BEST DISPOSABLE DIAPERS FOR YOUR BABY

Deciding which diaper to buy for your baby can be a daunting task. There are so many different types of diapers out there. The most popular brands, Pampers and Huggies have about 8 different types of diapers each. That’s enough to make any mom's head spin.

Some moms swear by the slightly more expensive Pampers brand, while others love the significantly cheaper Kirkland Diapers. Then diapers have all this complicated jargon about absorbency blocks and channels – what does that even mean?

That’s why we created this guide to help you determine which diaper is right for your baby

Find out the difference between the various Pampers diapers here, and Huggies diapers here.

Mom carrying a baby in a diaper.

Why choosing the right diaper is so important

Diaper Blowouts

Diaper blowouts – poop leaking from diapers –are a dreaded rite of passage for all moms.

Waking up in the middle of the night and having to deal with a crying baby is bad enough. Having to clean dirty bed-sheets, swaddles and baby clothes when you’re half asleep is an absolute nightmare.

Diaper blowouts can be minimized (they will still happen occasionally) by choosing a diaper with a good fit and high absorbency.

Baby Comfort

Since your baby is wearing the diaper all day you want to make sure that you chose the diaper that she finds most comfortable. And the one that will cause the fewest diaper rashes. That is why it is important to choose a diaper that is soft and breathable on your baby’s skin.

Diaper Cost

We all know that children are expensive. But did you know that by the time your child is 18 years old you’ll have spent between $200,000 and $300,000 – on each child. On average a baby will need about 2,700 diapers in the first year. If you’re using pampers – which is the most commonly used diaper in the United States you’ll spend over $900 on diapers alone– in your first year.

Diapers vary in price. From 10 cents per diaper up to $1.00 each depending on which one you buy. That’s because manufacturers know moms want the best for their babies – so they add some features which add little value to the diaper and market it for a much higher price. Diapers also go on sale at different stores at different times. Click here to see which store currently has the cheapest diapers per unit.

To find a good value deal, look for diapers that provide the important features and forego the features which most moms don’t need – or use.

Best Diapers

Both industry experts and moms agree that when choosing a diaper look for the following:

1. Absorbency of diapers: Diapers must be absorbent enough to prevent pee and poop from leaking out. Absorbent diapers also prevent diaper rashes – by minimizing the contact your baby has with pee.

2. Comfort for baby: Diapers that are soft and made of more breathable materials are more comfortable for babies. They also prevent diaper rashes. This is particularly important in warm weather - when your baby will be sweaty and more prone to diaper rashes anyway.

3. Good fit: A snug helps ensure that what happens in the diaper stays in the diaper. Fewer blowouts for mom to deal with

4. Good value for money: As we mentioned before babies are expensive and manufacturers take advantage of that. Therefore it is important to make sure that the bells and whistles provided are worth the price.

Baby in a diaper

Best Diaper Overall:

Pamper Swaddlers

Pamper Swaddlers are the most used diapers in hospitals and by moms alike and are moderately priced.

The core of this diaper is extremely absorbent. Not only does it prevent moisture from leaking, it also keeps it locked inside the cloth. This means that your baby will not come into contact with the moisture for long periods of time. And will allow you to go a longer time between changes – particularly important at night time.

The material is cotton soft and extremely comfortable on baby’s skin. In particular, moms appreciate the mesh material over the absorbent core. Not only does this make for a more breathable diaper but it also helps prevent diaper blowouts.

Perhaps most importantly Swaddlers have adjustable fasteners and stretchy sides that move and flex with your baby. This ensures that the diaper fits snugly around your baby’s legs and belly. This too means you will have fewer diaper blowouts to deal with!

Additional features: The newborn size in Swaddlers has a cutout for your infant's umbilical cord stump. The diaper also includes a wetness indicator that lets you know if the baby has peed and if its time for a change– a must for new moms.

Best budget Diapers:

Kirkland diapers and Parents choice

Kirkland Diapers:

These are an excellent option for parents who have a Costco membership. Made by the same manufacturer as Huggies, they have many of the same features but are available at a much lower price. These diapers scored similarly to Pamper Swaddlers when evaluated for fit and comfort.

Like pamper Swaddlers, these diapers have stretchy waistbands, adjustable fasteners a wetness indicator and are made of extremely comfortable material.

While these diapers are more absorbent than the average diaper we found that they were slightly less absorbent than the Swaddlers.

Parents Choice:

Parents Choice were the cheapest diapers we found and scored the highest on the value for money scale.

They scored slightly lower than our other picks - including Kirkland's - on all the other indicators (fit, absorbency, and comfort.)

However, considering the significantly lower price, they may be well worth the money. Particularly if you change the diaper at least once in the middle of the night - ensuring that babies bum remains dry.

Baby in a diaper.

Best diapers for active babies and Toddlers:

Huggies Little Movers

Once your baby becomes more mobile, you’ll need a diaper that is designed to be flexible enough that it moves with your baby.

While Pampers Swaddlers are a better fit for infants, Huggies Little Movers are a better fit for toddlers and active babies.

These diapers are only very slightly less absorbent than Swaddlers- in fact, you may not even notice the difference. These diapers are designed to have a contour shape, snug fit waistband and double grip strips to prevent diaper blowouts, and keep baby dry for longer. Developed with a moving baby in mind, they are the most likely to remain secure during active play.

Once you've decided which diaper to buy, click here to see which store is currently selling it at the cheapest price.