and update it with some new brands you’ve been asking about. He's since given it several other updates to add even more brands of Earth-friendly disposable diapers (plus a bunch of Sneaky brands!).

Our Research Process

As a scientist, Dr. Hopkins is well-equipped to read peer-reviewed studies and come away with a deep understanding of the nuances of the potential risks from various diaper materials, from chlorine to SAP to adhesives (more on all this later).

After deciding on the appropriate criteria for what would make brands Best, Good, Bad, or Okay Stuff, he made a many-columned spreadsheet and populated it with the list of diaper brands you guys asked us to review.

For each brand, Michael calculated affordability, studied reviews on diaper performance, and double-checked to make sure that all ingredients and materials lists were accurate from the first version of this guide (in the case of Honest Diapers, for instance, the ingredients changed in 2018).

Dr. Hopkins’  final (and the most time-consuming!) step was contacting diaper manufacturers to investigate their use of about phthalates, fragrance, chlorine, latex, and the exact materials in the top-sheet and back-sheet of each diaper.

I asked him to find out if the diapers use bamboo or plastic (and in what ratios), if they use traditional SAP or plant-based fluff, what their adhesives are made of, and what percentage of so-called compostable or biodegradable diapers actually biodegrade.

Once he gathered all of this information, we were able to plunk all 40ish reviewed brands into a Best, Good, Okay, Bad or Sneaky Stuff category, which you can review at the bottom of this post.

Best Stuff

Aleva Naturals Bamboo Diapers

Aleva Naturals Bamboo Diapers

These feature a bamboo top-sheet and back-sheet, and a fluff and plant-based SAP core.

Price per diaper: $0.53

Aleva Naturals Bamboo Diapers

Andy Pandy

Andy Pandy

Andy Pandy diapers are 85.6% biodegradable, with a bamboo top- and back-sheet, and a fluff/sap core. A lot of you are fans of this diaper’s performance.

Price per diaper: $0.54

Andy Pandy

Dyper Diapers

Dyper Diapers

Like the other brands on this list, Dyper diapers use a bamboo top- and back-sheet. But Dyper is unique not only because it uses Sumitomo SAP for part of its core, along with fluff. Our research suggests that Sumitomo SAP (from Japan) is the very best traditional SAP on the market, so you can use less of it for the same results.

We also like Dyper because the company purchases carbon offsets and uses biodegradable bags and nontoxic cardboard inks for packing and shipping. They claim you can compost these diapers at home.

Overall, Dyper is probably the most affordable of all the Best Stuff. Price per diaper: $0.32 to $0.46.

Dyper Diapers

ECO Boom Bamboo Baby Diaper

ECO Boom Bamboo Baby Diaper

This compostable diaper has a bamboo top-sheet and back-sheet. The core is a combination of fluff and SAP. ECO Boom gets extra points for its non-toxic adhesives. These diapers are free of PVC, TBT, alcohol, and preservatives.

Price per diaper: $0.40

ECO Boom Bamboo Baby Diaper

Happy Little Camper Natural Baby Diapers

Happy Little Camper Natural Baby Diapers

These diapers are OEKO-TEX certified, with plant-based materials including wood pulp and a cotton blend for top- and back-sheet. They are TFC, with heavy-metal-free dyes. Made in Europe. I don’t know anyone who uses them, so I cannot speak to their performance. (Please comment below if you have!)

Price per diaper: $0.36

Happy Little Camper Natural Baby Diapers

Healthybaby

Healthybaby

These are the first diapers to be verified by EWG, and friends who have used them say they perform as well as the most toxic of conventional diapers. This is because they are engineered with proprietary “magic channels” and flash dry technology to instantly wick moisture away from the skin and provide better leak protection, even overnight.

Healthybaby’s diapers’ core is SAP and wood pulp–which receives bonus points from us for being 100% sourced from sustainably managed forests.

Healthybaby diapers are Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF), and are explicitly free of parabens, phthalates, fragrances, and optical brighteners. They are manufactured using renewable energy and are the first and only diapers to contain organic cotton. Healthybaby is a certified B Corp, and the diapers come in a paper rather than plastic package.

The top and bottom sheets of these diapers contain some plant-based polyethylene and polypropylene (inert, non-leaching plastics).

