Behold the first crisis of parenting: the diaper dilemma.
Buying for babies is no walk in the park. When it comes to shopping all products in the baby-sphere, you’ll be steered all over the place; directed by Doctors, referred to scientific literature, nagged by a mother-in-law, influenced by #momtok. The options are overwhelming, and the truth is that there’s no perfect path to discovering which products, or brands work best for you and your baby.
Enter the diaper debate. You’ll go through nearly 3,000 of these a year. More likely than not, you’ll try and settle on a brand to stock up on well before you bring your baby home from the hospital. Multiple factors may come into play; wetness indicator, stretchability, breathability, and level of absorbency. A baby’s age and body composition could also sway the diaper style (some people swear by Pampers for leaner little ones and Huggies for chunkier babes). Of course, as with any baby product, price also plays a large role. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should expect to spend over $1,000 on diapers in the first year.
READ MORE: The 8 best baby lotions, according to a dermatologist
With so many diaper brands to choose from, it becomes nearly impossible to investigate each of them thoroughly. You’d be nose-deep in diapers all day — which is the last thing you want as a parent who is about to change thousands of diapers. To streamline some of that research, I’ve shared my reviews on three popular brands that I considered as a first-time parent and tested on my daughter: Pampers Swaddlers, Huggies Little Snugglers, and Coterie The Diaper.
Read on for deeper diaper analyses, or for more Post Wanted baby shopping recommendations, head to our roundups of the best children’s clothing, top toys for every age, and best baby shower gifts.
- Best for overnight: Coterie The Diaper
- Best for smaller babies: Pampers Swaddlers
- Best for bigger babies: Huggies Little Snugglers
Best for overnight: Coterie The Diaper
Pros:
- More absorbent (up to 12 hours of leak protection)
- 24% plant-based, made from responsibly sourced wood pulp
- Proven hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested
- Elasticized leg cuffs prevent blowouts
Cons:
- Eco-friendly but not compostable
- Higher cost, but a subscription discount is available
- Noticeably less stretch than other brands
Absorbency: By far, Coterie is the most absorbent and quick-drying of the diapers I have tested. If you feel the material, you can tell it’s on the thicker side, which means it might feel heavier when it’s “full.” It’s almost concerning how fast these diapers dry because I worry that it may provide the illusion that a baby doesn’t need to be changed, which could lead to diaper rash. However, for anyone who is trying to sleep train, these are the way to go: minimal wetness and very few leaks.
Overall fit and comfort: Out of all three diaper brands, Coterie certainly has the strongest construction. The material almost feels unbreakable. In fact, I attempted to break it apart with all my force with no success (great for the diaper, embarrassing for me). The one downside to this is that these diapers are on the stiffer side, offering less movability. It’s important to find the correct size because you won’t be able to get too much stretch out of the elastic waistband.
Design and wetness indicator: I appreciate the simple, clean design of Coterie. There are no distracting logos or images, the diapers are simply diapers. When it comes to the wetness indicator, you have two thin lines to look at rather than one solid, thick line. I’ve learned to prefer the Coterie style — the space in the middle creates a bit of contrast so it’s even easier to read in the dark. The indicator does get noticeably dark when the diaper is wet. I’ve had no trouble discerning it.
Best for smaller babies: Pampers Swaddlers
Pros:
- Flexible and stretchy, ideal for movers, kickers, and growers
- Lower price, and many options to buy in bulk
- Well-constructed feel
- The design may work better for taller, leaner babies
Cons:
- Diapers are scented which may be more likely to irritate sensitive skin (however, it does reduce unpleasant scents)
- Not as eco-friendly
- Feel a bit dry
Absorbency: According to Pampers, Swaddlers can hold nearly 30 times their weight. Considering that they appear a bit thinner and lighter-weight than the competitors, I have been impressed with the absorbency. They seem to dry fast, and the material attracts a good amount of of the waste away from the baby’s skin, which makes cleanups easier and is healthier for babies. While I’ve noticed a few more blowouts with Pampers, I think it has more to do with my daughter’s build.
