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We put dozens of diapers to the test in our lab to see which ones could absorb liquid and feel dry. Diaper In China
Picking the right diaper for your newborn is crucial to everyone’s peace of mind in those early weeks. You want to get a perfect fit to prevent leaks and get packages that provide enough diapers so you won’t be caught off-guard by how often newborns poop. (Hint: it’s a lot.) But most of all, when it comes to the best newborn diapers, “absorbency is key!” says Beth Parker, M.D., a pediatrician at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Michigan. To help you narrow down the list of which to try on your baby, we tested newborn diapers for leaks and absorbency in our New York City lab.
“If a diaper is absorbent, the skin will have less contact with urine and feces, which are very irritating,” she says.
Because newborns feed so frequently, they also wet their diapers often, and one of the best ways to avoid leaks is to ensure a good fit. Dyan Hes, M.D.,, a pediatrician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, says the single biggest mistake she sees parents make is not using the right size diaper. “I like when the diapers fit above the belly button and they’re more cinched above the hip bones, not on the hip bones,” says Dr. Hes. “If they’re too low and the baby moves around, they leak, they go up their back, down their leg.”
We performed hands-on testing of more than two dozen diaper varieties to assess their absorbency, leakage, design, and value. We performed three liquid pour tests to see how much each diaper could hold, how fast it absorbed the liquid, its integrity when fully saturated, and whether the diaper would leak in a variety of positions, like being squished. Every baby is different, but we think you’ll find the best newborn diaper for your baby on this list.
Pampers Newborn Swaddlers are the only diapers that I have used for all five of my children, but aside from that compelling piece of anecdotal evidence, they also passed all our lab tests with flying colors, from absorbency and softness to leakage protection.
One of our testers called this diaper’s ability to absorb liquid “remarkable,” and found that even after three full liquid pours into the diaper, it was dry to the touch. In the words of our parent tester: “It will absorb everything.”
Pampers Swaddlers are made in the U.S. and according to the company, contain the same materials that hospital fabrics use, so they’re ideal for breathability, absorbency, and comfort. Plus, they’re super-soft on a newborn’s delicate skin thanks to the addition of aloe leaf extract, which helps keep skin moisturized.
Our testing revealed a slight delay in absorbency, meaning there may be some temporary wetness against your child’s skin immediately after wetting their diaper, but these diapers’ long-lasting leak-proof powers more than made up for it.
We were incredibly impressed with how fast Huggies Little Snugglers absorbed all of the liquid we threw their way in the lab. These diapers were the fastest-absorbing diapers and had zero leakage. “It soaked everything up right away,” our tester remarked.
Not only did all the liquid get soaked up almost immediately, but our testing found that the outside of the diaper and the leg elastic remained dry, too. That’s crucial for helping keep babies comfortable (and avoiding having to change their clothes and bedding), especially during long stretches at night. Huggies Little Snugglers are about the same price as Pampers Swaddlers, and our tester pointed out that they may be an even better value because high absorbency means fewer diaper changes.
With very full diapers, the absorbent material can make the diaper very heavy.
Similar to Pampers Newborn Swaddlers, the brand’s Baby Dry are designed to lock away liquid without leaking. Our testing revealed that these live up to that promise. We tested Pampers Baby Dry with up to three pours of liquid and it absorbed them all, with nary a leak in sight.
“There was zero leakage anywhere,” our tester reported. “Nothing came out of the diaper, even when I wrapped it up to dispose of it.” The diapers' superior leak protection comes thanks to their stretchy fit, extra-large tape, and barrier guards. The Baby Dry diapers are also hypoallergenic, which can be helpful if your baby has sensitive skin.
Like Huggies Little Snugglers, the diapers can get very heavy because they absorb liquid so well.
We were impressed by this Honest diaper’s ability to hold more and more liquid without breaking down in any way. At saturation, some diapers began losing their integrity and released crystals or gel beading in our lab test, but this diaper stayed fully intact, even with almost a cup of liquid in it.
While we did find that the diaper had a slightly slower absorbency rate compared to Pampers and Huggies, it held all the liquid without leaking no matter which position the diaper was in. “I wouldn't have to worry about messes with this diaper,” our tester concluded.
Honest diapers are a parent-favorite because of their eco-friendly components, cute and varied prints, and a subscription service that can offer some savings.
