REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor absorption
More leaks
Not eco-friendly
Target Up & Up Review
A comfortable option that fails to provide enough absorption and leak protection, even at the lower price
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Disposable Diapers
The Skinny
Target brand Up & Up diapers are inexpensive, convenient diapers in our best disposable diaper review that feel soft and comfortable. They also offer better than average performance for durability with few faulty tabs and leaking SAP compared to the competition. However, this product did not perform well in our tests for absorption or leaks, two critical performance metrics for diapering. It also is not eco-friendly nor free of common skin irritants. So even if these features aren't high on your importance list, we feel its inability to trap liquids and hold them away from the baby's skin is a significant flaw. Just as important is preventing leaks and accidents from escaping the diaper and ending up where they don't belong. The lack of absorption and leak protection makes this budget-friendly diaper unappealing, in our opinion.
Editor's Note: This Up & Up review received an update on May 30, 2023. This is part of our most recent testing and update to the diaper review, which includes 13 newly tested diapers.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Target Up & Up | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | |  |  | |
| Price | $0.14 List | $0.56 List $0.56 at Amazon | $0.27 List $0.18 each at Amazon | $0.33 List | $0.31 List $0.31 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Comfortable, durable | Super absorber, great leak protection, comfy, durable, free from chlorine, fragrance, and lotions | Excellent absorption, great leak protection, comfortable, durable, inexpensive | Great absorbency, few leaks, very durable, fragrance and lotion-free, TCF | Better absorption, good leak protection, comfortable, durable |
| Cons | Poor absorption, more leaks, not eco-friendly | Expensive, primarily available online | Not eco-friendly, uses coloring/inks | Uses inks | Not eco-friendly, disappointing health attributes |
| Bottom Line | A comfortable option that fails to provide enough absorption and leak protection, even at the lower price | This super absorbing diaper offers great leak protection, comfort, and nods to the environment and baby's health, but it will cost you | A high-performing diaper that works well and has a reasonable price, but isn't as eco-friendly as you might want | Absorbent, durable option with good leak protection and impressive considerations for health and eco-friendliness | Cozy with great absorption and leak protection at a lower price, but eco-friendliness and health attributes are disappointing |
| Rating Categories | Target Up & Up | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
| Absorption (45%) | |||||
| Leakage (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Target Up & Up | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
| Type of Diaper Green/Traditional | Traditional | Green | Traditional | Green | Traditional |
| Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF | ECF | TCF | ECF | TFC | Not Listed |
| Fragrance-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent |
| Biodegradable | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | No | Not listed |
| Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Materials Details | Wood fluff pulp for core | Made with "Drylock" technology, which means less wood pulp is used for core of diaper | Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) | TCF fluff pulp from sustainably managed forests, a high-performance Super Absorbent Polymer, polypropylene/polyethylene/polyester nonwoven fibers, plant-derived PLA nonwoven fiber, spandex strands, and an elastomeric fill | Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
| Wetness Indicator | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable side wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable Back of Diaper | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eco-Awards & Certifications | Nordic Swan Eco Label, PEFC Forest Sustainability, PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan, Original Excellent Dermatest , FSC, ROHS compliant | Good Housekeeping ~ "2022 Parenting Awards" New York Magazine ~ "Best Diaper Subscription" ptpa.com ~ "winner" |
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| Dye-Free | Prints on Diaper | Uses water-based inks | Not listed, does have a print | No | "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing." |
| Lotion-Free | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Listed |
| Latex-Free | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Target stores are known for their reasonable prices and quality goods. Target has begun to offer various products under the Target brand name in recent years, including over-the-counter medications, diapers, and paper goods. Families and parents familiar with Target may be curious about their brand-name products, including the affordable Up & Up diaper.
Performance Comparison
The Up & Up diaper is comfortable for baby with soft fabric, smooth elastic and non-abrasive motion points and closure tabs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Likes
This product is quite soft and feels good against your skin. The elastic and motion points are friendlier than most of the competition, and the closure tabs and also skin-friendly. We think most babies will find this option cozy to wear when dry.
The Up & Up feels durable and will hold up as long as it needs to until the next diaper change. Not all diapers seemed as durable.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This diaper scored above average in our tests for durability. The unique combination of comfort and durability is not as common as one would hope, making it somewhat of a rarity in this group.
While not the least absorbent diaper we tested, the amount of fake urine transferred to our test paper for the Up & Up diaper indicates that baby will be wet which can lead to skin irritation and diaper rash.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Dislikes
Unfortunately, this diaper did not perform well in absorption tests, with more fake urine on the test paper than much of the top-ranked disposable diaper competition. This lack of absorption means more moisture on your baby's skin and potential urine and other waste products on clothes or elsewhere. More moisture on the skin often translates to an increased chance of diaper rash or skin irritation.
Leaks were also a problem for the Up & Up, with below-average scores in our tests for leaks and online research. This diaper scored low for our leak tests, and many Amazon reviewers felt it had more leaks than other diapers they've used. While this could result from a poor fit or too long between changes, the low absorption score supports the idea of liquid escaping the diaper instead of being trapped in the core.
As you can see in the photo above, the Up & Up diaper was unable to absorb the urine fast enough to prevent leaking unlike some of the competition.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
We didn't like the lack of eco-friendly materials or thoughtfulness in the design of this diaper. Target doesn't disclose much about the ingredients or how the diaper is made or packaged, and transparency is key when considering a baby's health and the environment. Other than recyclable packaging, the diaper doesn't seem to offer much for either.
Target also doesn't disclose much about the makeup of the diaper. The packaging and website don't mention latex use, but it does say they are free of sulfates, parabens, petroleum, perfumes, and dyes, and it uses elemental chlorine-free pulp. However, they have pigments of some kind because the diapers have a print and a wetness indicator, so the claim is vague at best and potentially misleading (they aren't alone in this boat, however). They also seem to have lotion on the inside, and no mention of if they are latex-free or not.
Target's Up & Up diaper uses some kind of pigment for the print and wetness indicator strip, despite the claim of "dye free", which seems misleading to consumers.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Up & Up?
The Up & Up brand sometimes has a comfortable feel and an attractive price. The connection to Target gives the feeling of quality at a reasonable price that attracts many parents to give this diaper a try. However, the absorption and leak test results were not impressive, indicating excessive moisture transfer from the diaper and more leakage than the average diaper as the fake urine pooled in the test pan. These test results make the Up & Up option a disappointment as it indicates the potential for diaper rash, skin irritation, and waste escaping from the diaper. Even though this diaper is inexpensive, we believe it will cost you more in the long run, making it a diapering option we don't recommend compared to the best diaper competition.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
If you need an easy-to-find diaper at a reasonable price, we love the Hello Bello Premium diaper. This option is readily available online and in stores and offers impressive test results in every metric, from absorption and leaks to eco-friendliness and health; it excelled during testing. If you need a diaper with exceptional absorption with a budget-friendly price and your budget outweighs environmental concerns, the Kirkland Signature is a wallet-loving choice with some of the best absorbency in the business and better marks for the environment and health than competing traditional options. Alternatively, Huggies Snug & Dry is available almost anywhere you find diapers, and the price and performance is good if easily accessible is your goal.
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
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