Based on our research, we identified the key things that all diapers must do well:
- Hold enough liquid: The diaper’s core must be able to absorb and retain enough liquid that you won’t have to change your baby’s diaper every time they pee.
- Keep skin dry: The diaper must quickly wick away liquid into the absorbent core and then retain that liquid.
- Prevent leaks: The diaper must prevent pee and liquid poop from seeping out from the absorbent core. The elastic leg cuffs, waistband, and fasteners must prevent pee and liquid poop from leaking out before it can be absorbed into the core, and they must prevent solid poop from escaping.
The number of diaper options has exploded in recent years, with a slew of direct-to-consumer offerings competing with the classic brands like Pampers and Huggies. Some of these newer brands are only available online via subscription, but many are also popping up on Amazon or in major retailers like Target and Walmart. While subscription boxes offer convenience for many parents, we prioritized options that could also be purchased from other retailers, since most parents will find themselves doing a last-minute diaper run at some point.
The price range for diapers varies wildly. The least expensive model we found and tested, in a size 4, was Walmart’s Parent’s Choice Dry & Gentle, at about 15 cents per diaper (full price); the most expensive model was HealthyBaby Our Diapers, at about 70 cents per diaper.
Most successful innovations in diapers are rapidly adopted by competitors, according to Pricie Hanna, a diaper-industry consultant. In our video interview, she said that less-expensive diapers often boast similar features to their pricier counterparts within a year.
There are also many different styles of diapers. For this guide, we did not consider overnight diapers, which are more expensive and not practical for daytime use. We also didn’t consider training pants, which are intended for use by children who are beginning potty-training. And we favored diapers that begin at size newborn or preemie. We ended up with a list of 52 models from 37 companies, and we ultimately decided to test 14 of them.
Lab-testing diapers
In both 2018 and late 2024, we hired an independent diaper-testing lab to evaluate more than a dozen brands of diapers for the three key performance factors outlined above: how much they absorb, how dry they stay, and how well they prevent leaks. (Due to the lab’s professional relationship with some of the companies whose diapers we tested, it requested that we not name the lab.)
We tested size-4 diapers, which typically fit children weighing between 22 and 37 pounds, and this is the most commonly purchased diaper size in the US. (On average, this size will fit children between the ages of 1 and 3.) We sent 20 samples of each of the 14 diapers to the lab. Tests were repeated between three and five times to check for variability. The lab tested the diapers’ performance in these areas:
Absorption speed: The lab tested how quickly each diaper could absorb 120 mL (roughly twice as much as the average 12- to 18-month old would urinate at a time), and it did this three times in a row. A diaper with faster absorption will prevent leaks and ensure that wetness is not sitting against the child’s skin for too long.
Surface dryness: The lab also measured the dryness of the diaper’s top layer after it had absorbed liquid, to assess how much moisture a baby will feel when sitting in the wet diaper.
Total capacity: Each diaper was submerged in saline (a proxy for urine) to assess how much it could absorb. Then the diaper was spun in a centrifuge to get a measure of how well the core retained liquid; this provides an estimate of how the diaper will retain urine during regular use.
How each diaper performed across all of the tests wasn’t always consistent. We used these lab results to determine which diapers to test at home, but we found that the lab-test results didn’t always line up with our home-use experience. This is because some key elements that weren’t lab-tested — like the stretchiness of the waistband or the stickiness of the side tabs — are just as crucial for containing messes as the diaper’s core.
When we were making our picks, we took into consideration all of the lab data, as well as home-testing feedback, expert interviews, user reviews, and value (the best-quality diaper option available for the lowest price).
Absorption speed
Surface dryness
Total capacity
We didn’t carry out tests to specifically gauge how well the diapers could absorb or hold on to poop; experts at the laboratory told us they have not yet discovered or designed a testing protocol that satisfactorily evaluates how well a diaper does this.
But one newer innovation in diaper technology is a pocketed waistband, also known as a “poop pocket” or a “blowout barrier.” And diaper-industry consultant Pricie Hanna said this is becoming standard across the field. This extra flap of fabric (which is on the inside back of the diaper, with the open “pocket” facing down) serves as a trap for liquid poop, preventing it from sliding up a kid’s back, particularly when they’re lying down. In our home tests, we found this was a key element in preventing blowouts, especially for very young babies.
We also did not test specifically for fit. Babies come in many shapes and sizes, and some diaper designs will fit some babies better than others. According to diaper makers, for the best fit, a diaper should fit snugly — but not tightly — around the waist. They also recommend that you spread the ruffles out at the leg holes, so the elastic lies flat against the baby’s skin.
All of the experts we spoke with said it’s common for parents to have to try out a few diaper brands before they find something that works for their babies. None of the diapers we tested performed perfectly; occasional blowouts and leaks are simply a fact of a baby’s life.
