From the time your baby starts wearing diapers to the time your baby is potty trained, you’ll inevitably work your way through thousands of diaper changes. As an analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab and an aunt/former babysitter who has changed hundreds of diapers myself, I understand the importance of finding a diaper that’s absorbent and actually contains messes but is also comfortable and doesn’t weigh your baby down. There are seemingly endless options on the market, so my team and I test diapers from popular and up-and-coming brands to help parents and caregivers understand which diapers are best for the different stages of a baby’s life.
We review diapers using standardized tests developed through years of research and collaboration with major diaper manufacturers. Our ability to test each diaper using the same methods ensures that we can collect objective data to compare diapers through years of development and innovations. In addition to testing diapers in the Lab, we share diapers with hundreds of parents who test them out on their babies before providing valuable feedback about how the diapers hold up in real-world situations. We combine our Lab data with our tester’s responses when selecting our recommendations.
How we test diapers in the Textiles Lab
Initial research:
Before we get our hands on any of the diapers, we extensively research them online. We’re always on the lookout for updates in materials and design and keep track of changes in manufacturers to ensure the diapers perform similarly, regardless of where they’re produced. We test diapers annually to ensure we’re familiar with the latest products.
Construction:
We first analyze each diaper for its construction properties. The diapers are weighed, and the measurement for the length of the inner absorbent core is taken. We also make note of elements like front and back wetness indicators, double elastic leg openings, and internal blowout barriers, which are all helpful developments that make the baby changing process much easier and less messy.
Pooling:
Diapers are supposed to hold onto large amounts of liquid without leaking, so it’s important to ensure each diaper is actually able to do its job. We pour a standard amount of liquid into a separatory funnel and then release the liquid onto a diaper placed in a cupped position, just like if a baby were sitting in its diaper. We measure how quickly the fluid absorbs into the diaper—the quicker, the better—and also check to determine if any liquid has leaked from the diaper during the absorbency process.
45-degree runoff:
Babies don’t just pee when they’re sitting straight up—nature still calls when babies are sleeping, crawling, and wiggling around. We conduct a 45-degree runoff test to determine how absorbent each diaper is when liquid hits the surface at an angle, rather than straight on. We pour a set amount of liquid into our separatory funnel, which holds the liquid until the release valve is turned. Then, the liquid streams onto the diaper’s absorbent core. Any liquid that doesn’t soak into the diaper is caught in a pan and weighed. The more runoff, the less absorbent the diaper is.
Strike-through and rewet:
In addition to measuring absorbency from different angles, we also consider strike-through, which is how quickly liquid can pass (or strike) through non-woven materials, like the surface of a diaper. First, we tape the diaper completely flat to expose the absorbent core and then pour a standard amount of liquid onto a single area of the diaper using a pouring ring as a target. We measure how quickly the fluid absorbs into that standardized area.
A baby has to sit in its diaper until someone notices the diaper is soiled and needs changing, so it’s important that the diaper actually feels dry for the baby’s comfort. To determine this, once our strike-through test is completed, we place a set weight of filter paper onto the surface of the diaper. A 10-pound weight is placed on top of the filter paper and left there for a standard timeframe. We remove the weight and measure the filter paper to see how much liquid the paper soaked up from the diaper. Ideally, there will be no liquid for the paper to soak up, meaning the diaper feels nice and dry at the surface.
We repeat the process again, simulating how absorbent the diaper would be after already being soiled, since parents may not notice it’s time to change a diaper right away. We rewet the surface of the diaper, measuring how long quickly the diaper absorbs the liquid and carry out the strike-through process once more.
Softness:
To determine softness, we lay diapers out flat and secure them to a countertop, blinding them so they’re indistinguishable. GH analysts, editors, and testers touch each diaper and rate the level of softness, along with sharing any initial thoughts about the texture of the diapers.
How consumer testers contribute to our findings
Not only do we test each diaper extensively in the Textiles Lab, we also share diapers with parents and caregivers who use the diapers on their babies. It’s important for us to collect feedback from real users because a diaper may perform well in the Lab and look perfect on paper but may be completely impractical or perform poorly when it’s actually being used on a baby.
Each year, we match hundreds of diapers to parent testers based on a recruitment survey detailing their baby’s size, age, and habits, along with their personal preferences. Parents use the diapers at home for a minimum of two weeks before sharing their thoughts on aspects like softness, fit, absorbency, ease of use, and more. They’re also given the opportunity to share open-ended feedback—detailing the good and bad experiences they had using the diapers, from blowout-prone designs to standout styles and everything in between.
We analyze the results to make our recommendations
After putting each diaper to the test both in the Lab and at home, we analyze all of our data and calculate a final score for every diaper. We compare test results and scores, considering how well each diaper performed in terms of absorbency, construction, and softness. If we have the opportunity to test the same model of diaper multiple years in a row, we also analyze past testing data, and we evaluate how different styles within a brand’s catalog perform in comparison to each other. At the end of our analysis, we’re able to recommend the best diapers for a variety of performance factors and life stages.
Meet the experts
Amanda Constantine
Amanda Constantine is a home & apparel reviews analyst who joined Good Housekeeping in 2022. She has undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing, as well as a master of science in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Constantine has been testing diapers and wipes for four years and assigns the products to at-home testers.
Emma Seymour
Emma Seymour is the Textiles, Apparel, and Paper Lab associate director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Seymour has a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University and has been testing diapers and parenting products for more than seven years at Good Housekeeping.
