CART
MENUMENU
  • Shop Now
        • Air Filters
        • Bath & Body
          • Body Lotions & Oils
          • Deodorant
          • Hair
          • Hand & Body Soaps/Washes
          • Home Spa Products
          • Intimacy Salves
          • Kids' Bath & Body
          • Period Supplies
          • Shaving
          • Sunblock & Bug Repellent
        • Cleaning & Laundry
          • Air Filters, Fresheners & Purifiers
          • All-Purpose Cleaners
          • Bathroom & Tile Cleaners
          • Floor Cleaners
          • Dish & Dishwasher Soaps
          • Glass & Wood Cleaners
          • Hand Soap
          • Laundry & Dryer Products
          • Sponges & Cloths
        • Clearance
        • Clothing & Accessories
          • Baby Carriers & Strollers
          • Backpacks & Lunchboxes
          • Organic Baby Clothes
          • Play Mats & Baby Seats
          • Towels, Cloths, Swaddles
        • Dental Care
          • Dental Floss
          • Teethers & Pacifiers
          • Toothbrushes
          • Toothpastes
        • Diapering
          • Cloth Diapering
          • Diaper Creams & Powders
          • Disposable Diapers
          • Wipes
        • E-Books & Guides
        • Face Care
          • Anti-Aging Skincare
          • Cleansers & Exfoliants
          • Creams, Oils, Lotions & Serums
          • For Acne-Prone Skin
          • For Sensitive Skin
          • Lip Balms
          • Makeup
          • Toners & Mists
        • Feeding Baby: Bottle or Breast
          • Infant Formula
          • Breastfeeding Accessories
          • Baby Bottles
          • Bibs & Burp Cloths
          • Starting Solids
        • Furniture, Bedding & Decor
          • Area Rugs
          • Bed Frames
          • Bedding & Toppers
          • Carpeting
          • For Babies
          • Mattresses & Futons
          • Pillows
          • Art & Decor
        • Gifts
          • Baby Registry
          • Gifts for Her
          • Gifts for Him
        • Health & Wellness
          • Colds, flus, allergies
          • Cuts, bruises, rashes
          • Hand Sanitizers
          • Vitamins & Supplements
        • Kitchen & Eating
          • Coffee & Tea Supplies
          • Cookware & Gadgets
          • Dishes & Utensils
          • Food Storage
          • Lunch Boxes & Food Containers
          • Organic Napkins & Cloths
          • Super Foods We Love
          • Water Bottles & Sippy Cups
        • Pets
        • Pregnancy, Postpartum & Breastfeeding Products
        • Radiation Protection
        • Toys, Games, & Art
          • Art
          • Bath Toys
          • Infant and Toddler Toys
          • Puzzles and Games
          • Stuffed Animals and Dolls
        • Water Filters
  • Product Guides
        • Air Filters
        • Air Fresheners
        • All-Purpose Cleaner
        • Baby Clothing
        • Baby Food
        • Baby Lotion
        • Baby Shampoo
        • Baby Soap & Bubble Bath
        • Bar Soaps
        • Bread
        • Car Seat
        • CBD Oil
        • Cereal
        • Cookies
        • Cookware
        • Cow Milk
        • Deodorant
        • Diaper Rash Cream
        • Diaper Wipes
        • Dish Soap
        • Disposable Diapers
        • Face Cream
        • Fruit Popsicles
        • Hand & Body Lotion
        • Hand Sanitizer
        • Infant Formula
        • Laundry Detergent
        • Lipstick
        • Mascara
        • Mattresses
        • Mayo
        • Nipple Creams
        • Nutrition Bars
        • Olive Oil
        • Organic Prenatal Vitamins
        • Puffs
        • Shampoo
        • Sippy Cups
        • Sofa
        • Sunscreen
        • Teethers
        • Toothpaste
        • Toys
        • Yogurt
        • Water Filters
  • Blog
        • Breastfeeding & Weaning
        • Clean Travel
        • Formula Feeding Without Stress
        • Grandparenting
        • Healthy Holidays
        • Healthy Pets
        • Home Improvement & Yard Work
        • Illness & Natural Remedies
        • Mompreneurship & Career
        • Newborn & Infant Concerns
        • Non-Toxic Mattresses, Furniture & Decor
        • Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
        • Non-Toxic Kitchen Gear & Food Storage
        • Non-Toxic Toys, Clothes & Gear
        • Outdoor Products & Tips
        • Pregnancy, Childbirth, & Postpartum
        • Product Giveaways
        • Products We Love
        • Recipes & Healthy Eating
        • Safer Baby Supplies
        • Safe Product Guides
        • School, Arts & Crafts
        • Skincare & Haircare: Good, Bad, and Sneaky
        • Sleep for Babies & Toddlers
        • Start Here: Detox Your Home
        • Vaccines
        • Vitamins & Supplements
        • Water & Air Filtration
        • Weight Loss & Fitness
        • WiFi & Radiation Concerns
  • Consulting
    • Healthy Home Consults
    • Health Coaching for Healthy Eating
    • Quick Detox for Home & Body
  • About Us
    • About Gimme the Good Stuff
    • The Staff
    • Store Policies
    • Disclosures
    • Contact
    • Subscribe to Maia's Emails
  • Videos
  • Cart
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS $50 AND UP
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Gimme the Good Stuff

Home > Safer Baby Supplies > Safe Disposable Diaper Guide
non-toxic diapers from gimme the good stuff

Safe Disposable Diaper Guide

September 7, 2019 | BY Maia James
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure page.

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.

disposablediapers.felix

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

2019 Updated Biodegradable Diaper 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. (Dr. Hopkins also helped with this amazing prenatal vitamin guide.)

Michael’s Research Process

Michael began by studying the existing version of this guide, and then looking at other natural parenting websites and the biodegradable diaper brands they recommend, plus the potential sources of toxins in most disposable diapers.

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, Michael 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).

Michael’s final (and the most time-consuming!) step was contacting diaper manufacturers to find out 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 37 reviewed brands into a Best, Good, Okay, Bad or Sneaky Stuff category, which you can review at the bottom of this post.newborn wolfie in diaper gimme the good stuff

Your Most Pressing Question: Do even the worst disposables really pose a risk to the baby wearing them? Or is this mostly an environmental issue?

This is the question I am asked more than any other about diapers, so let’s start here. Environmental impact aside, is there a risk to disposables?

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 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 (certainly phthalates are a much more exciting enemy), good old-fashioned diaper rash is probably the greatest actual 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.

My Top Pick for Best Non-Toxic Disposable Diapers

Nest Biodegradable Diapers

Nest-Diapers-Size-1-gimme-the-good-stuff

$57.00 – $65.00 — or subscribe and save up to 8%Buy Now

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 at least tens of thousands of times more dioxins from the Unites States food supply than the trace levels found in chlorine-bleached diapers. Does that mean you should buy bleached diapers? No, definitely not–the production of those suckers 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 non-toxic/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 cancelling 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. Recent reports have concluded that 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!

Non-Toxic Incontinence Diapers

Abri-Form Junior Disposable Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

Abri-Form Junior is Abena’s line of non-toxic disposable incontinence diapers, designed specifically to fit those between 5 and 15 years old that suffer from uncontrolled urination.

What Makes a Diaper Good Stuff?

I hope all of this helps you guys understand a little more about what makes a diaper potentially unsafe for a baby and decidedly not friendly to the environment. Still, there are dozens of “green” or “biodegradable” diapers on the market; how can we know which ones to buy?

In order for a disposable diaper to be “Good Stuff,” it must:

  1. Be free of artificial fragrance, dyes, and lotions, all of which have the potential to contain irritants/allergens/toxins and simply aren’t necessary in any diaper.
  2. Explicitly state that it is free of phthalates, since this cannot be assumed, unfortunately.

These two criteria are the bare essentials if your only concern is the safety and well-being of the diaper user. (But I know you all are better than that!)

Best Stuff Badge Gimme the Good Stuff

Given the significant environmental impact of disposable diapers, a “Best Stuff” diaper also must:

  1. Be either Elementally Chlorine Free (ECF) or Totally Chlorine Free (TCF). For the reasons explained above.
  2. Be free of petroleum-derived plastics. There are now enough bamboo and other plant-based diapers on the market to eliminate any brand that uses petroleum in its production from the Best Stuff category, even if it poses no real risk to the baby wearing the diaper. This is a happy change from when we last updated this guide four years ago!

Biodegradable Diapers: Do They Exist?

