Diapering Gear Deep Dive

Diapers
Recommended: Thrive Market or Target Up & Up (both are less expensive options than many non-toxic diapers)
Other good options: Andy Pandy, Coterie*, Kudos*, Joonya* (there are many others as well; this is a great guide!)
There is a bit of disagreement over what is considered a “non-toxic” diaper. As is expected, the diapers with the purest components are the most expensive. After doing a lot of reading, we decided that for our family the main priority was to choose a diaper with absolutely no fragrance. We also try to prioritize getting ones that are “TCF” or totally chlorine free, instead of just “ECF” or elemental chlorine free. While the other pure components are nice to have, we didn’t feel that they had enough impact to justify their price. We also noticed that the purest diapers did not fit our small newborn very well, but the Thrive Market brand (which is still pretty clean) worked great. For Miss F, we did a Dyper subscription for about a year (which we loved!) then decided to switch to Target’s Up & Up brand. Up & Ups are less than 1/3 the price per diaper compared to Dyper, and while they aren’t quite as pure or absorbent, the cost-saving swap made sense for us. We also tried Seventh Generation diapers and did not like them—they sagged quickly and often leaked. The Honest Company also makes clean diapers, but I have not heard great reviews about them either.
Many natural-focused families choose to cloth diaper instead of worrying about components of disposable diapers. We dabbled in cloth diapering for a few months with Miss F, but ended up deciding it was not for us. When done well, cloth diapering can save money, prevent diaper rashes, and ultimately be a more eco-friendly choice. However, if you choose to cloth diaper, you need to be conscious of the materials the diapers are made of and of the laundry detergent you use to clean them. Many cotton and bamboo options exist so finding natural cloth diapers isn’t impossible, but I found it very difficult to find a natural laundry detergent that actually cleaned the diapers well. Ultimately, I preferred using less-natural disposables than cloth doused in chemical-laden detergent.

Wipes
Recommended: Pipette*, Honest Company
Other good options: Joonya*, Jak Organics* (there are others as well, but these are the ones I’ve personally looked into)
The purest wipes you can use are homemade, reusable cloth wipes. If you decide that’s not for you (like I did), you have to weigh ingredients of different traditional wipes. First of all, always always always use unscented wipes (remember, fragrance introduces hundreds of harmful chemicals!). Once you check that box, there are two factors you want to consider—the antibacterial component of the wipe, and the material the wipe itself is made from. Let’s dive into this…
All wipes, even the cleanest brands, have to have some preservative and anti-bacterial components to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Not all of these chemicals are created equal, though, so it’s important to do your research. For example, Water Wipes are a very popular brand and do have few ingredients—just water and grapefruit seed extract. However, grapefruit seed extract is distilled with the chemical benzalkonium chloride, and it is unknown whether the extract actually has anti-microbial properties itself or if the remaining trace amounts of BC are actually what make it effective (you can read more on this here). Water Wipes does disclose that they contain trace amounts of BC from the use of grapefruit seed extract. Comparatively, Honest Company and Seventh Generation have a few additional ingredients and use sodium benzoate as a preservative, which can be a skin irritant for a small percentage of people. EWG gives BC a score of 5 (pretty bad), while sodium benzoate scores a 1-3, depending on its use.
Wipe material can vary as well. Many mainstream, and even many “natural” wipe options are made with a blend of plastics. Our family tries to avoid plastics whenever possible, so we seek out wipes made from plant-based fibers only.
We currently use Honest Company, which are plant-based material and use sodium benzoate as a preservative. While sodium benzoate can cause skin irritation in a small percentage of people, we’ve had no problem with it (EWG scores it a 1-3 depending on its use; in contrast, benzalkonium chloride scores a 5, which is pretty bad). If you’d like to steer clear of sodium benzoate as well, Pipette is a stellar option, although we have not personally tried them.

Diaper pail
Recommended: Ubbi Diaper Pail*
We used the Munchkin Step Diaper Pail for Miss F, and while we generally were happier with it, I think the Ubbi is a better option. While we liked the Munchkin’s step-to-open feature, the lid was somewhat flimsy and difficult to close securely to trap in smell. The pail also is made completely of plastic and did not feel very sturdy. The Ubbi is metal and overall seems to be a more durable option.

Diaper cream
Recommended: Boudreaux’s Butt Paste (green tube)
Several options exist for natural diaper rash creams, but it’s important to have one on-hand that has ingredients that create a barrier, like non-nano zinc oxide (unless you cloth diaper! Never use a barrier cream if you do because it will make your diapers lose absorbency). We always used the green tube of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste for Miss F, and it worked really well. While the packaging does not specify that its zinc oxide is non-nano (which is important to ensure it’s not absorbed by the skin), customer service verified for me that it is. There are other relatively clean non-nano zinc oxide creams available, such as Pipette, but Boudreaux’s has one of the shortest ingredient lists, which I appreciate.

Changing table
Recommended: Keekaroo Peanut Changer on IKEA Hemnes dresser
We loved the idea of using a changing pad on top of a dresser so that we could use the furniture long after Miss F outgrew her nursery. The IKEA Hemnes dresser series is a very popular option as it is inexpensive but still made primarily of solid wood. Also, because IKEA is a European company, its products have to pass higher safety standards for harmful substances, so we generally trust that they off-gas much less than other brands. Swap out the drawer knobs to give it a personalized, upscale look. We opted for the Keekaroo Peanut as a changing pad; while we typically avoid foam, we were comfortable with the Keekaroo as it is guaranteed to have no phthalates, formaldehyde, BPA, PVC, and other nasties often lurking in foam. We were extremely happy with our choice, as Miss F had many, many blowouts on it, and wiping off the Keekaroo was so much easier than washing a traditional pad cover multiple times a day.

Travel changing pad
Recommended: Any portable changing pad (like this one)
Many diaper bags come with a changing pad, but if your doesn’t, you’ll definitely want one for diaper changes on the go. I didn’t focus on materials for this since I knew we wouldn’t need it often, but you’ll definitely want one that wipes off easily.

Diaper bag
Recommended: Any backpack (Freshly Picked bags are popular, and I’ve been eyeing the new Lululemon backpack)
I personally think toting around a backpack is much easier than a shoulder bag, and there are many options available. The specific bag you like will depend on your personal preference, but Freshly Picked, Fawn, and LAND bags are all popular choices at different price points. You’ll want one that can hold at a minimum diapers, wipes, an extra change of clothes (definitely for the baby and possibly for yourself!), and, if you bottle feed, bottling supplies. Having insulated areas is also a plus!

Absorbent pads
Recommended: Chux pads
Puppy pads are a lifesaver when you have an immobile infant! You can use them on top of a changing pad to prevent messes, or place your naked infant on them for diaper-free time (necessary to cure bad diaper rashes, but also just for fun). While there are pads are made specifically for infants, they are incredibly more expensive and we found it more practical to just use the adult version. While all the ingredients aren’t the cleanest, these have a cotton top layer, and we were comfortable with them since Miss F and Miss E weren’t in contact with them very long. Quick tip: You can also grab a bunch of extra pads like this before you leave the hospital or birthing center!