Honest diapers are more expensive than Pampers or Huggies.
Parents looking for a fragrance-free, plant-based diaper will appreciate this option from Seventh Generation. Our hands-on liquid testing revealed no leaks, high absorbency, and soft materials. As one of our editors who used these on her own kid described, this diaper offers two major benefits: “No blowouts, and I absolutely adored the lack of chemical baby powder fragrance.”
Seventh Generation is extremely open with the ingredients in its diapers, with all of the materials clearly listed for each part of the diaper, from tape to ink, which is helpful for anyone looking for transparency before purchasing.
Testing did reveal slightly more dampness with large amounts of liquid. It’s also the most expensive diaper on our list, coming in at up to $0.64 per diaper in smaller-size packs (but as low as $0.32, if you’re lucky). It’s also often difficult to find this brand in stock at many online retailers.
These diapers are the only ones we tested that are made of 100% viscose from bamboo fibers, which makes them a more eco-conscious choice than most diapers because they are primarily made from a renewable resource. They’re also unprinted and completely fragrance-free.
Our hands-on liquid testing revealed that the Dyper Bamboo diapers held up very well through the first two rounds of liquid pours, but by the third pour, the diaper’s interiors were definitely soaking wet. However, the outside of the diaper remained very dry, so our tester noted that caregivers holding or picking up their babies would not experience any leaks on them.
One of the most appealing aspects of Dyper diapers is the brand’s Redyper program, which allows families to return diapers and wipes back for centralized commercial composting in available areas for an additional fee.
Your baby will most likely feel some dampness from diapers left on for long stretches of time. Dyper diapers are one of the most expensive diapers on our list, at $0.47 per diaper, but many parents who use them say they are worth it as an alternative to cloth diapers.
You won’t find a softer diaper for your baby. After hands-on testing, we fully agreed with the brand’s claims that these diapers are “cashmere-like.” They also held up just as well as Pampers Swaddlers when it came to absorbency and leak-proof qualities, so they’re a well-rounded option.
The Coterie diapers absorbed all three liquid tests without leaking (though it did feel wet to the touch and on the filter paper test after just one pour). Our tester even felt that after three rounds of liquid testing, the diaper would have held even more liquid. Coterie diapers are also free of fragrance and hypoallergenic, so parents will appreciate that they’re a great choice for babies with sensitive skin.
Though they’re extremely absorbent, these diapers don’t stay as dry to the touch as Pampers or Huggies. We were also frustrated by the fact that the sizes aren’t printed on each diaper, so there’s no way to tell what size they are if you keep several different sizes on hand. Also, Coterie is known for being a luxury option, with a cost that breaks down to $0.52 per diaper if you buy a bulk pack of 192 diapers.
We also tested the following diapers but chose not to recommend them based on their performance with absorbency and leak testing:
Parents staff performed hands-on testing of 11 different types of diapers in our New York Lab. We used a dyed-blue solution of water and 0.9% sodium chloride saline to see how each diaper performed in the following areas:
We interviewed the following pediatric experts to gain additional insight into the best ways to test a diaper, what to look for in a diaper for newborns, and other considerations to make when choosing a diaper for your newborn.
Although newborns don’t move much, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) points out that accidents can happen with diaper changes, so always change their diaper on a flat surface and never step away—even for a minute—if you’re using an elevated changing area. To accomplish that, it might mean ensuring all of your diaper-changing supplies, like wipes, diapers, cream, and a fresh pair of clothes, are all within arm’s reach before you begin changing your baby’s diaper.
If your baby is frequently soaking through their diaper or having blowouts with every bowel movement, their diapers may be too small. A too-tight diaper will also be tough to fasten or tear apart at the tape tabs easily and may leave marks on the inner thighs or stomach. Conversely, a too-loose diaper will fall off easily or lead to frequent crib mattress leaks or blowouts. “Look for a snug but not too tight fit and slight room for movement,” Dr. Siddiqui advises.
The switch from newborn diapers to size 1 or 2 usually happens pretty quickly: “Babies’ weight gain is very rapid in the first two to three months, so it is predicted to change from newborn to size 1 to size 2 very rapidly,” notes Dr. Siddiqui.