By virtue of using plant-based rather than petroleum-based ingredients, the diapers that we’ve labeled as Best Stuff are inherently compostable or biodegradeable to varying degrees. Some of these brands supplement with a “bio-based SAP” or with cornstarch in the absorbent core to limit the amount of traditional SAP used. The other core component, “fluff,” is wood pulp (cellulose) that undergoes a more traditional bleaching process.

Many people criticize diaper brands that market themselves as “biodegradable” or “compostable” because:

  1. Traditional landfills are inherently non-conducive to biodegradation due to an absence of oxygen, soil, and microorganisms.
  2. Compostable is only relevant when you have a way to compost where you live (keeping in mind that human feces should not be composted!), and anyone who is planning to compost their diapers will need to make sure they understand how to do this properly.

Michael and I agree that, despite these concerns, there are still valid reasons to choose a “compostable” or “biodegradeable” diaper, including a reduction in use of petroleum on the production end, as well as sending a message to the industry about the demand for more environmentally sustainable consumer products.

cloth diapers.felix

Reasons to Switch to Cloth Diapers

Before I tell you which are the very best disposable diapers, here’s why you shouldn’t use any of them, even the ones I can sell you from our online store:

  • Conventional plastic diapers contain small amounts of dioxin—a byproduct of the bleaching process. As discussed above, this doesn’t pose a risk to your baby, but it’s really bad for the environment.
  • Even if you use non-toxic disposable diapers, you’re probably familiar with the little gel clumps that sometimes stick to your baby’s skin when you wait too long to change her. Known as SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer), some people worry about it because it was linked to toxic shock syndrome when it was in tampons. While I don’t think it causes a health risk to babies, it is not biodegradable, and thus not an earth-friendly choice.
  • A Greenpeace study found the hormone-disrupting TBT (tributyl tin) in many diaper brands.
  • I know we’re are all bored with the landfill stats, but the fact remains that a disposable diaper can take as long as 500 years to decompose.
  • In response to the popular misconception that cloth diapers are just as bad for the environment as disposables (a myth propagated by a study funded by Proctor & Gamble), an independent report found that disposable diapers produce more than 50 times the waste of cloth diapers and use twice as much water and triple the energy.

ImseVimse Paper Diaper Liners from Gimme the Good Stuff
What About Cloth Diapers with Flushable Liners?

I didn’t use them myself, but tons of readers and friends are devoted to the so-called “hybrid diapers” with the flushable liners.

The Best Stuff

Best Stuff Badge

Aleva Naturals Bamboo Diapers Aleva Naturals Diapers | Gimme the Good Stuff

These also feature a bamboo top-sheet and back-sheet, and a fluff and plant-based SAP core.
Price per diaper: $0.53

Amazon


Andy Pandy Eco-Friendly Bamboo Diapers Andy Pandy Diapers | Gimme the Good Stuff

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, so I’m sure you’ll be happy to know this is the Best Stuff.
Price per diaper: $0.40

Amazon


Dewor Baby Premium Bamboo Disposable Diapers Dewor Baby Bamboo Diapers | Gimme the Good Stuff

This one looks pretty much identical to ECO Boom, with a bamboo top-sheet and back-sheet, a core of fluff and sap, and no PVC, TBT, alcohol, and preservatives.
Price per diaper: $0.39

Amazon


DYPER Diaper Subscription Dyper Diaper Subscription from Gimme the Good Stuff

Like the other brands on this list, Dyper diapers use a bamboo top- and back-sheet. But Dyper is unique not only because it’s purchased via subscription, but also 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

Buy Now from Dyper


ECO Boom Bamboo Baby Diaper ECO Boom Diaper from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.39

Amazon


Little Toes Biodegradable Bamboo Diapers Little Toes Bamboo Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.44

 

Amazon


Nest Biodegradable DiapersNest Diapers Size 5 from gimme the good stuff

This newer 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 was quick to answer our questions.
Price per diaper: $0.48

$57.00 – $65.00 — or subscribe and save up to 8%Buy Now


Poof Diapers Poof Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

With a bamboo top-sheet and cotton/corn-based back-sheet, these diapers claim to be completely biodegradable The print is used a non-toxic soy ink, and the fluff is unique in that it’s made of fluff and a corn-based SAP.
Price per diaper: $0.42


The Good Stuff

Good Stuff Badge

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 Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.44

Amazon


 

Bambo Nature DiapersBambo Nature Diaper Size 3 box from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.29

From: $72.99 / monthBuy Now


Broody Chick

This brand has been discontinued.

