We take diapering pretty seriously, and every year we make the new years resolution to promise you "no more blowouts!" Our reviews come from interviewing over 20 moms, asking them to report their honest experiences with baby diapers, and conducting some intense hands-on reviews of new additions to the market. Over the past several years, we have found issues with comfort, rashes (check out our best diaper rash creams), leakage, odors, fit, "blow-outs," and asthetics. We pooled all of this information and created a best diapers of 2020 list. Here are the top 5 best infant diapers and toddler diapers we found, followed by our in-depth reviews.
{wbamp-form start}
- Table of Contents [show/hide]
- Top 5 Diapers Comparison Table
- Best Newborn & Infant Diapers
- 1. Best Diapers Overall: Swaddlers
- 2. Mama Bear Diapers
- 3. Huggies Special Delivery
- 4. Andy Pandy Diapers
- 5. Huggies Little Snugglers
- Best Toddler Diapers
- 1. Pampers Cruisers Diapers
- 2. Andy Pandy Diapers
- 3. Pampers Pure Protection
- Conclusions
#1. Pampers Swaddlers
#2. Mama Bear Diapers
#3. Huggies Special Delivery
#5. Huggies Little Snugglers
Because many moms reported switching diapers as their babies became toddlers, we have two lists below: Best Infant Diapers, and Best Toddler Diapers. Some of the diapers come from big names like Pampers and Huggies, but others come from smaller companies that are doing a fantastic job outdoing some of the bigger names. Looking for cloth diapers instead? Check out our list of the best cloth diapers. Need a bag to help you carry them around, along with all the other essentials? Check out our best diaper bags list.
Here are the Best Infant Diapers of 2020!
1. Pampers Swaddlers, sizes Newborn to 5.
The Swaddlers are the overall best diaper option for newborn babies, up to size 5. They are also the most recommended diaper by hospitals and pediatricians, due to good fit, low rash incidence rate, low fragrance odor, and great protection from leakage. They are also reasonably priced: if you purchase in larger quantities (like a box of 186 newborn diapers) through Amazon you can get the per-diaper cost down to around 20 cents. That's a good price for an excellent diaper. What did our hands-on testing reveal about these diapers? We loved that they are overall the softest and thickest padded diaper on the market, they have the wet/dry indicator strip so you don't need to peek inside or guess whether it's time for a change, and it is very rare to get a "blowout" or leak. We found that they fit very snugly to the inner thighs and bum, and our test babies seemed very comfortable in them. However, some moms noted that this is not a very good option as an overnight diaper, and several of them made the mistake of trying! For overnight diapers, we recommend the Huggies Overnights rather than the Pampers version. Another drawback is that they aren't fragrance-free or chlorine-free, so some babies with very sensitive skin might develop a minor rash (Pampers does make a slightly more expensive Sensitive version of these diapers that is gentle and hypoallergenic: Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive Disposable Diapers). But at this price point with this level of protection, we think they're worth a try, and most babies will not have any issues with them. Overall, this is the best diaper for newborns on the market this year, though the Mama Bear is coming in at a very close second place.
2. Mama Bear Diapers, sizes Newborn to 6.
These are an excellent new addition to our best baby diapers list. We finally got our hands on several sizes to test out earlier this year, and after some hands-on tests we were really impressed by the performance. These new diapers are made by Amazon as part of their new Mama Bear product line, and have some great features. First, they are hypoallergenic, contain no fragrances or perfumes, and do not contain chlorine or latex. Second, they include a very effective wetness strip that basically tells you not only when the diaper is wet, but the extent of color change can also indicate a bit about exactly how wet it actually is. Third, we found them very soft and comfortable while also maintaining an excellent seal around the waist and legs. preventing leaks (of the liquid and solid variety!). Another thing to consider about these diapers is that they come in both white (no decorations) and a simple and cute bear pattern. The white is a really great option, as it allows you to put on thinner light-color clothing without being able to see patterns on a diaper, so this was a nice touch. They also have a nice simple and modern look in just white, a little bit like the look of a good cloth diaper. In our hands-on testing, we didn't suffer any blow-outs, tab breakage, rashes, or leakage. We also didn't notice any problems with rubbing and abrasion of sensitive skin. When we put them side-by-side with the Huggies, they were very similar in size and quality. Overall, this is an excellent daytime diaper (it is not an overnight diaper, so don't try!), and we highly recommend it. They run about 20-cents each for the smaller sizes. If these continue to improve, we suspect these will be at the top of this list next year!
