The Best Diapers: Which diapers to choose for a new baby

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I see the question asked ALL.THE.TIME. What are the best diapers to buy for your new baby? And there’s no real answer because it’s an individual decision. But there are a few brands I’ve tried, and I’ll share my experiences with you here, along with some tips for finding the best diapers for your newborn. Update 5/19/2021: check out my favorite breastfeeding tips to help you on your journey! This post contains affiliate links.

When my baby was born, I went straight to my sister and asked her which diapers she used. I stuck with one brand for a while, until it disappointed me. I tried a few new brands. I’ve discovered many things along the way, and here are some tips and feedback.

This is technically a separate section of my baby registry guide, dedicated only to diapers.

5 Tips for finding the best diapers for your baby:

1. Start with smaller packages in case you don’t like a brand.
2. Find out if you can order samples from a specific brand. (Read: 21 Freebies for Moms)
3. Fit is a huge factor. Keep in mind that each child is different, boys will be different from girls, and things can change as your child grows.
4. You don’t need to have one favorite! You might prefer one for night, one for day, one for play…
5. Cheaper doesn’t always save you more if you need to change more frequently or wash more clothing.

The best natural diapers:

Natural diapers are disposable diapers that simply contain fewer chemicals. M has sensitive skin, so we’ve gone with these a few times. They cost more but are better for your baby and for the environment, if you can afford it.

• The Honest Company – It is my all-time favorite brand and I buy it when I can. Their prints are adorable and the quality is great, even for a water-guzzling toddler overnight! It’s not very cheap, but you can save with a subscription. You can easily cancel your subscription if you need, or adjust the date your next package arrives. If you don’t like subscriptions you can purchase by the package.
• Parasol – This new brand of natural diapers is getting rave reviews. It seems to be taking things up a notch and a  higher end product. You can order a free trial packet and see if it’s for you.
• 7th Generation – I’ve used these a few times and they are great as well.

The best diapers from big brands:

The major brands you grew up on or you’re used to hearing can be great options too. Amazon tends to have good deals, especially for Amazon Family members (you can get a free trial), with discounts for subscribing and digital coupons you can clip. I’ve gotten samples of these in baby registry bags and by contacting the brand.

• Huggies – A top brand, the quality on Huggies never failed me. My exact line preference changed along with my babies and their needs as they developed.
• Pampers – These do well as far as “big brand diapers” are concerned. The quality is fantastic, and the fit great. As far as which line is concerned: once again I find that that really changed along with my baby. It’s the brand I was able to rely on.
• Luvs – This is far from my favorite and I’m listing it here for the sake of balancing my feedback. I found it to be too plastic-y on the outside and less breathable. I know some people who enjoy it, and it’s cheaper than most others, but I’d recommend you try it before you buy – either by asking a friend for a sample, or by reaching out to the brand.

The best diapers from store brands and private labels:

Private labels don’t need to mean bad. I haven’t tried that many, but here’s what I’ve learned from what I did try. Since these are mainly available on the store’s channels, it’s harder to find samples, coupons, and discounts such as the Amazon Family one. However, since the retailer is “closer to the source”, pricing tends to be competitive.

• Up & Up (Target) – I’ve used these a lot for good reason. The quality is great. Not as good as my top brands but great nontheless. Their prices are among the most competitive. If you sign up for a Red Card (go for the debit if you don’t want another credit card) you get 5% off all your purchases and free shipping. They have frequent sales, Target Cartwheel offers, and gift card deals going on with their diapers (including big label diapers) and since their store brand diaper’s prices start pretty low, the bottom line is very affordable. (On size 5 and 6 I tend to pay in the 16-17 cents/diaper range)
• Kirkland (Costco) – The quality is also good but the pricing not as competitive as other store brands. We’ve ended up just buying Huggies when purchasing at Costco, but the quality is definitely good enough.
• Parent’s Choice (Walmart) – I purchased this once, and it really was not my favorite. If you’re really looking to save as much as you can, these can work but I personally found them to be leaky and not the best quality.

5 tips for helping you save on baby diapers:

1. Subscribe and save – many websites, including The Honest Company, Target, and Amazon give you the option to subscribe and receive diapers regularly for a discount. If you know that you are brand-loyal and will stay on top of sizing, this is a great way to save.
2. Credit/debit cards – some brands (such as Target’s Red Card) offer a discount if you use their credit card. Save on gas as well by not needing to drive out to buy diapers with free shipping offers.
3. Try before you buy – order samples (brands such as The Honest Company and Parasol offer sample packs – just pay shipping)  OR buy singles off a friend. Sometimes you can even reach out to a brand for a sample or two. This way you know you like it before you stock up and end up with diapers you won’t use.
4. Scour for coupons – Target has a coupon center, plus their Cartwheel app with frequent discounts on their store brand. You can find regular coupons for some of the big labels on coupons.com.
5. Buy in bulk –  Buying larger size packages can DEFINITELY allow you to save, as long as you’re on top of sizing. Babies don’t outgrow diapers overnight, so usually you’ll notice you’re getting close and still be able to finish the size. Some stores (read: Target) have discounts for buying more than one box too.

What are the best diapers in your opinion – which do you use? Which brands do you like, dislike, have what to share about? Any tips on saving, or finding the right one? Join the discussion and comment below!

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