Avoid These Mistakes When Buying Diapers to Save Money

There are plenty of things to stress you out when you first become a parent. Don’t let choosing a diaper be one of them. In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, my team and I test diapers year after year for absorbency, softness, and construction. We also share diapers with hundreds of consumer testers who use them on their babies before providing feedback about the experience, how they fit, and what they liked and didn’t. I’ve personally tested more than 35 diapers in the Lab, so I’ve seen firsthand that not all diapers are created equally. When you’re deciding on a diaper for your baby to wear, avoid the three biggest mistakes parents make:

Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter if you buy the best diaper on the market if it doesn’t fit your baby. When diapers are too big, they’re prone to leaking from the waistband and leg holes. Ones that are too large will shift around, creating gaps for leaks to escape and potentially leading to irritation. The same is true when diapers are too snug—they can dig into a baby’s waistline or legs, causing discomfort. Plus, larger diapers have more capacity for fluid, meaning if you keep your baby in a too-small diaper for too long, you’ll likely notice some leaks and messy blowouts.

Picking the right size can be tricky, though. Diaper sizes are not based on age: Rather, they’re based on weight. Most diapers are available in sizes Newborn through 6, but babies will likely spend most of their time in size 4 diapers. Diapers tend to follow a similar standard for sizing, but the specific weight ranges for each size can vary between brands—and sometimes even within a brand. Just because your baby is a size 3 in one brand doesn’t mean you should always choose a size 3. Be sure to review each size chart (usually shown on the diaper pack or in the online description) before buying. If your baby is right in-between sizes, we recommend sizing down for a more secure fit. This size chart follows the standard classifications of most diapers on the market:

Whether you’re value-driven or are looking for something super luxurious, it’s not necessarily a good idea to only shop for diapers based on the price tag. Opting for the cheapest diaper out there in an attempt to save money can do more harm than good. Some affordable diapers we’ve tested in the Textiles Lab have outperformed higher-end diapers, while others weren’t absorbent at all. This means you’ll be saving money buying them upfront, but you can end up losing money in the long run because they may require more frequent changes to prevent messes or may not being as effective as you want them to.

The same can be said for expensive diapers as well. Some brands market “luxury” diapers with the softest, cloud-like feel, but those diapers tend to be bulky and can honestly weigh your baby down. If the diaper is too padded and heavy, it can be uncomfortable for your baby to wear. Actually, the most expensive diapers aren’t the best diapers we’ve tested—diapers that cost half the price of those earn higher scores in our evaluations.

When your baby is first born, there’s likely going to be some trial and error trying to choose the perfect diaper that fits your baby best and meets your needs, but don’t get too hung up on that specific diaper. Your baby’s needs change as they grow, so you don’t need to stick to the same style throughout the entire time your baby is diapering. Instead, look for diapers designed for the specific stage your baby is experiencing.

Newborn babies aren’t moving much, so they don’t need a flexible diaper to crawl and wiggle in. Instead, choose a diaper that’s highly absorbent with a blowout barrier for added protection. As your baby ages, consider a diaper with all-around stretch at the waistband. If your baby is on the move, they’ll need a diaper that stays secure in the legs and at the waist to prevent accidents while they adventure around.

Outside of choosing new diapers as your baby hits new milestones, it can also be helpful to use an overnight diaper while your baby sleeps. Overnight diapers are designed to be even more absorbent to hold onto more fluid, since you won’t be changing them as frequently while you (and hopefully your baby) sleep. Opting for an overnight diaper can help your baby to feel more dry and comfortable throughout the night, and we recommend sizing up in overnight diapers for a larger core and added absorbency.

Amanda Constantine is a home and apparel reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has worked in the Textiles Lab since 2022. She tests baby and kids’ products, including luggage, crib mattresses, toys, baby clothing, and more. Constantine has tested more than 35 different styles of diapers in the Lab, evaluating them technically for a variety of absorbency types, construction, and softness, and coordinating testing with hundreds of real parents who try the diapers out on their babies.