Ah, parenthood. It’s a glorious and frightening time. Whether you’re preparing for your first child or your third, there always seems to be a new hot debate in the parent-sphere.
Something new to learn, new products that are *must-haves* according to every new mommy blogger, and new ways of actual parenting.
Times change fast, and it’s important to stay in the know so that everything is set up and ready to go once the baby arrives and diapers are no exception.
Today there are so many baby diapers on the market, from cloth diapers to Pampers and everything in between, it’s hard to know what’s best.
So, we’re going to give you a side-by-side comparison of two brands of baby diapers: Honest Diapers and Pampers.
We wanted to compare the new clean conscious diaper brand (Honest Diapers) against a brand that has been around since forever to see how the two stack up.
Pampers Swaddlers
Pampers was founded by Proctor & Gamble researcher Victor Mills after the use of disposable diapers exploded in the 1950s.
The brand has remained a top competitor in the diaper industry since they first began business in 1961.
In its early years, the brand underwent several redesigns and revamped almost all manufacturing developments in order to stay relevant in the fast-moving world of consumerism.
Their goal? To help babies, support parents, and protect the world that our little ones are growing up in.
One way the brand has met that goal was by reintroduced Swaddlers diapers.
The new design claims to be the softest diaper on the market and the best that Pampers has to offer.
The fresh design boasts super absorbency that is intended to keep your babies’ skin drier and healthier.
It also has a wetness line indicator that saves parents from the dreaded sniff test, and dual-leak guard protection around both legs that’s meant to protect the spots where diaper leaks are most common.
Honest Diapers
Launching a new brand can be hard for anyone, celebrities included.
Honest Co. was founded by Jessica Alba in 2011, and after some bumpy initial years, the Honest brand has continued to grow and expand into the wellness arena.
The honest brand believes in empowering people to live happy, healthy lives through the brand’s high safety standard and transparency by developing materials and formulas using in-house labs and research teams.
Honest Diapers were created with the intention of being sustainably made and environmentally friendly.
The new-aged diapers highlight leak advanced leak protection, comfort, and feature over 35 different stylish prints, all while using less material and helping to save over 7,000 trees every year.
Pampers VS Honest Diapers
Absorbency & Wetness Indication
No one likes a soggy diaper. Pampers as a brand has been known for its super absorbency, and the Swaddlers are no exception.
The extra padding around the legs is great for catching any leaks, but blowouts in this diaper are far and few between.
The wetness indicator on the Swaddlers is a game-changer for diapers and parents everywhere. The indicator line at the front of the diaper begins as green, but the line turns blue once the diaper is wet.
Parents can rejoice at no longer needing to sniff bottoms just to tell if the baby needs a diaper change.
The winning combo of ultra-absorbency with visual wetness cues lands Pampers a 5 out of 5 in this category.
Honest Diapers were moderately absorbent when doused with one cup of water.
After a 30 second wait time, they were still damp to the touch. The brand also recently added a wetness indicator line to the diapers, which is always a blessing.
Overall, the sub-par absorbency docked their score a bit, bringing Honest diapers a 3.5 out of 5 for this category.
Softness & Breathability
Pampers are super soft as far as diapers go. The material inside wicks away water quickly, meaning it absorbs into the diaper rather than leaving moisture on the skin.
Because the legs have extra padding around them (hello absorbency), they can cause a bit of a rash if they’re too snug or if there is an excess of moisture in the cracks and crevices that could cause the skin to chafe.
The brand has also come into the spotlight in the past for chemical burns from some of their diapers which is slightly alarming.
I’m giving Pampers a 3 out of 5 for this category because I think the issues that you can run into with this product are far and few between as long as you’re doing regular changes and not securing the diaper too tightly.
For Honest, the diapers are a bit stiffer and less plush due to their sustainable design.
The diaper is thinner, which helps save over 7,000 trees a year in addition to being biodegradable.
For a clean brand of diapers, I was impressed and also gave Honest a 3 out of 5.
Stretchability & Fit
Pampers, as a brand, carries a wide variety of products for newborns to toddlers, which is great for quickly growing babies.
The Swaddlers brand comes in sizes N-6, and a helpful weight chart can be found on their website to help parents decide on sizing.