Healthybaby has especially strong certifications, which in addition to EWG include Oeko-Tex.

Finally, Healthybaby is more transparent about every single ingredient and material in every product they make than any other brand we’ve reviewed. All materials are third-party tested for safety, which no other brand–including all of the ones claiming to be organic and biodegradable–can say.

Price per diaper: $0.50 with subscription

Use code GIMME15 for 15% off, including subscriptions.

Healthybaby

Joonya Earth-Friendly Diapers

Joonya Earth-Friendly Diapers

Made in Denmark, and the backsheet and topsheet of Joonya diapers are made from sugarcane and corn.

Joonya’s diapers are TCF, and the core contains wood fluff from FSC certified forests. These diapers are explicitly free of phthalates, chlorine, latex, and heavy metals. Joonya diapers passed independent chemical testing performed by Eurofins Laboratory. It’s also certified by Nordic Swan, the official stamp of safety for products made in Nordic countries.

Price per diaper: $0.51

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Joonya Earth-Friendly Diapers

Kudos Natural Diapers

Kudos Natural Diapers

Dr. Hopkins was really impressed by Kudos. These diapers contain two components made of petrochemical plastic–in the the waistband (they say it’s soon to be replaced with plant-based plastic) and the“barrier film” which is listed as a breathable polyethylene. One notable difference between Kudos and other Best or Good brands is that they are the only manufacturer to use cotton for the top sheet, rather than bamboo. They (rightfully) point out that the process of turning bamboo into fabric is environmentally unfriendly, as it releases carbondisulfide and hydrogen sulfide as byproducts. Dr. Hopkins says: “I give them a pass on the barrier film and waistband based on how much effort they are putting into making smart choices given the options available and not just green-washing.” Read our full review of Kudos here.

Price per diaper: $0.31 with subscription

Kudos Natural Diapers

Little Toes Biodegradable Bamboo Diapers

Little Toes Biodegradable Bamboo Diapers

Like others in this category, Little Toes feature a bamboo top-sheet and back-sheet, a fluff and SAP core, and are free of alcohol, PVC, TBT, dyes of any kind, and preservatives.

Price per diaper: $0.64

Little Toes Biodegradable Bamboo Diapers

Nest Biodegradable Diapers

Nest Biodegradable Diapers

This brand offers a 64% biodegradable diaper that gets excellent customer reviews. It features a bamboo top sheet and back sheet, and its core is comprised of a combination of fluff and SAP. These diapers are free of phthalates and the brand was super quick to answer our questions.

Price per diaper: $0.50 to $0.68

Nest Biodegradable Diapers

Terra Diapers

Terra Diapers

Terra’s diapers offers an 85% biodegradable diaper is free of phthalates, bleach, and latex. It features a bamboo back sheet that is 100% biodegradeable. Its core is comprised of a combination of FSC-Certified natural wood pulp and SAP. These diapers feature a Wetness Indicator that is 100% plant-based. All ink on product and packaging is food-grade. 

Price per diaper: $0.58

Terra Diapers

Are disposable diapers toxic?

This is the question I am asked more than any other about diapers, so let’s start here. Do even the worst disposables really pose a risk to the baby wearing them? Or is this mostly an environmental issue?

The short answer is, yes: diapers can pose a risk to the baby wearing them. Here are our two biggest health concerns with disposable diapers:

  1. The phthalates that may be used not only in the plastic components of diapers but also in the glues, synthetic fragrance, and dyes.

    In a recent study for the National Library of Medicine out of South Korea, four leading diaper brands (as well as several brands of sanitary pads) were shown to all contain varying amounts (and in some cases, very high levels) of phthalates.

    If you’re a regular reader, you already know how bad phthalates are, and since they directly disrupt hormones, they are definitely not something you want anywhere near your children’s privates!

    In addition, phthalates proved to be the hardest ingredient to suss out during our investigation. A surprising number of “non toxic” or “sustainable” diaper brands don’t actually make any claim about phthalates, and you’ll see in our reviews below that we note whether each brand is “phthalate-free.”

  2. Allergens and irritants. TBT, parabens, latex, and more are often found in diapers. These will most likely be present in fragrance, lotions, and dyes.

    While this is the least sensational potential risk, good old-fashioned diaper rash is probably the greatest concern for most babies wearing disposable diapers.

