Parasol Review

Parasol Essentials for baby make diapers and wipes. It is a company founded on the belief that baby products should be safe and eco-conscious. The company has spent years creating a soft top sheet layer that uses less wood pulp than traditional diapers. They believe that eco-friendly diapers don't have to be bulky or rough. The company makes efforts to use fewer materials from sustainably managed forests, less packaging materials, and reduced shipping waste, so their diapers have a smaller overall footprint.

Performance Comparison

Likes

We liked that this diaper earned an above-average score for health and gave some serious consideration for chemicals and materials that could be potential irritants to a baby's skin.

This diaper is free of chlorine, perfume, lotion, and latex, with a partial disclosure list on the diaper ingredients.

The Parasol also earned average scores for comfort and durability compared to the disposable diaper lineup. While it isn't the most comfortable or durable selection, it has soft fabric and skin-friendly motion areas and tabs. The diaper is reasonably durable with few complaints on how it holds up when wet, but it isn't anything to write home about, and other options were more durable.

Dislikes

This diaper did not perform well in our absorption tests, with a low score for locking liquids away, coming in significantly below the top-scoring diapers. The Parasol had more wetness transfer to the test paper than much of the competition, which could mean possible skin irritation for your baby, a diaper rash, or wet clothing and bedding.

This diaper earned a below-average score for ecology. While Parasol markets itself as an "eco-conscious" diaper, it didn't stack up compared to other green diapers we tested. The Parasol has a partial disclosure list for ecology. It shows a Nordic Swan Eco-label and is PEFC, cruelty-free, and vegan. It does not discuss biodegradability for the diaper or packaging, and it doesn't mention the use of renewable resources. Some diapers we tested have similar accreditation and earned higher scores for absorption and leaks. Others also have significant eco-friendly certifications and manufacturing processes.

Parasol is a pricey diaper with a higher price than most of the competition. Given the lower overall score and the disappointing absorption results, it certainly isn't worth the added cost, in our opinion. Even if you don't mind paying more for an Earth-friendly diaper, this product is not a standout, and others are better for the environment and cost less.

Should You Buy the Parasol?

The Parasol diaper scored in the bottom third of products with few impressive test results across individual metrics. It performed below average for leak protection, but the absorption score was even more disappointing, with more moisture transferred to the filter paper than much of the competition. Given that a diaper needs to lock away liquids and prevent leaks, it is frustrating that it isn't good at either. This self-proclaimed "eco-conscious diaper" had surprisingly little supporting information for ecology, leaving us disappointed for eco-friendly as well. Overall, the higher price and lower scores mean the Parasol is a no-go, in our opinion, and there are better diapers available.

What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?

If a green diaper is your goal, Nature Babycare and Bambo Nature are both great options with impressive results for health and eco-friendliness without any sacrifice to absorption or other key considerations. Bambo is the top pick for baby health, with the highest score in our tests. Seventh Generation Sensitive Protection is a good option as well, with good test scores in most metrics that make it a good all-around diaper no matter what your goals, with an average price for a green diaper, which could make it more affordable for some families.