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I tested out 12 of the most popular diapers on the market today! I put each diaper through a series of tests, and ranked them on a scale of 1 (the worst) to 5 (the best) on four different factors:
- Absorption – How much liquid can it hold? (I tested this by piping 5 mL at a time of blue colored water on the diaper in the middle and continuing until the liquid started seeping through the other side or through the side seams)
- Softness – How soft does the diaper feel to the touch?
- Fit – How form fitting is the diaper?
- Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – Is the diaper eco friendly and safe for sensitive skin?
- Affordability – Cost per diaper
The overall score was based on an average score for each of these five factors. It was super interesting and surprising to see how the results of each of these tests turned out.
I tested out a size 1 of each of these diapers (except for any where the sizing was significantly off, and I noted in the review that was the case). If you’d like to purchase a variety sample pack, I purchased these through Diaper Dabbler. I don’t have any affiliation with them, it’s just a cost effective way to test out multiple diaper brands at once!
Diaper Brands Tested:
I tested out each of the following brands of popular diapers:
- Hello Bello
- Babyganics
- Abby & Finn
- Luvs
- Bambo Nature
- Eco by Naty
- Pampers – Pure Protection
- Pampers Baby Dry
- Pampers Swaddlers
- Seventh Generation
- Huggies Snug & Dry
- Huggies Little Snugglers
Before this test, I had experience with all the Pampers Diapers, the Huggies, Babyganics and Abby & Finn. The others were all brand new to me. However, for the test I really attempted to put aside any preconceptions objectively rate each diaper.
In-Depth Results for Each Diaper Brand (scroll to the bottom to see the overall winner)
Hello Bello Diapers
About Hello Bello Diapers
Hello Bello Diapers are a line of diapers co-founded by Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell in 2018. Their diapers were created with babies, parents, and the planet in mind — all at an affordable price. Hello Bello come in sizes from newborn up to 6, and they can be shipped in bundles directly to your door (or found in stores or on Amazon). The boxes the diapers are shipped in can transform into playthings, which is a really cute and unique idea. Additionally the diapers come in a plethora of absolutely adorable designs.
Absorption – 3
The Hello Bello diaper absorbed 55mL of water before starting to soak through the sides a bit. This was actually middle of the pack in terms of absorption out of the diapers we tested. Not the best, but definitely not the worst either.
Softness – 5
The Hello Bello Diapers are incredibly soft, both on the outside and the inside of the diaper. They aren’t super fluffy, but they feel amazingly smooth and non-irritating to the touch. These tied for the softest out of all 12 diapers (read on to find out the other winner). They both had me super impressed that a diaper could feel so soft!
Fit – 3
The Hello Bello Diapers fit reasonably on baby; they are about average in this category. They do have a tiny bit of a stretchy band in the back to keep the diaper secure, but it doesn’t have as much tension as some of the top diapers on this list. I’ve found the tightness in the back of the diaper to be key to keeping in baby poo (especially for breastfed babies).
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 4
Hello Bello Diapers are completely free of chlorine and are considered hypoallergenic. They are made without lotions, fragrances, latex and phthalates. They are also one of the more eco-friendly options being made with sustainability harvested fluff pulp.
Affordability – 3
For the size 1 bundle, the cost is approximately 26 cents per diaper currently. This is about average for the group of diapers we tested.
Babyganics Diapers
About Babyganics Diapers
Babyganics is a line of baby care products founded by two dads in 2004. Their products are never tested on animals and are always made without sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and artificial fragrances. They also strive to use plant based and organic ingredients wherever possible. Interestingly, the line Babyganics was involved in a class action lawsuit in 2018 around their products. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit alleged that they bought products from Babyganics that were misleading labeled as organic. While this dispute was settled, it will hopefully encourage more transparency by all companies when sharing the ingredients in their products.
Absorption – 1
The Babyganics diapers ranked at the bottom of the scale in terms of absorption. They only absorbed about 30 mL of liquid before blue started spilling out the sides. When I was adding water to these with my dropper, the water seemed to just bead up and roll off rather than soaking in.
Softness – 3
In terms of softness, the babyganics diapers were about average. They don’t feel crispy or rough, but they don’t wow with softness either. Not good, not bad. Just what you’d expect in a diaper.
Fit – 4
The Babyganics diapers fit nice and securely around baby. The band in the back provides nice tension to keep the back of the diaper in place. Overall I was really pleased with the fit of these diapers.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 4
The Babyganics Diapers are made without chlorine and latex and are unscented. They are made with a blend of plant-derived materials, including a seed oil blend meant to nourish tiny tushies.