    The best way to avoid diaper rash (or a more serious reaction) is to avoid any disposables with dyes, fragrance, and lotions, and to look for diapers that explicitly state they are free of latex, parabens, and TBT.

Do we need to worry about bleaching/dioxins in diapers?

This is another question I get a lot, and it’s certainly relevant from an environmental perspective. The organochlorines present in the effluent produced by paper mills during the bleaching process are a well-documented environmental pollutant.

However, in terms of a danger to the baby, you should know that the level of dioxins present in disposable diapers is:

  1. Comparable to that found in cotton (cloth) diapers.
  2. Thirty thousand to 2.2 million times lower than the average dietary dioxin exposure resulting from “low level contamination of the food supply.” (From this peer reviewed study using commercially available diapers purchased in and around San Francisco.)

In other words, we are exposed to tens of thousands of times more dioxins from our food supply than the trace levels found in chlorine-bleached diapers. Does that mean you should buy bleached diapers? No, definitely not—their production is really bad for the planet. But if the hospital puts your newborn in one, don’t worry; it’s not going to harm her.

Total Chlorine Free (TCF) versus Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF)

If you’ve been educating yourself on the best nontoxic diapers/biodegradable disposable diapers, you’ve probably heard that ECF diapers are basically Sneaky Stuff and that you MUST buy only TCF diapers.

(Quick primer: ECF means bleached with chlorine dioxide instead of elemental chlorine. TCF means bleached using any chemicals other than chlorine, chlorine dioxide, or hypochlorite.)

We are probably the only “green bloggers” saying this, but the distinction between TCF and ECF is totally not important.

Here’s why: as we just said, the use of chlorine in pulp and paper mills is really an environmental issue, not a health and safety issue. Yes, ECF bleached diapers might sometimes still contain trace amounts of dioxins, but we are talking about levels that are several orders of magnitude lower than the levels of dioxins we are all exposed to by simply eating food.

And here’s why it doesn’t even matter from an environmental standpoint: Although the waste products of TCF pulp is technically “cleaner” than ECF pulp, TCF produces a lower yield (it takes more wood pulp and energy to produce the same amount of finished product), effectively canceling out the benefits over ECF.

Moreover, the environmental impact of ECF versus TCF bleaching depends on the practices and procedures of the individual paper mill and how the waste products are handled. Click here to download a PDF of a recent report that concluded the theoretical benefits of TCF versus ECF bleaching have not been realized in the real world and that there is no appreciable difference between ECF and TCF. Scratch that one of your worry list!

Good Stuff

The following brands all still count as “Good Stuff” because they are Chlorine free (ECF or TCF), dye, fragrance, lotion, paraben and latex free and explicitly phthalate free. However, the top-sheet and back-sheet of these diapers are made mostly of petroleum-based plastics, so based on our new standards, we cannot call them Best Stuff.


Attitude Disposable Baby Diapers

Attitude Disposable Baby Diapers

I was surprised when Michael told me Attitude made the Good Stuff list! The top-sheet and back-sheet are made from a “cellulose polymer,” and the core is made of cellulose fluff, SAP, and “Bio-SAP.” Attitude claims that this is a 90% biodegradable diaper — the 10% is the plastic fasteners and the SAP portion of the core. On the downside, reviews suggest that these diapers are leaky and don’t hold closed as well as others on this list. We also never heard back from them about the exact materials in their polymer, which is why we’ve listed them as Good rather than Best Stuff.

Price per diaper: $0.99

Attitude Disposable Baby Diapers

Bambo Nature Diapers

Bambo Nature Diapers

Bambo is highly regarded among green diaper reviews and is often noted for its certifications, such as “Nordic Ecolabel” and “Forest Stewardship Council.” The cellulose fluff is sustainably sourced, and combined with SAP for the core. Bambo diapers are made of around 75% biodegradable materials, but aren’t Best Stuff because they employ a polypropylene top-sheet and a polypropylene/polyethylene back-sheet. Bambo is what I used when I wasn’t using cloth diapers. These are the most affordable of the Good Stuff brands.

