How to Choose the Right Baby Diaper

With so many diaper brands to choose from, how do you know where to start? Most parents want the best product for their child that also fits into their budget. We are told to evaluate materials, fit, and absorbency, and to balance those features against price... but what’s the most important feature when choosing a diaper?

The answer is: all of the above. However, if there's one feature that influences everything, it is fit. Fit is the king that rules them all. Read on for more information.

Aren’t all babies built the same?

Think again! Babies come into this world in all shapes and sizes. In the first year alone, they grow nearly 10 inches in length and triple their weight. Within a short 12 months, they learn to roll over, sit up, and begin to move around the world on their own. Some infants are slender and slow to gain weight, while other babies have rolls for days. The diapers you choose will need to adjust to many different body shapes and situations. When choosing a diaper, what matters more than anything is: does it fit well?

Why is fit important?

The importance of fit goes back to the diaper’s function. Diapers are designed to absorb body waste. If that waste leaks, or if the diaper doesn’t wick moisture away from the skin, several things happen:

1. Increased risk of skin damage with wet skin (urine). Have you ever taken off a damp bandaid and seen wrinkled, soft skin that’s a lighter shade than your natural color? This is called skin maceration. Skin is the body’s largest protective organ, designed to be just the right pH with just the right tensile strength to resiliently resist bacteria and fungi. Macerated skin has begun to break down on a cellular level, significantly increasing risk of damage and infection. When your child’s diaper leaks or fails to wick away moisture, their delicate perineal skin immediately begins to soften and break down.

2. Skin damage from fecal enzymes. Feces (poop) contains digestive enzymes from your digestive tract. The moment poop comes in contact with skin, it begins to irritate it, “digest it’ and break it down. Once you have skin breakdown, not only is it painful for your baby – pain that is exacerbated with every bowel movement and cleaning – it can take days, or even weeks, to heal.

3. Everything gets dirty. Clothing, bedclothes, furniture, floor, carseat… wherever your child leaks or blows out needs to be cleaned, and it usually can’t wait.

4. Your child gets upset. Pee and poop are wet, sticky, smelly and (shortly after voiding) chilly. No one likes to feel that way, and your child will let you know how they feel in no uncertain terms.

Don’t all diapers work the same?

In theory, diapers all work the same way – but their materials and features are different. Some diapers give a visual clue when wet. Some do a better job of absorbing than others, or have a softer feel. Some have more snug thigh or waist elastics. Each brand takes their own unique approach to crafting a perfect diaper, juggling features and benefits with manufacturer cost. And no matter which diaper you try – or how expensive – if it doesn’t fit your child’s body shape, it will leak.

Leaks and blowouts happen when there are gaps in the waist or legs. Every brand fits differently, and your baby’s body shape and anatomy are going to help determine their needs. No two brands are alike! Some diapers have extra high backs for blowouts when laying down; some are tighter around the legs, while others have stretchier waists and thighs. Here’s a fit breakdown of a few popular brands:

Huggies

Babies with roly-poly thighs may be more comfortable and have fewer blowouts in Huggies or Kirkland diapers. Huggies have a lot of stretch, have a generous thigh opening, and have a moderately-high back for blowouts. Huggies have a budget line (Snug & Dry) as well as their more expensive Little Snugglers, Little Movers, and Overnights lines.

Pampers

Skinny babies with small-diameter thighs may find a better fit with Pampers. Pampers have a higher back than many brands, and they tend to run smaller with narrower thigh openings than Huggies. Pampers are one of the more expensive options, with multiple lines, including: Swaddlers, Cruisers, Cruisers 360, Baby Dry, Pure Hybrid, Pure Protection and Overnights lines. While the Pampers brand name is well known, differentiation between their lines is muddled and can be confusing for new parents.

Cuties

Similar to Kirkland diapers (a Costco-brand budget diaper that nonetheless rates high with parents), Cuties do a solid job with leak protection, quickly absorbing pee and wicking it away from the skin. Unlike most Huggies and Pampers lines, all cuties are latex-free and lotion-free, as well as fragrance-free. The elastic is soft and gentle, although not quite as stretchy as Huggies. This is a solid lower-priced option for families with a tight budget.

How do I Choose the Right Size Baby Diaper?

All diaper brands will provide sizing guidance. Most brands provide both an age and weight ballpark for each size, although this is highly-dependent upon your baby’s shape. A longer, skinnier baby can be the same weight as a shorter, chunkier baby, but they may need different sizes to prevent leaks. When in doubt, buy the larger of the two sizes. If the diaper is too large, your child can still grow into them.

How do I Prevent Overnight Leaks?

There are two schools of thought on preventing overnight leaks:

For younger children, look for an “Overnights” line in your preferred brand. For older children, look for a product targeting nighttime needs, such as Tranquility, Goodnites or Sleepovers. In addition to expanded absorbency, these products tend to have higher backs for better performance and leak prevention while lying down.

Sizing up your daytime diaper. Larger diapers contain more absorbent material. As long as the thighs are snug enough to prevent leaks, you can adjust waist tabs to compensate, and simply size your child up for nighttime. The larger size also provides more back coverage while lying down.

Explore incontinence youth products (newborn to 5T) here.