The Best Non-Toxic Diapers: What Are They Made Of?

I feel like choosing products for our children is kind of like eating cookies. We limit their intake to like two cookies after dinner and when they go to bed we have five. We know we also should probably only have two… but it’s easier to make good choices for other people than for ourselves. 

I think about this when choosing products for my children. Not that I don’t try to make good choices for myself or that I totally lack control, that’s an exaggeration, but I am willing to go further, try harder, and spend more money when it comes to making good choices for my children. 

Diapers are one of the many areas I find myself doing this in. Believe it or not, there is a big debate in some corners of the internet about the safety of diaper materials. There are concerns that some materials are toxic and a lot of people utilize certain diapers to try to minimize toxin exposure for their babies.

I mostly use cloth diapers and actually received a whole stash of hand-me-down diapers (which saved me $$$, thank you G&A), which leads me to scrape a lot of poop and do a lot more laundry. But I love to do it! I mean, I would love it if my babies just didn’t poop and I didn’t have to do it, but I gladly sacrifice that time and comfort for them. I love knowing that they have a natural and chemical free product on their butts that I get to use again and again to save money and the planet at the same time.

If you’re interested in cloth diapering, I will be doing a post on my routine, my favorite products, and recommendations at one point.

I know, however, that most people aren’t down for this choice. And that’s okay. I’ll save my list of reasons why I think it’s the best choice for another day. 

Full transparency, I sometimes use disposable diapers. I’ve used them when traveling by plane when it just didn’t make sense to pay for a whole extra bag to carry my diaper stash, I like to keep a couple on hand in the car or in my purse just in case I forget a cloth, and sometimes I use them at night because it can be easier for the ones that do not get changed overnight.

As always, I am not a proponent of strict, black and white rules for your product and health choices (mostly, obviously some things are no fly no matter what). If you can make a better choice more of the time, that’s great. Just because you can’t do something all the time doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to do as much as you can. 

As I said, some diapers are considered to have “toxic” materials. I want to caveat that because saying it that way can be a little dramatic. What I don’t mean is that some diapers are going to send your child to the hospital. What I do mean is that some diapers potentially contain chemicals that are not safe for humans but are also allowed in various products up to certain levels as governed by agencies like the FDA. But the conversation is a little muddy and not always based on science, so I want to take my research lens to it.

Today we will compare the different materials used to make diapers. Soon, I will provide a comparison of actual diaper brands that use these various materials as well as my thoughts on some “better” and “best” choices based on the criteria explained in this post.

Down to the materials

The anatomy of a diaper

Ranking the options

The scoop on diaper materials

I write a lot about food, so I keep wanting to say “diaper ingredients,” which obviously would be super weird. Anyway, moving on.

The whole point of choosing a “safer,” “non-toxic” diaper is the ingredients. Because not all ingredients are created equal! As with pretty much every product, it’s cheaper to make things with plastic (which comes from petroleum or natural gas), because they’re abundant, easy to produce, and malleable to your needs. A cheaper product means a more marketable product. 

Except that a lot of people are starting to question whether cheapest is always the best choice. Some people are in a position where cheapest is the only choice, though I’m not there now, I have certainly been there at several points in my life. The point, though, is that a selection of safer products, even at a higher price point, are preferred. I’d say this is especially true for children’s products. Thankfully, the marketplace is rising to this demand. 

So what are the basic components and materials of a diaper and what should consumers be on the lookout for? Well, first let’s look at basic materials. These are not all of the materials used in diapers, but they are most of the main ones and all that I’m talking about today.

Petroleum-based plastic

This is perhaps the most widely used material in diapers, though more companies are exploring and using alternatives than 10 years ago. These are also known as synthetic polymers and the most commonly used ones in diapers are polypropylene and polyethylene. 

In any product market, plastic is widely used because it’s cheap, easy to make, and versatile. 

The problem with these plastics is the same problem we always have with plastics: they contain less than ideal chemicals and they can transfer these chemicals pretty easily. Probably the worst of these chemicals is phthalates, which we have discussed before. Phthalates are a class of chemicals used as a plasticizer to make the petroleum products more flexible. They aren’t inherent to petroleum but are added for the performance qualities. Other troublesome compounds that do come from the petroleum are VOCs like toluene and benzene, which we discussed more in our post about candles.

Bottom line, phthalates are associated with a host of negative health outcomes in humans. They are one of those things that’s pretty unarguably terrible for you, but there are “safe” limits placed by governing bodies and since plastic is cheap and versatile, it will continue to be used.

