Gentle toilet paper for the whole family: labels and kids' tips

Reading the label

• Unscented and fragrance-free: unscented can mean no noticeable smell, and fragrance-free means no fragrance ingredients were added. Check the ingredient list if you want to avoid fragrance.
• Dye-free: no colorants were added. Plain white paper is the usual version.
• Treat hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested as starting points for reading the ingredient list, not as answers. Hypoallergenic has no single legal definition in the United States.
• Lotion or aloe added: some papers have an added lotion or plant extract. We do not make claims about what that does. If you are sensitive to added ingredients, check the list, and consider plain paper.
• Septic safe: a maker's claim. Check with your septic service if your system is sensitive.

What chlorine-free means

• TCF, or totally chlorine free: no chlorine compounds were used to bleach the pulp.
• PCF, or processed chlorine free: usually describes recycled paper, where no chlorine was used in the recycling process, though the original paper may have been bleached earlier.
• ECF, or elemental chlorine free: the pulp was bleached without elemental chlorine, using other compounds.
• These terms describe the bleaching process. They do not tell you how a paper will feel, and a label that says chlorine-free without detail is worth checking.

Soft, strong, or both

More plies and heavier papers are often described as softer and stronger, and cheaper papers tend to be thinner. There is a trade-off. Very soft paper can feel gentle but fall apart when wet, so people use more of it, and very thin paper can tear. The right balance is personal. Buy a small pack of a new type before stocking up, and pay attention to how much you actually use.

Our angle: cost per use, not price per roll

Roll names such as Mega and Double mean different amounts at different brands, so compare by sheet count and sheet size. Then add the part that matters most in a family: how many sheets you use each time. A thin paper that you use in thick wads can cost more than a pricier ply that you use fewer sheets of. Count the rolls your household uses in a month, divide the price by the sheets, and compare the cost per month rather than the cost per sheet.

1. Divide the price by the number of sheets in the package.
2. Count how many rolls your household uses in a typical month.
3. Multiply to get a monthly cost, and compare products on that number.

Kids and toilet training

• Show children how much to use. Children often use a lot of paper, and too much at once can clog a toilet.
• A plain, fragrance-free paper is a common choice for children, but follow what your pediatrician advises for your child.
• Keep toilet paper within reach of the child's seat or step stool, so they can get it without help.
• Wipes: some are labeled flushable, but wipes can clog pipes, and rules differ by place. Follow the label, and put wipes in the trash when in doubt.
• Diaper changes: use baby wipes made for that, not toilet paper. See our gentle baby wipes guide.
• If a child or an adult has pain, persistent irritation or other skin concerns, stop using the product and ask a doctor, or the child's pediatrician.