Kelly's Healthy Home

I wish I was a cloth diaper parent, but I’m not- yet. So before our daughters arrival I did research on the next best thing. My main concerns are the toxins touching my daughters bum and the environmental impact. I understand disposal anything has a negative impact on the environment, but there are different degrees and I value my sanity.

First I’ll touch on toxins and diapers. My general rule of thumb is to avoid any product that has the ingredient ‘fragrance.’ This could mean a slew of things! It’s not descriptive at all and FDA does not regulate cosmetic ingredients- so that’s scary. Also, what fragrance often means is phthalates. What are phthalates? According to FDA website “phthalates are a group of chemicals used in hundreds of products, such as toys, vinyl flooring and wall covering, detergents, lubricating oils, food packaging, pharmaceuticals, blood bags and tubing, and personal care products, such as nail polish, hair sprays, aftershave lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes and other fragrance preparations.” Still very vague. But basically what I’ve read is they mimic human hormones and send false signals to the body.  Bottom line, I looked specifically for phthalate free diapers.

Another important ingredient I want to avoid is chlorine. The chlorine manufacturing process creates dioxins which is a chemical that can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones. (EPA website) Um, no thanks! Definitely look for chlorine and chemical bleached free diapers.

Environmental impact is definitely on my mind. And one day, sooner than later, I will incorporate cloth diapers into our routine. But for now, diapers that are made from renewable resources and ethically sourced are my preferred companies. My strategy was to first determine the company with the purest ingredients then look into their environmental credentials. A simple glance for a certification on the labels or website was a good indication. I love certifications-the more the merrier! 

So my first batch of diapers have been:

1. Earths Best

2. Eco by Naty

3. Bambo Nature 

I’ve been sticking to Bambo Nature for now. But honestly, based on my short time as a mom, I would recommend each of them.

What brand do you prefer? Please share so we can all learn!