If you've visited the baby aisle lately, you may have noticed a trend: diapers are increasingly marketed as "non-toxic" and "clean." But these words have no legal definition. Without legitimate proof, like third-party certifications and scientific testing, they're just unsubstantiated claims.
Diapers are one of baby's most-worn items, against their most sensitive skin, so parents should take the safety of ingredients and materials seriously. Keep reading for five ways to determine if the diapers you're buying are actually non-toxic. Spoiler alert: It's time to pay close attention to packaging!
1. Look for third-party certifications, not brand-made badges
Brands can be misleading when trying to sell health-conscious products. Many design icons and badges with phrases like "For sensitive skin" and call it a day. To verify that a diaper's actually non-toxic, look for certifying seals from independent organizations that have well-established expertise in health and safety.
The gold standard for non-toxic products is EWG VERIFIED® certification from the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to consumer safety. Very few diapers (or other products) earn EWG VERIFIED® certification, because it requires meeting strict guidelines for ingredient safety and transparency that far exceed current legal regulations.
EWG VERIFIED® diapers are required to leave out more than 3,900 common chemicals of convenience that have been linked to potential health harm. This includes parabens, phthalates, VOCs, PFAS (forever chemicals), and more. HealthyBaby became the first EWG VERIFIED® diaper in 2020.
A few other certifications to look for on diaper packaging:
• OEKO-TEX (STANDARD 100 or MADE IN GREEN): This means textiles have been tested for harmful substances. MADE IN GREEN is more rigorous and requires traceable and responsible production.
• Nordic Swan Ecolabel: This is Scandinavia's official ecolabel, covering chemicals and environmental impact.
HealthyBaby has earned all of these certifications, making it the strongest, most vetted non-toxic diaper on the market.
You might also like: The Hidden Chemicals In Baby Diapers (And What To Avoid)
2. Demand full ingredient and material disclosure
Diaper manufacturers have never been legally required to list ingredients and materials. This has made it extremely difficult for parents to make informed decisions, especially for babies with allergies and sensitive, eczema-prone skin.
In recent years, New York, Illinois, and California have passed diaper ingredient transparency laws that require diapers manufactured and sold in those states to print full ingredient lists on packaging and online. So far, only New York's law is in effect.
HealthyBaby has always been fully transparent about the ingredients and materials in its diapers and other babycare products. It helped passed California's diaper ingredient transparency bill, AB 1901, serving as a case study for how brands can be transparent without compromising proprietary manufacturing processes.
You might also like: We Did It! Diaper Ingredient Transparency Is Now California Law
3. Find out if the diaper wood pulp is bleached
What's more important: a pristine white diaper or ingredient safety? For years, disposable diaper companies have used chlorine to bleach the wood pulp core, so diapers look clean and white. Unfortunately, these chemicals come with serious environmental consequences—releasing toxins that pollute water and the environment—and may irritate skin.
Non-toxic diapers don't use chlorine or other bleaching agents and will include TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) or ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) on their labels. If you don't see one of these labels on diaper packaging, you can assume it was conventionally processed with chlorine.
You might also like: Why Parents Of Eczema-Prone Babies Choose HealthyBaby
4. Check for testing
Diaper companies don't go into all the testing details on packaging—they don't have that much space. A little research on the brand's website (look for a safety page) or into its certifications should yield more information about what's being tested for, how it's being tested, and who's doing the testing.
To earn reputable certifications like the EWG VERIFIED® seal, diapers undergo rigorous ingredient screening. Other health-focused seals like AllergyCertified or Microbiome-Friendly® require their own forms of testing. And many diaper manufacturers conduct a mix of first-party and third-party contact and lab testing to ensure products are safe for skin before they ever go on sale.
You might also like: HealthyBaby Is The World's First Certified Microbiome-Friendly® Diaper
5. When in doubt, ask questions
If you've read diaper packaging and still have questions about its certifications or ingredients, reach out directly to the brand's customer service team for answers. If you can't get a clear response, keep shopping. There are non-toxic diaper brands, like HealthyBaby, out there that have nothing to hide. For questions specific to your baby's skin and health, it's best to consult a pediatrician.