Best Disposable Diapers of 2023
If there’s a registry item we know for sure that you’ll use each and every day with your baby, it’s diapers.
Diapers are one of the essential things you’ll need for your little one. Making sure your baby’s bum stays clean and dry is crucial for baby’s comfort and to avoid diaper rash. Expect to become a diaper-slinging pro in no time—most newborns go through about 10 or more diapers every day. That’s more than 300 changes in the first month…but who’s counting?
Do You Need Disposable Diapers?
Yes, most parents will want disposable diapers for their baby. How many will depend on if you’re planning on solely using disposable diapers or if you’re hoping to use cloth diapers either part of the time or exclusively. (Here’s how many diapers you’ll likely need during baby’s first year.)
There are pros and cons to using both disposable and cloth diapers, so spend some time doing your research and figuring out what you think is going to work best for your family and for your little one before you commit to anything. And remember that diapering doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision; lots of families use a combination of both disposable and cloth diapers in a variety of different ways. (You can cloth diaper at home, for example, and switch to disposables for overnight, daycare or when you’re out and about.)
What Is the Best Disposable Diaper Brand?
The most important consideration when you’re choosing a diaper is to figure out what works for your baby. You might find your newborn’s skin reacts to one brand of diaper and not another, or that your little one is having more blowouts in a certain brand. Finding the right diaper usually involves some trial and error and is all about figuring out what’s best for your particular baby.
Factors that might sway you toward one disposable diaper brand over another include:
- Cost
- Softness
- Absorbency
- Fit
- Fragrance
- Environmental impact
How Do You Figure Out the Right Size Diaper?
Each diaper brand fits differently, so it’s a good idea to try out several different brands before you click buy on those supersized packs. A diaper that fits well will:
- Hit right below your baby’s belly button
- Fasten symmetrically on either side
- Fit snugly, but not dig into your baby’s skin and still allow them to move around comfortably
The bad news is that an ill-fitting diapers will often lead to lots of leaks and even the dreaded blowout…but the good news is it will be pretty obvious that it’s likely time to give a new brand a try.
Also keep in mind that if you begin experiencing issues with a diaper you and your baby already liked, it’s probably just time to move up a size. (Newborn sizes go up to about 10 lbs, so your little one will probably grow into the next size around one month, depending on how much they weighed when they were born.)
How We Chose Our Best Diaper Picks
We asked thousands of Babylist families about the baby products they love the most, then took the most popular diapers they shared with us and added our own research and insight—and some of our favorites as well. We think you and your baby will love at least one of these diapers too.
Do you think this content is helpful? Let our editors know!
Most Popular Disposable Diaper
What Our Experts Say
Pampers are the bestselling diaper across most big retailers, and for good reason. Their super-soft feel is comfortable for baby and their flexible fit means fewer poopsplosions. The Swaddlers line includes a wetness indicator as well a newborn design that makes space for the umbilical cord. They’re well-priced and, according to parents, work well for all different shapes and sizes of babies.
What’s Worth Considering
These diapers do have a fragrance, which not all parents like.
What Babylist Parents Say
“I like that the Pampers netting prevented leaking, especially when I was breastfeeding and my baby’s stools were not as firm.” -Kit
Best Disposable Diaper Bundle
What Our Experts Say
You’re about to go through a lot of diapers, but how will you know which brand will work best for your baby and for you? (Hint: you won’t until you give a few different brands a try.) Before you overbuy, check out Babylist’s exclusive Diaper Box. It includes size one diapers and wipes from eco-friendly brands The Honest Company, Dyper and Coterie—101 diapers and 208 wipes in all—so you can take each for a test run before stocking up.
What’s Worth Considering
All three diaper brands are free of chlorine, fragrances, parabens and other things you likely don’t want touching your baby’s skin, so this bundle is a great choice if you’re looking for a more natural disposable diapering option.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Definitely worth the price. Love that you get to try a few brands and they’re all full size bags and wipes.” -Amy
Best Store-Brand Disposable Diaper
What Our Experts Say
Like so many other products made by Kirkland, Costco’s in-house brand, parents consistently rave about these affordable, absorbent and soft diapers made partially from plant-based materials. They’re fragrance-free and also feature a wetness indicator so you know when it’s time for a change.
