Organic Diapers

The best organic diapers are not only safe for the environment but also safe for your baby. But, it is challenging to pick the best diaper brand when every other brand touts their diaper as the safest. Today, there are two sustainable diaper options - cloth diapers and disposable diapers. These two diapers help in two ways; reduce the buildup of diapers in landfills and protect your baby from the harsh chemicals, such as chlorine, in conventional diapers.

With the organic diapers, your baby will not suffer the chemicals' effects, and the environment will thank you for it. Cloth diapers are baby-friendly and environment-friendly, but although they might be the best natural diapers, they are not mum-friendly, which is why organic diapers rock.

When shopping for diapers, only go for a chemical-free diaper (watch out for chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, and chlorine), synthetic fragrance-free, and free of dyes. Again, ensure that all the materials used to make the diaper are natural or organic and are biodegradable.

Harmful chemicals in diapers

Besides making the environment unsightly, these disposable diapers contain chemical ingredients that could harm the environment, animals, and human beings. According to the Real Diaper Association, some components include polyethylene, petroleum, gelling material, perfume, and polypropylene. They also have non-renewable petroleum products.

Some of the disposable diapers contain chemicals that might lead to the release of dioxin into the environment. Dioxin is a toxin linked to cancer and health concerns in fetuses. ​

Health effects to Babies

• Effects of Chlorine: Besides their negative impacts on the environment, conventional chemical-laden diapers also pose a threat to your baby's health. Most of these diapers contain chlorine, which is used to treat the core material of the diaper. Chlorine can cause skin irritations and even result in a skin rash. If you expose the baby to chlorine for a long time, they might get cancer.
• Allergens in the Diaper: Conventional diapers also contain latex, perfumes, and dyes that might trigger an allergic reaction from the baby. Fragrances in an of them selves have been demonstrated to cause autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases
• Less Breathable Materials: Because these conventional diapers feature chemical-laden materials, they are less breathable. The reduced breathability raises the temperature inside the diaper. High temperatures around the groin region are not safe for male babies. It is also challenging to potty train toddlers when they are not comfortable in their diapers.
• Increased Cost: The cost of conventional diapers and disposable organic diapers is different in the long run. On average, you will use at least $4,000 in traditional diapers in two years. It is almost the same amount you will spend with organic diapers because a piece of organic diapers can hold more liquid, some up to 17 times their weight in liquid.

Purchase: Amazon

---

references

Davidson, Laurel. “The Only Way to Change Diapers Is One Baby at a Time. Real Diaper Association.” Real Diaper Association, 14 May 2015, realdiapers.org/diaper-facts.

World Health Organization. “Dioxins and Their Effects on Human Health.” Who.int, World Health Organization, 4 Oct. 2016, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dioxins-and-their-effects-on-human-health.

Manikkam, Mohan, et al. “Dioxin (TCDD) Induces Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult Onset Disease and Sperm Epimutations.” PLoS ONE, vol. 7, no. 9, 26 Sept. 2012, p. e46249, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046249. Accessed 12 Mar. 2019.

“Chlorine “Allergy.”” ACAAI Public Website, 15 Jan. 2015, acaai.org/allergies/types/allergy-myths/chlorine-allergy.

Steinemann, Anne. “Fragranced Consumer Products: Exposures and Effects from Emissions.” Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, vol. 9, no. 8, 20 Oct. 2016, pp. 861–866, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-016-0442-z.

Spencer, P., et al. “Neurotoxic Fragrance Produces Ceroid and Myelin Disease.” Science, vol. 204, no. 4393, 11 May 1979, pp. 633–635, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.432669. Accessed 13 Nov. 2019.

​Kazemi, Zahra, et al. “Evaluation of Pollutants in Perfumes, Colognes and Health Effects on the Consumer: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, vol. 20, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2022, pp. 589–598, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00783-x.