The best diapers to handle newborns, blowouts, overnights, and more

When it comes to fit, BabyCenter parents say Huggies Little Snugglers win out over competitors. The leg bands are secure without digging in, and the waistband has elastic at the back to prevent gaping, which can lead to pook leaks. Huggies Little Snugglers are also thoughtfully engineered to contain blowouts, with a special interior pocket that gives seeping poo a place to go. 

Stephanie Porter, BabyCenter's Creative Director, Pregnancy and Parenting, says she's a Huggies fan because they fit her children from birth, and contain "poo-splosions" well. 

Parents love the wetness indicator strip on the Little Snugglers, which changes from yellow to a greenish blue when moisture is present. They also appreciate Huggies' SizeUp indicators: Purple rectangles on each side show parents where tabs should be fastened; when the rectangles are fully visible after the diaper is closed, it's time to go up a size. 

If your baby has sensitive skin, you'll appreciate that Huggies Little Snugglers are free from fragrance, lotion, latex, and parabens. "They were the only diapers that didn’t irritate [my children's] little bums or cause rashes," says Stephanie. 

Heads up

There's some crossover in Little Snugglers’ sizes, which can make choosing between them confusing. 

Parents say

"Huggies makes little snugglers in sizes bigger than 2, but they aren't usually in stores. The snugglers have a pocket to help catch the poop. I've tried a handful of brands. Huggies little snugglers/movers are my go to for my boys."

"I use huggies little snugglers, they're great at preventing poop from leaking! Before that I was using Pampers, but I definitely like the huggies better. Have also used a little bit from the honest company. I liked them except for the fact that they don't have a line to indicate when they're wet."

"My LO is currently wearing Little Snugglers and we LOVE them. They're soft yet don't leak."

"I love that the Huggies Little Snugglers have the pocket-back waistband! Super helpful with the blowouts!"

Specs

• Price per diaper: $.27

• Available sizes: Preemie-6 for babies under 6 pounds-over 35 pounds

Newborn skin is extra delicate, so parents want the softest diaper they can find. Pampers Swaddlers have a velvety texture, and parents feel good putting something so smooth next to their babies' skin. They also appreciate that Swaddlers are thoughtfully designed for the newborn period. There's no elastic around the waist to irritate your baby's skin when they're lying on the diaper, and special absorbent material around the legs, where poop and pee leaks most easily. Preemie, newborn, and size 1 Swaddlers have umbilical cord cut outs. 

Swaddlers are also available in a wider range of sizes than other brands. They offer a preemie option for babies under 6 pounds, and then go up to size 7, which fits children over 41 pounds (most diaper lines top out at 35 pounds). If you find Swaddlers work well, you can keep using them until your baby's potty-trained. And if that process goes more slowly than you hoped, the larger Swaddlers sizes give your child more time. 

Heads up

All sizes have a wetness indicator. 

Parents say

"I actually love pampers swaddlers I tried both the honest companies (super cutie but leak like crazy) and huggies (can’t remember which one (but it gave her a rash) so now we just stick to Pampers."

"The hospital always sent us home with Pampers and those worked for my girls. I got another brand at my shower and I hated them. They always leaked and the blowouts were awful. Not Pampers."

"I've used Pampers since Day One. My son has sensitive skin and eczema and all the other brands irritated him around his thighs and on his bottom."

Specs

• Price per diaper: $.28

• Available sizes: Preemie-7 for babies less than 6 to over 41 pounds

If you're new to cloth diapering, nothing is simpler than the Bambino Mio Miosolo. This one-size-fits-all diaper accommodates children from birth right up until they're potty trained. Use it and throw it into the wash whole; there's nothing you need to fold or insert. 

The Miosolo's custom-fit magic comes from the rows of snaps that line the diaper's front. You can snap them in different places to change the waistband's height and width as well as the snugness of the legs. Many cloth diapers have snaps you have to fasten and unfasten with each change, but Miosolo closes with easy hook-and-loop tabs that are similar to the sticky tabs on disposable diapers. The absorbent inner layer holds an amazing volume, say parents, who also appreciate that the Miosolo's fabric is ultra-soft. They're cute, too, so you'll be happy to use them for years to come. 

Heads up

Miosolos are made from microfiber; some parents prefer cotton. 

Parents say

"We've been very happy with Bambino Mio all-in-ones as our daycare diapers. They've been way more reliable and the design is much easier for daycare staff."

"They're so easy to use and we always get a perfect fit."

Specs

• Price per diaper: $28

• Available sizes: One size 

Overnight diapers require maximum absorbency, and parents say Pampers Swaddlers Overnights work for even heavy wetters. Pampers Swaddlers Overnights are thicker than regular Pampers due to the absorbent material that pulls in moisture. Yet despite the extra thickness, parents say the diapers don't feel bulky on their child. 

Pampers Swaddlers Overnights also has a plan for poop, with a pocket at the waistband that gives solids more space to spread out in the diaper without leaking. Jeanne Beacom, BabyCenter's Senior Campaign Reporting Manager, says that Swaddlers Overnights give her daughter extra protection at night. She has worried about the light "powder fresh" Pampers fragrance, but says her daughter hasn't had any issues with it. 