Then again, in a product like a disposable diaper, plastics are somewhat necessary. We like to think we can have all the conveniences without the drawbacks, but that’s just not how it works. Cloth diapers fill up because it’s just cloth, no plastic. You have to change them more, they’re more likely to leak. There isn’t a material out there that can absorb moisture like the plastics engineered for diapers can. You can’t have the convenience of a disposable diaper without the downsides of plastic. You can’t have your cake and eat it too!

Bamboo

Bamboo has become popular because it does not contain some of the VOCs associated with petroleum. Additionally, it is considered in one vein to be environmentally sustainable because bamboo grows like a weed and is easy to source without contributing to habitat destruction. 

However, you may have wondered before how bamboo could possibly be made into something soft. Maybe you haven’t seen bamboo before, but it’s solid. It’s a type of wood, basically, though not technically. It’s fibrous. It doesn’t make sense that bamboo products are some of the softest out there. 

Here enters the problem. Like my rant about wanting the convenience of disposable diapers without the downsides of plastic, you can’t just take something that is one thing and make it bend to your needs (contrary to its nature) without some consequences. Bamboo undergoes intense chemical processing to become soft. It’s very effective and it introduces harmful chemicals (particularly carbon disulfide) back into the product. Bamboo fabric is just viscose rayon made from bamboo as opposed to other kinds of wood. Bamboo is obviously considered safe, but for the majority of people reading this that probably care about the chemicals in their products, this is a concern. We’ll cover this in more depth another day. 

On an ethical level, bamboo fabric production is terrible for the environment and can be dangerous for the workers producing it, due to handling the chemicals and not always having safe working environments. This is another reason some people may choose to avoid bamboo fabric products.

Another note on bamboo is that most bamboo comes from China and it’s therefore very difficult to ensure you are receiving a material that is free of certain pesticides, chemical treatments, etc. Part of this is just a transparency issue and the product may be fine but we just don’t know. Part of this is the regulations are different and what they consider organic may not be the same as US standards.

Plant plastics

Plant plastics (also sometimes called bioplastics) are a rising star and they are an interesting option. I will note that some plant plastics are made entirely of plant materials and some are made partially of plant material. It’s up to the consumer to look into which of these a given product is. 

Because plant plastics do not contain petroleum, they should be free of things like benzene and toluene, which is wonderful. However, plant plastics are still processed in the same way petroleum plastics are, including the added chemicals to make it function as desired. Again, the cake. Also, plant plastics are a HUGELY green-washed item.

A few quick notes: Plant plastics still contain phthalates, they have to in order to get the plastic qualities and versatility. Plant plastics do not biodegrade in nature/a landfill any differently than petroleum plastics. 

All in all, plant plastics are a “better” option, but they’re still not great and there are better alternatives.

Cotton

We all know what cotton is. Around where I live it’s that beautiful white stuff that fills the horizon in late summer. It’s southern snow. 

Cotton is hardly used in diaper production, but there is one brand I love, that we will talk about soon, that is utilizing cotton. Cotton, theoretically, should be a very safe, natural, and soft material for use in diapers. 

The main concern with cotton is that, as a natural, farmed material, it is subject to pesticides and fertilizers and allll the nastiness that comes with that. Cotton is a heavily sprayed product and there are rightly significant concerns about the potential for these nasty chemicals to be full force in cotton. Organic cotton is obviously the best choice, but even organic cotton is not entirely free from these chemicals. Another problem is that there’s not a massive organic cotton market in the US, which keeps some companies from utilizing it.

Nothing is safe… But cotton should be considered generally safe. We do our best to limit our chemical exposure and make best purchasing choices, but the fact of the matter is our world is full of nasty chemicals and most people don’t plan on stopping using them any time soon. So we do what we can while accepting that there’s only so much we can do.

Chlorine (TCF vs. ECF)

When I started this part of this post, I was explaining what bleach is and the various forms, uses, byproducts, and consequences. However, that was taking so much time to sort out, understand, and communicate, I figured it deserved its own, longer, more thorough post. So. I may cover chlorine, bleach, its uses, and its health impacts at some point, but I have done a more thorough review of the TCF vs. ECF debate. But here’s a simple review.

When it comes to diapers, you mostly need to understand that bleaching can be done in various elements of the diaper, from the top sheet to the absorbent pulp. This bleaching whitens, but it also contributes to structural changes that help certain materials do what manufacturers want them to, such as with absorbent pulp.

