Parasol Review
Pros: Free of several irritants, average leakage, durable
Cons: Expensive, poor absorption, ecological
Manufacturer: Parasol
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Parasol | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | |  |  | |
| Price | $0.56 List $31.68 at Amazon | $0.43 List $77.49 at Amazon | $0.35 List $61.31 at Amazon | $0.39 List $13.50 at Amazon | $0.35 List $62.39 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Free of several irritants, average leakage, durable | Great absorption and leak prevention, better health and eco-friendliness | Absorption, comfy, durable, better health | Great for health, eco-friendly, comfy | Great health, good absorption, eco-friendly |
| Cons | Expensive, poor absorption, ecological | Hard to find a good fit, not as comfy or durable | Average leakage and eco-friendliness | Average for leaks and durability | Possible leaks, not so cozy |
| Bottom Line | Healthy for baby, but pricey for below average absorption | High performing, healthier option that is Earth friendly | Top performance where it counts with a comfy feel and durable design | Healthy, eco-friendly choice that gets the job done | Budget-friendly green option with great health and eco scores |
| Rating Categories | Parasol | Nature Babycare | Babyganics | Bambo Nature | Free & Clear |
| Absorption (40%) | |||||
| Leakage (20%) | |||||
| Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Health (15%) | |||||
| Eco Friendly (5%) | |||||
| Durability (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Parasol | Nature Babycare | Babyganics | Bambo Nature | Free & Clear |
| Type of Diaper | Green | Green | Green | Green | Green |
| Chlorine-Free | Elemental Chlorine-free |
Totally Chlorine-free |
Totally Chlorine-free |
Elemental Chlorine-free |
Totally Chlorine-free |
| Perfume-Free | Yes | Yes | Not Listed | Yes | Yes |
| Biodegradable | No | 99.9% | No | No | No |
| Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Materials Details | Corn Based Plastics | ||||
| Wetness Indicator | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Stretchable Side Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable Back | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Eco-awards | Nordic Swan Eco Label PEFC Forest Sustainability PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan |
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 |
Nordic Eco-label FSC Certified Asthma-Allergy Denmark |
FSC Certified Rainforest Alliance Certified |
Our Analysis and Test Results
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
The Parasol performed fairly well in our tests for leakage with an average score for the group. While nothing to sing about, it is better than some of the competition and one of Parasol's higher scores in our tests. However, we did experience some leaking.
We did like 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 baby's skin. This diaper is free of chlorine, perfume, lotion, and latex with a partial disclosure list on what the diaper has inside.
The Parasol also earned average scores for comfort and durability, so while it isn't the most comfortable or durable option, it does offer a very soft fabric and skin-friendly motion areas and tabs. The diaper is reasonably durable with few complaints on how it holds up between diaper changes, but it isn't anything to write home about, and other diapers were more durable.
Dislikes
This diaper did not perform well in our tests for absorption with a low score for locking liquids away, coming in significantly below the top scoring options. The Parasol had more wetness transfer to the test paper than much of the competition, which could mean possible skin irritation for baby, diaper rash, or wet clothing.
This diaper earned a below-average score for ecology. While Parasol markets itself as an "eco-conscious" diaper, it didn't stack up well 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 in most metrics. Others also have significant eco-friendly certifications and manufacturing processes.
Parasol is a pricey diaper at about $0.56 per diaper, which is higher than the average option. Given the lower overall score and the disappointing absorption results, it certainly doesn't worth the added cost.
Conclusion
The Parasol diaper is an average diaper with few above-average scores in individual metrics. It performed average for leakage, but the absorption score was disappointing. Given that a diaper needs to lock away liquids and prevent leaks, it is frustrating that this option isn't good at either. This self-proclaimed "eco-conscious diaper" had surprisingly little supporting information for ecology, leaving us disappointed. Overall, the higher price and lower scores mean the Parasol is a no-go, in our opinion.
— Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz