Huggies still rated best for baby’s bum

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 – happy? 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 nappies they most recently bought. Think of it as asking hundreds of your mum and dad friends from childcare or the park about their views on the nappies they use, day in day out. For the second year in a row, Huggies has topped our ratings, scoring five-star reviews on key factors including absorbency, leak prevention, baby comfort, look & style, fit and overall satisfaction. It rated three stars in regards to value for money.

The five brands in our 2018 disposable nappy review were rated in the following order for overall parent satisfaction:

• 1^st Huggies
• 2^nd BabyLove
• 3^rd ALDI Mamia
• 4^th Coles Comfy Bots
• 5^th Little One’s

BabyLove and ALDI Mamia received four stars for overall satisfaction, while Coles Comfy Bots and Little One’s had to settle for just three. Other results of note included ALDI Mamia achieving the only five-star review on value for money, while BabyLove joined Huggies in recording top marks when it comes to the important factors of leak prevention, baby comfort and fit.

For further guidance on which nappy brand may be best for your needs and budget, here is a guide to the five major brands in our review.

Top Nappy Brands

Huggies 

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 three categories – 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 also well-known for its gender-specific baby nappies, with ‘targeted absorbency’ in the front for boys and the middle for girls. Whether you have a boy or a girl, nappies come in six different sizes, clearly defined by their life stage (e.g. newborn, infant, crawler) 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.

Huggies was a stellar performer in our ratings, with five stars for overall satisfaction and in most other research categories, except value for money where it achieved three stars. However, it seems parents are willing to spend a little extra for quality and reliability.

BabyLove

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. Newborn and infant sizes also come with a ‘wetness indicator’ to alert mum and dad 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 and night time pants for older kids.

BabyLove achieved four stars for overall satisfaction, as well as in two other categories, absorbency and look & style. It was three stars for value for money, but five stars for leak prevention, baby comfort and fit – also important factors.

ALDI Mamia 

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.

In our 2018 review, ALDI Mamia was rated four stars for overall satisfaction, leak prevention, baby comfort and fit. It received three stars for absorbency, plus look & style, but was the only brand to achieve five stars on value for money.

Coles Comfy Bots

Coles says its Comfy Bots 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 Comfy Bots 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 also 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.

Coles Comfy Bots received three stars for overall parent satisfaction in 2018, but achieved four stars in three other categories – value for money, leak prevention and baby comfort.

Little One’s

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 a ‘super absorbent core’ to draw moisture away. Little One’s nappies are also claimed to include ‘Triple Layer’ technology – three layers designed for fast absorption. Available in the usual sizes, Little One’s nappies are available in convenience packs and bulk packs. All nappies are unisex and said to be suitable for days and nights, stated to be big on quality, yet low on price. You’ll also find baby wipes under the Little One’s brand.

This year, Little One’s was rated three stars overall and in most other research categories, except for baby comfort and value for money where it received four stars.

Things to consider when buying nappies

Our research identified the following drivers of parent satisfaction when it comes to disposable nappies:

• Absorbency: 24%
• Value for money: 21%
• Ability to prevent leaks: 15%
• Baby comfort: 14%
• Look & style: 13%
• Fit: 13%

Many brands boast speedy absorption times to help keep skin dry, but whether they live up to the claims or not is another matter. That’s why we survey parents to find out which are really living up to expectations. It’s also telling that value for money is important to parents, which makes perfect sense considering how many nappies you’ll probably need to buy! Finding the best balance between price and quality so the challenge. Here are some other key findings from our latest survey:

Which nappies should you buy?

Ultimately, it’s all about finding the nappies that match both your needs and budget. Our survey of parents recorded an average spend of $52 a month, with about one in four (17%) 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.

Are supermarket brand nappies any good?

If you’re looking for cheap disposable nappies, the supermarkets are often the way to go. But are they any good? ALDI Mamia has previously topped our customer ratings and again rated well in 2018. Coles and Woolworths’ offerings, however, came bottom of the pile this time around.

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 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?

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