REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Durable
Reasonable price
REASONS TO AVOID
Disappointing absorption and health benefits
Pampers Baby Dry Review
Comfy and durable, but has disappointing performance for absorption and health
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Disposable Diapers
The Skinny
The Pampers Baby Dry diaper is a somewhat below-average diaper with no real stand-out features and disappointing performances in most of our diaper tests. This product is comfortable and durable, but it struggled with the other test metrics, including absorption and leak protection. These metrics are two critical functions of a diaper and are the make-or-break features you shouldn't compromise when choosing a diaper. The Baby Dry option has a friendly price and a soft feel, but the moisture transfer and lack of absorption make 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. All of these issues make it an option we don't recommend for your diapering needs.
Editor's Note: An update on our favorite diapers was performed to this gear review on April 20, 2022. New sections were added to help you find the best diaper for your little one.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Pampers Baby Dry | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | |  | ||
| Price | $0.28 List $0.25 each at Amazon | $0.36 List $0.35 each at Amazon | $0.36 List $0.36 at Amazon | $0.24 List $0.20 each at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Comfortable, durable, reasonable price | Impressive absorption, great leak protection, comfy | Great absorption, soft material, better health and eco-benefits | Durable, comfortable for baby, affordable | Durable, comfy, lower price, good leak protection |
| Cons | Disappointing absorption and health benefits | Average eco-friendliness, lower health scores, less durable | Less durable, below-average leak prevention | Average absorbency, less eco-friendly | Not eco-friendly, no considerations for health |
| Bottom Line | Comfy and durable, but has disappointing performance for absorption and health | Top performance in absorption and leaks with a comfy feel but they aren't as green as some of the competition | A soft and cozy diaper with some green practices and high absorbency but less than stellar leak protection | A durable diaper that has some health and comfort benefits without breaking the bank | Durable and cozy diaper with good performance for the price, but it lacks ecology and health considerations |
| Rating Categories | Pampers Baby Dry | Babyganics | Seventh Generation... | Mama Bear Gentle Touch | Kirkland Signature... |
| Absorption (40%) | |||||
| Leakage (20%) | |||||
| Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Health (15%) | |||||
| Eco-friendly (5%) | |||||
| Durability (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Pampers Baby Dry | Babyganics | Seventh Generation... | Mama Bear Gentle Touch | Kirkland Signature... |
| Type of Diaper | Traditional | Green | Green | Traditional | Traditional |
| Chlorine-Free | Elemental Chlorine-free |
Totally Chlorine-free |
Totally Chlorine-Free | Elemental Chlorine-free |
Not Listed |
| Perfume-Free | No | Not Listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Biodegradable | No | No | No | No | No |
| Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Materials Details | |||||
| Wetness Indicator | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable Side Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable Back | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Eco-awards |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
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 them. Pampers is a Proctor and Gamble company that has the distinction of helping to invent the modern 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 its designs even today.
Pampers Baby Dry was also reviewed in our best overnight diaper review in size four compared to the size one tested in this review. The Baby Dry performed much better in our tests for absorption in size four than it did in size 1. The Disposable Diaper Review has newborns and young infants in mind, while we geared the overnight review toward choosing diapers for older babies with increased overnight urine output.
Performance Comparison
We like that the Baby Dry is soft and smooth with no rough edges or poky parts that might agitate sensitive skin.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Likes
The Baby Dry diaper is very comfortable compared to the diaper competition. It has a 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. This diaper also performed well in our tests and research for durability, with fewer reports of faulty tabs and SAP leaks than much of the competition.
There wasn't much we liked about the Baby Dry other than the comfort factor. It does have a reasonable price, but the below-average scores in most metrics make even the lower price unattractive. It did perform about average for leak protection, but coupled with the poor absorption (see below), it isn't anything to rave about.
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.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Dislikes
The Baby Dry diaper performed poorly in our tests for absorption, arguably one of the most critical functions a diaper really should do well. This product earned well below-average scores for the group leaving a significant amount of wetness on the test paper.
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.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
With the poor absorption of liquid waste, the baby's skin will be continually wet, leading to irritation and possible diaper rash over time. The inability of the diaper to keep urine locked away also means it tends to leak and can result in wet clothes, bedding, car seats, and more. This test alone should 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.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
However, if that doesn't convince you, we also didn't like that Pampers' disclosure of materials is somewhat misleading and vague. They don't seem to be making an effort to create an eco-friendly diaper either. This diaper earned some of the lowest scores for baby health and eco-health.
Should You Buy the Pampers Baby Dry?
Overall, the Pampers Baby Dry diaper had low scores in critical metrics, which resulted in a disappointing overall score. With vital metric tests like disappointing absorption and lower eco and poor health results, we think parents will be happier choosing a different, higher-scoring diaper. Even if cost is a driving factor in your decision process, cheaper options scored higher in this review.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
We prefer the Mama Bear Gentle Touch if you'd like a great budget diaper. It has better absorption and leakage protection with more considerations for the baby's health. With a lower price tag, it makes it a no-brainer on which option you should consider, in our opinion. The best of the best is Babyganics with impressive results for absorption and leakage. This powerhouse diaper impressed testers and earned one of the highest-ranking overall scores in the group.
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
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