While they don’t come without challenges, children bring great joy to people and families everywhere. For some, there is nothing more fulfilling and satisfying than bringing up their little ones and watching them grow, change, and mature. However, the choice to bring a child into the world and/or into your home is not one to be taken lightly, and it’s the first of many choices you’ll make.
Some don’t even realize how many different kinds of diapers there are out there until they start looking. Disposable diapers are the most popular type, but you can also consider different types of reusable cloth diapers. Each comes with its own list of challenges and advantages. The issue with many disposable diapers is that they’re made with cheap and toxic ingredients. Your baby will be wearing their diapers all day every day for quite some time.
Nobody’s skin is more sensitive than a baby’s, so putting safe and gentle clothes, diapers, and products on them should be a top priority. You also must consider that you’ll be disposing of several diapers every day, making the need for eco-friendly diapers more urgent than ever. Unfortunately, too many people assume that because certain products are on the shelf, they’re safe. This is not the case, and it’s why you should consider plant-based diapers for your baby if you want to go the disposable route.
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The Best Plant-Based Diaper Brands
1. Nest Diapers
Nest Diapers is proud of its sustainability as a brand and the quality of its products. Their diapers are eco-friendly with enhanced biodegradation while being safe and healthy for your baby. Their ingredients and materials are clean, non-toxic, and free from allergens. This includes things like wood and cotton, obtained through renewable resources.
Your baby’s health is their top priority, but they are also passionate about helping and conserving the planet. Babies go through multiple diapers a day. Multiply that by thousands and thousands of babies, and that’s a lot of waste. Not only does Nest Diapers create eco-friendly and biodegradable diapers but they partner with several diaper compost providers who facilitate proper disposal and encourage customers to look into this as well.
They have plenty of sizes to choose from and once your baby grows up a little, you can graduate to their training pants which are just as natural, safe, and gentle as the diapers.
2. Eco by Naty
Eco by Naty is all about taking care of your kids in the safest, most sustainable, and eco-friendly way possible, starting with their diapers. Their diapers contain no plastic, no harmful chemicals, and are perfectly breathable to maintain the health of the baby’s skin. Because their materials are natural and plant-based, they’re good for the earth, too.
Continuing their care for the earth, they use independently certified raw materials to ensure their packaging is at least 70% renewable.
Beyond diapers, they have a selection of other products including nursing pads, pull-on pants, an organic changing bag with accessories, and a plant-based potty for when you arrive at potty training. Each of these additional products is made with the same level of commitment and care to both the health of your child as well as the state of the earth and the planet. You can also save a little money by subscribing, while also ensuring you never run out!
3. Honest Diapers
The Honest Company has made a great name for itself in the natural, safe, clean, and eco-friendly space. Many use their bath, body, and cleaning products while others love their safe and natural diapers. Some families use both! Filling your home with their clean and carefully crafted products keeps your skin, surfaces, and even air free from toxins and irritation.
Their Honest Diapers are some of the most sustainable diapers available on the market. Not only are their ingredients entirely plant-based but they are incredibly eco-conscious. For example, their chlorine-free wood pulp doesn’t just come from any forest, they get it from sustainably managed ones.
In addition to being some of the healthiest and most sustainable diapers, they’re arguably some of the cutest! You can pick from a nice variety of different prints, from colors and designs to adorable images of animals, plants, even fruits, and cars. To top it off, the diapers feature incredible comfort and advanced leak protection. It doesn’t get much better than that!
4. Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is another company that cares very much about the health of both your baby and the planet! They really believe that these two things can come together by creating healthy, gentle, clean diapers that are good for your baby and eco-friendly. Babies wear them all the time, and thousands are disposed of every day – clean formulas like the ones at Seventh Generation do well to kill both birds with one stone, so to speak.
These diapers prove that you don’t need harmful chemicals to keep your baby clean, dry, and happy. Their diapers fit comfortably, offer a breathable layer with a soft quilted liner, and prevent leaks beautifully.
The diapers also feature images of cute little creatures in their design. These are not only made to look cute – but they also represent the forest animals they strive to save and preserve by protecting forests through sustainable harvesting processes.
If you like their philosophy and their methods, they have a collection of other products you can try as well, both for baby, yourself, and your home!
5. Dyper Bamboo Diapers
Dyper Bamboo Diapers does things a little differently. They’ve achieved their goal of eco-friendly, sustainable, safe, gentle, and effective diapers through the use of bamboo. The diapers are free from all things bad, such as chlorine, alcohol, latex, phthalates, etc.
They use viscose fibers that come from responsibly sourced bamboo. This makes for an incredibly soft, gentle feel on your baby’s skin. They’re then packaged in bags made from oxo-degradable materials which can then be returned for proper disposal. They also work hard to keep prices down and stable, wanting everyone to have access to their healthier, cleaner products.
They also offer a subscription service so that you always have a good supply. If you do happen to run out early, they have an “SOS” service that will deliver them promptly. You can also get a series of other baby products such as wipes, washes, and diaper cream, all made with the same commitment to health, safety, and sustainability.
Lastly, they also offer cloth diaper products if this is something you’re interested in. It’s a sound and viable option as long as you choose products that are effective and high-quality!
Cloth Vs. Disposable Diapers: Which Is Best?
It’s a major talking point in the parenting community. Disposable diapers have become so commonplace that many balk at the idea of reusable ones, but the reality is that this used to be the way before modern technology came along. Done correctly, reusable diapers aren't unhealthy or unsanitary.
On the flip side, one major argument against disposable diapers is the environmental impact, in addition to the toxic ingredients many companies use. That’s why, if this is the route you want to go, plant-based diapers are the best option.
In any case, many strong opinions are held but the fact is that it’s a decision every parent must make and both choices are fine. That said, there are many differences.
Cloth Diapers: Pros
- More eco-friendly no matter how you slice it
- Gentler on sensitive skin
- Less waste to deal with
- Saves money
Cloth Diapers: Cons:
- Not always quite as absorbent
- More work/laundry
Disposable Diapers: Pros
- Easy and convenient
- Less clean up
- More breathable and absorbent
- More size options
Disposable Diapers: Cons
- More waste, less environmentally-friendly
- Many brands use harsh chemicals and other ingredients that are harmful to the skin
- More susceptible to ripping/damage rendering it useless
- More expensive
As you can see, there is no clear-cut answer. This is a basic overview of the good and bad of each choice, but many personal factors will come into play. If you’re a large family with a busy schedule, the extra work of reusable cloth diapers may simply not be realistic, and that’s okay.
Some disposable diapers are indeed extremely toxic and harmful, but this is not true of all of them. Many companies, like the ones listed here, have created healthier, safer options that are perfectly viable. These plant-based, natural diapers are just as effective, just as comfortable, and are extremely eco-friendly. Some companies even go so far as to provide disposal services to ensure the absolute minimal interference with the environment.
If you do choose to go the cloth diaper route, just be aware that not all of these are sustainably or healthily made, either! It’s still important to choose products made with natural and ethically/sustainably sourced material. You also want to ensure the material is free from harmful dyes or rough textures.
Regardless of your final decision, the most important thing is that you do some research and know what’s in the products you’re buying. This is the best way to ensure the health of your baby and the protection of our planet!
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