The big debate for chlorine use in diapers is whether they should be free of elemental chlorine or all chlorine.

Historically, pulp bleaching for diapers was done with elemental chlorine, a volatile, not naturally occurring combination of two chlorine molecules. This was found to be toxic because of the dioxins produced and the EPA pushed for elimination of this ingredient in diapers in the 90s. I don’t think you can find a diaper that uses elemental chlorine today.

So that brings us to two main options: total chlorine free (TCF) or elemental chlorine free (ECF) diapers.

An ECF diaper is one bleached without the use of elemental chlorine and instead uses chlorine dioxide. Some will argue that the use of this can still produce some toxins like dioxins, but any toxic compounds that would remain/be released from ECF are very small in concentration. It is considered a very safe process and end product. It’s also cheaper than TCF, since it is less energy and resource intensive. 

TCF is total chlorine free. This means that pulp bleached with this method does not use any chlorine. Instead it uses hydrogen peroxide and oxygen, sometimes known as “green bleach.”

Personally, I think either of these is a fine choice, and both are considered safe. Neither should cause irritation to your baby’s bum and neither should contribute to their toxic load in any significant way. However, it is true that ECF pulp diapers may contribute a very small degree to toxic load because of the small amounts of toxins they could potentially pass on. It’s kind of like when I talked about candles, and we found that candles are generally considered safe but may have slightly increased risks of toxin exposure than… not lighting a candle. 

If you’re a person who wants to limit every single itty-bitty ounce of toxins, I get it. Go for it. Get the TCF diapers. There are enough great, affordable options out there to do this. I personally opt for TCF diapers myself. But if you are okay with the slight potential exposure and it’s better for your wallet, keep buying Kirkland’s. It’s going to be okay.

Whew. I hope that was clear. And again, if you want to dive into this conversation a little deeper, check out this post.

The anatomy of a diaper

Let’s move on to diaper construction and where you may see these different materials come into play. This is a little simple, but there are 5 basic layers I want to discuss, plus extra pieces like closures and openings. I could say, “see our discussion on materials above” for every piece of the diaper, but that is going to get really annoying. So. As you read through this, please refer to what you just learned in our review of these materials above. 

Top layer

This is the layer that touches your baby’s butt. It is way too simple to say this is the most important layer, because so much of diaper construction goes into safety and whether your baby’s skin will get irritated or not. However, it is very important what is actually directly touching your baby’s skin.

This layer is constructed to be soft and to allow pee to flow through without accumulating so it stays dry. This layer is also typically bleached because consumers tend to love that white look.

Most of the mainstream diaper companies utilize petroleum-based plastics (polypropylene and polyethylene) to make their top layer. They do this because it’s cheap and easy to make soft. 

Other companies use plant-plastics, bamboo, or cotton. There has been a big rise in the use of bamboo and plant-plastics as consumers raise concerns over the use of petroleum-based plastics in their products. 

Another option for this layer is cotton. There is only one disposable diaper company that I know of that uses cotton for their top layer. Cotton is a great option because it is naturally soft and does not have to undergo chemically extensive processes to achieve this. Bleaching is utilized to help it achieve the structure and performance it needs to serve this top layer purpose (not hold pee).

Acquisition/distribution layer

This is the next layer and it is meant to absorb pee and quickly move it into the core, absorbent layer so that your baby’s bum stays dry. This is typically made of petroleum plastic, though some companies use plant plastic.

Absorbent core

This is a kind of sandwich layer with wood pulp in the middle. This is where the TCF vs. ECF debate comes into play. A lot of companies use both, though ECF is more common. You can find both options very easily online and in stores.

Barrier film

Both of these layers are typically petroleum plastic, though some companies utilize plant plastic. The barrier film is a layer that keeps the moisture in the diaper so it doesn't feel wet to the touch, and it can be breathable or not. A lot of companies use a non-breathable polyethylene film that is cheaper to make, but there are a decent amount of companies putting the money and energy into using breathable films. This is important because it helps your baby’s butt stay more dry if it’s breathable, letting moisture out and air in, keeping the air flow going. Always a good thing.