Price per diaper: $0.39

Bambo Nature Diapers

Coterie Diapers

Coterie Diapers

Coterie diapers are marketed as luxury, and they do check every box for us, except for the fact that they contain petroleum (that’s why they are here as Good Stuff rather than Best Stuff). Their diapers are free of phthalates, latex, parabens, lotion, fragrance, chlorine (they’re TCF), and dyes (you can choose printed with ink or not). The third-party testing is very thorough and they are really transparent about the ingredient list and testing.

Price per diaper: $0.46

Coterie Diapers

Eco by Naty Diapers

Eco by Naty Diapers

Bio-based plastic top-sheet and back-sheet. The core is made of fluff, SAP, and cornstarch. They claim it’s 50% biodegradable, and printed with non-toxic pigments. Several reviews mention a rough feel to these diapers, and I’ve never personally tried them.

Price per diaper: $0.40

Eco by Naty Diapers

Eco Pea Bamboo Diapers

Eco Pea Bamboo Diapers

These feature a bamboo top- and back-sheet, cellulose fluff, and a SAP core. Please note that Eco Pea diapers contain aloe vera. These diapers have a wetness indicator and size labels, making life easier for those of you lucky enough to have more than one child in diapers! Eco Pea bamboo diapers get very good customer reviews. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get an answer about dye or prints, but it seems unlikely that these diapers contain any dyes.

Price per diaper: $0.43 to $0.69

Eco Pea Bamboo Diapers

Hello Bello Diapers

Hello Bello Diapers

This brand took some heat at launch-time for having a ton of 5-star reviews before they even went on sale, meaning that the reviews came from people who received free diapers without mentioning that they’d received free diapers. Reviews aside, Hello Bello diapers don’t qualify as Best Stuff because of a petroleum-based top-sheet and back-sheet. They feature a fluff with SAP and Bio-SAP core.

Price per diaper: $0.55

Hello Bello Diapers

The Honest Company Diapers

The Honest Company Diapers

Honest diapers are often cited as being “plant-based,” but this is no longer true. It appears that Honest has changed its ingredient list sometime since 2018 to include more petroleum-based plastics. These diapers have a polypropylene and polyethylene top-sheet, a plant-based plastic and polyethylene back-sheet, cellulose fluff, and a SAP and bio-SAP core. People love Honest Diaper’s cute prints, which they claim are printed “dye free.”

Price per diaper: $0.39

The Honest Company Diapers

Parasol Natural Disposable Diapers

Parasol Natural Disposable Diapers

Parasol diapers are not Best Stuff because they contain petroleum products–a polypropylene top sheet and polypropyline/polyethyline back sheet. They are free of phthalates, latex, chlorine, parabens, lotion, and fragrance. They have a sustainably-sourced cellulose fluff and SAP core. Dr .Hopkins notes that Parasol is transparent about their materials, stating that it’s not possible to make a commercially viable “organic” diaper right now, but that they do everything they can to minimize the environmental impact through their material sourcing.

Price per diaper: $0.39

Parasol Natural Disposable Diapers

Okay Stuff

Unless otherwise specified, the following brands are free of dioxins (they are either ECF or TCF), fragrance, lotion, dyes, parabens, and latex. However, we weren’t able to confirm that any of these diapers are phthalate-free (although most of them probably are). Unless otherwise specified, these brands are constructed using petroleum-based plastics with a core made of fluff and traditional SAP.


Babyganics Ultra-Absorbent Diapers

Babyganics Ultra-Absorbent Diapers

We sent an email to Babyganics with a bunch of questions about their diapers, and we received a message from customer service that they would respond promptly, but never any further follow-up. Babyganics uses “NeoNourish® — our own blend of tomato, sunflower, cranberry, black cumin, and raspberry seed oils. We incorporate NeoNourish® into the diaper core to help support your baby’s skin health.” Meh.

Price per diaper: $0.30

Babyganics Ultra-Absorbent Diapers

Cuties Complete Care Baby Diapers

Cuties Complete Care Baby Diapers

This line of diapers is produced in a zero-waste-to-landfill facility, printed with “safe ink” (no heavy metals), and uses sustainably-sourced fluff.

Price per diaper: $0.20

Cuties Complete Care Baby Diapers

Earth + Eden Baby Diapers

Earth + Eden Baby Diapers

These appear to be identical to the Cuties Complete diapers, and we think they are produced by the same manufacturer, First Quality, and sold under two labels.

