With several choices available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right diaper brand for your baby. Pampers and Huggies are two of the most popular diaper brands available in stores. In this AptParenting article, we look at the differences between the two to help you select the best one for your baby.
Wanting a convenient way to diaper his grandson, Victor Mills, an American chemical engineer at Procter & Gamble Co., invented the disposable diaper.
With so many diaper brands in the market, it is an overwhelming task to pick the right brand for the child. Not only do we have hundreds of brands, but also a number of variants in the same brand. Huggies and Pampers are the most popular and readily available diaper brands. Apart from the regular diapers, both these brands have different diapers based on the age of the baby. They also have special diapers that promise overnight protection, or those that can be used for potty training.
So, how does a parent choose the right diaper? Since diapers from both brands look the same and are priced the same as well, are they really different? Well, as many parents have found out, although their designs may be similar, some diapers offer better quality and fare better than others. In this AptParenting article, we provide a comparison between different Pampers and Huggies diapers in the market.
Things to Consider When Buying Diapers
What do you look for when you are buying a diaper? A good diaper should:
- Be easy to put on
- Have a good fit
- Be relatively cheap
- Have no leaks
When comparing the two brands of diapers, we would be looking at all these parameters. Certain factors, like the pricing, are very similar. However, other factors like the fit and quality differ.
Regular Diapers
Pampers Baby Dry Vs. Huggies Snug & Dry
Pampers Baby Dry
Available for: Baby weight 8 to 35 +lb.
The Pampers Baby Dry diaper variety promises 3 layers of absorbency that help in leakage protection and provide twelve hours of overnight comfort. These diapers have snug, stretchy sides that prevent leakage. There are fun Sesame Street characters printed on the diaper, which babies will love.
Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers
Available for: Baby weight 8 to 35 +lb.
The SnugFit waistband provides a great fit, while the SureFit design ensures leakage protection for twelve hours. It also has a soft outer cover and a close-to-body fit.
Which Is Better?
While both these brands have great reviews, Pampers seems to fare better than Huggies because of its quick absorbency and better fit. Unlike the Pampers diaper with its built-in tabs at sides, Huggies has flimsy-looking grip tabs attached to its sides, which a parent might end up pulling out. The fit of the Huggies diapers is clearly average as it seems to be made for chubbier legs. So, if you have a skinny child, watch out for the gap between the diaper and the leg, which can lead to leakages. However, there are parents who have loved the new SureFit design of the new Huggies Snug & Dry diapers, and the kids love the Mickey Mouse characters on the diapers.
Based on Age
For Newborns
Pampers Swaddlers Vs. Huggies Little Snugglers
Pampers Swaddlers
Available: XS (up to 4 lb.) and P-S (up to 6 lb.) for preemie and newborns
Pampers claims it is the softest diaper for a newborn’s thin skin. It keeps the baby’s skin dry and fresh overnight. It also has a color-changing wetness indicator to indicate a diaper change.
Huggies Little Snugglers
Available: Preemies (up to 6 lb.) and Newborn (up to 10 lb.) for preemie and newborns
One of the highlights of these diapers is the umbilical cord cut-out that protects your newborn’s belly button from infections caused by constant rubbing with the diaper. It also has a wetness indicator for keeping track of the wet diapers. It is soft inside and out, and has extremely cute ‘Winnie the Pooh’ graphics on the diapers.
Which Is Better?
The design of both these brands is similar, except for the outer graphics. The tabs on the stretchy material and the fit for newborn babies are a problem with the Huggies diapers. There are many parents who complain of leakages and gel beads on the baby’s skin due to the presence of the Dry Touch liner, which uses silica gel for absorbing moisture.
Pampers fares a little better, and although it does not have an extra layer for soaking up wetness, it is more absorbent. It is soft and almost feels like a layer of cotton. Some people complain that it is extremely thin, and as the child grows and has blowouts, leakages become a common issue. The wetness indicators in both these diapers are, however, great additions.
For Babies and Toddlers
Pampers Cruiser Vs. Huggies Little Movers
Pampers Cruiser
Available: 16 to 35+ lb.
Once your baby starts to move and crawl around the house, you want diapers to suit him or her. The Pampers diaper fits closely and allows the child to move with ease. The bottom is less bulky, which allows the child to play with ease.
Huggies Little Movers
Available: 16 to 35+ lb.
The SnugFit waistband and contoured design provide a better fit for active babies and toddlers. The Leak Lock technology provides better protection as well.
Which Is Better?
As the child gets older, bigger diapers seem to work the best. Both the Huggies and Pampers diapers have great reviews. Since Huggies is more absorbent, people tend to opt for it. However, people who are used to diapering their babies in soft cloth diapers prefer the Pampers Cruiser diapers as a good disposable alternative. There are many who switch to Pampers Baby Dry as it is a cheaper alternative to the Cruiser diapers.
Based on the Type of Diaper
Apart from the regular diapers, pull-on style diaper pants are quite popular. Both Huggies and Pampers have great pant-style diapers. The Pampers Active Baby Pants and the Huggies Pull-Ups Learning Designs diapers have stretchy sides and nice trim fits to ensure a comfortable fit. The underwear-like diapers are good for potty training children as well. The Pampers diaper claims to hold 25% more than the Huggies Pull-Ups Learning Designs diapers. Pampers also produces separate Easy Ups Trainers diapers for boys and girls. These all-in-one training pants are perfect for potty-training toddlers.
Apart from pant-style diapers, overnight diapers are quite popular for avoiding nighttime leaks. The Pampers Extra Protection diapers and Huggies OverNites diapers are both good for nighttime use and travel.
Choosing the best diaper depends to a great extent on the baby’s build and size. While most parents opt for Pampers because it causes lesser leaks, there are others who are loyal fans of Huggies because of its great fit. Most of the parents have not had diaper rash issues with either brands. However, if your baby has extremely sensitive skin and the diaper causes rashes, then do change the brand. Both these diapers continue to rule the market and have some great products. So, opt for a trial version of the product before getting a large-sized box. This ensures that you spend your valuable money on the perfect diaper brand.