Affordability – 3
The Babyganics size 1 are roughly 25 cents per diaper, which is reasonable. This is about average amongst the 12 diapers that we tested out.
Abby & Finn Diapers
About Abby & Finn Diapers
Abby & Finn diapers were founded in 2017 and intended to serve families with high-end premium baby care products that are soft and skin-friendly. The mission of the company is one thing that sets them apart. Diapers can make up a significant cost for parents, and about 1 in 3 families aren’t able to meet these needs in the U.S. For each subscription box of Abby & Finn diapers purchased on their website, the company donates 30 diapers to family in need (about 5 days worth of diapers). Always nice to see companies helping out parents and children, especially those in need.
Absorption – 3
The Abby & Finn Diapers had a decent performance in terms of absorption; they soaked up 65 mL before starting to leak on the sides. Just a smidge above the Hello Bello diapers, but not even close to the top diaper in terms of absoprtion.
Softness – 3
The Abby & Finn diapers are super soft and plush on the inside. However, the outside feels a bit more rough compared to some of the others on the list. I do feel that the inside softness is the most important, so these diapers still come in about average overall in terms of softness.
Fit – 3
The Abby & Finn Diapers fit well around baby. They also have a stretchy band in the back to keep the diaper secure, but much like the Hello Bello diapers, it doesn’t have as much tension as some of the top diapers on this list. Overall about average in the fit category.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 4
Abby & Finn diapers are dermatologically-tested and hypoallergenic. They are completely chlorine free. On top of that they are made without al of the following: latex, heavy metals, fragrances, dyes, substances known to be harmful to the environment. Overall, these are a great choice for babies with sensitive skin and allergies.
Affordability – 3
The Abby & Finn Size 1 diaper costs roughly 25 cents per diaper. Again, another moderately priced option.
Luvs Diapers
About Luvs Diapers
Luvs are made by the same manufacturer that brings you Pampers – Proctor & Gamble. Since 1994, they’ve been sold as the “budget” diaper for Proctor & Gamble. Their diapers are simple and basic. They are really meant to be a cost effective option without the frills of some of the other diapers on this list.
Absorption – 2
Luvs diapers soaked up roughly 35 mL before they sprung a leak on the sides in my testing. This puts them in a little above the worst on this list, but a bit below the average. Not terrible, but they definitely did not wow me with their absorbency.
Softness – 1
The Luvs diapers were the roughest out of all of the 12 diapers we tested to the touch. I was not impressed at all with how they felt, and in my opinion, I think they would be the most irritating to delicate baby skin.
Fit – 2
The Luvs diapers that I tested didn’t have a stretchy band in the back, which means it does gape open at times. This isn’t a huge deal for preventing against pee leaks, but for poo-namis (as we lovingly call them), it can spell disaster.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 2
Luvs does not contain latex and are made without using elemental chlorine in processing, but they are highly highly scented. I have to say that these Luvs diapers have an overwhelming baby powder smell when you pull them out of the packaging. I found that smell incredibly off-putting, and it may not be the best option for babies with sensitive skin or those with allergies.
Affordability – 5
At 15 cents per diaper, the Luvs diapers are by far the cheapest option on this list. On that they definitely do deliver.
Bambo Nature Diapers
About Bambo Nature Diapers
Bambo Nature diapers have been manufactured by Abena in Denmark for the last 30 years and is a family owned business. Their name comes from the word “Bambolina” in Danish which means dolly. This was a playful name for the beautiful babies wearing their diapers. Eventually the family chose a bear named Bambo to represent the brand. Nature was later added to brand as representative of their desire to use eco-friendly materials in their products. Bambo Nature has a heavy focus on being as eco-friendly as possible.
Absorption – 2
The Bambo Nature Diapers were somewhat lacking in the absorption department. They soaked up 35 mL before the water started to spill out the sides. A lackluster performance, but still better than the worst of this list.
Softness – 5
Wow! These were my favorite diapers of the bunch just going by feel. The Bambo Nature Diapers feel indescribably soft and smooth to the touch. I wasn’t expecting to be so impressed by them, but they really brought it in terms of the softness factor.
Fit – 2
One key thing to note about the Bambo Diapers is that they are sized a bit differently than the common U.S. sizes. A Size 2 fits like common Size 1. And a Size 3 fits like a standard Size 2 and so on. For this review, I compared a Size 2 against all the other Size 1 diapers.