Many parents worry that they need to choose organic or all-natural materials for their newborn’s diapers, but Dr. Siddiqui recommends starting with a basic diaper that fits your budget and changing only if you need to. Dr. Parker agrees that most babies won’t have significant sensitivity to diaper materials, and points out that babies can react just as much to organic and all-natural materials as they can to synthetic ones, so choosing a higher-priced diaper made of luxury materials isn’t necessarily a safeguard against sensitivity.
The only exception Dr. Parker makes is to avoid any diapers that contain rubber, latex, and fragrance. Your best bet is to make a habit of checking your baby’s reactions. “It’s important for parents to monitor their child’s reactions to anything that touches the skin routinely,” says Dr. Parker.
Dr. Hes is a big proponent of using diaper rash cream. “That’s one of the biggest mistakes I see parents make,” she explains. “They assume because the diaper is absorbent, they don't have to put diaper cream on, but you still need a barrier layer.” Air time is also essential to minimizing the risk of rashes and irritation. That just means a few minutes of open diaper time during each diaper change before the new diaper is fastened on.
Regularly changing diapers, especially after overnight use, is also key to preventing diaper rash because even if the diaper doesn’t feel wet, it still has moisture in it that can irritate the skin. “Newborn skin is extremely sensitive, and irritation or diaper rashes are usually caused by prolonged contact in a wet or dirty diaper,” says Dr. Siddiqui. “Newborns are growing rapidly, so they will feed and make waste very frequently,” explains Dr. Siddiqui. They need to be changed after soiling their diaper, “which can be eight to 10 times in 24 hours.”
Another tip that Dr. Siddiqui recommends during the newborn stage is skipping commercial baby wipes in favor of simple wet paper towels. “Usually, I do not recommend commercial wipes in the initial newborn period as the skin is extremely sensitive,” she explains. “A wet paper towel works very well in cleaning and [can] be very gentle with wiping and drying.”
Dr. Parker advises parents not to fear skin-soothing additions in diapers, such as aloe extracts, because they may help prevent diaper rash and irritation. “Most modern disposable diapers have skin-conditioning ointment in the top layer of the diaper that makes contact with the skin,” she says. “This ointment has been shown to decrease diaper rashes.”
If a diaper rash does happen, along with keeping in touch with your baby’s pediatrician for the best course of treatment, Dr. Parker recommends the ABCD method:
Dr. Parker suggests new parents may want to wait until after a feeding to change their baby’s diaper. “Infants often stool right after feeding,” she explains. Getting in the habit of a feed followed by a few minutes of wait time before a diaper change could help you all get the most amount of sleep possible.
Additionally, Dr. Hes says if you’re changing a baby boy’s diaper and want to avoid a mess, be sure their penis is pointing downward, where the absorbent materials are. “People don’t know to point the penis down when they put the diaper on, or else the urine shoots right up their stomach,” she explains.
“On average, I tell parents to plan for 10 diapers a day in a newborn baby,” says Dr. Parker. That can translate to up to 40–70 diapers a week in the newborn stage.
A persistent rash, redness, peeling skin, and imprint marks in the diaper area may indicate a sensitivity to diaper materials, Dr. Siddiqui notes. However, because a newborn’s skin is extra sensitive, it may be possible they will outgrow an issue with a particular diaper brand. Have your baby assessed by a pediatrician for any ongoing diaper rash or irritation issues.
If your baby was born prematurely or weighs under 6 to 7 pounds, a premie-size diaper might fit best. Full-term babies or babies over 7 pounds will typically fit into a newborn-size diaper. Larger babies 8 pounds or over may fit best in a size 1 diaper.
Chaunie Brusie is a former OB nurse turned health and parenting writer, as well as a mom of five children herself and the oldest sibling of four. In other words, she has changed more diapers than she can count and tested every diaper on the market. Pampers diapers are her personal tried-and-true favorite brand that she swears by for its ability to hold in even the grossest of blowouts, with Honest diapers coming in as a close second for a more natural choice that will still hold up overnight.
American Academy of Pediatrics. Changing diapers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diaper changing steps for childcare settings.
Adult Size Baby Diaper Counts J, Weisbrod A, Yin S. Common diaper ingredient questions: modern disposable diaper materials are safe and extensively tested. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2017;56(5_suppl):23S-27S. doi:10.1177/0009922817706998