Price per diaper: $0.29

Earth + Eden Baby Diapers

Nature’s Promise

Nature’s Promise

We spoke to customer service who passed our questions along, and we did get a prompt email from the manufacturer, but without any info on phthalates or added dyes.

Price per diaper: $0.30

Nature’s Promise

Pampers Pure Protection Diapers

Pampers Pure Protection Diapers

This is probably the brand we are asked about most, and I wish I had better news on them. I can’t call them Good Stuff because we were unable to get confirmation that they do not include phthalates. The top- and back-sheet are made of “plant-based” material, polypropylene, cotton, and petroleum-based polymers. In addition, they are labeled as “EU 26 allergens free.”

Price per diaper: $0.35

Pampers Pure Protection Diapers

Seventh Generation Disposable Diapers

Seventh Generation Disposable Diapers

There isn’t much notable about Seventh Generation diapers, except that they use SFI-certified fluff (sustainably sourced). Their website also states: “Seventh Generation diapers are not biodegradable, nor can they be composted. Many of the materials used are synthetic, and do not biodegrade.” We give them credit for being honest!

Price per diaper: $0.60

Seventh Generation Disposable Diapers

Thrive Market Diapers

Thrive Market Diapers

We spoke to customer service who passed our questions along, and we did get a prompt email from the manufacturer, but without any info on phthalates or added dyes.

Price per diaper: $0.32

Thrive Market Diapers

Bad Stuff

Any bleached diapers should obviously be avoided, although fortunately most diapers nowadays are unbleached. Here are the brands you’ve asked about most that made our Bad Stuff list.

LUVs Diapers 

Apart from being ECF, we can’t find anything non-toxic or eco-friendly about these diapers.

Price per diaper: $0.15

Pampers Swaddlers Diapers are the same diapers as LUVs, but they are latex free, if you have an allergy.

I’m really bothered by the fact that Pampers have a smell, though. This is what they have to say about that:

“We’ve asked parents all around the world which products they prefer for their babies and they’ve told us they prefer diapers with a soft, baby-fresh scent. The fragrance in Pampers is used at a very low level in each diaper and has been carefully selected and evaluated to be non-allergenic and non-irritating to the skin.”

Eww!

Price per diaper: $0.43 to $0.94

Sneaky Stuff

365 Diapers (Whole Foods) are ECF, and free of fragrance, latex, and TBT. We are also calling them Sneaky Stuff because of their lack of disclosure about phthalates, dyes, and lotion.

Price per diaper: $0.24

Earth’s Best Tendercare Diapers At first glance these diapers appear to be at least Good Stuff: they use a “plant based plastic” for their top-sheet and back-sheet and a cellulose fluff/SAP/bio-SAP core. However, there is no info on whether Earth’s Best diapers are phthalate-free or lotion-free. They do claim to be dye-free, but don’t give any info on what is used for the print. There is a general absence of transparency about the composition and percentage of the diaper that uses “plant-based plastic.”

Price per diaper: $0.32

Huggies Diapers are ECF, and free of fragrance, lotion, latex and parabens. The label states that they are “EU 26 allergens free,” as well. I’m not moving them from Sneaky Stuff because they do not disclose any information about phthalates, dyes, or the composition of the back-sheet.

Price per diaper: $0.59 to $0.88

Kirkland Signature Diapers As many of you know, Kirkland has made some great improvements to their diaper, and now appear to be free of latex, chlorine, fragrance, lotion, and artificial dyes. That said, there is no evidence that they are free of phthalates (we chatted with a rep and they said that they were unable to provide an answer about phthalates) and of course they are still made of petroleum-based plastics. They state that “some of the polyethylene is made from sugar cane” I would like say they’ve upgraded from Bad Stuff to Okay Stuff, but with a lable that boldly claims that these diapers are “made with plant-based materials,” coupled with the lack of transparency on phthalates, we have to call these green-washed, and therefore Sneaky Stuff.

Price per diaper: $0.26

Mamma Bear (Amazon brand) are ECF, fragrance free, latex free and hypoallergenic, but have no further information available. Mama Bear gets a “Sneaky Stuff” designation for lack of disclosure about phthalates, dyes, and lotion.

