The Pampers Baby Dry diaper is average with no real stand out features and below average performance in most of our tests. With the exception of being one of the most comfortable diapers we tested, this product had disappointing scores for most other metrics including absorption and leakage. These metrics are two of the most important functions of a diaper and are what make or break features you can't compromise on. The Baby Dry option has a nice price and a soft feel, but the leaking and moisture transfer makes it a poor choice. This product is also disappointing for health and eco-friendliness with no disclosure on materials or specifics on what the diaper may be free of like perfumes, latex, chlorine, etc.
Pampers Baby Dry Review
Disappointing performance where it counts for leaks and absorption
Price:
$0.17 List | $0.28 each (in 180-pack) at Amazon
Pros: Comfy, reasonable price
Cons: Below average leakage and absorption
Manufacturer: Pampers
Pros: Comfy, reasonable price
Cons: Below average leakage and absorption
Manufacturer: Pampers
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Jul 28, 2017
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Pampers Baby Dry | |||||
| Awards |  | |  | ||
| Price | $0.17 List $0.28 each at Amazon | $0.43 List $0.35 each at Amazon - 19% off | $0.32 List $0.33 each at Amazon | $0.30 List $0.32 each at Amazon | $0.32 List $0.34 each at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Comfy, reasonable price | Great absorption and leak prevention, better health and eco-friendliness | Absorption, comfy, durable, better health | Great health, good absorption, eco-friendly | Great for health, eco-friendly, comfy |
| Cons | Below average leakage and absorption | Hard to find a good fit, not as comfy or durable | Average leakage and eco-friendliness | Possible leaks, not so cozy | Average for leaks and durability |
| Bottom Line | Disappointing performance where it counts for leaks and absorption | High performing, healthier option that is Earth friendly | Top performance where it counts with a comfy feel and durable design | Budget-friendly green option with great health and eco scores | Healthy, eco-friendly choice that gets the job done |
| Rating Categories | Pampers Baby Dry | Nature Babycare | Babyganics | Free & Clear | Bambo Nature |
| Absorption (40%) | |||||
| Leakage (20%) | |||||
| Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Health (15%) | |||||
| Eco Friendly (5%) | |||||
| Durability (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Pampers Baby Dry | Nature Babycare | Babyganics | Free & Clear | Bambo Nature |
| Type of Diaper | Traditional | Green | Green | Green | Green |
| Chlorine-Free | Elemental Chlorine-free | Totally Chlorine-free | Totally Chlorine-free | Totally Chlorine-free | Elemental Chlorine-free |
| Perfume-Free | No | Yes | Not Listed | Yes | Yes |
| Biodegradable | No | 99.90% | No | No | No |
| Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Materials Details | Corn Based Plastics | ||||
| Wetness Indicator | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Stretchable Side Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable Back | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Eco-awards | FSC Certified Vincotte OK Biobased Certified Swedish Asthma and Allergy Foundation Recommended "Good Environmental Choice" Eco Label from Swedish Society for Nature Conservation EcoCert GOTS Certified | FSC Certified Rainforest Alliance Certified | Nordic Eco-label FSC Certified Asthma-Allergy Denmark |
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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. Pampers is a Proctor and Gamble company that has the distinction of helping to invent the modern disposable diaper. Victor Mills, an American chemical engineer working for Procter & Gamble began inventing the 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 their designs even today.
Pampers Baby Dry was also reviewed in our Overnight Diaper Review in a size 4 compared to the size 1 tested in this review. The Baby Dry performed much better in our tests for absorption in the size 4 than it did in a size 1. The Disposable Diaper Review is designed with newborns and young infants in mind, while the overnight review is geared toward choosing diapers for older babies with an increased overnight output.
Pampers Baby Dry diaper is super cozy, but that is about all it has going for it.
Performance Comparison
The chart below provides a comparison of the overall scores for each diaper we tested in this review.
The sections below outline what we like and dislike about this product and what we discovered during testing compared to the competition.
We like that the Baby Dry is soft and smooth with no rough edges or poky parts that might agitate sensitive skin.
Likes
The Baby Dry diaper is a very comfortable diaper compared to the competition with an 8 of 10 score that is only one point lower than the high for this metric. It has very soft fabric on the inside and skin-friendly closure tabs with no pokiness or rough edge that can chafe sensitive skin. The motion points and elastic are also smooth to the touch with no binding areas or abrasive parts.
Other than the comfort factor there wasn't much we liked about the Baby Dry. It does have a reasonable price, but the below average scores in most metrics make even the lower price unattractive.
The amount of mock urine that transferred from Pampers Baby Dry to the test paper indicates that baby's bottom will likely be moist because the liquid is not locked away in the core of the diaper.
Dislikes
The Baby Dry diaper performed poorly in our tests for absorption and leakage, arguably the two most important functions a diaper really should do well. This product earned a 4 of 10 for absorption and 5 of 10 for leaks, both are below average for the group.
This photo of the Baby Dry leak test shows the "mock urine" as it leaked out of the diaper and the test paper that absorbed the urine when it should have been locked away from baby's skin.
With the poor absorption of liquid waste, baby's skin will be continually wet. This can lead to irritation and possible diaper rash over time. The inability of the diaper to keep urine locked away also means it has a tendency to leak which can result in wet clothes, bedding, car seats and more. These two tests alone could be enough to have you looking elsewhere.
The Baby Dry is not very durable and the contents are somewhat vague according to the Pamper's website.
However, if that doesn't convince you, we also didn't like that Pampers disclose of what is inside the diaper is somewhat misleading and vague and they don't seem to be making an effort to create an eco-friendly diaper either. This diaper only earned a 2 of 10 for health and 3 of 10 for eco-friendly. This diaper also scored below average for durability with a 5 of 10. It isn't the worst in the group, but it could result in using more diapers if they fall apart or have faulty tabs.
Conclusion
Overall, the Pampers Baby Dry diaper scored below average with most individual metric scores coming in below average as well. With key metric tests like absorption and leakage disappointing testers and lower durability and poor health results, we think parents will be happier choosing a different, higher scoring option even if it may cost a little more. However, even if cost is a factor in your decision process there are cheaper options that scored higher in our review.
Manufacturer Video
— Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz