How to choose diapers for a child - basic criteria

Battle of times and generations: which diaper is better?

It would seem that disposable diapers have already become firmly established in our everyday life, but disputes between grandmothers and mothers, and sometimes between “advanced” mothers, about the dangers and benefits of so-called “diapers” still persist. Of course, you can refuse to use them and wrap your baby in gauze and diapers, but you will need to prepare for a mountain of laundry and an eternally soiled baby, especially in the first month after birth.

Many pediatricians during the newborn period still advise making life easier for yourself and your child by using disposable diapers, studying their comparative characteristics and choosing the most suitable ones.

How to choose your first diaper

The most difficult choice is the first one, when diapers are bought for the baby still in the mother’s tummy. Experienced parents advise taking the smallest package, because it is unknown whether these diapers are suitable for the baby, whether they will not cause allergies, or whether they will absorb well. Many manufacturers produce a special size for newborns - Newborn, for babies weighing up to 4-5 kg. After using the first few pieces, it will be clear whether the chosen brand is suitable or whether it needs to be changed. If suddenly rashes and redness appear on the baby’s skin under the diaper, it is recommended to try other brands of “diapers” and buy several of them. If a child was born with a normal weight, then very soon the parents will need to switch to a different size.

In the first weeks after birth, the baby may poop several times a day. At this time, there is no particular need to buy premium diapers that can absorb a lot of liquid, because their potential will remain unrealized. It is better to pay attention to special models that can absorb the baby’s liquid stool, or try to change the “diaper” immediately after defecation in order to minimize the time the baby’s skin comes into contact with feces.

Choosing the right diaper size is quite simple: manufacturers indicate the approximate lower and upper weight limits of the baby for which the product is designed. For example, 2-5, 3-6, 4-9, etc. The sizes can be guided by the child’s weight, moving to the next one when the specified lower limit is reached.

Table

Some manufacturers of disposable diapers or pampers, as almost all consumers call them, use letter markings for the size range.

There is no single international standard for goods of this type, but the approximate correspondence of letter and digital values ​​can be displayed in the following table:

The Pampers brand has the most complex sizing principle. The company produces several lines of diapers, each of which has size restrictions:

• Premium Kea – from 1 to 5,
• Active Baby – from 3 to 6,
• Slit Play – from 2 to 5,
• diaper panties – sizes 6, 5, 4, 3,
• models for newborns - size 0 or 1.

In order to accurately determine how many kg of weight a particular model of absorbent diapers for children is designed for, you need to carefully read the characteristics on the packaging, the size chart, which must be included, sometimes in the form of an insert.

Features of the “correct” diapers

It seems that all diapers are the same, but they can “fit” the child completely differently. For some parents, the chosen brand is ideal, satisfying in all respects, while for others it is the last one they choose in the store due to “leaks” while the baby is sleeping or awake.

You can understand whether the chosen brand of diapers is suitable for your baby, whether the leak was a one-time event or not, by checking whether the “diaper” is put on correctly:

• the belt should not cover the navel;
• elastic cuffs should fit tightly to the legs, but not squeeze them;
• fasteners should be located symmetrically, without obvious distortions in one direction or the other.

Many manufacturers produce diapers with a funny pattern on the waistband, the location of which allows you to fasten the fasteners correctly. High-quality models have special elastic inserts on the waistband, thanks to which the diaper fits better on an active, constantly moving baby.

Many mothers prefer to choose diapers not only by weight, but also by the gender of the child: intended for girls or boys. These models are distinguished by the location of the absorbent: for boys there is more of it in the front, and for girls at the bottom and back of the diaper; in unisex models it is distributed evenly.

The same model can be worn differently by a skinny baby and a plump, robust one, so when moving from size to size, it is recommended to first buy several pieces of diapers, and if they fit, a whole package. You can check whether the diaper still fits or whether you need to change the size by running your finger under the belt and cuffs; it should fit freely, but at the same time there should be no gaps, otherwise leaks are possible.

You can understand that the baby has already grown out of this “diaper” by several signs:

• on the legs and belt after removing it, redness and marks from the cuffs are visible;
• it cannot be pulled symmetrically onto the butt;
• After one or two peees, it becomes wet and may leak.

For active babies older than 7-8 months, you can purchase special diaper panties, sewn in the shape of regular panties, but from the same materials as regular diapers. They cost a little more than conventional models, but the higher price is compensated by the ease of putting them on, protection from sudden unfastening, and they can be put on and taken off several times a day, as long as the baby remains dry.