Price per diaper: $0.16

Rascal & Friends Premium Diapers A few of you asked about this brand, but the response we received was: “Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a detailed ingredients list of our diapers, as this is commercially sensitive. We are proud to say that our products are free from formaldehyde, elemental chlorine, phthalates, parabens, gluten, and endocrine disruptors. We also have a focus on no nasties, and our diapers contain no latex or fragrances and we only use water-based inks! The inks we use are non-toxic and completely harmless to baby’s skin.” Without more details on what is in these diapers, we will consider them Sneaky Stuff.

Price per diaper: $0.22

Up & Up Diapers (Target) are Sneaky Stuff because the label states “petroleum-free lotion” and “perfume-free” as opposed to simply being lotion-free and fragrance-free, although we did confirm that they do not contain phthalates.

Price per diaper: $0.43

What About No Diapers at All?

Forgoing diapers all together, or practicing “elimination communication,” is clearly the greenest option of all.

Here is a story that one reader, Gillian, shared with me:

I learned about EC from a very hippie friend and initially I laughed at her. Then when my son was about 3 weeks old, he started giving very obvious cues about when he was going to poo. I would wait for him to finish in his (disposable) diaper, then clean him up. I realized that I could have just as easily put him on the potty. I tried that a few times, but before he could hold his head up it just wasn’t working for us. As soon as he could hold his head up, though, I started putting him on the potty during most diaper changes. I figured, hey – the diaper is off anyway! I was catching some pees and some poos, but there wasn’t much rhyme or reason to it. When he started eating solids he got into a good pattern of pooping every evening, so I just put him on the potty. On average, I now only have to clean one dirty diaper per week, and my longest stretch without a poopy diaper has been 21 days. I am able to catch some pees, but I’m still not great at it. My son is now 8 months old. I love not cleaning dirty diapers!

Stay sane,

Author's Signature

Maia, Founder & CEO

Maia grew up in a Vermont household without a TV or microwave. She has been researching and writing about non-toxic products since 2010, and has appeared in a variety of media outlets, including The New York Times, The Huffington Post, New York Magazine, and The Dr. Oz Show. Maia lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons, and you can follow along as she tries to live a less toxic, more planet-friendly life here.

Note: This article contains affiliate links or sponsored content, which means that if you make a purchase, we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that meet our strict standards for non-toxicity and that we use (or want to use!) ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Good Stuff! 

Tags:Baby Skincare & Diapering

268 comments

Lia G.

I have also been reading a lot of good things about Bambo diapers, but one site I really trust mentioned the fact that these diapers use chlorine dioxide (non-elemental) bleach, and as such, recommended Honest and Naty diapers over Bambo. I’m a bit confused!

Maia James

I don’t know this brand, but can add to my list for a future investigation!

Maia James

I haven’t checked out this brand just yet, but it’s on our list to research. :)

Angela

I’m having a baby next month and am curious if you’ve had a chance to review Parasol Co. diapers further? Your site and reviews have been invaluable to me and would love to hear what you think as they are new on the market! Thanks so much.

Katelyn

Also just came across this article that compared 24 diaper brands, many of the ones people have been asking about are in here. Thought this was super helpful (although they don’t have beaming baby which I’m very curious about!)

http://m.babygearlab.com/Disposable-Diaper-Reviews

Katelyn

When I googled biodegradable diapers, “beaming baby” came up. Looks like they are from the UK and seem to have good reviews in the UK. Do you know anything about them? They seem to be a little more affordable than bambo. Choosing a diaper has put me at my breaking point. Ahhh

Sinei Botana Walker

Have you checked out Parasol diapers? What do you think?

Maia James

I don’t know this brand, but I will definitely add to our list to investigate!

Asmira

Hi Maia,
What do you know about the ALDI brand “Little Journey” diapers and wipes? Could they be good stuff?

Thanks much

Maia James

I am sorry but I am not familiar with the brands you mentioned.

Hina

Hi, as told in the bad stuff that pampers n huggies are not good then what should b used here in ksa? Here the products u r telling are not available. What to do? Here v have Bambi bu sanita, babyjoy other than pampers n huggies. Plz reply soon as i neef to buy. Thanks

Samantha McGinnis

I went looking for a new brand of diapers for my daughter a few months ago, and after reading this guide, I decided to give Bambo diapers a try. They are absolutely AMAZING! Her diaper rash issues have cleared up, they fit really well, and they are honestly the best diapers I have ever used. I don’t think I could ever go back to my old brand now. Thank you so much for the recommendation! I absolutely love this site and check the guides quite frequently when I’m out shopping.

