Eco by Naty Review

Eco by Naty diapers come from Naty, a Swedish company started by Marlene Sandberg over 20 years ago. Marlene had concerns about what disposable diapers were doing to the environment. After five years of research, Marlene formed ECO by Naty and launched a biodegradable, environmentally friendly disposable diaper followed by a line of baby care products. As stated on the company website, Marlene's philosophy stated, "I started my company with the determination to make a high-performance diaper that was friendlier on nature and healthier for your child. ECO by Naty products are all that."

Performance Comparison

Absorption

Nature earned an exceptionally high score for absorption, beating most of the top-ranked disposable diaper competition we tested.

This diaper showed consistent and excellent performance for each repetition during testing with little to no variation. These results imply consistency in manufacturing and quality we didn't see in every product. This diaper should keep a baby's skin drier with less moisture transferred to the test paper. Drier skin translates to a decreased chance of skin irritation and diaper rash.

Absorption is arguably the most important functional element of a diaper, so excellence in this metric plays a large part in this diaper's overall high score. Some testers remarked this is even good for excessive overnight wetting feeling drier than some of the options in our best overnight diaper review.

Leakage

This diaper is only an average performer for leak protection. While not horrible, Naty is nothing to brag about compared to other diapers.

Diapers need to absorb liquids fast, so they don't have a chance to leak out. This diaper performed well in the run-off test that we used to indicate the potential for leaks. With no run-off in the pan, the diaper quickly absorbed the fake urine into the core. However, a higher percentage of online reviewers expressed concerns over leaks. Leakage is hard to test because many leaks result from poorly fitted diapers or diapers left on the baby for too long.

It is difficult to say what factors played a role in the diapers that leaked. This diaper has a hard-to-fit design that had some of our testers struggling with their usual size. Once they moved up to a larger size, the diaper performed better for absorption and leaks.

Comfort

Nature's strong point is not comfort, earning one of the lowest scores for this metric.

Unfortunately, this diaper didn't do that well compared to the competition for comfort. The back and liner are not very soft to the touch (with the back feeling almost like paper), and the elastic and cuffs aren't as skin-friendly as most of the competition. Is this a result of their efforts to be environmentally friendly? Perhaps, but it is still a disappointment, and we encourage parents to view it as a trade-off for such a healthy and eco-friendly option.

This diaper runs small, and we recommend parents consider a larger size than they would typically buy in a traditional disposable. Our testers remarked that finding the best fit is key to comfort and performance.

Health

This diaper earned an above-average score for health. It was higher than much of the competition, with only a few diapers earning higher scores. However, it is the best performing diaper with a higher health score in our disposable lineup.

This diaper has an allergy certification and is totally chlorine-free (TCF) and latex-free. This diaper says it is fragrance-free. However, we smelled a baby powder odor when we opened the package, so we assume they refer to "added fragrance." It also doesn't say anything about lotions or dyes, but there is a print on the diaper.

Eco-Friendly

Nature earned a well above average score for being eco-friendly.

We love how eco-friendly this diaper is. Naty offers full disclosure of the diaper ingredients but not their manufacturing process. These diapers use FSC TCF pulp, bio-based plastics, and GM-free corn. They are mostly biodegradable and compostable in the right conditions (not found in a typical landfill), and they are working on recyclable and biodegradable packaging.

Durability

Nature earned a disappointing score for durability both as a result of our testing and online research.

This diaper is not as durable as the competition, and it might be a result of its biodegradability and compostable makeup. We aren't sure, but it is a disappointment no matter how you look at it. While you can mitigate this by changing the diaper more often and always using clothing over the diaper, it still had more durability-related issues noted online than any other product we researched. Most of the complaints are related to faulty tabs, which leave the diaper unusable or modified with tape. Some of the issues were related to the diaper frankly falling apart. Again, much like comfort, this is a trade-off for finding a high-performing, green diaper. Our testers' biggest complaint was disappointing closure tabs that lose their stick if you open them to check the diaper or adjust the fit. This issue resulted in throwing away dry diapers and being unable to fold a used diaper to keep the contents contained after changing.

Should You Buy the Eco by Naty?

Naty is an impressive green diaper with the best absorption score in the group and an impressive eco-friendly design and manufacturing process. We love what this diaper design offers for the baby's health and the environment. While this diaper lacks comfort and durability and sports an above-average price, we think it is an excellent choice for those looking for the greenest disposable diaper without sacrificing performance.

What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?

With a higher than average price, Naty could be out of budget for some families. Seventh Generation Sensitive Protection is another potential contender with good results for absorption and similar leak protection to Naty. It also offers more than the average disposable for health and eco-friendliness. It is also more comfortable and durable, making it a potential option for families with alternative goals.

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