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Parents, guardians and carers may struggle to make an informed decision when it comes to diapering choices. There are numerous websites where those with an interest put forward the case that cloth diapers are better for the environment and healthier for babies than disposables.

The vast majority of babies wear disposables, from two major corporations, Kimberley Clark with the Huggies brand and Proctor & Gamble with the Pampers brand. There is a great deal of market share and profit to back campaigns for disposables.

A major study found that disposable diapers might be greener than washables, the environmental impact of cloth nappies is greater than that of disposables for many typical families. The disposable industry has not missed an opportunity to use this to support its green credentials. Cloth nappy advocates highlight the studies which associate disposable nappies with health risks but the public faces of Proctor & Gamble and Kimberley Clark have not addressed these concerns in detail.

Are There Dangerous Chemicals in Disposable Nappies?

The UK Women's Environmental Network in its Real Nappies for London website is one of many to express concern in a very general and unspecific way about the chemicals used in nappies. The concerns are too vague as chemicals make up the world we live in - they are in our clothes and cleaning products.

The Real Diaper Association is more specific as it cites the sources which found health risks linked to nappies. These include the following harmful substances:

Dioxins

Tributyl-tin (TBT)

Sodium polyacrylate

Finally, the association reports a study which found a damaging increase in scrotal temperature for boys.

The same studies are mentioned on many websites and it should be pointed out that all of them are more than 10 years old.

Health Risks and the Chemicals in Disposable Diapers

On their website, Pampers simply state their products do not contain dioxins, they make no mention of TBT. Huggies do not address chemicals or health risks at all.

Sodium polyacrylate is associated with toxic shock via tampons in the 1980s but this is very different to how it is used in a diaper. It is a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), this is the gel substance which leaks out of wet nappies on to baby's skin. SAPs became common in diapers from the mid 1990s and are unmatchable in their ability to hold liquid and keep skin dry.

The industry association Edana's statement on the subject of SAP safety:

"Superabsorbents are safe for use in absorbent hygiene products. They have been extensively tested and researched. Scientists and doctors alike have reviewed the research and confirm that superabsorbent material is safe."

Are Disposable Diapers Linked to Infertility?

No. Further studies investigated the rise of scrotal temperature and found no difference between cloth or disposable nappies and found that other layers which played a role in keeping baby warm were also significant.

Diaper Industry Response to Concerns About Health & Safety Risks

The Nappy Information Service, funded by the UK manufacturers, and Edana's Right To Hygiene campaign, both focus on the benefits of keeping baby dry to prevent severe nappy rash. They use celebrities with clinical back grounds to promote the products but do not back up any claims with citations of actual research.

There is no question that SAP will keep baby drier than any other product. Users of cloth nappies, however, can protect their children with frequent diaper changes.

The industry has little or no public statements about the alleged health risks or about the chemicals found in nappies. There are two very different ways to interpret this.

The few studies which suggest risks are so small, out of date and insignificant that to address them might give them too much importance and fuel concerns unnecessarily.

Or there is no satisfactory answer because the risks are real but current brands have passed all required safety tests.

Most consumers will trust that the products for sale in the High Street from major brands are safe and we can feel confident that they will have been tested for safety and will comply with current safety standard. The question is whether this is enough? The convenience of disposable nappies will ensure they stay popular even if the ingredients change.