This is another one without a stretchy band in the back, so for that reason alone, it scored below a 3. Once sized up, the rest of the diaper fit well around baby and provided sufficient room.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 5
Bambo Nature diapers are free from chlorine, latex, fragrances, dyes, known allergens, and are eco-friendly. Their diapers are even commercially compostable. They undergo third party evaluations that assess the impact of their processes, throughout the entire lifecycle, on the environment to ensure their products are eco-friendly. They do not test their products on animals. On top of all of that, Bambo Nature diapers have earned the Danish Asthma/Allergy certification, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, are Dermatologically-tested and FSC-certified. Overall, they are highly eco-friendly and free of chemicals known to be detrimental to humans of all sizes.
Affordability – 1
These diapers come in extremely high in terms of cost at 40 cents per diaper for size 2 (their equivalent of U.S. size 1). If you are buying these diapers, my guess is you are committed for environmental or chemical reasons.
Eco by Naty Diapers
About Eco by Naty Diapers
Eco by Naty diapers were founded in 1994 in Sweden. As their name suggests, their founder set out to make diapers using plant based and compostable materials. These diapers contain 0% oil-based plastic and no harsh chemicals, and are tested independently. They are the leading “green” diaper brand in the world.
Absorption – 1
The Eco by Naty diapers came in at as one of the worst in terms of absorption. In my testing, they only soaked up 30 mL before they starting seeping out water on the sides. Largely the water didn’t seem to be soaking in very well while I was adding it.
Softness – 3
Eco by Naty diapers feel very soft on the inside; however the outside feels a bit tougher than some of the others on the list. Overall, they seemed about average. I wouldn’t be concerned they would irritate baby’s skin by being overly abrasive, but I wouldn’t buy them specifically for their softness either.
Fit – 1
The Eco by Naty diapers didn’t seem to fit as well around baby as the rest of the list. The didn’t seem as snug and secure, especially in the back without a stretchy band. To be honest, they look a bit like a maxi pad wrapped around baby with some additional sides added. They just seemed a little bit awkward in terms of fit.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 5
As mentioned in the introduction, Eco by Naty are probably one of the most eco-friendly diaper options in this list. They also are free from chemicals and plastics known to be harmful to humans. Each raw material and product is tested twice by independent laboratories to ensure they are clean down to the nanogram from all EU banned chemicals. As such they are chlorine free, fragrance free, and latex free.
Affordability – 1
These diapers are very pricey at 39 cents per diaper for size 1. They managed to come in just under the Bambo Nature Diapers, the other super eco-friendly diaper on this list.
Pampers – Pure Protection Diapers
About Pampers Pure Protection Diapers
You can’t have a list of diapers without including Pampers, a name synonymous with diaper. In fact, this list includes 3 lines of Pampers Diapers. All Pampers diapers are manufactured by Proctor & Gamble, and they were originally created in 1961 by a pair of researchers named Vic Mills and Norma Lueders Baker. Vic MIlls was a grandfather and even tested the designs out with his own grandchildren. The Pampers Pure Protection line was introduced in early 2018, as a hypoallergenic and safe line of diapers for the next generation of parents who are increasingly concerned with ingredients used in their baby products (and really all products). These are the only pampers diapers on this list currently that are fragrance free.
Absorption – 2
Pampers Pure Protection diapers only soaked up 35 mL in my testing. They weren’t the worst of the worst, but the definitely were not bringing home any prizes in comparison to the rest of this list. Overall and unimpressive showing on liquid absorption.
Softness – 4
The Pampers Pure Protection diapers are very soft to the touch, but don’t quite have the wow factor of those at the top of the list. I still do love the way that these feel though! Much better than many of the other diapers I tested out.
Fit – 2
While the Pampers Pure Protection diapers fit well around the sides and the front, all of the pampers diapers are missing the stretchy band in the back. We used these on my second baby, and while I loved them for a number of reasons, we did have troubles with baby poos leaking out quite frequently. The fit of this diaper absolutely contributed to that problem.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 3
Pampers Pure Protection diapers are made from sustainable, plant-based materials. All Pampers use an elemental chlorine-free process to purify the fibers in their diapers. Elemental chlorine-free bleaching doesn’t mean that the process is completely free of chlorine. The process uses chlorine dioxide rather than pure chlorine, reducing toxicity. To be clear, this process is safer than conventional bleaching.
Pampers Pure Protection are made from cotton and are free from any parabens, fragrances, lotions, latex, common allergens, and chlorine. They are hypoallergenic and are enriched with shea butter. These rank the best of the Pampers line of diapers in terms of safety and health.
