Organic Diapers Buying Guide

organic diapers for newborns

As a parent, you want your baby to get a safe, healthy start to life. Part of that means finding products for your child that will support their wellbeing.

While searching for safe products, you may have become interested in organic diapers. This post will introduce you to organic and non-toxic diapers, go over some key buying considerations, and share some recommended products.

First of all, it is worth taking a moment to explain what makes a diaper organic. An organic diaper is a diaper that is made from materials that have been certified organic. An example would be certified organic cotton.

The phrase “organic” concerns how materials or ingredients are farmed. Organic materials are grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. For a full explanation, you should look up the standards for the organic certification.

What are Non-Toxic Diapers?

healthy non-toxic diapers

A lot of people use the phrase “organic diapers” to refer interchangeably to non-toxic diapers. But technically they are two different things.

Non-toxic diapers are diapers that do not contain any harmful ingredients.

The reason why a lot of people refer to “non-toxic” and “organic” as if they are identical is because there is a big overlap between these categories. A lot of diapers that are non-toxic are also organic, and vice versa.

For this guide, we will also discuss organic and non-toxic diapers interchangeably, as we believe most people who have found their way to this post are probably interested in both.

One thing that is great about organic and non-toxic diapers is that they are made out of cloth. That means that they are reusable! You can just throw them in your wash.

What to Look for When Choosing Organic or Non-Toxic Diapers

When you are comparing organic and non-toxic diaper products, here are some things to look for.

  • Certified Organic”: For a product to be certified organic, it has to meet government standards as such. The best label is 100% Organic. USDA Organic is also good (95% organic). “Made with Organic Ingredients” is weaker, but still something. “Natural” is not a formal or regulated term, and usually is pretty meaningless.
  • Non-toxic”: This term is not regulated, so it may be used more loosely. If you see it, check out the ingredients for yourself to verify they are indeed safe.
  • Hypoallergenic”: While no manufacturer can guarantee that a product is allergen-free, hypoallergenic products are usually made without using materials that are likely to cause allergic reactions.
  • Eco-friendly: You probably care about the health of the planet as well as that of your child. If so, you should shop for diapers made out of sustainable materials which are biodegradable.
  • Softness and comfort: Babies have sensitive skin. So, it’s important for the material of the diaper to be soft and non-irritating.
  • Performance: To prevent rashes, diapers need to be absorbent. Make sure the organic diapers you are buying are effective at their purpose. This cannot be emphasized enough. For some reason, way too many non-toxic diapers fail to be absorbent. But there is no reason they have to be ineffective. There are some products out there that really do work just as well as any “regular” diapers.
  • Special features: Some products include extra features that are designed to make your life easier (like an indicator for dampness).
  • Pricing and value: Of course, you should buy organic or non-toxic diapers that are within your budget. Check how many diapers are included in a box, and do the math to figure out the cost per diaper. This is the only way to know how expensive or cheap they really are. Just keep in mind that the cheapest diapers will not necessarily be the best ones. But it probably isn’t necessary to buy the most expensive ones either. Regardless, even paying a premium will still likely save you a lot of money over the long haul since you can keep reusing them.

Recommended Non-Toxic and Organic Diapers

We have gone over some important considerations when you are shopping for non-toxic and organic diapers. Now let’s take a look at a few recommended products.

HealthyBaby Our Diapers

One of the best organic diapers brands is HealthyBaby Our Diapers. We appreciate that this product is made with a soft organic cotton shell, and is also EWG-verified.

Why you’ll love it:

  • These diapers are made using organic cotton, which is a soft, comfortable material for babies. It is also a sustainable one.
  • These diapers are plastic-neutral certified.
  • The diapers contain no chlorine, parabens, dioxins, fragrance or phthlates.
  • This product is the first diaper ever to receive the EWG Verified Safe certification from the Environmental Working Group. EWG tracks the ingredients used in a wide range of products, assigning ratings to ingredients and products based on how safe or dangerous they are for health. Seeing that these diapers are EWG-approved really gives us a sense of reassurance.
  • According to the manufacturer, these diapers can keep your baby three times drier thanks to FlashDry technology and Clean Air Channels.
  • Some other certifications that these diapers boast include the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and the FSC certification, plus they are OEKO-TEX Standard 100% certified.
  • In terms of performance, these diapers are generally pretty reliable. They are highly-absorbent, and generally do not leak.

Any drawbacks?

The sizing an be inconsistent. Some customers say that they fit true to size, while others report that they can run a little small. Though this could be a result of shrinking in the wash, and customers not taking that into account when ordering.

Pura Hypoallergenic Diapers

Another diaper we can recommend that is made out of organic cotton is the Pura Hypoallergenic Diapers.

Why you’ll love it:

  • These diapers are made out of soft organic cotton, making them safe and comfortable. Wood pulp forms the absorbent core (a sustainable choice).
  • The Pura diapers are Totally Chlorine Free (TCF).
  • A really cool feature on these diapers is a color-changing indicator that tells you how wet they are. That way, you can take a glance and know whether or not you need to change them yet.
  • Pura takes sustainability seriously. This is reflected not only in the materials they use to make their diapers, but also their manufacturing process. Their plant in the EU is carbon neutral. Pura also has the B-Corp certification, as well as EU EcoLabel accreditation.
  • The diapers have been dermatologically tested to ensure that they are safe for sensitive skin. Their Dermatest study number is 2112226107. Customers consistently praise how gentle the material is for their babies, so they seem very pleased with this aspect.

Any drawbacks?

The majority of customers report that they had good experiences with these diapers, but there are some reports of leakage. This could be tied in part to sizing issues, as some people feel these diapers run a little too large.

OsoCozy Organic Cotton Prefold Cloth Diapers

The OsoCozy Organic Cotton Prefold Diapers are also very popular, and worth considering.

Why you’ll love it:

  • These diapers are made out of 100% organic cotton, which is soft, comfortable, and does a great job absorbing and preventing leaks.
  • You can choose whether to order it in the “Traditional” size or in either of the two “Better Fit” sizes. Be aware that you need to wash these before you can use them (to get rid of cotton oils), and washing them makes them shrink a bit.
  • These diapers are thick, absorbent and effective.
  • With every wash, the diapers get softer, making them more and more comfortable for your baby.

Any drawbacks?

These diapers have the same sizing issues that are common with many other cloth diapers, which is that they can run small.

Get Safe, Healthy Organic Diapers for Your Baby

Organic, non-toxic diapers are a great choice for keeping your baby and the planet healthy. If you are ready to purchase some of the safest diapers for newborns, click on any of the links in this guide to buy healthy diapers.