What’s Worth Considering
You can buy these diapers online without a Costco membership, but you’ll pay a surcharge and a higher price, so it’s likely worthwhile to join. (Also, what else are you going to do on a Saturday morning now that you’re a parent, anyway?)
Other store brands we love: Walmart’s Parent’s Choice and Amazon’s Mama Bear brand.
Best Disposable Diaper for Diaper Rash
What Our Experts Say
Whether your baby has sensitive skin or you’re looking for a plant-based disposable diaper option, Huggies Special Delivery Diapers may fit the bill. These diapers are dermatologies tested, hypoallergenic and are free from chlorine, natural rubber latex, fragrance, parabens and EU allergens. They’re not only gentle choice for baby’s new skin, but they’re also absorbent. And the cute designs don’t hurt.
What’s Worth Considering
These diapers feature a wetness indicator strip to let you know when it’s time for a change.
Best Compostable Disposable Diapers
What Our Experts Say
Think composting + disposable diapering don’t go together? Think again.
Dyper’s bamboo-based diapers combine convenience and sustainability. Made with bamboo but without harmful chemicals like chlorine, fragrance, latex or even inks, these diapers are soft, durable and absorbent. But here’s what really makes them stand out: they’re compostable. Soiled diapers can be returned for composting through the company’s REDYPER service. They’ll give you the bags, the boxes and the prepaid shipping labels and you do the rest. Diaper even purchases carbon offsets with each delivery to help reforestation efforts.
What’s Worth Considering
The REDYPER composting service costs $39/month. Want to compost at home instead? You’ll need to remove the non-compostable closure tabs and front tape and put the rest of the diaper in your trash or find a diaper composting service in your area.
What Babylist Parents Say
“We’ve been using DYPER for several months now and I recommend them to EVERYONE. Not only are they amazingly soft, but they also have NO chemical smell, we’ve NEVER had diaper rash (my son is 10 months), and we’ve only a handful of blowouts (no diaper will 100% prevent this). Not only that, but composting is easy (they’ve updated their system for re-DYPER). Highly recommend!” -Angela
Softest Disposable Diaper
What Our Experts Say
Yes, these diapers truly are that soft. They’re also that absorbent, with many parents noting that there’s no need for special overnight diapers or an extra diaper insert if they’re using Coterie. They’re made from 25% plant-based materials and feature an excellent wicking system to keep your little one dry and leak-free.
What’s Worth Considering
Coterie diapers live up to the hype, but you’ll pay the price; they’re some of the most expensive diapers on the market. Look into the brand’s monthly subscription service to offset some of the cost.
What Babylist Parents Say
“We tried ALL of the diapers. Honest, Dyper, Pampers, Pampers pure, Huggies, etc. etc. These held in anything and everything our baby boy could throw at it! Simply the best!!” -Kate
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Most Talked About Disposable Diaper
What Our Experts Say
If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve likely heard of Rascal + Friends diapers. Parents love how soft these premium diapers are (really, really soft) and their absorbent core and high back waistband. (Like other premium brands, lots of parents report that they absorb just as much as overnight diapers.) The other standout feature is cost; they’re much more affordable than other similar high-end brands like Coterie.
What’s Worth Considering
Parents say these diapers run large, so keep that in mind when shopping.
Best Diaper Subscription
What Our Experts Say
A diaper subscription service can save you money and the hassle of remembering to constantly add diapers to your shopping list. (Two big wins in our book.) The Honest Co. diaper and wipes bundle is our favorite. The diapers are made from plant-based materials and are eco-friendly, feature an absorbent core, and don’t contain any latex, chlorine processing or fragrances. And the patterns? They’re truly the cutest.
What’s Worth Considering
You’ll have to remember to update your size preferences before every shipment or you’ll quickly end up with a whole bunch of diapers in the wrong size. We like the company’s app for making this quick and easy.