Their design is flexible, which is great for little ones on the move. The fit is fairly good, but I find myself coming back to the leg area.
With the extra padding there, I find that it can rub the baby’s sensitive skin, especially as the baby gets more mobile, landing Pampers another 4 of 5.
Honest Diapers are, again, stiffer than the Pampers. They don’t have the same elasticity or flexibility due to their minimalistic and environmental design until you reach sizes 3-6, where the sides have slightly more flexibility.
The brand carries sizes N-6 and recommends sizing down to account for less material in the diaper itself. As far as scores go, this was on the lower end.
If Honest Diapers wanted to make any major improvements, this would certainly be one because their score was a 2 out of 5.
Earth-Conscious
Now, there are a lot of things to consider when taking into account earth-conscious products, and I’ll do my best to cover it all. Pampers products are not a traditionally earth-conscious brand.
The most they have done to impact the earth and environment is to create the Pampers Pure Diapers, supposedly made with fewer chemicals.
This was the lowest score of the day because, even though Pampers isn’t necessarily an environmentally-conscious brand, I think they can do better.
I gave Pampers a 1.5 out of 5.
For Honest, this is where they truly shine. Their diapers are sustainably made, and the first ingredient is, you guessed it, sustainably harvested wood pulp.
The brand doesn’t use latex, fragrances, or parabens in any of their diapers and recently released a diaper with zero chemicals.
They are biodegradable, meaning they won’t cause any waste for precious Mother Earth.
As far as eco-friendly design, Honest Diapers nails it, and I’m giving them a 5 out of 5.
Style
If I had to sum up Pampers overall style in a word, it would be; functionality.
The brand focuses on one thing: making an extra absorbent diaper, and they execute on that really well.
There isn’t much style to be had which landed Pampers a 2 out of 5.
Honest Diapers, however, come in over 35 different patterns, from rainbows and chocolate-covered strawberries to colorful flowers and cool blue stripes. They truly have something for every baby, style, and personality.
I love that they come out with limited edition prints that change seasonally.
Their plethora of designs lands Honest a 4.5 out of 5.
Cost
Pampers are super cost-effective for parents on a budget. Each package is identified on the website by the number of diapers, but they also give you an estimate about how many days those diapers will last.
A pack of 84 newborn diapers will average about $25 and will last about ten days, but prices will vary among different retailers.
I’m giving Pampers a 4 out of 5 for their overall accessible price point.
Honest diapers come in different amounts depending on the size of the diapers. The Newborn diapers come in packs of 32 diapers, and it costs $10.95.
If you subscribe to an auto-delivery schedule, you will get a 5% discount which is a nice incentive.
When comparing them to Pampers, you would need to buy three packs of diapers (giving you 96 in total- so slightly more than Pampers 84 count), and the cost would be $33 for all three packs.
Price-wise, these eco-friendly diapers are slightly more than Pampers but overall, still highly affordable, landed Honest a 3 out of 5.
Overall Ratings
Overall, Honest Diapers came in as the winner in this match up with 21 out of a possible 30 points, and Pampers finished with 19.5 out of 30.
The diapers are coming from two completely different brands with two different goals.
Pampers wants to make life easier for parents, which is why their design is all about plugging leaks, absorbing wetness, and giving parents a sign that their baby needs changing.
If you’re just looking for an absorbent and affordable diaper, Pampers will be great for you.
On the other hand, Honest Diapers have a hard stance on being a sustainable and environmentally friendly brand.
Their focus is on health and wellness for babies and the environment, which is reflected in their product material and design.
If you are someone who cares about sustainable products that are ethically sourced, Honest Diapers are a good brand.
What they lack in ultra-absorbency they make up for in conscious design and overall style. Honest Diapers generally affordable price helped them edge Pampers in this side-by-side analysis.
Final Thoughts
The decision to buy either Pampers or Honest Diapers really comes down to your personal preference and values. Both are good choices for a baby, depending on your needs.
Pampers has consistently delivered quality diapers that are highly absorbent, but the company itself hasn’t made a larger commitment to sustainable diapers or environmentally friendly production.
If you’re worried about chemicals around your baby and you want to support a sustainable brand, Honest Diapers are a great choice.
You won’t have to worry about chemical burns or rashes, and you’ll feel good knowing you’re helping to save the trees.