3. Huggies Special Delivery Diapers, Sizes N to 6.
Pampers and Huggies have both released greener diaper options for parents who are more environmentally conscientious - the Pampers Pure, and Huggies Special Delivery. While neither option is biodegradable, they are relatively natural. The Huggies Special Delivery diapers are made with 23% plant-based materials, do not include any harsh ingredients, are hypoallergenic, fragrance free, chlorine free, and paraben free. So they're about as close as you can get to something like the Andy Pandy while not spending quite as much and retaining the amazing functionality of the Huggies Little Snugglers. That was a bit of a spoiler - these are basically the Little Snugglers but with the added bonus of being hypoallergenic, partially plant-based, and without many of the harsh chemicals that plague the more mainstream diaper brands. The other difference is what we fell in love with - just how amazingly soft and comfortable these diapers are! They feel like something we wanted to put on ourselves, and you need to feel them to believe it! With all that softness, they still have some great features: the newborn diapers include the umbilical cord cut-out, they all include the front and rear wetness indicator strip, and up to size 2 includes the rear flap to prevent blow-outs (we got a pack of size 3 and they didn't have the flap). And the patterns and sayings on the back are really cute - "The SNUGGLE is real" and "FREE Hugs" were some of our favorites! How did they function? About the same as the Little Snugglers - really well, and we didn't experience any leaks, blow-outs, or diaper rash. There wasn't any sort of gel mess when they were wet. We didn't try them for nighttime use because we prefer overnight diapers for that purpose. No blow-outs were experienced, but we do note that the awesome Huggies rear flap only seems to be on sizes Newborn to 2 with these diapers, so we think they are perfect as a newborn diaper. If you have a toddler who still experiences loose stools up the back of the diaper, then definitely consider a different diaper! Interested? You can check out the Huggies Special Delivery Diapers here.
4. Andy Pandy Bamboo Diapers, Newborn-XL.
This is a premium diaper for discerning parents who are willing to pay a bit more (about 15 cents more per diaper) for high quality and eco-friendly alternative to the big brands. There are a lot of small companies cropping up and selling all natural premium diapers, but this is the best reviewed one out there. These diapers are so free of everything, we're not sure what's left for ingredients! They have no perfumes, fragrances, dyes, preservatives, alcohol, latex, PVC, chlorine, or phthalates (BPA). They are a great diaper for babies with contact allergies, given that they are also free of gluten, wheat, and corn. How do they do it? These diapers use biodegradeable and eco-friendly bamboo, making them super soft and comfortable, and giving them very high absorbency. The company that makes these diapers, sends a portion of sales to St. Jude's hospital, so you can feel good about paying a bit extra; they are also very responsive to questions or concerns, and customer service is reportedly fantastic. The diapers are also compostable and biodegradable, Moms reported how surprised they were that a diaper from a small company that has so many good things going for it could actually work so well! Some moms reported that these diapers were great for overnight, but others reported that they wouldn't suggest using them for overnight. We suspect that this has to do with baby size, bladder size, and sleeping positions; maybe give it a shot and cross your fingers. These diapers are highly recommended, and without the increased price they would have been #1 on our list. Same goes for the BAMBO Nature diapers, which are very similar to these and quite excellent (though not as good on absorbancy), but also a bit too expensive to include here.
5. Huggies Little Snugglers, size Preemie to 3.
The Huggies Little Snugglers come in at third place for use in newborn babies up to size 3. The Little Snugglers use Leak Lock technology that has strong absorbency and a unique "pocket" on the rear waistband that helps stop the mess from spraying up the back. Moms said this feature was more than a marketing gimmick and actually worked on a few occasions when they thought the mess would have been much larger without it! Like the Swaddlers, these have a reliable wetness indicator that changes color when your baby pees. They also have a great umbilical cord cutout that keeps the diaper from rubbing up against the sensitive umbilical cord area. Like the Swaddlers, they are not designed for overnight use, and we suggest using Huggies Overnights if your baby is alreading sleeping for 6+ hour stretches at night. They will leak with overnight use. Moms report that they have a great fit around the thighs and bum areas, and the fragrance is tolerable.
Here are the Best Toddler Diapers of 2020!
1. Pampers Cruisers, sizes 3 to 7.
The Cruisers are the overall best diaper option for babies about 16 pounds and up. Several moms recommended that once your baby begins to move around a bit, you transition from Swaddlers to Cruisers for active babies with growing bladders. The Cruisers have 3 layers of absorption, a flexible fit for babies of different shapes (the long lean ones, or short pudgy ones), and provide much better overnight protection than the Swaddlers. This is good since your baby will likely begin sleeping for longer stretches at night (fingers crossed) and the last thing you want to do is wake your baby up every 3-4 hours for a diaper change! The Cruisers are about the same price per diaper as the Swaddlers if you buy in larger quantities (like a box of 128 or 174). We found these for a good price at Amazon. What did our moms say about these diapers? They reported that blow-outs and leaks were very rare with these, due mostly to high absorbency and strong and nicely-fitting elastic that contours nicely to the thighs and bum. They are not as soft and padded as the Swaddlers, as they are prioritizing leak-proofing versus comfort, and they also no longer include the wetness indicator like the Swaddlers. But they are a great all-around diaper with good fit and excellent absorbency, and very few moms reported any rashes with this product.