These diapers are compostable, which of course only works if you actually put them in a compost pile, something I can’t do in New York City. The absorbent center of these diapers is made of woodpulp and a “plant-based gel,” which is just another term for SAP. Still, they use less SAP than conventional diapers, and the compostability is a definite plus. The fit of these diapers isn’t as good as other brands, and in particular, the small sizes are much larger than they claim.


Cutie Pea Bamboo Diapers

Cutie Pea Bamboo Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

These are 87% biodegradable, feature a bamboo top- and back-sheet, cellulose fluff, and a SAP core. Please note that Cutie Pie 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;). Cutie 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

Amazon


Eco by Naty Diapers

Eco by Naty Disposable Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.50

Amazon


Hello Bello Diapers

Hello Bello Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.29

Amazon


The Honest Company Diapers

The Honest Company Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.37

Amazon

The Okay Stuff

Okay Stuff Badge

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.


Abby & Finn Diaper Subscription

Abby and Finn Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

The one nice thing about this otherwise just-okay brand is that for every box purchased, 30 diapers are donated to families in need.
Price per diaper: $0.25


Babyganics Ultra-Absorbent Diapers

Babyganics Ultra Absorbent Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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 clumin, and raspberry seed oils. We incorporate NeoNourish® into the diaper core to help support your baby’s skin health.” Meh.
Price per diaper: $0.50

Amazon


Cloud Island (Target)

Cloud Island Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff
Users seem to really like the unique trifold design, which apparently makes these easier to put on.
Price per diaper: $0.13


Cuties Complete Care Baby Diapers

Cuties Complete Care Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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

Amazon


Earth + Eden Baby Diapers

Earth Eden Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.20

Amazon


Little Journey Diapers (sold at Aldi)

Little Journey Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

Little Journey diapers deserve a special mention for being the most affordable almost Good Stuff. Little Journey’s top-sheet and back-sheet are made of petroleum ingredients, and they aren’t Good Stuff because they contain vitamin E and aloe lotion. They use fluff with SAP core and are printed without dye. We got a prompt, cordial, informative, and personalized response from Aldi, with a statement that all ingredients, including the vitamin E and aloe lotion are “thoroughly reviewed by an independent toxicologist.” Although online reviews suggest that these diapers function well, one commonly noted criticism is that they feel a little thin and “papery.”
Price per diaper: $0.13


Made Of Better DiaperMade Of Diaper from Gimme the Good Stuff

These are ECF and free of fragrance, dye, and phthalates. They also have many impressive certifications, including ISO 9001, Social Accountability 8000, PEFC, and the Rainforest Alliance Certificate. The only reason we’ve calling Made Of just Okay Stuff is that they clearly states in their marketing that their product does the dirty work “without dirty words like petrochemicals,” when in fact there is no indication that they are made from anything other than petrochemicals.
Price per diaper: $0.34

 

Buy now from Made Of


Nature’s Promise (Stop n Shop)

Natures Promise Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: We weren’t able to find any price for these—please comment below if you know!


Pampers Pure Protection Diapers

Pampers Pure Protection Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

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: $0.30

Amazon


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.”
Price per diaper: $0.28

Amazon


Thrive Market Diapers

Thrive Market Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff
These are fragrance-free, dye-free, and phthalate-free, but not biodegradable or compostable. One element of “sneakiness” in the Thrive Market diapers marketing is that they are labeled as “Gluten Free” and “Cruelty Free,” which just seems silly given that we are talking about a diaper.
Price per diaper: $0.33


The Bad Stuff

Bad Stuff Badge

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.

Kirkland Signature Diapers

So here’s a brand that isn’t even unbleached! Being chlorine-free seems to be the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of trying to be eco-friendly, so these are the worst of the Bad Stuff. The only thing they are free of is artificial dyes and fragrance.

Price per diaper: $0.22 (as low as $0.16 if you buy at Costco)


LUVs Diapers

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

Price per diaper: $0.13


Pampers Swaddlers Diapers

Pampers 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-irritatingto the skin.”

Eww!

