For those of us disposable diapering Mom's, I thought a run-down of the different brands could be...well, fun! I've used almost all of the brands that are available to me in stores nearby and of course have something to say about each of them. While a lot of Mom's are choosing cloth diapering (Go Mama's!!!), some still use disposables, and so here's my rundown...
Almost everything about Pampers, I love. The shape of the diapers is pretty "well rounded". There is enough space within the gathers to hold the majority of the bum and keep the mess well contained (with a good application of course). There is enough length to the front and back of the fold to cover the bum sufficiently. I don't have to worry about my kiddo walking around with a plumbers crack. The tabs are strong and don't get caught on clothing and come unattached. They are pretty soft and have a nice fresh smell before use. One downside is the overnight use. While I feel like they do a great job at absorbing 12 hours worth of urine, when really full, the absorbent gel balls can come lose from the diaper and be an immense PAIN to clean off of baby. While rare, the annoyance of it ranks high so it has to be mentioned.
Pampers sensitive have all of these same perks plus the sensitive aspect. I'm not too fond of the mesh lining on the sensitive though. If poops stay in the diaper too long...for those pesky, elusive stink-free ones (yes they CAN happen) or the baby-pooped-at-the-store-and-I-forgot-my-diaper-bag trips...the mesh can stick to baby's bum and be a tad painful at changing time.
The most obvious downside to all Pampers is the cost. While great in a lot of ways, it's hard to justify spending $10 or more extra on a package of diapers when the competitors are good in a lot of ways too.
Huggies to me are just OK. The length from the center fold is superb and definitely doesn't leave a crack to be shown. Their tabs have a lot of give room so I don't feel like I'm having to pull to hard to bring the tab toward the center. Unfortunately the tab strength is not too great and they often come unattached because of a snag on pants or jammies. I find too that a lot of the tabs are folded during packaging and so the unattaching problem comes into play here too - the tabs are folded and then you can't get the entire tab to stick, making it even more susceptible to a snag. The biggest downside to me is that Huggies are made for children with incredibly narrow bottoms! The gathers are too close to the center and there's always a little butt cheek wishing for more coverage. When poorly applied, this becomes an even bigger issue. They hold wetness pretty well but do bulge quite a lot so overnight use is not ideal - they begin to pull away from the body because of the bulge and then more leaking takes place.Huggies newborn diapers though seem to break the mold here. I love their softness, belly button cut out, and all around ease of use. No complaints with these.
The price for Huggeis generally is very competitive.
Ok, I first was not a fan of Luvs but they've grown on me some. Their price is definitely a HUGE bonus. They're just ok in the softness factor but not super papery like some of the less expensive brands. Luvs tend to be smaller in the waist - the tabs don't seem to have as much give (like Huggies) and so I feel like I'm really working to be sure I get the diaper secured well enough. The width on the bottom is spot on. The length from the fold is middle of the ground. Not super long (like Huggies again) but again, OK. My biggest issue with Luvs is the smell. Once they've had a few wets, Luvs have a very strong urine smell. So while they cost less per diaper, I find myself going through more because of the smell. Now whether that is a down side or not is up to the parent. No one (I think) wants their kiddo to hang in their wetness for too, too long. But if we're in a situation where we can't change a diaper at the moment (or have forgotten the diaper bag like I too often do), it's more annoying because of the smell. They do maintain wetness well and are great for overnight use.
Target brand diapers seem to most closely mimic Huggies. Their softness and fit is pretty similar. They do run small so if your kiddo seems to be in between sizes, this might be a good option. Otherwise, I'd say they share most all comments with Huggies, except the cost which is a bonus. They are a bit more papery in feel than Huggies though.
I used to be a bigger fan of Parent's Choice diapers. Recently they changed their packaging and it seems like also, their diapers. As they are now, the diapers are thin and papery and feel like they won't hold wetness or mess well. However, they do a rather decent job at both. Not that it really matters, but there aren't any colors or images on the pictures so they look more plain. Often the tabs are folded in packaging and the snag and coming unattached becomes an issue here. Since the redesign, the tabs are more difficult to pull open when placing the diaper and can rip off the diaper entirely with a heavier kiddo laying on the diaper. The tabs also seem to need more work for the initial securing. They don't seem to have much of a smell but the thinness comes into play after a mess - sitting in a trash can, the mess becomes more of an issue after sitting. Parent's Choice run big so again, if your kiddo is in between sizes, these can be a good option. Also, the price is good.
Kroger Value or Comforts for Baby is an ok option. Overall these are not my favorite. The tabs don't have much give, they don't last overnight, they don't seem to stay in place and are papery. They'll do in a pinch or if you don't have any other option but I'd say the other generic brands like Walmart and Target would be a better choice. Their price, again, is better but so comparable to other brands, there doesn't seem to be much of a benefit.
Ok, so I expected these to be on par with Comforts for Baby but I have to say that I am IMPRESSED. These are inexpensive but a great diaper. Fit is great - cheeks covered, cracks hidden and tabs are easy to attach and stay attached (sometimes are hard to get off). They absorb wetness and mess and don't have a smell. They last overnight really well. They are soft. They are cheap. They are my top choice for bang for your buck! They run a little big comparatively on the size so again can be a great in-between option.I know this does not run the list of available diapers out there but these are the ones most readily available. Costco's Kirkland brand is pretty good - they are very similar to Huggies but tend to not have as much top to bottom coverage (ie - crack sightings). I haven't had much experience with the Sam's Club brand to give a full opinion.
Which do you like best? Do you agree?
