Diapers...?

I used Pampers Swaddlers, and now Pampers Cruisers. I love them, and everyone I know uses them too! I was never able to use the Pampers Newborn Swaddlers though... Caiden was too big when he was born!

I like the Pampers swaddlers too. Huggies leaked all over the place. Everynight I used them, I was changing linens in the middle of the night

I've never tried Luvs yet....

I really liked the Pampers Swaddlers, they are so soft and luxurious. BUT, for the first six weeks or so, they leaked every night just as bad as Huggies, Luvs, White CLoud, BRU and any other brand I could get my hands on to try.

The leaks have basically stopped, I think as Aidan has gotten bigger so really, any brand Poop catcher seems to work as best as the next.
I was away this weekend and was in CVS so I picked up their brand to give it a try, 40 some odd diapers for $4.99 on sale. They do just what they are supposed to, catch Poop!

March 2004
Disposable diapers: Time to change brands?

Here's a secret that can save you close to $200 a year in diaper costs: Some less-expensive store brands are now so good that you should consider switching from a brand name.

The news stems from fierce competition among brand-name diapers Pampers, Huggies, and Luvs, whose innovations and improvements are being copied by store brands. In our research, which included a month-long test involving about 6,300 diaper changes at three local day-care centers, plus lab testing, these trends emerged:

Diapers improve overall. Diapers have gotten better at what they are supposed to do: prevent leaks and keep baby's skin dry. Premium diapers did the all-around best job in our tests. But even the worst-performing diapers leaked only 2.4 percent of the time; those that left skin feeling wet most often did so just 3.5 percent of the time. In lab tests, we found all diapers to be exceedingly absorbent, holding many more times the amount of liquid than a child is likely to pass in 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Even store brands are easier to use and softer, with closures that refasten and coverings that feel more like cloth than plastic. A few years ago, such features were exclusive to premium diapers.

There's still savings in store brands. The best store brands in our tests cost about 20 cents per diaper; premiums, around 30 cents. Saving pennies per diaper may not seem like much, but with five diaper changes a day, you're saving $15.50 per month and $186 per year.

Marketing has changed. You used to buy a diaper based exclusively on your child's weight. Now premium diapers, especially, make distinctions concerning a child's activity level. Pampers, for example, markets Cruisers for kids who can walk, with “super stretchy” leg cuffs and sides to better prevent leaks as the child moves around. That diaper did well in our tests, but so did others not aimed at a developmental stage.


How to choose

The vast majority of parents choose disposable diapers over cloth diapers at least some of the time because they are more convenient and far better at keeping children dry. Disposables cost less than a diaper service, but somewhat more than cloth diapers you launder yourself. Environmental trade-offs exist with either choice: Disposable diapers create waste in landfills, but cloth diapers use water and energy when they are washed. If you're buying disposable diapers, follow these tips:

Focus on fit. The main concern with a diaper is that it fits well; a diaper that sags or has gaps could leak. Absorbency alone is not an issue, since almost all diapers can hold far more liquid than a child could pass between typical changings.

Try a highly rated store brand first. Baby Basics Ultra Leakage Protection (Albertson's) and America's Choice Ultra Thin Stretch (A&P) performed excellently overall; America's Choice was also excellent at resisting leaks, as was Ultra Comforts (Kroger). They differed mainly in how well they fit different body types. If these store brands don't fit well on your child, or if you live in a region without these stores, try Luvs, the least-expensive name-brand diaper. Premium diapers with top scores for fit may be worth buying for times when you won't be able to change your child as often as usual--on a long plane ride, for example, or overnight.

Buy smaller sizes in bigger boxes. The smaller the diaper, the more diapers you get per pack and the less you spend per diaper. If your child weighs 30 pounds, for example, a size 4 diaper may fit as well as a size 5. Note, however, that a bigger diaper is more absorbent. So if your child starts to experience leaks, it is probably time to move up a size. You'll pay less per diaper if you buy the biggest package available. During the first months of life, however, babies grow so fast that they may need a larger size before you finish a super-duper megabox. Look for diaper coupons, or earn them by registering at www.pampers.com or www.huggies.com.



CR Quick Recommendations

All diapers in our tests were far more absorbent than they need to be if you change your child’s diaper every 2 to 2 1/2 hours, as is typical. The best diapers in our tests fit well and prevented leaks the best. They also kept children feeling dry, and had fasteners that stayed put. Lower-rated diapers seldom leaked, but the worst left children feeling wet a bit more often, didn’t fit well on a variety of body types, or had fasteners that were somewhat less secure.

Try a highly rated store brand first, checking the diaper often until you know whether the brand works for your child. If you’re not satisfied, try a lower-priced, national-brand diaper. If you still have qualms, consider top-rated premium diapers, which fit the best.

Quick Picks

Best value:
5 Luvs 23¢
6 Baby Basics (Albertson’s) 21¢
7 America’s Choice (A&P) 22¢

While Baby Basics (6) and America’s Choice (7) were excellent, America’s Choice prevented leaks slightly better. If neither brand is available in your area, consider the excellent Luvs (5), the least-expensive national brand in our tests.


If your child is prone to leaks:
1 Pampers 30¢
2 Huggies 32¢

Both offered excellent fit on a variety of bottoms, though they are costly.


I can't get the chart to work on here and I cna't link it since CR is a subscription based site.

1 Pampers Custom Fit Cruisers
$0.30 $46.50
2 Huggies Supreme
0.32 49.60
3 Pampers Baby-Dry
0.28 43.40
4 Huggies Ultratrim
0.29 44.95
5 Luvs Ultra Leakguards
0.23 35.65
6 Baby Basics Ultra Leakage Protection (Albertson's)
0.21 32.55
7 America's Choice Ultra Thin Stretch (A&P)
0.22 34.10
8 Ultra Comforts (Kroger)
0.21 32.55
9 White Cloud (Wal-Mart)
0.21 32.55
10 Simply Dry (Stop & Shop)
0.19 29.45
11 Loving Touch (Target)
0.21 32.55
12 Little Ones (Kmart)
0.22 34.10