Overall fit and comfort: While I’ve noticed fewer blowouts with Pampers, I think that may have more to do with my daughter’s body composition and less with the actual absorbency level. Plenty of parents agree that Pampers are ideal for leaner babies. The material also feels noticeably smoother than Huggies and Coterie — which earns some points for comfort in my books. Pampers does take the lead when it comes to stretch. Of all the diapers I have tested, Pampers seems to bend and move easily, with hardly any ‘crunching sound.’
Design and wetness indicator: Pampers and Huggies have nearly identical wetness indicators. However, there are a few design elements on the Pampers diapers that I like more than Huggies. The velcro is a soft yellow shade, which stands out from the rest of the diaper, so you can easily find the pieces to close the diaper. A blue lining on the edges of the diaper is also helpful during the newborn phase — when the top of the folder can be folded down to avoid irritating the belly button.
Best for bigger babies: Huggies Little Snugglers
Pros:
- There is a good amount of velcro to keep the diapers on (ideal for older babies attempting to rip them off)
- The design may work better for bigger, chunkier babies
- Free of fragrances, parabens, lotions, and elemental chlorine — which is more gentle on babies’ skin
Cons:
- These diapers make more of a crinkly sound which could irritate a baby during sleep
- Not much transparency on how the diapers are made
- Not as eco-friendly
Absorbency: Huggies is known to absorb well and my experience with the brand has proven that true. In fact, the main reason why I have stuck with this brand for my daughter is because I rarely come across any ‘leakage’ (they’re also very affordable). While comparing Huggies to Pampers, I did notice the bottom of the Huggies diapers felt a bit thicker than its closest competitor which could help lock in more wetness.
Overall fit and comfort: When comparing Huggies to the other two popular brands, I could visibly see that they’re a bit wider, which makes them more suited for chunkier babies. If a baby isn’t big enough, they may not “fill” the diaper, which could lead to leaks. For bigger babies, they fit like a dream. The brand also has a good amount of stretch, and the material has never irritated my daughter’s skin (it’s free of fragrances and lotions).
Design and wetness indicator: Almost identical to Pampers, Huggies diapers have one thick line down the middle that turns from yellow to blue to cue wetness. I’ve had no issues reading this indicator, but my personal preference is still the double-lined indicator from Coterie. In terms of overall design, Huggies does have some muted patterns and colors, but nothing distracting. My one wish would be that the velcro was a different color than the rest of the diaper, so it would be easier to find.
How we tested
I drew from my firsthand experience as a new mom navigating the diaper dilemma — trying out multiple brands until we found one that worked best for my daughter. To provide in-depth analyses for each brand, I’ve evaluated the diapers based on the level of absorbency, overall fit and comfort, as well as the design and wetness indicator. Keep in mind that each baby is different, and selecting the right diapers can depend on their size, allergies, level of skin sensitivity, and other unique factors.
Absorbency: Based on my experience with each brand, I had a good idea of which diapers absorbed the most waste and kept my daughter’s skin dry. However, I also wanted to be able to compare each side-by-side. To test absorbency, I completed the ‘pour test,’ slowly pouring water over the diaper in increments, letting it absorb, and seeing how much liquid it could hold without dripping. I found Coterie to be the most absorbent, with Huggies and Pampers closely behind, tied almost neck and neck.
Overall fit and comfort: Diapers are like clothes, some fit true to size, others fit snugger, and others looser. I was pleased with the overall fit of each of these diaper brands, however, I did notice some variation in the shape, amount of velcro used for securing, and amount of stretch in the material. In terms of comfort, I considered the materials used in each diaper, and whether there were any fragrances or lotions that could potentially irritate a baby’s skin.
Design and wetness indicator: A wetness indicator is among the most important design elements of a diaper. The line, which generally tracks through the middle of the diaper, reacts to liquid exposure by changing colors, acting as an indicator so the parent knows when a diaper is soiled and needs changing. I made note of the thickness, size, and placement of each indicator, as well as other design elements such as shapes and colors used to mark different parts of the diaper to make each more identifiable.
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Journalist. As a Gen Z first-time mother of one, Miska tests baby, maternity and postpartum products ranging from stylish new kids clothes to long-trusted diaper brands with her daughter. She evaluates baby- and mom-approved products for practicality and quality, and consults medical and parenting experts to weigh in on safe ingredients, usage and more. Before arriving at the Post, she covered the lifestyle and consumer verticals for the U.S. Sun.
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