Affordability – 2
The Pampers Pure Protection will run you about 30 cents for a size 1 diaper. This makes them the most expensive of the Pampers Diapers on this list.
Pampers Baby Dry
About Pampers Baby Dry Diapers
Pampers Baby Dry Diapers are advertised primarily as an option for extended dryness by providing 12 hours of leak protection. Interestingly enough, so are the Pampers Swaddlers. The main difference between the two seems to be the feel of the diaper. Pampers Swaddlers are the soft cottony feel versus the Pampers Baby Dry with the more typical traditional diaper feel.
Absorption – 1
I will be totally honest and admit I was expecting the Baby Dry diapers to do really well in terms of the absorption. I mean, dry is in the name after all. These only soaked up 30 mL of liquid before the sides were very damp with pooling. I was very unimpressed, especially given the name.
Softness – 3
Pampers Baby Dry diapers are middle on the pack in terms of softness. Nothing worrisome, but nothing impressive either. Just an average diaper in terms of how they feel.
Fit – 2.5
Most of the Pampers diapers fit fairly similarly. The Pampers Baby Dry are a bit tighter and smaller than the Pure Protection or swaddlers, so I’d say they have a slight edge up in terms of fit. However, they still don’t have a stretchy band to keep the back of the diaper tight against baby.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 1
Pampers Baby Dry use an elemental chlorine-free process to purify the fibers in the diaper. Again, this process is much safer than conventional bleaching, but not entirely free of chlorine. Additionally, this diaper is scented, and it’s another one that you can smell when you open a pack (although it isn’t nearly as strong as the Luvs).
Affordability – 4
You can find Pampers Baby Dry in size 1 for about 20 cents per diaper. Making them one of the more affordable options on this list (and the most affordable of the Pampers Diapers).
Pampers Swaddlers Diapers
About Pampers Swaddlers Diapers
Pampers Swaddlers are the ultra-soft, classic, high performance diaper made by Proctor & Gamble. They are found in many hospitals (both hospitals I gave birth at used these diapers). They are designed to keep baby comfortable and dry.
Absorption – 1
The Pampers Swaddlers were the absolute worst out of the 12 in terms of absorption in my testing. This wasn’t one I expected, as well had used these diapers quite a bit with our 2 children. We did have some issues with leaking with them, but until I did this testing, I didn’t know how much more absorbent other diapers are.
Softness – 4
Pampers swaddlers are definitely softer than your run of the mill diaper. They feel like soft cotton to the touch. I think that’s probably one of the reasons they are so popular in hospitals for newborn babies.
Fit – 2
The Pampers Swaddlers are nearly identical to the Pampers Pure Protection Diapers in the way that they fit around baby. These are another diaper we used frequently with our babies, and while we liked them for other reasons, we did have trouble with leaks and poo containment.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 2
Pampers Swaddlers is very similar to Pampers Baby Dry in the materials used. Pampers diapers all use an elemental chlorine-free process to purify the fibers in the diaper. Again, this process is much safer than conventional bleaching, but not entirely free of chlorine. Additionally, this diaper is also scented, but it’s the lightest of the scented Pampers diapers.
Affordability – 3
Pampers Swaddlers are slightly more expensive than the Baby Dry, coming in at 24 cents per size 1 diaper. This is the middle of the road diaper in terms of cost.
Seventh Generation Diapers
About Seventh Generation Diapers
The mission of the Seventh Generation brand is to inspire a consumer revolution that nurtures the health of the next seven generations. They focus on providing healthy solutions that are safe for you and your family as well as the environment. They were founded in 1988 and are manufactured in the U.S.A.
Absorption – 4
The Seventh Generation diapers performed really well in my absorption testing. They soaked up 75 mL of liquid before running into any issues. I will say that my first impression of the Seventh Generation Diapers was that they seemed smaller and dipped much lower down in the front than any of the other Diapers. This initially really would make me hesitant on using for a baby boy, since their pee tends to accumulate in the front part of the diaper more than little girls. However, given that they are more absorbent than many of the other diapers, this ends up being less of an issue than I originally thought.
Softness – 3.5
The Seventh Generation diapers were a bit better than the standard diaper in terms of softness. Especially on the inside of the diaper they feel smooth and soft.
Fit – 3
These diapers fit well around baby. They are snug and secure in the back; however, the front is a bit lower than I am used to with other diapers. A solid choice in terms of fit.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 4
Seventh Generation Diapers are made without chlorine bleaching. They are free from latex, fragrances, and lotions. They are also made with the planet in mind. Seventh Generation diapers are made from sustainably sourced wood pulp. They are not tested on animals or made using animal ingredients.
