In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Pampers Baby Dry Review

Better leak protection and comfort combine with poor absorption and eco-health make a diaper that isn't all that dry
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Pampers Baby Dry Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $0 List
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Manufacturer:   Pampers
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Jun 2, 2023
61
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 18
  • Absorption - 45% 4.0
  • Leakage - 25% 8.6
  • Comfort - 20% 7.4
  • Durability - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Pampers Baby Dry diaper is a somewhat blah diaper with no real stand-out features and disappointing performances in critical absorption diaper tests. This product is comfortable and durable, with better leakage protection than much of the competition. However, it struggled with rapidly absorbing and locking in moisture to create a relatively dry diaper for the baby's skin. Ironic, given the “baby dry” moniker assigned by Papmers. This metric is an examination of a critical diaper function of a top-ranked disposable diaper. It is a make-or-break function you shouldn't compromise when choosing a diaper. The Baby Dry option has a friendly price and a soft feel, but the moisture transfer and lack of absorption make it a poor choice. It also has disappointing health and eco-friendliness, with no disclosure of materials or specifics on what the diaper may be free of, like perfumes, latex, chlorine, etc. All of these issues make it an option we don't think meets diapering needs well.
REASONS TO BUY
Good leak protection
Comfortable
Durable
Reasonable price
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor absorption
Disappointing eco and health benefits
Editor's Note: This Pampers gear review received an update on May 24, 2023, with new information related to the update and new testing of 13 disposable diapers.

Compare to Similar Products

 
pampers baby dry
This Product
Pampers Baby Dry
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Disposable Diaper
 Top Pick Award
Best Disposable Diaper in Stores
Best Value Award
Best Budget-friendly Disposable Diaper
Price $0.28 List
$0.27 each at Amazon
$0.27 List
$0.25 each at Amazon
$0.33 List
$0.32 each at Amazon
$0.35 List
$0.36 at Amazon
$0.31 List
$0.25 each at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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93
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78
Star Rating
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Bottom Line A durable and comfy diaper but poor performance for absorption and health considerationsImpressive performance and better health nods than you'd expect make this a budget-friendly diaper parents will loveGreat absorption and leak protection, but few nods for baby's skin or the environmentWith great absorption and leak protection, this durable and comfy diaper is a reasonably priced option for most familiesGood absorption and few leaks with a budget price that are easy to find, but no nods for eco-health
Rating Categories Pampers Baby Dry Kirkland Signature Huggies Little Snug... Hello Bello Premium Huggies Snug & Dry
Absorption (45%)
4.0
10.0
8.7
8.7
8.0
Leakage (25%)
8.6
9.0
9.0
8.4
7.8
Comfort (20%)
7.4
8.6
7.9
7.4
7.5
Durability (10%)
7.0
8.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
Specs Pampers Baby Dry Kirkland Signature Huggies Little Snug... Hello Bello Premium Huggies Snug & Dry
Type of Diaper Green/Traditional Traditional Traditional Traditional Green Traditional
Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF ECF ECF Not Listed TFC Not Listed
Fragrance-Free No - Strong baby powder scent Yes Yes Yes No - Strong baby powder scent
Biodegradable Not listed Not listed Not listed No Not listed
Contains SAP Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Miscellaneous Materials Details Petrolatum, Stearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract. Topsheet/Inner-Liner: Polypropylene/Polyethylene nonwoven. Adhesive: Thermoplastic Polymers. Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) Wood Pulp
Sodium Polyacrylate
Polypropylene
Polyethylene
Adhesives
Polyester
Polyrurethane elastics
TCF fluff pulp from sustainably managed forests, a high-performance Super Absorbent Polymer, polypropylene/polyethylene/polyester nonwoven fibers, plant-derived PLA nonwoven fiber, spandex strands, and an elastomeric fill Wood Pulp
Sodium Polyacrylate
Polypropylene
Polyethylene
Adhesives
Polyester
Polyrurethane elastics
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 Good Housekeeping ~ "2022 Parenting Awards"
New York Magazine ~ "Best Diaper Subscription"
ptpa.com ~ "winner"
Dye-Free "Pampers uses pigments for these colors, not dyes, because some dyes can cause allergy. The pigments we use are non-allergenic and skin safe. They are also commonly used in other consumer products, contact lenses, and food packaging." 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." No "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."
Lotion-Free No Yes Not Listed Yes Not Listed
Latex-Free Yes Not listed Not listed Yes Not listed

