The Best Non-Toxic Diapers Guide (Updated 2024)
Written by:
Maia James
Looking for a different guide? Browse them all HERE.
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).
1. Nest/ 2. Bambo / 3. Healthybaby / 4. Andy Pandy / 5. Joonya / 6. Dyper / 7. Kudos
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. And now in 2023, we’ve given it another update 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
These feature a bamboo top-sheet and back-sheet, and a fluff and plant-based SAP core.
Price per diaper: $0.53
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
Dyper Diaper Subscription
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. (Get 50% off your first monthly box here.)
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
Our Favorite Disposable Diaper
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
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:
- 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.” - 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:
- Comparable to that found in cotton (cloth) diapers.
- 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. 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 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 healthy baby diaper that’s friendly to the environment. Still, there are dozens of “green, “biodegradable,” or eco friendly diapers on the market; how can we know which ones to buy?
In order for a disposable diaper to be “Good Stuff,” it must:
- 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. This disqualifies some otherwise decent choices, such as the inexpensive (but, unfortunately, lotion-infused) Aldi diapers.
- Explicitly state that it is free of phthalates, since this cannot be assumed, unfortunately. But why?
When we talk about the chemicals and additives in diapers, we’re mostly talking about substances that can cause harm to your baby or the environment (often both). Even if these substances don’t harm your baby directly, anything that harms the planet is ultimately harmful to humans, too!
In simpler terms, a non toxic diaper won’t harm plants or animals at any point before, during, or after it’s produced.
Most diapers harm the environment before they even reach store shelves. Every chemical, from dioxins to polymers, ends up in the water supply. And unfortunately, from there, these chemicals can enter the food chain in a few ways.
Most of the time, such toxins are consumed by hungry marine life, which is consumed by larger marine life, which is consumed by humans. Scientists have already found that chemical-derived microplastics have the potential to change human DNA.
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!)
Given the significant environmental impact of disposable diapers, a “Best Stuff” diaper also must:
- Be either Elementally Chlorine Free (ECF) or Totally Chlorine Free (TCF). For the reasons explained above.
- 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 wrote the first version of the Gimme the Good Stuff Disposable Diapers guide.
Best Diapers for Sensitive Skin
Kudos is our pick if your baby is prone to rashes or eczema. It’s the first disposable diaper to have 100% cotton touching your baby’s skin, and no plastic. Cotton is naturally soft and hypoallergenic, so it is less likely to irritate sensitive skin.
Do biodegradable diapers 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 biodegradable 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:
- Traditional landfills are inherently non-conducive to biodegradation due to an absence of oxygen, soil, and microorganisms.
- 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.
Dr. Hopkins and I agree that, despite these concerns, there are still valid reasons to choose a “compostable” or “biodegradable ” diaper brand. Namely, 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.
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 (tributyltin) in many diaper brands.
- I know we 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 Procter & 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.
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 truth about these products is that they aren’t even really flushable. All flushable products must either be initially small enough to flush (which the liners are not) or dissolve when exposed to water. These liners obviously don’t dissolve when wet or they would be unsuitable for their purpose!
In other words, it would be impossible to manufacture a liner that is both flushable and effective.
While they do break down eventually, it’s not quick enough to negate their negative impact on the environment—or your bathroom pipes. Not only will they clog up home plumbing and septic systems, but they linger in sewers and other waterways. Because of the aforementioned conditions in landfills, they may be there for years.
The consensus? Hybrid diapers are an improvement over disposable diapers, but they still are not as good as cloth diapers. Our favorite cloth diaper brand is Esembly. Use code GOODSTUFF10 for 10% off.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
About the Author
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.
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265 responses to “The Best Non-Toxic Diapers Guide (Updated 2024)”
Great info! I’m thinking of trying “EveryLife” diaper. Any insight into this brand? Also, I’m a big believer in Elimination Communication (obviously not full-time) and have been practicing it with my 4-month old baby since birth. Using disposables as opposed to cloth is just easier to rip off when I get the cue 🙂 I would love to see more push for EC!
Thank you!I love the idea of Elimination Communication. EveryLife Diapers look good at first glance. Have your read our Diaper Guide? https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/safe-product-guides/disposable-diapers/
Hi, Maia. Any thoughts on Millie Moon from Target?
Hi Jennifer,
I haven’t done a deep dive but I looked at Millie Moon and I see that they are high quality but I don’t see information about their safety. We recommend https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/bambo-nature-dream-diapers-disposable/
Hi, do you have an opinion about Merries diapers. It’s a Japanese brand and I know a lot of people love them because they are the softest diapers I’ve ever seen but I wonder how they are rated.
We tried so many cleaner diapers with our first daughter, and we settled on Happy Little Campers. They were by far our favorites! They absorbed well, and a bonus was you can get them in your Subscribe & Save order on Amazon!
I tried happy little campers and my daughter got bad diaper rash. I gave them a chance that it wasn’t just a fluke thing, I used the whole box of diapers and kept putting diaper cream on her. It would clear up and then come back. She doesn’t usually get diaper rash very often with other brands
Have you looked into freestyle world diapers they are new. What are your thoughts on the diapers and how do you feel they qualify?
I have used Happy Little Camper diapers and they are great! For comparison, I used to use Huggies special delivery and HLC holds up just as well. I tried Hello Bello for a brief time and it couldn’t handle the nighttime urine at all.
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