Guides · Better options
Better options for your baby's nappies
What to look for in a disposable nappy, and the Bammies open nappy and pull-up pants with bamboo against the skin and no balm or fragrance.
- By
- Nontoxic Nest
- Published
- Updated
A nappy sits against your baby's skin day and night, for years. So it's worth knowing what each layer is made of, and whether anything is added to it, such as a balm or a fragrance.
Here's the short answer. Choose the Bammies open nappy, or the Bammies pull-up pants once your child wears pants. Both have 100% bamboo fibres against the skin, no balm and no fragrance. Anything about your baby's health, including a nappy rash, is a question for your BVC nurse or midwife.
At a glance
| Nappy | Against the skin | Balm or lotion | Fragrance | Certificates and labels | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bammies open nappy | 100% bamboo fibres | None | Fragrance-free | FSC cellulose in the core (brand) | Babies in open nappies |
| Bammies pull-up pants | 100% bamboo fibres | None | Fragrance-free | – | Toddlers in pants |
How we chose
Our picks are nappies that passed the Standard: every layer named, fragrance-free, and nothing in the parts that touch your baby that the Standard keeps out. The Bammies nappies made it in because the layer against the skin is 100% bamboo fibres, the elastic doesn't touch your baby, and the brand states they're free of latex, fragrance, PVC, phthalates and PFAS. You'll find every pack size in the nappies category and the disposable nappies category. The details below come from Bammies' own product information.
Our picks
Rank 1: Best open nappy
Bammies
Open Diapers – Single Pack
For everyday changes, the layer against the skin and the backsheet are 100% bamboo fibres, around a cellulose core with a small amount of superabsorbent for leak protection. The cellulose is FSC-certified, Bammies says. No PFAS or other fluorinated substances are used in any part of the nappy.
- Free from latex according to the brand
- Free from fragrance according to the brand
- Free from PVC according to the brand
- Free from phthalates according to the brand
- Free from chlorine bleaching according to the brand
- Free from PFAS according to the brand
Last reviewed 27 October 2026
Rank 2: Best pull-up pants
Bammies
Pull-Up Diapers - Single Pack
If your child wears pants rather than open nappies, these have the same layers: 100% bamboo fibres against the skin and in the backsheet. The elastic is polypropylene and spandex, in the parts that don't touch your baby. They're free of fragrance, latex, PVC and phthalates.
- Free from latex according to the brand
- Free from fragrance according to the brand
- Free from PVC according to the brand
- Free from phthalates according to the brand
- Free from chlorine bleaching according to the brand
- Free from PFAS according to the brand
Last reviewed 27 October 2026
What should you look for in a disposable nappy?
Start with the layer against the skin, then check for anything added to it. A nappy that names each layer tells you what touches your baby: on the Bammies nappies that's bamboo fibres, with the synthetic stretch kept in the elastic. Then look for a balm or lotion in that layer and for fragrance; the Bammies nappies have neither.
Every disposable nappy in the shops has a superabsorbent in the core, the Bammies ones included. What you choose between is what's against the skin and what's added.
What's in a conventional disposable nappy?
Most big-brand nappies use synthetic fibres against the skin, and some add a balm. Pampers' UK page says its topsheet is made with polypropylene and polyethylene fibres, and that its Baby-Dry and Premium Protection nappies have a balm in that layer based on petrolatum; its Harmonie range is made without perfume and lotion. Libero lists the materials for the whole nappy rather than layer by layer, says it doesn't use any perfume, and carries the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. Both makers' pages are linked under Sources.
If you remember three things
- Read the layer against the skin first; a nappy that names it is easier to compare.
- Check for a balm or lotion in that layer, and for fragrance.
- Every disposable nappy has superabsorbent in the core. Choose by what touches your baby.
Frequently asked questions
Are bamboo nappies free of plastic?
No. On the Bammies nappies the bamboo fibres are against the skin and in the backsheet, and the elastic is polypropylene and spandex, in the parts that don't touch your baby. The core holds a small amount of superabsorbent.
Do Bammies nappies carry a certificate?
The cellulose in the core is FSC-certified, Bammies says; we haven't verified a certificate for the finished nappy. Our layer-by-layer guide explains what tests have found in disposable nappies and which labels cover them.
What is the balm in some nappies?
It's a lotion in the layer against the skin. Pampers says the one in Baby-Dry and Premium Protection is based on pharmaceutical-grade petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly.
Sources
- Pampers UK, "What are Pampers nappies made of?", updated 28 May 2026: https://www.pampers.co.uk/safety-and-commitment/pampers-commitments/article/whats-in-a-pampers-nappy
- Pampers UK, Harmonie nappies: https://www.pampers.co.uk/products/pampers-harmonie-nappies
- Libero Sweden, Touch open nappy: https://www.libero.se/blojor-byxblojor-och-babyvard/touch-oppen-bloja/touch-3-oppen-bloja/
- Libero Sweden, Certifications: https://www.libero.se/hallbarhet/certifieringar/
- Each product page lists the brand pages and certificate registers behind it.