Heads up

Swaddlers Overnights start with size 3, which fits babies 16 pounds and up. 

Parents say

"Just had to switch from huggies overnights to pampers swaddlers overnights. Pampers swaddlers hold more for overnight. So far so good."

"I use the overnights by Pampers swaddlers. No leaks."

"I have tried them all and Pampers Swaddlers seem to work the best.. Especially overnight." 

Specs

• Price per diaper: $.38

• Available sizes: 3-6 for babies 16 pounds-35 pounds and up

Made without fragrance, lotion, or chlorine bleach, Seventh Generation diapers are a word-of-mouth favorite for parents of kids with sensitive skin. Parents on BabyCenter's community frequently recommend them to each other, because Seventh Generation diapers are absorbent, fit well, and made of hypoallergenic material that doesn't aggravate rashes or irritated skin. "The only thing that worked for us!" is a typical community comment, usually from a parent who's tried several other "pure" or "gentle" diaper brands. 

Parents also like that Seventh Generation’s diapers are sold in stores for convenient purchasing. Seventh Generation is also a brand parents feel good about buying, as they make significant efforts to lower the environmental load of their products. The cushiony and absorbent "fluff" inside their diapers is made from sustainably harvested plant material certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. And 30 percent of the total material that goes into the diapers is "biobased" (derived from renewable raw materials like plants). 

Heads up

The prints on the Seventh Generation Sensitive Protection diapers may strike some parents as goofy.

Parents say

"My son had a yeast rash that got better with nystatin but didn’t go away. I had switched to Honest diapers before the rash showed up and as soon as I went back to Seventh Generation it started clearing completely."

"We've used Seventh Generation all along for my son who's now a toddler, and now for our new baby, too…They are a little more cost effective than Honest brand. I had tried some bamboo diapers in the beginning with my son, but the fit was odd, and it's been seventh generation ever since."

"My oldest had a terrible rash that lasted at least a month and spread all the way to his legs. Tried creams, letting him “air out”, nothing helped. It turned out he was reacting to the diapers and we had to switch brands. We used Seventh Generation and it cleared up."

Specs

• Price per diaper: $.33

• Available sizes: Newborn-6 for babies 8-35 pounds

Toddlers never stop moving, and Huggies Little Movers are designed to stay with them. The shape of the Little Movers is different from Huggies' other diapers: It's narrower in the crotch and wider across the bum, so it hugs your child's body better as they crawl and walk. The back of the waistband is elasticized so it doesn't gape when your child sits or bends. 

Parents also love what Huggies calls its Double Grip Strips: purple rectangles on the side of each diaper that cling to the tabs when they're closed. With the tabs secured with adhesive in front and the Grip Strips on the sides, Little Movers fit more snugly and won't gape open unexpectedly. Two other features on Little Movers: The wetness indicator that tells you when it's time for a change, and the waistband pocket placed to catch wandering poop before it escapes out the top of the diaper. 

Heads up

These diapers start at a size 3. 

Parents say

"I really like the Huggies Little Movers. They have this little pocket in the back that stops the up-the-back messes my little one kept getting."

"We switched to Little Movers and haven't looked back. I love the grip strips."

"Little movers is all we use once baby starts crawling ubtil potty trained. I love them and would use them now but my baby is only in size 1. My 2 year old wears them though."

"I LOVE Little Movers! I just tried them recently. They absorb nicely and hold in blow-out poops. They have this cool velcro on the front panel that holds them in place better than any other diaper I've tried (3rd time mom)."

Specs

• Price per diaper: $.33

• Available sizes: 3-7 for babies 16 to over 45 pounds

Honest's diapers have become enormously popular among parents who prefer more sustainably made products. Parents love that the Clean Conscious Diapers have the advantages of conventional diapers, with a more eco-friendly design. They also have convenience features, such as a wetness indicator, "poo pocket," and umbilical cord cutout on the newborn size — all things not found on most "natural" competitors. 

The "padding" in the diapers is made from pulp from sustainably managed Scandinavian pine and spruce wood, processed without chlorine so no dioxins are created. Honest has also reduced the amount of pulp in its diapers to use less material overall. But the Clean Conscious diapers are still remarkably absorbent. "I have never used special overnight diapers for either of my kids,” says Shelley Gingrich, BabyCenter's Executive Director, Brand Solutions. “I use these Honest diapers overnight and they work well — no leaks, no skin irritation!” Honest diapers are also free of latex, fragrance, or parabens, making them a good choice for kids with sensitive skin. 

Heads up

Like other Honest diapers, these come in cute prints: 25 options in all. 

Parents say

"We use Honest clean diapers and my son's never had a rash."

"I LOVE the honest brand diapers so much more than pampers or Huggies or anything else. If you haven't tried them I would totally recommend buying a small pack to just see if you like them! And they're clean! No harsh chemicals (the other brands have clean versions too but I still like honest better)."

"I was trying to research clean diapers as well that wouldn't break the bank. I narrowed it down to Honest & Millie Moon."

Specs

• Price per diaper: $.33

• Available sizes: Newborn-6 for babies less than 10 to 35 pounds