Ready, Set, Poop: Your Guide to the Best Newborn Diapers

Named the favorite disposable diaper overall by thousands of Babylist parents and topping the list in our best disposable diapers showdown, it’s no surprise that Pampers Swaddlers also clinch the number one spot as the best diapers for newborns. 

Two features of these popular diapers make them a great choice for any baby, but especially for newborns. The first is the built-in blowout protection. Swaddlers' back diaper panel is extra long, reaching well up baby’s back. Called a “Blowout Barrier” by the brand, this diaper feature does exactly what it promises: protects against the infamous newborn blowout. (The ruffles that line the edge of the inner and outer portions of the diaper help too, since they are thick and pleated, offering further protection against leaks.) 

The second standout feature is absorbency. Swaddlers do a fantastic job of wicking moisture away from newborns’ delicate skin and locking it into the diaper’s core. Combined with these diapers’ standout softness, Swaddlers keep your baby clean and dry, decreasing the risk of diaper rash. 

As a parent who prefers unscented diapers, I’m not a huge fan of Swaddlers’ fragrance; however, this is purely subjective, as some parents say the fragrance is one of the things they actually love the most about these diapers. For a just-as-great scent-free option, check out Pampers Pure Protection—they performed almost as well as Swaddlers in our testing and have zero fragrance. Also note that Swaddlers are available in preemie size for little ones up to about six pounds.

While Pampers Swaddlers holds a slight edge over Huggies Little Snugglers, it’s almost too close to call, narrowly putting Little Snugglers in our runner-up category. Absorbency and dryness are where these diapers really shine. Liquid literally seems to disappear the moment it touches the diaper’s core, meaning they’ll do a great job at keeping your newborn dry and comfortable. Unlike Swaddlers, Little Snugglers are fragrance-free, which some parents prefer. They’re also another favorite brand, with 23% of the thousands of Babylist parents we surveyed voting them as their top choice. 

Dr. Chacko is also a fan. “Based on my experience, I’ve seen the least amount of skin issues with Huggies and Kirkland brand diapers,” she says. (Ed note: Our Kirkland review is below.) “Many parents report fewer rashes and sensitivities when using these two brands. While the exact reason isn’t entirely clear, it’s likely due to the materials and design of these diapers, which may be gentler on sensitive newborn skin.”

Little Snugglers have comparable inner and outer ruffles to Pampers Swaddlers for leak protection and offer a stretchy, customizable fit. The tabs are easy to handle; I had no problem opening and closing them again and again. And like Swaddlers, they’re also available in preemie sizing.

The one (slight) downside of these diapers is softness. The diaper’s back sheet—the part that faces the world—is hardly scratchy, but it’s not quite as soft as some other brands.

Almost 40% of Babylist parents we polled in our favorite products survey reported trying three to four different brands of diapers before settling on what ultimately worked best. The Babylist Diaper Box is the answer—and the perfect addition to any baby registry. This sampler bundle lets you try before you (over) buy. The box includes a pack each of size one diapers and wipes from The Honest Company, Kudos and Coterie—103 diapers and 176 wipes in all. All three brands are popular, eco-friendly and free of chlorine, fragrances, parabens and other stuff you don’t want touching your baby’s skin.

Coterie diapers are hands-down the softest disposable diapers you’ll find. They’re a dream for sensitive newborn skin and performed extremely well in preventing leaks and blowouts when I used them for almost two years with my second son. (They also scored well in my performance testing for my diaper testing guide.) The simple white design and zero fragrance are also a big draw for many new parents, myself included.

The major downside of Coterie is price: they're expensive. A monthly subscription carries a unit cost of 51 cents per diaper, and you’ll spend 56 cents per diaper if you don’t want to subscribe. And while they do come in newborn size, there’s no preemie option.

Kudos uses 100% cotton for its topsheet—the part of the diaper that’s closest to baby’s skin. (The cotton is 70% unbleached, which gives the lining a slightly speckled appearance.) Most other diapers use topsheets from polypropylene fibers, a type of plastic. If that’s a concern for you—or if you’re looking for a more natural option that works well for sensitive skin—Kudos is a good choice.

Kudos are expensive, though. For the best price, you’ll need to sign up for the monthly subscription box, which will get you 210 diapers at 40 cents each—about 8 cents more per unit than Pampers Swaddlers. If you prefer to buy one box at a time, you’ll pay about 41 cents per diaper. The other downside is dryness. While these diapers are super absorbent, they don’t wick away moisture quite as quickly as others on our list. They’re also not available in preemie size.

Kirkland diapers have long been a parent favorite thanks to their unbeatable value (about 18 cents per diaper) and solid performance. But a recent supplier change—from Kimberly-Clark to First Quality in January 2025—means they’re not quite the same diapers many parents loved.

In our original testing, Kirkland was a top performer; the new version dropped the diapers a bit, landing in the middle of the pack. Absorbency held steady, but the diapers now feel thinner and rougher, with smaller ruffles and flimsier tabs that aren’t as easy to open or fasten. Parents noticed the shift, too. In a recent Babylist poll, about 60% of reviews were negative, citing more leaks, rash concerns, ripping and an overall cheaper feel.

All that said—the price is undeniably appealing. The diapers performed well in our absorbency testing. And many families still swear by them despite the changes. So, keeping affordability in mind, they're worth a try for most families.

One more note: you’ll need a Costco membership for the best pricing, and these diapers don’t come in newborn or preemie sizes, so they won’t fit the smallest babies right away.

Many companies advertise their diapers as eco-friendly, but most don’t live up to the promise. Dyper truly delivers. Soiled diapers—yup, even the poopy ones—can be returned for composting through the brand’s optional REDYPER service. (You can choose curbside pickup if you’re in select metropolitan areas or mail them back via a prepaid bag/box/label kit.) 

The diapers are expensive to begin with, and composting does come at an additional cost, but it’s worthwhile if you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact and it fits into your budget. The diapers are made from bamboo viscose and are soft, absorbent and unscented. They’re also free of ingredients like chlorine, latex and alcohol. Some parents do complain about leaks, however. And note there’s no preemie size option.