Want to try Honest before committing to a subscription? You can.
“Pricey but worth it”
What Babylist Parents Say
“These are pricey but worth it. My little one has never gotten a diaper rash.” -Alicia
Best More Affordable Diaper Subscription
What Our Experts Say
Hello Bello brings eco-conscious, hypoallergenic diapers right to your door—at a fraction of the price as other similar brands. Hello Bello diapers are super soft and absorbent. They’re made with a plant-derived core liner, sustainably harvested fluff pup and are processed without chlorine. And did we mention how cute they are? They come in tons of fun designs, including seasonal specials. Diaper bundles come with diapers and wipes (plus fun add-ons like freebies, coupons and more) and the option to add in extras like vitamins, hand sanitizer and more at 15% off.
What’s Worth Considering
Some parents find that Hello Bello diapers aren’t as absorbent as some other brands they’ve tried—but others disagree. We think they’re worth a shot based on affordability and convenience.
What Babylist Parents Say
“The diapers are sooo soft and minimize blow-outs. The designs are super cute and they are plant-based. The wipes are one of only brands that didn’t irritate our girl’s bum.” -Loran
Best Eco-Friendly Disposable Diaper
What Our Experts Say
Bambo has shown us that it is possible to create a sustainable disposable diaper. About 95% of all waste produced from creating these diapers is recycled, making them an eco-friendly choice. They’re very gentle on baby’s skin and really absorbent, too.
What’s Worth Considering
These diapers may run bigger than their weight recommendations, so if you have a small newborn you might want to try their preemie size. Looking for another sustainable choice? Check out Seventh Generation Baby Diapers.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Our baby has slept through the night since two months and I don’t think this would be possible if not for the great absorbency of Bambo Nature diapers. I wish they were a little more inexpensive, but you get what you pay for and we love these.” -Amy
Most Affordable Disposable Diaper
What Our Experts Say
Diapers don’t come cheap, but you don’t want to sacrifice quality when it comes to these mess-containing must-haves—and you won’t have to with Luvs. Babylist parents swear by these affordable diapers as a solid, reliable choice that won’t break the bank. They protect against leaks and fit as well as other traditional diaper brands, but without the expense.
What’s Worth Considering
The no-frills price point means extras like fragrance-free options aren’t available.
What Babylist Parents Say
“Luvs are soft, hold a lot and don’t leak.” -Caitlin
Best Disposable Diaper for Crawlers
What Our Experts Say
Is your baby on the move? Like their name implies, Huggies Little Movers are specifically designed for babies on the go. They feature a secure fit, a unique contoured shape to help contain messes, an absorbent core and a size-up indicator that lets you know when it’s time to move up a size.
What’s Worth Considering
Little Movers start at size three, which works for babies from about 16 to 28 pounds.
Best Diaper for Hot Weather
What Our Experts Say
Pampers Pure diapers are thin, soft and lightweight, making them ideal for warmer climates when a big, bulky diaper might be uncomfortable for your little one. They’re also really gentle on baby’s skin since they’re made from premium cotton and plant-based fibers.
What’s Worth Considering
Because they contain 0% chlorine bleaching, fragrances, parabens and latex, Pampers Pure are also a good choice for babies with sensitive skin.
What Babylist Parents Say
“The fit, feel and quality are really great. These have been my favorite brand of diapers I have tried so far and I’ve tried around 5 at this point. They’re soft. I’ve never had a problem with leaks. I’d recommend them to any parent.” -Deanna
Best Overnight Disposable Diaper
What Our Experts Say
Overnight diapers are usually about 20 to 25 percent more absorbent than regular diapers and are designed to keep your baby dry for up to 12 hours. Not every baby will need them, but if your little one is waking up soaked after a long stretch of sleep, overnights are a good solution. Pampers Swaddlers Overnights are a popular pick due to their softness, extra layer of absorbency and a special liner that pulls wetness away from your baby’s skin.
What’s Worth Considering
Keep in mind that overnight diapers are more expensive than their regular counterparts and are bulkier.
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