2. Andy Pandy Bamboo Diapers, size Med - XL.
Yes, this is #2 for both infants and toddlers; they're just that good! This is a premium diaper for discerning parents who are willing to pay a bit more (about 15 cents more per diaper) for high quality and eco-friendly alternative to the big brands. There are a lot of small companies cropping up and selling all natural premium diapers, but this is the best reviewed one out there. These diapers are so free of everything, we're not sure what's left for ingredients! They have no perfumes, fragrances, dyes, preservatives, alcohol, latex, PVC, chlorine, or phthalates (BPA). They are a great diaper for babies with contact allergies, given that they are also free of gluten, wheat, and corn. How do they do it? These diapers use biodegradeable and eco-friendly bamboo, making them super soft and comfortable, and giving them very high absorbency. The company that makes these diapers sends a portion of sales to St. Jude's hospital, so you can feel good about paying a bit extra; they are also very responsive to questions or concerns, and customer service is reportedly fantastic. The diapers are also compostable and biodegradable, Moms reported how surprised they were that a diaper from a small company that has so many good things going for it could actually work so well! Some moms reported that these diapers were great for overnight, but others reported that they wouldn't suggest using them for overnight. We suspect that this has to do with baby size, bladder size, and sleeping positions; maybe give it a shot and cross your fingers. These diapers are highly recommended, and without the increased price they would have been #1 on our list.
3. Pampers Pure Protection Diapers, Sizes N to 6.
These are the direct competitor to the Huggies Special Delivery Diapers (above). They have the same principles: provide a mainstream diaper that can compete with the more natural brands emerging on the market, including a super soft outside that's lined with cotton, no chlorine use, no fragrances or perfumes, no parabens or latex, and hypoallergenic. That makes most parents feel much better about what's coming in contact with their child's skin - after all, these are sitting up against their body (and against mucous membranes) 24 hours a day, so it's worth considering. To be fair, these are really impressive diapers. Are they as good as the new Huggies Special Delivery? Not quite, but they're a good step in the right direction. We definitely prefer the Special Delivery ones for newborns up to size 2 because it includes the rear flap for blow-outs, and then it's sort of a toss-up between these two options once you get to size 3 (because that's when the Huggies option loses the rear flap). That said, these are basically the Pampers Swaddlers that have been modified to remove irritants and harsh chemicals, and add some softness. Side-by-side with the Swaddlers they really look identical in shape and size, save for some different patterns and less fragrance with the Pure option. And they function really similarly. We didn't experience any leakage or blow-outs, and no diaper rash. They were soft and comfortable, and we think they are a great option for toddlers! Worth the extra cost over the Swaddlers? Maybe not. Interested? You can check out the Pampers Pure Diapers here.
Conclusions & notes about the others!
Last year, we suggested Huggies Little Movers as our #3 toddler diaper. Unfortunately they recently changed their diaper design and have been receiving terrible reviews about leaks and blow-outs. So last year, we were going to recommend the diaper that has always been a close second to the Little Movers, the Luvs Ultra Leakguards, but unfortunately they have also gone downhill. They must have revamped their diapers around the same time. Unfortunately the revamping was for the worse, and we learned quickly to steer clear of these diapers since the redesign happened in late 2013. Finally, we also tested the Naty by Nature and Seventh Generation diapers. We experienced quite a bit of blow-outs with the Naty by Nature, and the Seventh Generation diapers seem to have gone downhill a bit in the past 2 years. We do like the fact that these options are marketed as "free & clear" in that they use minimal harsh chemicals, and can reduce diaper rash and allergic reactions. We will definitely re-test these options again next year and see how they perform. We are always interested in trying out newcomers, so if you have one to suggest, please don't hesitate to send us a message (see About Us section). On a related note, check out our reviews of the best baby wipes and best wipe warmers to make for the perfect changing table setup! Finally, if you're looking for a good place to put smelly diapers, check out our reviews of the best diaper pails.
{wbamp-form end}
{wbamp-meta name="image" url="https://mommyhood101.com/images/Best-Diapers-Infants-Toddlers.jpg" width="1200" height="800"}
{wbamp-show start}
THE %(site_name)s COMMUNITY
-
umkhaloodie
3864140 pt -
Ch
3396455 pt -
jesusmsanchezl
2453003 pt -
weddingblog2011
2205852 pt