Outer cover

Then the outer cover that just keeps everything in.You know what this is and what it looks like. One main difference between companies here is printing designs versus not. MOST companies print designs on their diapers, because they’re fun. However, it is unnecessary, not the best for the environment, and arguably not the best for your baby (though it’s not really going to do anything to your baby because your baby won’t really be touching it…) Some companies avoid patterns and others are moving more than way in an attempt to reduce even more chemicals in their manufacturing.

Ranking the options

I know that was a lot. If you read my posts, you’re probably used to my deep dives, but maybe you aren’t and you just want the scoop. 

I’m not going to tell you what to choose for your baby, but I am going to explain what I consider to be “better” and “best” choices. These are my personal opinions based on the science I explored here and behind the scenes. They are evidence backed, but ultimately, they are opinion, so do with that what you will. 

These opinions are based on what is going to put your baby in contact with the least amount of toxins, even if the risk is small.

“Best” diaper options

The BEST option is a cloth diaper. It’s environmentally friendly, cost effective, and you can do it where cotton touches your baby’s butt (though there are several options and this isn’t true of every brand). As I said, I personally cloth diaper, but I also understand that it is not an option some people feel they can manage and some straight up just don’t want to do that.

As for disposable diapers, the best diaper is one that utilizes cotton for that top layer. Again, there is only one brand I’m aware of that does this, their name is Kudos, I love them. I will talk about them more in a future post, but this is the diaper that I use when I need a disposable diaper and I consider it the “best.”

(If you’re interested in trying Kudos, use the link above or use code WHOLEFAMILEE10 at checkout to receive 10% off. I do receive a commission on items purchased through this link but I do not recommend products I do not fully support and usually use myself. Like I said, Kudos are my diaper brand.)

I do also like that Kudos utilize TCF pulp, but as I will be exploring in another post soon, I actually don’t find this to be as big of a distinction as some other bloggers do, and that’s based on research I briefly mentioned in the TCF vs. ECF section above.

“Better” options

The runner-up to this would be a diaper that uses TCF pulp but a plastic top layer, whether that be petroleum or plant-based. I do consider plant based somewhat better, but not by a ton, so they fall into the same category. It’s also next to non-existent to see a diaper that uses only plant plastic, even in their top layer, which is another reason I don’t see the need to separate them further.

If you want, we can call diapers using 50% or more plant plastic in their top sheet “better PLUS.” I am certainly all for minimizing even the tiny bits of VOCs found in petroleum products.

Behind plastic diapers, I would actually rank bamboo diapers that utilize TCF pulp. As I explained, bamboo processing for diapers is chemically intensive and environmentally destructive, so I don’t support it or buy these products. They can be a reasonable option for limiting toxins, but there are better options, and I’d honestly just go with a TCF pulp, plastic diaper before I’d buy these. I know that’s contrary to a lot of other bloggers and influencers, but again, it’s based on my research.

“Okay” options

My last choice would be any material ECF diaper, though I would pick a plastic ECF diaper before a bamboo one. Again, there is debate on ECF vs. TCF and I don’t think in the long scheme of things it makes that much difference. But there is the chance of increased exposure to harmful chemicals with ECF pulp and there are so many great TCF options that I would encourage those. 

What I will say about ECF diapers is that they can be very cost effective, so for those on a budget, this is a great choice. They may have slightly higher levels of toxins, but nothing crazy and science supports that they are very safe, even if I do not consider them the best option. 

Options to avoid

Notice I don’t have any “bad” options here. I used to worry a lot more about this topic and consider some diapers “bad,” though I would certainly be willing to use them in a pinch. But really, the exposure levels from any of these options are so small that I cannot call them “bad” options. If there were still diapers circulating that used elemental chlorine, that would be bad. But there aren’t. 

However, I would say that you should avoid diapers with fragrance. We’ve discussed this over and over, but fragrance is usually full of synthetic chemicals, lacks transparency, could have VOCs, and is at minimum irritating to sensitive skin, such as that of a fresh baby. 

I don’t really understand why we feel like everything needs to smell like something, especially a baby’s bottom? But I guess as I tend to say, if you want a fragranced diaper, you do you. But I don’t recommend it. 

Disposable diapers will never be without their faults and downsides. We pay for convenience. However, if you want to try to minimize the chemical exposure as much as possible, I hope this was able to give some guidance. If you’d like to explore diaper brands a little more, I rank different brands based on the criteria above in this post.

If you found this content helpful and would like to see more of it, please join my newsletter and browse our other blog posts. If you have any questions, always feel free to shoot me an email. Have a specific topic you want me to explore for you? Email me, I’d love to help.