The Ultimate Guide to Non-Toxic Diapers and Wipes
As a mom, I know how overwhelming it can be to sort through all the diaper and wipe options out there—especially if you’re trying to avoid harmful chemicals and protect your baby’s delicate skin. That’s exactly why I created this guide: to make choosing non-toxic, TCF (Totally Chlorine-Free) diapers and cleaner wipes feel simple and stress-free.
Looking for an easy way to shop?You can find all of my favorite non-toxic diapers, wipes, and baby care picks in one place on my Amazon Storefront. I’ve organized everything to make it super simple for you to find what you need—without the ingredient deep dive.
Here’s what you’ll find in this post:
- The difference between TCF and ECF (and why it matters)
- Ingredients to avoid in both diapers and wipes
- My go-to list of TCF-only diaper brands
- Wipes organized by whether or not they contain sodium benzoate
- A quick-reference list of popular diaper brands that still use ECF
I focused on popular, widely available brands—the ones you’ll actually find at places like Target, Walmart, Whole Foods and Amazon—because clean options should be convenient too. This isn’t an all-inclusive list of every non-toxic diaper or wipe out there, but rather a curated roundup of accessible choices that meet higher safety standards.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote products I personally love, would use, and believe in.
What Does TCF Mean? (And Why It’s Important)
Most diapers are made with wood pulp that has to be bleached to become soft and absorbent. The problem is in how that pulp is bleached:
ECF (Elemental Chlorine-Free): Uses chlorine dioxide, which is safer than elemental chlorine but still produces small amounts of dioxins—harmful chemicals linked to cancer and hormone disruption.
TCF (Totally Chlorine-Free): Uses no chlorine-based agents at all - and instead uses methods like oxygen, peroxide, or ozone-based bleaching systems that don't generate dioxins. It’s the gold standard. No dioxins, no unnecessary risk.
When you’re shopping for diapers, TCF is ideal. Elemental chlorine-free (ECF) diapers significantly reduce the risk of dioxin contamination compared to older bleaching methods. That said, with so many affordable TCF (Totally Chlorine-Free) options now available, I personally choose to stick with TCF whenever possible. But remember—the most important thing is that your baby is clean, dry, and loved. Every family does the best they can with what’s available, and that’s more than enough.
Ingredients to Avoid in Diapers
When shopping for non-toxic diapers, look out for:
Chlorine or ECF pulp
Fragrance or parfum
Lotions or skin conditioners (often petroleum-based)
Phthalates (can disrupt hormones)
Dyes in the inner lining
Plastic-heavy top sheets (the part touching baby’s skin)
My Favorite TCF Diapers
All of these are TCF, fragrance-free, and free of plastic top sheets. They're gentle, effective, and safer for everyday use.
Kudos (Use code “LATCHINGWITHGRACE10” for 10% off)
Coterie (Use code "LATCHINGWITHGRACE" for a discount! I believe they are cheapest from their website, but you can sometimes get them at Whole Foods and some bundles are available on Amazon)
Popular ECF Diaper Brands (Still Use Chlorine-Based Bleaching)
These brands are widely available, but use ECF (not TCF) processing:
Dyper
Honest Company
Up & Up
Millie Moon
Hello Bello
Seventh Generation
Huggies
Pampers
Luvs
Babyganics
Kirkland
Rascal & Friends
Ingredients to Avoid in Baby Wipes
Check the back of the package—some "natural" wipes still sneak in harsh preservatives. Avoid these:
Fragrance/parfum (contain phthalates)
Preservatives like phenoxyethanol, methylisothiazolinone, DMDM hydantoin, and parabens
Sodium benzoate (especially when combined with citric acid—it can create benzene, a known carcinogen)
Polysorbates
PEGs
Plastic or polyester materials (yep, many wipes contain plastic!)
Why Do Some Parents Avoid Sodium Benzoate in Baby Wipes?
Sodium benzoate is a common preservative used in baby wipes to prevent mold and bacterial growth. On its own, it’s generally considered safe in small amounts. However, some parents choose to avoid it for a few reasons:
It can react with citric acid (another common ingredient) to form benzene, a known carcinogen — though this usually occurs in very specific conditions (like high heat/light in beverages), not necessarily in wipes.
It may irritate sensitive or broken skin, especially in babies prone to rashes or eczema.
It’s not part of a truly “clean” or low-tox ingredient philosophy — parents looking for the purest products often skip it when possible.
While sodium benzoate is safer than many older preservatives, there are better options available now, especially for daily use on delicate skin — which is why the wipes I recommend most are totally free of it.
Best Non-Toxic Wipes (NO Sodium Benzoate)
These are my top picks — plastic-free and super gentle.
Kudos (Use code “LATCHINGWITHGRACE10” for 10% off)
Organic cotton wipes + water or French diaper care
Better Wipe Options (Contain Sodium Benzoate, but Cleaner Than Most)
Still relatively low-tox and a good choice if the ingredients work for your baby:
Coterie (Use code “LATCHING20” for 20% off - cheapest from their website, but you can get them at Whole Foods and some bundles are available on Amazon)
Millie Moon (sold at Target)
Up & Up Fragrance Free (sold at Target)
Parasol - Note on Parasol Wipes: While Parasol advertises their wipes as being made with plant-based ingredients and spunlace fabric, they don’t disclose the full material breakdown. Spunlace is often made with a mix of natural and synthetic fibers — and previous versions of these wipes were known to include about 50% polyester (a form of plastic). If you're avoiding plastic-based materials entirely, this may be something to keep in mind.
Popular Wipe Brands and Ingredients I don't love
Kirkland - contains phenoxyethanol
Water Wipes - grapefruit seed extract contains benzalkonium chloride
Pampers Pure - contains PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil
Huggies Natural Care - contains Butoxy PEG-4 PG-Amodimethicone and Polysorbate 20
What We’re Using for Our Newborn
If you’re wondering what we personally chose for the newborn stage — here’s what’s been working well for us so far:
Newborn size diapers:We used Coterie and Pura in the early days. Both are TCF and we were really happy with how soft, absorbent, and gentle they were on our baby's skin — especially during those constant changes in the first few weeks.
Size 1 diapers: When we moved up to size 1, we’ve been alternating between Kudos and Coterie — both of which are TCF
Size 3 diapers: We skipped size 2 and went straight to size 3, and we’re currently using Pura.
Wipes we’ve been loving:
Our current rotation includes Kudos, Joonya, and Kinder by Nature wipes, all of which are free from sodium benzoate and feel super gentle—exactly what I want for a newborn’s delicate skin. We also use Coterie wipes occasionally; while they do contain sodium benzoate, we've found them to be effective and gentle on our baby's skin.
These are just the brands that have worked well for us—it doesn’t mean they’re the only good ones out there. But if you’re preparing for a new baby or trying to simplify your options, this list could be a helpful starting point!
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for the cleanest diapering routine possible, stick with TCF diapers made from plant-based or cotton materials, and wipes that are plastic-free and free of harsh preservatives like sodium benzoate or phenoxyethanol.
Your baby's skin is incredibly absorbent—and they wear diapers 24/7 for years. Making this switch is a small but powerful step for their health (and the planet too!).