Canstar Blue’s 2020 nappy review has seen ALDI Mamia, Rascal + Friends, Little One’s (Woolworths), Huggies, BabyLove and Cub (Coles) rated on fit, leak prevention, value for money, design, baby comfort, absorbency and customer satisfaction.
Budget buy ALDI Mamia has won over Aussie parents in our disposable nappy ratings for the second year in a row, scoring five-star reviews for overall satisfaction and in all categories.
Being a parent naturally means a lot of messy work – from day one – so being equipped with the right products for every occasion is a must. When it comes to baby bottoms, keeping your little one dry and comfortable, as well as the mess under control, nothing is more important than the nappies you pick. Not only that but picking the right nappies can be the difference between an enjoyable day out or not, an overnight change or not, and an unfortunate leak or not. So, which brand is keeping Aussie parents – and their bubs – the happiest? Our annual nappy brand review aims to answer just that!
Each year, Canstar Blue surveys hundreds of parents around the country, to get their opinions on the disposable nappies they’ve most recently bought. Think of it as like asking hundreds of your mum and dad friends from childcare or the park about their views on the nappies they use, day in and day out. We’ve gathered feedback on nappies regarding their leak prevention, absorbency, fit, design, baby comfort and value for money to help you decide which brand will be best for your baby and budget. But ultimately it all comes down to overall parent satisfaction – so, which brand do Aussie mums and dads recommend more than any other?
ALDI Mamia retained the top spot for best nappies. The budget buy from the discount supermarket chain got a perfect score across all research categories in 2020.
Here are the best nappy brands in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review:
ALDI Mamia topped our nappy ratings once again, earning five-star reviews for fit, leak prevention, design, baby comfort, absorbency, value for money and overall satisfaction. Runner-up Rascal + Friends also managed to score top marks for absorbency and leak prevention, alongside Huggies. It also got full marks for baby comfort.
All in all, most rated brands finished with a solid four-star rating for customer satisfaction, except Cub which rounded up the scores with three stars overall.
For further guidance on which nappy brand may be best for your needs and budget, here is a guide to the six major brands in our review.
As well as generally cheap groceries and weekly Special Buys, there are a few product lines that have really helped to cement ALDI as a favourite for Australian consumers who love a bargain. Its range of affordable, yet seemingly good-quality baby products, most notably its nappies under the ‘ALDI Mamia’ branding, is perhaps what parents are most happy about.
ALDI Mamia produces unisex nappies for all life stages – newborn, infant, crawler, toddler and walker – in addition to nappy pants for juniors. But ALDI’s flagship nappies are its ‘Ultra-Dry’ range, said to deliver faster absorption and up to 12 hours of leakage protection. In addition, they feature a contoured ‘Triple Layer Core’ claimed to be its most advanced core for a better slim and comfortable fit.
Rascal + Friends is an eco-friendly nappy brand that was designed with sensitive babies’ skin in mind. The brand offers ‘premium’ nappies, nappy pants, ‘eco’ nappies and sensitive baby wipes. Rascal + Friends’ latest eco nappy range is stated to be made with plant-based premium features to be gentle on your baby’s bum and the planet. The eco nappy features a high back waistband to handle movement, tight grip tabs, and a plant-based absorbent top and back sheet.
The Rascal + Friends core nappy range features a 3D core, breathable back sheet, sustainable pulp and absorption channel to prevent leaks, odours and keep your little rascal comfortable no matter the situation. The core nappy is available in a bulk or jumbo pack and caters to newborns, infants, crawlers, toddlers, walkers and juniors.
Little One’s is the private label baby product line from supermarket giant Woolworths, although it doesn’t carry the Woolies logo. Little One’s nappies are claimed to be designed to help your own little one stay comfy and happy, with a soft inner lining for increased comfort, super-stretchy waistband for a secure fit, and stated to provide up to 12 hours absorbency.
Little One’s nappies are also claimed to include ‘Triple Layer’ technology – three layers designed for fast absorption. Little One’s nappies are offered in convenience packs and bulk packs. All nappies are unisex and said to be suitable for days and nights. Little One’s nappies are available in a range of sizes including newborn, infant, crawler, toddler, walker and junior. You’ll also find baby wipes under the Little One’s brand.