Our Analysis and Test Results

Pampers is a brand name synonymous with babies and diapers. It is a name most parents know, and many hospitals use them. Pampers is a Proctor and Gamble company that has the distinction of helping to invent the modern disposable diaper in the 1950s. In the 1970s, Pampers came out with tape closures instead of pins, and the 80s and 90s saw the creation of a thin diaper, gelling material, elastic legs, and refastening tabs. Pampers continues to advance its designs even today.

Pampers Baby Dry was also reviewed in our best overnight diaper review in size four compared to the size one tested in this review. The Baby Dry performed much better in our tests for absorption in size four than it did in size 1. The Best Disposable Diaper Review has newborns and young infants in mind, while we geared the overnight review toward choosing diapers for older babies with increased overnight urine output.

Performance Comparison


pampers baby dry - the baby dry is both comfortable and durable compared to much of the...
The Baby Dry is both comfortable and durable compared to much of the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Likes


The Baby Dry diaper is comfortable compared to some of the best diaper competition. It has soft fabric on the inside and skin-friendly closure tabs with no pokiness or rough edge to chafe sensitive skin. The motion points and elastic are also smooth to the touch with no binding or abrasive parts. This diaper also performed well in our tests and research for durability, with fewer reports of faulty tabs and SAP leaks than much of the competition.

pampers baby dry - the baby dry offers good leak protection and a comfortable design.
The Baby Dry offers good leak protection and a comfortable design.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

There wasn't much more we liked about the Baby Dry other than the comfort factor. But it does have a reasonable price, and better than average reported leak protection. However, if you don't absorb much, and moisture sits on the baby's skin, then does leak protection matter?

pampers baby dry - the baby dry transferred more fake urine to the filter paper than...
The Baby Dry transferred more fake urine to the filter paper than much of the competition, indicating it isn't locking moisture away effectively.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Dislikes


The Baby Dry diaper performed poorly in our tests for absorption, arguably one of the most critical functions a diaper really should do well. This product earned well below-average scores for the group transferring a significant amount of wetness on the test paper. With the poor absorption of liquid waste, the baby's skin will be continually wet, leading to potential irritation and possible diaper rash over time. Our test results in this metric alone be enough to have you looking elsewhere.

pampers baby dry - pampers doesn't seem to give much consideration to the fears of skin...
Pampers doesn't seem to give much consideration to the fears of skin irritation or being eco-friendly by offering almost no transparency on what their diapers are made of.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

However, if that doesn't convince you, we also didn't like that Pampers' disclosure of materials is somewhat misleading and vague. They don't seem to be making an effort to create an eco-friendly diaper either. We think transparency is important and encourage parents to use their buying dollars to encourage manufacturers to come clean with their ingredients.

Should You Buy the Pampers Baby Dry?


Overall, the Pampers Baby Dry diaper offers poor absorbency, which resulted in a disappointing overall score. With such a vital metric test yielding poor results, it is hard to consider the Baby Dry a potential option to keep your baby dry. Tacking on the lack of skin irritation concerns or environmental considerations and we think parents will be happier choosing a higher-scoring diaper. Even if cost is a driving factor in your decision process, cheaper options scored higher in this review.

What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?


Depending on your diapering goals, we love the Kirkland Signature diapers. These box-store brand diapers have impressive absorption and leak protection test results and score above average in every metric, which is impressive for a non-green option. With a budget-friendly price, you'll also save some money with the high performance. If you want an option you can buy online or find in most stores, Hello Bello Premium is a tester favorite with test results that wow from absorption to baby's health and the environment. With a reasonable price tag, it could be your go-to you can grab just about anywhere.

Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz