Are disposable diapers giving babies a daily dose of phthalates through their skin?

What's actually in it

The plastic backsheet, leg cuffs, and sticky tabs of most disposable diapers contain phthalates. Phthalates are softeners that keep plastic flexible. They aren't bonded to the plastic, so they migrate out, especially when warmed by a baby's body.

A diaper is in skin contact for about 8 to 12 hours of every day for the first two years. That's a long time for a chemical to seep into thin baby skin and the diaper area, which has more blood flow than most other parts of the body.

What the research says

A 2025 study in Toxics measured phthalates in dozens of diaper brands and modeled the dose getting into babies through their skin. Almost every diaper tested had detectable phthalates. The skin dose was high enough to match urine markers of DNA oxidative damage in the babies wearing them.

The damage marker is a chemical signal that the body's cells are under stress. It's been linked to long-term problems like cancer and metabolic disease.

If you can swing it, look for diapers labeled phthalate-free or made from certified cotton. The cleanest options skip fragrance, lotion, and any kind of plastic dye design too.