Disposable Diapers

Huggies, Pampers are best disposable diapers

Many diaper companies have improved their products with cloth-like cover material and Velcro-like fasteners. The legs now have extra leak barriers and stretchy waistbands. Cartoon characters often decorate the front of the diapers (which also helps differentiate the front from the back).

Of the many disposable diapers on the market today, the best overall scores from expert reviews go to Pampers Swaddlers, Pampers Baby Dry and Pampers Cruisers.

Pampers Swaddlers (*Est. 22 cents each), made in three sizes from newborn to babies up to 18 pounds, include a quilted backsheet. These diapers are meant for less active babies who spend a lot of time on their backs. The cover material is still cloth-like, along with refastening and overlapping tabs. The newborn Swaddlers have a fold-in waistband that provides care for a newborn's delicate navel area. According to many reviews posted by parents on Epinions.com, Amazon.com and Diapers.com, Pampers Swaddlers are a favorite, regardless of price. In fact, 85 percent of reviewers of these diapers on Amazon.com give them a perfect score. Of the few complaints, one of the most common is that parents wish they came in larger sizes.

Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive diapers (*Est. 35 cents each) are also favored by parents on consumer review sites for their softness, leakage protection and wetness indicator not available with other brands. Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive diapers feature hypoallergenic materials and an Absorb-Away liner that keeps wetness away from baby's skin. Parents are particularly pleased with the wetness indicator and its ease of use for dads. The wetness indicator is a faint yellow line on the front of the diaper that turns green when wet, so it's easy to tell when baby needs a diaper change.

A parent favorite for older babies is Pampers Cruisers (*Est. 29 cents each). One consumer testing agency gave Pampers Cruisers an excellent rating for leakage protection, and parents agree, stating that these diapers offer great leakage protection for more active babies and toddlers. The Pampers Cruisers are designed with more flexibility so that babies can move more comfortably, and with extra-strong grips to keep the diapers securely closed. In tests, these Pampers diapers finish just ahead of the less expensive Pampers Baby Dry diapers (*Est. 18 cents each), but the differences are minor. Experts say that not every diaper works for every baby, so you may need to experiment a bit before finding the right diaper for your baby, and experts often recommend starting with a cheaper brand, then changing if they don't work for you.

Experts are pleased with Pampers Baby Dry when it comes to leaks, dryness and stay-put fasteners. Reviewers give high marks to Baby Dry for the breathable cloth-like cover, Koala Fit Grips and decorative Sesame Street characters. The most common complaint from parents is that the sides don't stretch enough, while a few complain about leaks. The jury is out on the Baby Dry's baby-powder scent. Some parents like it, while others don't.

Huggies Snug and Dry diapers (*Est. 27 cents each) receive the thumbs-up from some parents, even though they aren't as well rated in professional reviews for leak control (these diapers used to be called Huggies Baby Shaped; some reviews cover these diapers under the older name). Parents, however, say leaks and blowouts aren't that common, and parents like the fact that they are less expensive than some other brands. Huggies Snug and Dry have leak barriers that move with baby's legs, along with a stretchy waistband and stretch to hug baby around the legs and waist.

Wal-Mart's White Cloud brand is well-liked by parent reviewers on opinion sites, although the brand has recently been discontinued, to the dismay of some loyal customers. An interview posted on CafeMom.com with a Wal-Mart representative reports that the Parent's Choice brand, also a Wal-Mart store brand, will still be available, and that the most comparative diaper to the White Cloud brand is the Member's Mark brand, sold exclusively at Sam's Club. We were unable to find those related brands compared to others in professional reviews, however.

Among parents and caregivers, decisions are split about Wal-Mart Parent's Choice diapers, with about half responding saying they like the brand, while the other half complain about leaks and rashes. Target store-brand diapers (*Est. 20 cents each) seem to be the most popular suggestion, with quite a few parents recommending these diapers, and a few have tried Member's Mark diapers (*Est. 19 cents each) and like them. Several other store brands are mentioned, including Costco Kirkland diapers (*Est. 22 cents each), CVS brand (*Est. 16 cents each) and Walgreens (*Est. 18 cents each).

Luvs Premium Stretch diapers (*Est. 21 cents each) receive good reviews from parents on Amazon.com, with an average rating of 4.5 stars among nearly 200 reviews. Most comments note what a great value the Luvs diapers are. The most recent reviews are more skeptical, however, with parents complaining of leaks and noting that the diapers have a new, less reliable design.

Parents looking for extra protection for sleeping hours may want to consider Huggies Overnites (*Est. 47 cents each). These diapers have a waist leak barrier and an "all-nite" protection zone to prevent nighttime leaks. Parents on Epinions.com and Viewpoints.com speak highly of this Huggies diaper. They cost more than standard diapers, but many parents say the Huggies Overnites diapers work great for babies and toddlers who sleep through the night and for those that are heavy nighttime wetters.

Swim diapers

Most public swimming pools require babies who are not toilet trained to wear a swim diaper. Several brands now offer disposable diapers for swimming, and there are even a few reusable swim diapers available. Huggies makes the Little Swimmers brand (*Est. 75 cents each) and Pampers offers the Splashers disposable swimming diaper (*Est. 80 cents each). Aquakids (*Est. 40 cents each), a lesser-known brand, also makes disposable swimming diapers. Imse (*Est. $14 each), iPlay (*Est. $8 each) and Bummis (*Est. $13 each) are among reusable swim diaper makers.

The Huggies Little Swimmers line are expensive, and as you can imagine, this is the main complaint on Epinions.com about these swim diapers. Otherwise, parents say they are a good choice for swimming, and some note that swim diapers generally aren't used as frequently as regular disposables, so the high price isn't that much of an inconvenience. Pampers Splashers cost about the same, but there are few reviews of these swim diapers yet.

There are also few reviews available for the reusable swim diapers. Several parents note that public pools have banned disposables altogether, even those designed for swimming, and now require reusable swimming diapers instead.