As you would expect, Huggies produces a comprehensive range of nappy options, depending on your baby’s age, weight and even their sex. Huggies breaks its nappy range into four categories – Newborn & Infant, Essentials, Ultimate, and Ultra Dry Nappies. These are claimed to provide up to 12 hours of leak prevention, while the Ultimate range is said to deliver even softer and more breathable nappies, with added ‘gentle balm’ resulting in extra cushion between your baby’s skin and the mess.
The brand is well-known for its gender-specific baby nappies, with ‘targeted absorbency’ in the front for the boys, and the middle for girls. Whether you have a boy or a girl, nappies come in six different sizes, clearly defined by life stage (i.e. newborn, infant, crawler etc.) and weight, with varying numbers of nappies included as appropriate. Huggies produces nappies for newborns, plus nappy pants, pull-ups, and nappies specifically designed for swimming.
BabyLove says parents will see the end of red marks with its ‘Cosifit’ nappy range, spanning six different life stages from newborns to juniors. Said to feature patented technology, BabyLove’s unisex nappies are claimed to help prevent harsh red marks on your baby’s delicate skin, as well as provide advanced leakage protection. In addition, they’re designed with a stretchy waistband for a snug and comfortable fit that moves, according to the brand.
Newborn and infant sizes come with a ‘wetness indicator’ to alert mums and dads to full nappies, while all sizes come with ‘DriWave’ technology for instant absorption and colourful prints – such as animal designs – to make changing times a little more interesting for babies and parents alike. The BabyLove range also includes nappy pants, night time pants for older kids, swim pants and baby wipes.
Coles says its Cub nappies have been specially designed to keep your baby feeling drier and comfortable between changes, with a focus on higher absorbency and improved stretch & fit. Coles Cub nappies are unisex and the supermarket giant claims they are designed to ensure equal absorbency in all parts of the nappy, making them suitable for boys and girls.
They’re claimed to feature an ultra-absorbent core, stretchy sides for a snug, and flexible fit and a wetness indicator on newborn and infant nappies. The brand offers nappies for all life stages including infant (4-8kg), toddler (10-15kg), walker (13-18kg) and junior (16kg+). Swim pants and nappy pants are also available for older kids.
Disney+ has arrived in Australia with all your favourite shows and movies. There are two plan options to choose from – a monthly subscription at $11.99 per month, or prepay for a year at $119.99 and save on the monthly cost. Both plans include the same features, with unlimited downloads and the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time. This table includes links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month or year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $11.99 over one month |
4 | $11.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
|
min. cost $119.99 over one year |
4 | $119.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
|
^^View important information | |||
Our research identified the following drivers of parent satisfaction when it comes to disposable nappies:
Many brands boast maximum leakage protection with a secure and comfortable fit, but whether they live up to these claims or not is another matter. That’s why we survey parents to find out which nappies are really living up to expectations. Getting good value for money is naturally important to most parents considering how many nappies you’ll likely go through, but ultimately the nappies you buy have to deliver when it comes to preventing leaks. You won’t care too much about the price of nappies when it’s 2am and you’re waking up for a change. Did the nappy hold tight, or do you need to change the bed sheets?
Here are some other key findings from our latest survey:
Ultimately, it’s all about finding the nappies that match both your needs and budget. Our survey of Aussie parents saw the average monthly spend on nappies total $45, with 17% of mums and dads saying they tend to buy the cheapest nappies available. Everyone wants to bag a bargain, but consider how many cheap nappies you are likely to go through compared to how many slightly more expensive nappies you’re likely to use. Taking the cheaper option could mean you use more nappies and end up needing to replace them sooner. When it comes to nappies, it’s generally a case of getting what you pay for.
If you’re looking for cheap disposable nappies, the supermarkets are often the way to go. But are they any good? ALDI Mamia has topped our customer ratings several times, with Woolies bagging a four-star rating for overall satisfaction, while it appears Coles still has some work to do to win over parents at the checkout.
The difference in quality between nappies is likely to be most obvious overnight, when cheap nappies may become overly full more quickly. With that in mind, buying a mix of big-name brand nappies for night times, and cheaper nappies for use during the day, could be a smart move – something 21% of mums and dads told us they do.
You won’t really know how good nappies are until your baby uses them, but the good news on that front is that many brands offer free samples for you to try before you buy. Both Huggies and BabyLove offer free samples in exchange for a few personal details. Why not give them a go and let us know what you think?
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
Picture credits: ALDI, Vladeep/Shutterstock.com.
Canstar Blue surveyed 1,200 Australian parents of children aged 6 years and under across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have purchased or used disposable baby nappies in the last six months – in this case, 833 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
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