REASONS TO BUY
Durable
Comfortable for baby
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Average absorbency
Less eco-friendly
Mama Bear Gentle Touch Review
A durable diaper that has some health and comfort benefits without breaking the bank
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Disposable Diapers
Our Verdict
Mama Bear Gentle Touch diapers bring a lot to the table with a product that has higher-than-average performance for absorption and leak protection. This diaper had relatively quick absorption with more moisture on the filter paper than some competition but less than other similarly priced competitors. It also offers comfortable materials, including the liner, elastic, and leg cuffs, so little ones on the move avoid irritation and chafing. We like that this diaper is durable and has several considerations for a baby's health, including being elemental, chlorine-free, and free of lotions and perfumes. While this brand could be doing more for the environment (using renewable resources or biodegradable materials), we can see if becoming a favorite disposable diaper for those on a budget.
Editor's Note: This Mama Bear review now includes details about the diapers we'd recommend to a friend based on 13 newly tested diapers. Our update occurred on May 30, 2023.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Mama Bear Gentle Touch | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Disposable Diaper |  Best Budget-friendly Disposable Diaper | |||
| Price | $0.24 List $0.21 each at Amazon | $0.27 List $0.25 each at Amazon | $0.33 List $0.32 each at Amazon | $0.31 List $0.25 each at Amazon | $0.14 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | An affordable diaper that holds up well and is comfortable to wear with better health and eco considerations than similar options | Impressive performance and better health nods than you'd expect make this a budget-friendly diaper parents will love | Great absorption and leak protection, but few nods for baby's skin or the environment | Good absorption and few leaks with a budget price that are easy to find, but no nods for eco-health | Disappointing absorption and leak results make this comfortable choice a no-go no matter what your diapering goals |
| Rating Categories | Mama Bear Gentle Touch | Kirkland Signature | Huggies Little Snug... | Huggies Snug & Dry | Target Up & Up |
| Absorption (45%) | |||||
| Leakage (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Mama Bear Gentle Touch | Kirkland Signature | Huggies Little Snug... | Huggies Snug & Dry | Target Up & Up |
| Type of Diaper Green/Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional |
| Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF | ECF | ECF | Not Listed | Not Listed | ECF |
| Fragrance-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent | Yes |
| Biodegradable | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Materials Details | Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) | Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
Wood fluff pulp for core | |
| Wetness Indicator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable side wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable Back of Diaper | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eco-Awards & Certifications | |||||
| Dye-Free | Not listed, has a very minimal print on waistband | Not listed, does have a print | "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing." | "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing." | Prints on Diaper |
| Lotion-Free | Yes | Yes | Not Listed | Not Listed | No |
| Latex-Free | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Mama Bear is an Amazon Brand that provides baby essentials such as diapers, wipes, formula, and more. Amazon has been in business since 1994. Mama Bear since the fall of 2017.
Performance Comparison
The Mama Bear diaper is a budget-friendly option with above-average performance in most metrics.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Likes
Mama Bear diapers offer better-than-average absorbency, even if it isn't that impressive compared to some of the competition in our best disposable diaper review. The filter paper has some transfer on it that feels less impressive at first blush, but it isn't oversaturated, and when compared side-by-side with the similarly priced option, it is better than the competition.
While the Mama Bear diaper has some liquid transfer to the paper, it is small compared to the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
If absolute dryness is your immediate goal, this may not be the one for you as there are certainly higher-performing options in the group.
Mama Bear scored well in our tests for leaks and online research seems to agree with our findings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Mama Bear also performed well in our tests and research concerning leak protection. This diaper seems to keep most contents contained with a score above average. During testing, we didn't have any run-off in our tests that attempted to recreate real-world leaking situations. This is impressive compared to the competition and implies that leaks are rare and that absorption is high enough to prevent run-off. However, in our online research, more than 8% of users reported leaking issues with this diaper, which impacted its score in this metric. So what does this mean? We believe this diaper is prepared to avoid leaks. If you experience significant leaking regularly, it could indicate that you need more frequent diaper changes or perhaps a larger size. While leaks and blowouts can occasionally happen with any diaper, they should not be a regular occurrence.
The materials used in the Mama Bear diaper are soft and skin-friendly, with a thinner design for less bulk and more comfortable movement.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This product is one of the more comfortable options in this review, with a higher-than-average result for comfort in a side-by-side comparison. The Mama Bear has comparatively soft tabs and leg cuffs that prevent the chaffing of sensitive skin. It also features softer material on the backside of the diaper and the liner. The motion points on this diaper are not as friendly as we would have liked, but they aren't rough and are more skin-friendly than some of the competition.
Mama Bear gives some consideration to the baby's health by being free of fragrance, lotion, elemental chlorine, parabens, and phthalates.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This diaper earned an impressive score for health in this review compared to the competition. With a score over the average, this diaper checks several boxes for limiting the number of chemicals little ones come in contact with. This diaper is elemental chlorine-free and free of perfumes, lotions, parabens, and phthalates. They only offer a partial list of materials, and we wish there was more information available for parents to consider. Still, for a traditional, non-green disposable, it is better than most.
Mama Bear is a traditional disposable diaper and as such our expectations for eco-friendly are low, however, this product is elemental chlorine-free and is produced in a plant with zero landfill waste which resulted in a high score for a non-green selection.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
These diapers are produced in a zero-waste-to-landfill facility, which is pretty cool. They reuse or recycle all of the waste produced during the production of the products. They are also cruelty-free and not tested on animals. This strongly helped their overall eco score.
We didn't experience any problems with Mam Bear diapers related to the durability or quality of the diapers during use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
It is rare to find a durable diaper that is also comfortable and offers useful absorption and leak protection. We did not experience any issues regarding durability in our tests, with no leaking SAP, no faulty tabs, and no braking liners or back material. The cuffs retained their shape, and their diapers did their jobs well, even overnight, when wetting is often higher. Our online research shows similar results, with only around 5% of users reporting durability-related issues. Factors that could influence your experience include how often you change a diaper and how well the diaper fits your little one.
Dislikes
Unfortunately, Mama Bear's lack of transparency on all manufacturing processes and materials used in production is a bummer. Lacking any claims for the use of renewable resources like bamboo is also disappointing.
While Mama Bear could offer more information on materials and production, the functionality of these diapers is great for the price, making them a good budget-friendly choice for most families despite their overall lack of transparency.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Mama Bear?
Mama Bear disposable diapers have some advantages that could make them appealing. With a lower price and better absorption and leakage, they tick the boxes of functionality for a diaper and might be one for tighter budgets. These diapers are also comfortable, durable, and baby-healthy compared to most of the competition, making them somewhat of a no-brainer. Overall, we like Mama Bear, and in the past, they even won an award. Unfortunately, they couldn't keep up with the new competition in our recent update and now score closer to average compared to higher-scoring, less expensive options.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
If budget is your primary driver, Kirkland Signature is a high-performing diaper with an impressively friendly price. This diaper is one of the top scorers overall and offers excellent absorption and leak protection. We think most parents will be happy with this diaper that is both comfortable and durable with better eco and health scores than you'd expect in a traditional big box store brand diaper.
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
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