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. The back panel on Swaddlers is extra long, reaching well up baby’s back. Called a “Blowout Barrier” by the brand, this portion of the diaper 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. They’re also another favorite brand, with 21% 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—104 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.

Costco brand Kirkland wipes earned the top spot in our Best Baby Wipes roundup, so it’s no surprise that their diapers are a parent favorite, as well. They’re thick but comfy, have wide ruffles with lots of pleats and tabs that are easy to open and fasten. But the best part? They’re by far the most affordable diapers out of all of our top picks at 18 cents a diaper—over 13 cents cheaper than Pampers Swaddlers and Huggies Little Snugglers. 

You do need to be a Costco warehouse club member to get the best price on these diapers to stock up in person, which means paying a membership fee. (At the time of this writing, a basic membership costs $60 annually.) You can purchase them online as a non-member, but you’ll need to create a (free) online account and you’ll pay a five percent surcharge for each order. And they’re not available in newborn or preemie sizes, so parents of smaller babies will likely have to wait a few weeks before using them.

Editor's note: Costco's Kirkland diapers are currently in the process of shifting suppliers, with First Quality replacing Kimberly-Clark as of January 2025. We’ll update this guide if necessary once we’ve had the opportunity to test these new diapers.

Most babies have sensitive skin, especially during the newborn months. If you’re looking for an especially sensitive-skin-friendly diapering option, Kudos are our top choice. They’re also the most sustainable option of all of our top picks.

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—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 216 diapers at 36 cents each—about 5 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.

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. The simple white design and zero fragrance were also big plusses for me. But these diapers come at a steep cost; a monthly subscription carries a unit cost of 48 cents per diaper, and you’ll spend 53 cents per diaper if you don’t want to subscribe. And while they do come in newborn size, there’s no preemie option.

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.