Maia James

I honestly don’t know the answer to this, and no longer have children in diapers—hallelujah! Ours always went in the trash, and that’s what everyone I know does with diapers, too. I hope a NYC reader will pipe in here with some info about composting diapers!

Danielle

Just looking to find if there is more than the two brands that are okay to use.

Maia James

It’s on our list for an update, but I don’t have a definite date. If there is a specific brand you’re wondering about, feel free to ask here!

Nathaniel Crocker

Hi, I am very curious about your comment on recycling your disposables. Because you live in NYC do you have a special recycling facility for diapers? It is my understanding that in the US, human waste is considered a bio hazard because of the potential pathogens. It is illegal to throw in the trash or to compost.

There is a company Knowwaste, based in NYC
http://www.cmconsultinginc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Diaper-recycling.pdf

That has developed after 15 years of research a way to safely recycle diapers. It’s amazing technology that I hope because widespread.

It’s my understanding that unless you have a specified composter that is equipped to sterilizethe pathogens, you can’t simply put a baby diaper in a city composting service. I am only aware of few cities in the world that have this service.

Danielle

When will you be updating on all the brand that people have listed in the comments? I’m very curious about a few still and hoping you will soon because baby comes end of December beginning of January and I just want some disposables for the hospital.

Thank you

Maia James

I’m sorry, but I don’t know this brand. I will look into it!

Lauren

Any thoughts on nurtured by nature? Widely available on Amazon and work really well without being crazy expensive.

Mr Spencer Larkin

Dear Sir /Madam,

My Name is (Mr Spencer Larkin) An a Program Associate person in United States Of America.Our Non Governmental Charity Organization here United States Of America want to buy your BABY DIAPERS in very Large Quantity for charity distribution to some Motherless Babies Homes all over the world.

If your interested and can supply the product respond back to me here at email:spencerlarkin73@gmail.com for further communication.

Mr Spencer Larkin
Kiva Organization USA
Program Associate,Kiva Zip person.
Website: www.kiva.org
Email: spencerlarkin73@gmail.com
Telephone: 1 512 8230 315

Migle Swies

Yes please! I am interested too. Used on my kids since birth. And still using the wipes. I hope they end up healthy :/

Maia James

Oh, there are many! Here’s a recent one: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-cloth-diapers-might-not-be-the-greener-choice-after-all/2015/05/08/32b2d8dc-f43a-11e4-bcc4-e8141e5eb0c9_story.html

Maia James

Yes, I think Honest would be the next best option;).

Audrey

Hi! do you have the info on the study that you cite about disposable diapers using more energy, water, etc than cloth diapers. I would love to see it. Many thanks! Very helpful blog all around.

Ferry

I’m surprised that Earth’s best is in the sneaky stuff. Another website mentions that it is the best “natural”, eco and budget friendly option out there. They also mentioned that Bamboo was the best of them all but budget-wise, it is too costly for us. I would have gone with cloth diaper but living in an apartment building with only one washing machine in the basement makes it tricky. Which disposable brand (budget friendly) would you recommend? I was considering the Honest co. Diapers.

Maia James

Hi Laura! We’re still making our way through our research list for this guide. There will be an update soon.

Laura

Hi!

I saw that you previously hadn’t looked into Parasol diapers, but wondering if you’ve since found any additional information….

Thanks :)

Sherry

I saw another person ask about the Delora Diapers. I too am interested what you think of them.

https://www.bbbuggy.com/store/Delora-Eco-Nappy-Disposable-Diapers-8818.htm

Apparently they are two thirds biodegradable/compostable with the balance described as ‘earth neutral’. The soft, white outer cover is made from organic (GMO free) plant starch and is 100% biodegradable and breathable. The cellulose in the core of the diaper is derived from certified renewable forestry. They are not chlorine bleached. Dermatologically certified as ‘especially skin friendly’ which makes them ideal for babies with eczema, chronic diaper rash or sensitive skin. They come packed in 100% biodegradable/compostable foil bags.

Fragrance, latex, TBT, dye and chlorine-free

Michelle

Ok thanks! I can’t wait to hear when you rate them! I’m just trying to find a diaper that is good but not very expensive.