Price per diaper: $0.27


The Sneaky Stuff

Sneaky Stuff Badge

365 Diapers (Whole Foods)

These diapers 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

Huggies Special Delivery Diaper from Gimme the Good Stuff
These 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: $0.25


Mama Bear (Amazon brand)

Mama Bear Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff
These diapers 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: $0.20


Up & Up Diapers (Target)

Up and Up Diapers from Gimme the Good Stuff

Up & Up diapers 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: $0.14

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!


If you liked this post, sign up for our newsletter to be alerted when we publish new content like this!

Filed Under: Safer Baby Supplies, Safe Product Guides, Posts, Newborn & Infant Concerns, Products We Love Tagged With: diapering

Reader Interactions


Share this:

Share the post "Safe Disposable Diaper Guide"

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Email

Comments

  1. Ru says

    December 17, 2020 at 5:52 PM

    DYPER said that they had updated their diapers and pull up briefs, and made some adjustments, so their V3 diapers and briefs are more absorbent and better for the planet. Link to some information is here: https://dyper.com/v3

    The updates have been applied for the last few months in 2020 (likely late 2020).

    With the updates/ adjustments, will DYPER still be ranked among your Best Stuff please?

    Reply
  2. Precious says

    January 2, 2021 at 11:00 PM

    I was using nest for a year and then I had to deal with their customer service.(I MEAN, THE NEST COMPANY DIRECTLY…not gimme the good stuff) First it was ok, I had mistakenly ordered diapers which are $20 more expensive than pull ups so I should have known. I was within their return window and they said to just get rid of the diapers and they will send a replacement. So donated it but I also ordered a case of pull ups cause I was low and needed it fast. The replacement never came so I ordered another. That never came either. I had to order another one since I got no replies from customer service. I basically paid $150 for one case of pull ups, so never again. I should have gotten them from this website. Also, I noticed a petroleum smell on the pull ups in the last few shipments so I’m not entirely sold on them anymore.

    Reply
  3. Samantha says

    January 6, 2021 at 10:52 AM

    has kirkland not changed their formula? I thought they were chlorine free now.

    Reply
  4. Dana says

    January 8, 2021 at 11:37 PM

    Possibility to include Little Feet by Lachance?

    https://www.amazon.ca/BIODEGRADABLE-BAMBOO-DIAPERS-LITTLE-LaChance/dp/B073XQ8BM3

    We were looking for something compostable and we totally love them. They are expensive though, so we will test something cheaper from your Best Stuff list.

    Reply
  5. Sarah Nelson says

    January 27, 2021 at 2:12 AM

    Have you heard anything about offspring diapers? They have good reviews and the company is based in Australia.

    Reply
  6. Amy Smith says

    January 27, 2021 at 5:42 AM

    Thanks for sharing such a useful information. I appreciate your blog post.. Have you tried 100% organic cotton and bamboo muslin bed and bath products ? I would like your thoughts if you have, or if you want to check it out …https://www.rollupbaby.com/collections

    Reply
  7. Meghan says

    January 27, 2021 at 2:27 PM

    I just came across these EWG verified diapers. Any thoughts or info on these? The seem to be good. EWG verified makes me think these are good stuff. I have a trial and they are sooooo soft and absorbent and thin. Wondering if you knew anything about them? Thank you kindly!!!

    Reply
    • Meghan says

      January 27, 2021 at 2:27 PM

      https://healthybaby.com/pages/ewg-verified-diaper?gclid=CjwKCAiAu8SABhAxEiwAsodSZDNMtQeV3rylIh8mUZsNVVixXi0lLzZGo-54iR8kUvdF-65iJVwDgxoCy34QAvD_BwE

      This is the website
      Healthy Nest diapers

      Reply
  8. Roxy says

    January 30, 2021 at 10:32 PM

    Curious to know what you think about viscose bamboo and just regular bamboo? I know Dyper uses viscose bamboo and I’ve read a lot about the process of obtaining viscose and contains a lot of toxic chemicals. Does that come up in your research? If so, does the chemical process not affect the final product so still OK to use?

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Shop Easter!
 
CLEARANCE

Shopping Cart

Shop By Category

  •   Air Filters  |
  •   Body & Hair  |
  •   Cleaning  |
  •   Clothing  |
  •   Diapering  |
  •   E-Books  |
  •   Face  |
  •   Feeding Baby  |
  •   Furnishings & Bedding  |
  •   Health  |
  •   Kitchen  |
  •   Pets  |
  •   Pregnancy & Breastfeeding  |
  •   Radiation Protection  |
  •   Teeth  |
  •   Toys  |
  •   Water Filters

Featured Product Guide:

Our Safe Product Guides help conscious parents find safe, non-toxic, natural and organic products for their families and homes. Check out all of our guides find out what's good, what's bad, and what's sneaky.

