Want to know more about effects of expired diapers? You might still have some unused diapers from your first child just lying around. Or, perhaps, you have received some old diapers from a friend at your baby shower. But is it safe for your newborn baby to wear those old unused diapers? Whether your question comes from a practical need or simple curiosity, let us address all of your concerns about older diapers.
Contents
Do Baby Diapers Expire?
If you were to inspect a package of diapers, you would eventually stumble across an expiration date. Most major disposable diaper manufacturers have it on their packages. Such is the case for reusable baby diapers as well.
Naturally, we only want the very best for our babies. Long years of purchase history show parents aiming for the freshest option of them all.
And using a product past its expiration date seems like a major health and safety risk.
Good news! Diapers don’t expire. At all. Unlike baby formula or a package of baby wipes, diapers don’t have any ingredients in their composition that could go bad with time.
Well, you could argue that diapers can technically expire by eventually deteriorating with age, so it is recommended to use them within the timeframe you see on the diaper packaging.
Learn About the Materials That Diapers Are Made Of
There is a great variety of baby diapers on the market, fit for any kind of situation. While the exact composition of store diapers may differ, some materials are quite common in their production, and learning about them might help dispel your concerns about baby diapers’ shelf life.
Disposable diapers
The most common kind of diapers. Those are usually made of cellulose, polyethylene, and polypropylene, with polymer in their absorbent layer, while leg cuffs use adhesive elastics and tapes.
Although such diapers are mostly synthetic, the materials for them are non-toxic and completely safe for the baby’s delicate skin. Yet their biggest con is the negative impact they have on the environment.
Reusable diapers (cloth diapers)
Cloth diapers, as the name suggests, are made mostly out of cloth. The outer layer may combine synthetic and organic cloth, yet the absorbing layer still uses synthetic materials, similar to the disposable counterpart.
Still, they are a much greener and cheaper option. A single reusable diaper can replace hundreds of disposable ones, reducing both your expenses and potential landfill waste.
Biodegradable diapers
Made from a range of compostable plant-based materials, such as bamboo fiber, these are the most eco-friendly diapers you can choose.
Such materials are also more breathable than synthetic, which prevents diaper rush on your baby and is more suitable for children with allergies.
Swim diapers
These diapers are special because they don’t have an absorbing layer.
Instead, the diaper is lined with fiber that encourages solid waste to cling to the diaper.
The outer layer can be made from synthetic or organic materials.
Store Your Diapers Properly
Now that you are familiar with the composition of diapers, you can see that most of these materials have a shelf life that far exceeds the expiration date on their packaging.
However, they are also not permanent. Failure to store them in proper conditions can result in your unused diapers looking worse and losing some utility over time.
What Conditions Should You Avoid?
Cellulose can’t handle sunlight all that well. This applies to any prolonged exposure to bright lights. The coloring on your baby’s diaper will fade and the diaper itself might end up having an unpleasant yellow hue.
Excessive heat will make the deterioration of adhesive tabs on your diapers a lot quicker, and they will no longer fit around your baby’s legs. You wouldn’t want to deal with a leaky diaper, would you?
Humidity is your worst enemy when it comes to storing diapers. The super absorbent polymer in the diaper is capable of catching even the tiny particles of liquid in the air, so a prolonged stay in a humid environment will render the absorbent core useless.
Exposure to open air leads to the risk of exposure to both bright light and extra humidity.
The Benefits Of Keeping Diapers in A Closed Package
Basically, between open and unopened diapers, you should always pick unopened diapers, as they are most likely to be in mint condition.
But, if you store unused diapers in proper condition, they can still serve you later.
The package of your diapers is sealed in a way that has minimum air inside and keeps the light and the humidity out, which is the optimal way to store a diaper.
Signs That Tell You Not To Use The Diaper
An unpleasant odor means the diaper has overstayed its welcome.
Crunchy texture means the absorbent core already has too much moisture and won’t hold as much liquid as it should.
Loose leg holes and adhesive tabs are self-explanatory.
If the diaper falls off your baby’s legs, you might as well not wear it at all.
Even though a color change is mostly limited to being visually unpleasant, it might be a sign of a bigger problem with your diapers.
What Do Diaper Manufacturers Recommend?
Manufacturers of store diapers all have the same answer to the question of whether diapers expire. Most disposable diapers have a similar duration of shelf life after all.
Do Pampers diapers expire? No, but it’s best to use them within 2-3 years.
Do Kirkland diapers expire? No, but make sure to use them within 3 years to avoid potential loss of quality.
Do Luvs diapers expire? Also no, as long as you store them in the right conditions and use them before the 3-year mark.
Do Bello diapers expire? No, even a greener premium brand cannot expire.
How about Swim diapers?
Do swim diapers expire? No to that as well. Because they lack the absorbent material most diapers have, it is even harder for them to age badly. They still can lose elasticity and not fit properly, which runs the risk of leakage.
Hopefully, this section provided you with enough insight into the possibility of store diapers expiring. As you may see, diaper manufacturers unanimously agree on their product having no real time limit or expiration date. If anything, you should just treat the expiration date as a loose “best by” instruction.
Are Eco-Friendly Diapers Any Different?
While it may seem like organic materials are less durable than synthetic materials in the long run, the fact is synthetic diapers last just as long as “green” diapers.
Are Old Unused Diapers Safe For My Child?
As diapers don’t expire, you can use some of your older diapers with peace of mind.
While unused diapers can go past their expiration date with little to no harm, you must remember that diapers age just like anything else would. Keep them in proper environmental conditions to prolong their lifespan and utility.
Can An Expired Diaper Cause A Diaper Rush?
The age of your diaper has nothing to do with it. While a diaper that was stored improperly may cause some irritation, normally an older diaper should not have any ill effects on your baby, provided your hygiene is good enough.
Don’t Forget To Be Vigilant
You must exercise some caution when dealing with older diapers, so if you notice any damage to absorbency and elasticity or a yellowish hue, it might be a good idea to leave the diaper be and avoid using it for your baby.
What Can I Do With My Unused Diapers?
If you are not planning a new baby anytime soon, you can always give your spare diapers to someone who needs them more.
You can save diapers for a charity fund, or gift them to your friend.
A baby goes through roughly several thousand disposable diapers while growing up, so your contribution will be welcome. Especially since diapers are far from cheap.
Be mindful
Of course, you must first make sure your diapers are in proper condition. You shouldn’t give yellow diapers or crunchy diapers to other people or charity. Your best move would be to call the person or the organization you plan to give your spare diapers to. Learn if they are ready to receive such a donation at that time and if the condition is satisfactory.
READ ALSO: Are baby diapers FSA eligible: comprehensive explanation
FAQs
I understand that the issue of children’s safety is very important for every parent. It was when considering the topic of diapers that I received many questions, the most common of which I want to answer now. If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to write them in the comments.
Is it okay to use expired diapers?
Diapers cannot expire, so it is completely okay to use old diapers, as long as they are in good condition.
What happens when diapers expire?
While diapers can’t technically expire, they deteriorate with time and lose some of their functionality.
Why do diapers get crunchy?
Diapers are designed to absorb liquid. As the air around us always contains tiny particles of water, improperly stored diapers will slowly absorb this moisture, and eventually their absorbent core will become crunchy.
What are the health risks of disposable diapers?
Most disposable diapers predominantly use synthetic materials, so a baby’s skin might be more sensitive to that.
Conclusion
There is no reason to worry about the expiration date on your package of diapers. Diapers can’t expire, so you don’t need to worry about their effects on your baby.
However, you should do it. Always use your common sense to see whether the diaper you want to use is in proper condition and guarantee the health and safety of your children.