Maia James

I consider Earth’s Best to be Sneaky Stuff. I haven’t reviewed BabyGanics yet, but will when we update the guide!

Michelle

Wondering if babyganics or earth’s best diapers are any good?

Maia James

I don’t know that one, but will add to the list for the updated guide!

Carly

What about Delora?

Maia James

They are on the list to research:).

Natasha

What would you say about the new company diapers from Parasol Co.???

Maia James

Hi! I haven’t had a chance to drill down on the diaper ingredients, but I’m not wild about what’s in their wipes (phenoxyethanol among a few others)…I would call them Okay Stuff:)

Deanna

What is your opinion on the new company that just launched called Parasol Co? They have diapers and wipes. They launched just a few weeks ago.

Melissa Masters

I’ve used them and didn’t have any issues but I didn’t find them much cheaper than bambo. Honestly I think you have to just try them on your baby. Like I said earlier, I love bambo but others complain that they leak. Some just work better on certain kids. Good luck

Melissa Masters

Look under the bad tab…pampers, huggies, luvs. all = bad

Melissa Masters

I actually saw those reviews the other day and was really surprised to read such negative feedback. My 6 month old is currently in a size 3 of bambo and I love them! They do run bigger but I just Make sure to pull them up snug towards his belly button and Velcro below the design. As far as leaks, no issues unless I don’t change him In The middle of the night and that’s just because he pees like crazy lol. He definitely pees more than my other ones did but these diapers have really held up well. My husband even remarked the other day that he was surprised by how well they worked(he doubted a natural diaper would be effective). My Don actually woke up yesterday morning with the fullest diaper ever, accompanied by a stinky surprise :-0 which could have Been a disaster for his new burts bees sheets(soft and perfect FYI) and I would have been devastated lol. Thankfully that crisis was avoided and now I love his bambo diapers even more!
I say give them a try and see how they work for you. Can’t always go by review’s, for example I tried life factory glass bottles because of the stellar reviews and I was highly disappointed! The neck is way to small and my son gulps way too much air. Joovy boob glass bottles are my recommendation if anyone’s curious. oh and I also use the Jackson Reece herbal wipes now thanks to you Maia ;-) and couldn’t be happier with them!

Maia James

Hi Tina-
Kirkland are conventional diapers, so they aren’t Good Stuff, unfortunately.

Tina

What about kirkland brand diapers? Where do they rank?

Cecilia

I am very curious about anyones experience with Honest Company diapers, as I’ve read ALOT of reviews stating that they leak and blow out often. I’ve read up on earths best, seventh generation, and babyganics and what I’ve found is that they hold up way better than them. I do like Honest for not using as many ingredients and being a bit safer than the other brands, but I dont like hearing that their diapers suck. (I do buy their other products though). Just wanted to see if someone could share their experience. Thanks!

Maia James

Thank you! I do need to update this page, because now in my Brooklyn neighborhood we have compost bins outside of our apartment, so we now compost!

Jen

I also live in NYC and am wondering if you are aware that you can drop off compostable matter at your local Greenmarket. I don’t know if every NYC greenmarket offers this, but every one that I have checked (four different locations in Manhattan) does.

http://www.grownyc.org/compost

According to the website, they do not accept all compostable matter, but every greenmarket compost volunteer I’ve spoken to says that certain banned waste, meat scraps for instance, are okay so long as they make up a small proportion of the compost you bring. My guess is they will not accept a bag full of compostable diapers, but maybe they can accept one or two in a grocery bag full of the okay stuff, e.g., fruit and veggie scraps. Of course, babies use up A LOT more than 1-2 diapers per week!

Another thing – even the “best” disposable diapers, Bambo according to your website, won’t biodegrade properly in a normal landfill even if they are made with all or mostly all biodegradable materials. Landfills are too tightly packed for things to break down so these biodegradable diapers will be around just as long as the regular diapers, sadly.

Maia James

For that I like the Honest reusable one:
http://goo.gl/R9BT1H

Bonnie Denham

Do you have a recommendation for safe swim diapers?

nilam

tell me that pamper is good or bad diaper

Maia James

Will add to our list for review when we update this guide!

FTM

What about Aleva Naturals Bamboo Baby diapers? Your site is so helpful, thanks!

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