Which brand should you choose? Review of popular manufacturers:

Products from different manufacturers may differ in quality, design and cost.

Newborns may develop an allergy to some brands of diapers in the form of diaper rash or pimples. At the same time, this may manifest itself in different children on products of different brands.

Therefore, experienced mothers advise trying different brands of diapers to find the one that is ideal for you (in terms of budget and ease of dressing) and your baby (in terms of other comfort characteristics).

Regardless of your choice, you can be sure that all products presented on the Island of Childhood website have the necessary documents and meet international quality standards.

In order not to make a mistake with your choice, we suggest studying the features of the rating of the best diapers.

Libero Newborn

"Libero" adequately represents the rating of the best diapers for newborns.

These are high-quality products, with a good absorbent layer that allows you to keep your baby's skin clean and dry. The materials used in Libero diapers are gentle and comfortable, so to date there have been no complaints from consumers that they can rub the baby’s belly or legs. Diaper models have a cutout for the navel.

Merries for newborn

Brand number 1 in Japan. The small sizes have a pocket that holds the baby's stool, a fullness indicator, which signals by changing color when it's time to change the diaper, as well as high-quality reusable Velcro fasteners with a light touch of a finger. But an important feature of Merris products is the presence of witch hazel nut extract in its tissues, which effectively protects the skin from diaper rash and irritation.

According to reviews from experienced parents, these are small sizes, since they were originally created with a focus on fitting Japanese children, who are lighter in weight and height compared to Russian babies. Be sure to take this into account when choosing your size.

Pampers Premium Care

This is perhaps the most popular brand of baby diapers in the world. In them, the child feels excellent both at a very early age and as a fidgety two-year-old, since this company produces diapers taking into account different weight categories - from 2 to 16 kg of the child’s weight.

“Pampers” do not interfere with the baby’s movements, do not rub the delicate skin and allow them to “breathe”.

These diapers do not leak, as they have a special cuff that guarantees that the baby will remain dry for a long time (within reason, of course).

"Pampers" has a special reusable fastener. One of the best diapers for newborns, Pampers Premium Care, they are impregnated with a special balm that protects delicate skin from diaper rash and irritation. Their disadvantage is their higher cost compared to other Pampers products.

Huggies Elite Soft

The assortment of this manufacturer of baby diapers is enviable. There are many models of regular diapers created specifically for newborns, and panties for older toddlers. Also, Huggis diapers differ in quality.

As for “Haggis Elite Soft”, they are able to absorb not only urine, but also liquid feces, which is important at this age. These are very soft and comfortable products at an affordable price.

There are also models for premature babies. In this case, in the navel area there is a soft insert that protects against chafing.

You may be interested in our general article “Which diapers to choose?”

The best diapers: rating for safety and reliability

What is more expensive is not always better. Experts from Roskontrol checked several brands of disposable diapers according to the following parameters:

• moisture absorption time;
• amount of liquid absorbed;
• the amount of liquid released outside due to external influence;
• breathability;
• toxicity index (content of harmful substances, volatile organic compounds);
• the presence of a specific odor.

According to reviews from many mothers, Japanese diapers are considered one of the highest quality and most expensive brands - soft, odorless, and highly absorbent. But studies have shown that cheaper diapers - budget Bella and HelenHarper - can absorb the greatest amount of liquid. And Japanese diapers take last place in this regard, leading in the amount of liquid released outside. If a child in such a “diaper” suddenly sits on his bottom from a standing position, it is likely that he will be able to squeeze out some moisture and then he will feel discomfort, and constant contact of the skin with urine can lead to diaper rash and irritation. But they have the fastest absorption time - about 1 second.

According to the toxicity index, all diapers showed results within the normal range and much lower than it, which means that manufacturers carefully monitor the composition of the materials used.

Experts noted the best results for a set of indicators from Polish brands; one of the complaints against Pampers and Huggies was the presence of a rather pungent odor, which can provoke an allergic reaction in a child.

Manufacturer is important

There are dozens of brands of baby diapers known in the world. The most common brands :

• Pampers;
• Huggies;
• Libero;
• Goon;
• Helen Harper;
• Dada and Bella.

Moreover, almost each of these types has its own line of expensive and relatively cheap models, the difference between which is simply colossal. They may differ in the rate of absorption ☔️ of liquid, thickness and design, but by and large, the main thing is to change diapers in a timely manner and carefully care ☘️ for the baby’s skin, not to overheat the baby and prevent hyperthermia of the skin, including on the buttocks and groin .