Question from A worried mother
Hi,
I am now cloth diapering with a second child and have noticed, that most cloth diapers these days come with a PUL maerial. Some of them feel very plasticy to a touch, others feel softer, but are still waterproof. How can I know if this treatment of material is really that healthy for my child?
Debra’s Answer
PUL is short for PolyUrethane Laminate, which is a fabric that has been heat-laminated to a layer of polyurethane. Diapers are usually made from laminated cottons, polyester knits, or poly blends.
Polyurethane is a pretty toxic plastic. You can read more about it at www.polyurethane.org. This is an industry-sponsored website. In particular, click on the link for “Hyperreactivity and Other Health Effects of Diisocyanates: Guidelines for Medical Personnel”.
This plastic is more toxic than I would want to put next to a baby’s tender skin.