Affordability – 2
Seventh Generation size 1 diapers will typically cost ~31 cents per diaper. This makes them one of the more expensive diapers on this list (although certainly not the most expensive).
Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers
About Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers
The Huggies Brand of Diaper was officially brought to the public in 1978 by Kimberly-Clark. They’ve been a dominating force in the market for decades and beloved by many mothers and babies. The Snug & Dry line was designed and marketed for their snug fit and anti-leak features.
Absorption – 5
These Huggies Snug & Dry absolutely blew it out of the park in terms of absorbency. They soaked up 130 mL of liquid before any leaking happened. This was nearly double the next closest diaper in this list. It also completely contrasted with the other diaper with “dry” in the name on this list. These diapers have an incredibly absorbent blue strip down the middle that just seemed to soak up everything I threw its way. If you’re having leaking problems, you will absolutely have to consider checking these diapers out.
Softness – 2
The Huggies Snug & Dry felt almost exactly like the Luvs in terms of softness on the outside. A bit scratchy feeling and hard. However, the inside of the diaper does feel much softer which brought the rating up to 2.
Fit – 5
The Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers fit incredibly well. They seem to be the most snug and secure of all the diapers that we tested. The back band held the most tension to keep the back from gaping open when baby is moving around. These just fit amazingly well.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 2
Much like Pampers, Huggies are made using Elemental Chlorine-free bleaching. As such, they are not totally chlorine-free. They do also use dyes in the Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers. They are latex and fragrance free and made in the United States.
Affordability – 4
At 19 cents per size 1 diaper, Huggies Snug & Dry are a relatively affordable diaper option.
Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers
About Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers
The final Diaper on our list, and another from Huggies. The Little Snugglers are the super-soft and snuggly line of premium diapers aimed at newborns.
Absorption – 4
The Huggies Little Snugglers soaked up 80 mL of liquid before any leaking happened in my testing. This was a really good performance, but still considerably below the Snug & Dry. Still in the top 3, and a really excellent choice in terms of absorbency.
Softness – 4
Huggies Little Snugglers feel pretty similar to the Pampers Swaddlers. Not hard or tough on the outside, but not quite as amazingly soft as some of the top diapers. However, the inside is much softer and pusher to the touch than the outside.
Fit – 4
The Huggies Snugglers Diapers fit fairly well. The band in the back definitely has less tension in the back, as these seemed to be more geared towards baby’s comfort overall, and less towards making sure the diaper fits super snug against baby. Overall, they fit well, but not the best.
Eco-Friendly and Chemical Safety – 2
The Huggies Snugglers are nearly identical to the Snug & Dry in terms of health and safety. They are made using Elemental Chlorine-free bleaching. Meaning that they are not totally chlorine-free and dyes are also used in the diapers. However, they are latex and fragrance free and made in the United States.
Affordability – 3
Huggies Little Snugglers will run you about 23 cents per diaper for a size 1. Making them a nice, average priced diaper option.
So, Which Diaper Brand is the Best?
Now that we’ve reviewed and scored each diaper in detail, which one is the best diaper? Here are the overall averages after tallying the scores:
- Hello Bello – 3.6
- Babyganics – 3
- Abby & Finn – 3.2
- Luvs – 2.4
- Bambo Nature – 3
- Eco by Naty – 2.2
- Pampers – Pure Protection – 2.6
- Pampers Baby Dry – 2.3
- Pampers Swaddlers – 2.4
- Seventh Generation – 3.3
- Huggies Snug & Dry – 3.6
- Huggies Little Snugglers – 3.4
This means that Hello Bello and Huggies Snug & Dry tied for the top diaper considering all factors in our list! It’s important to keep in mind that they scored high for completely different reasons. If you are looking for the highest performance, low-cost diaper…then I would say Huggies Snug & Dry is an excellent choice for you. If you are more concerned with finding a good performance diaper, that’s also eco-friendly and hypoallergenic, then Hello Bello would be the better option. If you are more focused on finding the most eco-friendly disposable diaper option, then Bambo Nature is potentially a good place to start.
Ultimately, the best diaper depends on which factor you care most about in your diaper. The rankings should help you prioritize those factors accordingly and select the best option for you and your family.
Thanks for stopping by! What do you think is the best diaper? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also want to check out my post on the 5 Best Baby Bottles for Breastfed Babies.