buying guides

How to choose the best disposable nappy for your baby

First published on Monday 1 August 2016 00:00 BST Last modified on Tuesday 19 January 2021 , 10:43 GMT

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You’re likely to need to change your baby’s nappy between 10 and 12 times every day in his first couple of months, which explains why, for the vast majority of parents, disposables are the top choice.

They’re absorbent, easy to change (with a bit of practice!) and, of course, there’s no extra washing to worry about.

See our round-up of the best disposable nappies for newborns here.

How must do disposable nappies cost?

The best way to work out whether nappies are good value is to work out the price per nappy, rather than per pack.

This is because pack sizes vary, and bulk buying tends to work out cheaper than buying smaller quantities.

Why not stock up on nappies for the whole month? You can buy a pack of 198 Pamper's nappies for less than £25, which means that you're covered for a good few weeks. You can save even more money if you sign up to the nappy subscription service run by Amazon.

The cheapest nappies tend to be found on the shelves of supermarkets, especially the discount chains.

Here, you can pay 10p or even less per nappy. Premium brand nappies generally work out at about 20p each, although the bigger the packet, the better the value.

At the upper end of the scale are eco-friendly disposables, which are usually around 25p each.

Bambo Nature nappies are eco-friendly and latex-free, containing biodegradable material with a super absorbent core and high performance top layer to make sure any wetness is absorbed quickly.

Larger sizes of nappies are usually more expensive than the newborn sizes, but the costs balance out as you’ll need to change your baby less frequently as he grows and his bladder and bowel movements become more regular.

What to look for when choosing disposable nappies

Choosing the best nappy tends to be a matter of trial and error: the nappy that works well for one baby could be a leaky disaster for another.

As your baby gets older and more mobile, you’ll need a nappy that allows him to move freely.

Milk-fed babies usually wee and poo a lot, and their poo can be very runny, so an absorbent nappy will help to draw liquid away from their skin, keeping them comfortable and preventing nappy rash.

Conventional disposable nappies are filled with gel crystals that expand as the liquid is absorbed.

As your baby gets older and more mobile, you’ll need a nappy that allows him to move freely.

Nappies for older babies usually have more flexible sections, such as stretchy panels at the sides and back, so they don’t get cramp your baby’s style when he’s rolling, crawling and walking.

You can also buy extra-absorbent nappies that are ideal for night time, so you’re less likely to have your sleep disturbed by a soggy-bottomed baby.

It’s important to choose a nappy that fits your baby well to prevent leaks, so look for stretchy leg cuffs that fit snugly, but not so tightly that they leave marks on your baby’s thighs.

Some nappies have additional features, such as a shaped navel section for newborns, so that they don’t aggravate the cord stump, or a colour-changing wetness indicator.

If you’re concerned about the impact of disposable nappies on the environment but aren’t confident about using reusables, eco-friendly disposables are an option.

These are filled with a biodegradable pulp, rather than crystals, and are free from chemicals like chlorine, which could aggravate sensitive skin.

However, these are more expensive, and some parents find them less flexible and absorbent.

Nappies are sold according to your baby’s weight, in sizes from 0 (2-5lb) to 5 (24-55lb).

What do you need to know about disposable nappies

Nappies tend to be cheaper if bought in bulk, and some retailers now offer ‘subscribe and save’ schemes, where you place a regular monthly order for your choice of nappy and qualify for a discount.

You can also often find multi-buy discounts, so it’s worth stocking up when your favourite nappy is on offer.

Read on:

• The best pull-ups and training pants for toddlers
• How to buy the right size nappy for your baby
• Great buys for changing reusable nappies on the go