Featured image

Safe Non-Toxic Hand Sanitizer Guide

So you’re looking for non-toxic hand sanitizer…You’ve come to the right place! But buckle up, my friend, because there is a lot of info in this guide! (That’s what I get every time I hire Dr. Hopkins to provide research!).

Learn More >>

Browse Shopping Guides

Browse Blog by Category

Browse Blog by Tag

about us Activities for Kids Air Filters air fresheners Air Purification Air quality allergies animals anti-aging anti-inflammatories antibiotics aromatherapy asthma attachment parenting autism Ayurveda baby bottles baby food baby food guide Baby Formula bad stuff bath products bathroom renovation beach Beautycounter bedroom birthdays black friday BPA Bread breakfast breastfeeding bug spray candy carpet CBD central america cereal Christmas cleaning cleanse coffee coffee & tea colds & flu cookies Cookware cradle cap dads dairy dental care deodorant dessert diapering diet dinners Dirty Dozen dish dish soap dogs drinks Easter eco-friendly Eczema energy Environmentalism environmental toxins europe European formula face care family time flame retardants flooring food storage formula formula feeding fruit futon gifts gimmethegoodstuff giveaway giveaways gluten-free Goat Milk Formula good deals greens Greenwashing guest posts gut health hair hand sanitizer healthy cereal Healthy Food at Disney Healthy Thanksgiving holiday sales home detox Honest Company Humidifier Immune boosters immunity insomnia interior design junk food just for fun kale kitchen products kitchen renovations laundry lip balm lotion Lumion lunch boxes lunches makeup mattress mattresses meal delivery services meat medications natural birth natural mattresses nature Non-Toxic Area Rugs Non-Toxic Carpets non-toxic coffee non-toxic mattress non-toxic mattresses NonToxic Bath Products nursing nuts nyc oils Olive Oil our team packaged food packed lunches paint Paleo Pesticides phthalates pillows plastics play pollution Poofy Organics pregnancy prenatal nutrition probiotics Project one-eleven Radiation Raw Foods recycling Resolutions Safe Toy Guide Sakara school-aged kids school lunch screens screen time separation anxiety sippy cups skincare smartphones smoothies snacks sneaky stuff soap social-emotional development sofas sofas/couches soup Spring sprouted flour sprouted grains sprouted wheat Staff stress sugar summer sunscreen teething Thanksgiving Ticks tile toddlers toothpaste Toxins toxins in coffee Travel triclosan vegan veggies wallpaper water water bottles water filters wine winter wooden furniture yams yoga

Warning: array_diff(): Argument #1 is not an array in /home/gimmeth3/public_html/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/inc/class-sb-instagram-feed-locator.php on line 136

INSTAGRAM

@gimmethegoodstuf

gimmethegoodstuf

View

Feb 25

Open
7 months pregnant with Felix❤️. Secretly miss being pregnant, you guys! But definitely not doing it again. What about you? How many kids do you have and are you done? #pregnancy

7 months pregnant with Felix❤️. Secretly miss being pregnant, you guys! But definitely not doing it again. What about you? How many kids do you have and are you done? #pregnancy ...

Load More >> Follow on Instagram >>

Footer

About Our Founder

Maia James, the founder of Gimme the Good Stuff, has a lifetime of experience in the world of natural living, and has turned this passion into a career, now helping clients easily enjoy greener, cleaner lives, peace of mind, and better health.

Read more about Maia

Gimme the Good Stuff helps busy, conscientious parents easily avoid toxic products in their homes through our in-home consulting service, personalized shopping guides, and online store. We simplify the process of navigating the confusing world of “natural” products, and our readers, customers, and clients enjoy peace of mind and confidence that their home is a safe, healthy place for their families.
As Seen In...

Site Directory:

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Glossary
  • Product Guides
  • Store
  • Contact
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Connect with Gimme the Good Stuff:

approved-good-stuff

Good Stuff Approved:

copyright © 2021 Gimme the Good Stuff. All rights reserved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2021 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in