The best newborn and infant nappies – and the ones to avoid

If you’re a bleary-eyed brand-new parent, the nappy aisle can be overwhelming. 

(Honestly, even getting to the shops is a superhuman feat. You should be proud of yourself!)

It’s hard enough just keeping a baby fed and clean on two hours’ broken sleep; how are you supposed to decode all the info on the nappy packs and make the right choice for your bundle of joy?

Never fear – we’ve done all the hard work for you. Here are the three top-scoring newborn and infant nappies from our tests, plus the ones that took the wooden spoon.

In this article:

• Best and worst newborn nappies from our tests
• Best and worst infant nappies from our tests
• Tips for saving money on nappies

Advice from one parent to another

While you might be a die-hard Huggies fan or a life-long Babylove lover, our experts suggest that you keep an open mind when it comes to choosing which nappy will grace your cherub’s bottom. 

Our tests often reveal some lesser-known superstars that outperform the big brands (and are sometimes cheaper to boot).

Remember that every baby is different. Just because Beth next door swears by Huggies doesn’t mean that they’ll be right for your baby. Babies come in all shapes and sizes – and so do their, erm, bodily functions. 

You might need something with excellent absorbency to deal with Junior’s over-enthusiastic bladder emptying. Or maybe a nappy with a high back and close-fitting legs will save you if your kid’s signature move is the poo-nami. 

And of course you never know how your baby’s delicate skin will react to a particular nappy. Unfortunately this is simply trial and error.

Size matters, too: a nappy will fit a baby with gorgeous chubby thighs very differently to one with sweet, skinny little newborn legs. 

So before you rush out and stock up on enough nappies to last you the entire first six weeks, try a few different brands to find out which one works best for you. 

Our experts have lab-tested 92 nappy products on the market, from newborn right through to junior sizes. Check out our disposable nappy reviews before you hit the shops.

Best rated newborn nappies from our tests

Our experts only recommend nappies with a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 80%, and at least 70% for absorbency, leakage and wet feeling.

Unfortunately none of the newborn nappies we tested scored highly enough to be recommended by our experts, with many of them let down by their absorbency scores – one of the key things you need in a nappy!

But fortunately six of the 14 newborn nappies we tested didn’t leak, which is good news for you (and your laundry).

That doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t work for your baby, though. Our detailed disposable nappy reviews include scores for absorbency, leakage, wet feeling and velcro strength, so you can find the best nappy for your needs.

The top-rated newborn nappies are:

Cuddlies Bamboo Eco Nappies

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 86%
• Absorbency score: 90%
• Rewet score (wet feeling): 62%*
• Price: 78c per nappy

*The higher the score, the less wet the nappy five minutes after wetting.

Huggies Pure & Sensitive size 1

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 83%
• Absorbency score: 68%
• Rewet score: 88%
• Price: 41c per nappy

Coles CUB Newborn Size 1

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 78%
• Absorbency score: 62%
• Rewet score: 86%
• Price: 18c per nappy

Huggies Essentials size 1

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 78%
• Absorbency score: 58%
• Rewet score: 82%
• Price: 29c per nappy

Worst rated newborn nappies from our tests

A common factor amongst the lowest-scoring newborn nappies we tested is their inability to contain liquids, both in and out of the nappy: they generally didn’t score well for either absorbency or leakage.

In fact, our experts rated the two lowest scorers as poor for absorbency and only OK for leakage, which is a pretty wet and wild combination!

The Pandas by Luvme nappies leaked heavily during our testing. Combined with their weak velcro strength, they could leave you with some pretty messy nappy changes.

Here’s the lowest rated newborn nappies:

Ecoriginals Newborn+ Nappies Size 1

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 54%
• Absorbency score: 41%
• Leakage score: 60%
• Price: 58c per nappy

BabyLove Cosifit Newborn size 1

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 57%
• Absorbency score: 40%
• Leakage score: 60%
• Price: 35c per nappy

Pandas by Luvme Bamboo Nappies Size 1 Newborn

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 64%
• Absorbency score: 73%
• Leakage score: 40%
• Price: 64c per nappy

Best rated infant nappies from our tests

By the time your newborn is not so new any more, you’ll be a dab hand at nappy changes.

But just when you’ve found a nappy that works for your little one, it’ll be time for them to move up a size in nappies – which means finding a new nappy all over again.

Fortunately, the infant nappies we tested performed far better than the newborn nappies, so at least you’ll have more peace of mind while you navigate this new phase.

Two infant nappies scored highly enough to be recommended by our experts. The top performer delivered excellent results for absorbency, leakage and wet feeling, while the number two nappy (sorry) was rated as very good for absorbency and wet feeling, and excellent for leakage.

If you were hoping to save money by buying nappies at Aldi, you might end up spending a little more on laundry detergent: Aldi Mamia Ultra Dry Size 2 Infant nappies scored only 60% for absorbency. However, they didn’t leak so that might save you a few loads while you’re saving a few dollars.

Here are the top nappies for your infant’s bottom:

Huggies Pure & Sensitive size 2

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 92% (Recommended)
• Absorbency score: 90%
• Leakage score: 100%
• Price: 47c per nappy

Rascals Premium nappies size 2

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 86% (Recommended)
• Absorbency score: 83%
• Leakage score: 100%
• Price: 32c per nappy

Worst rated infant nappies from our tests

While Cuddlies Bamboo Eco Nappies were the top performers in newborn sizes, they were the lowest-scoring infant nappies, which just goes to show that you shouldn’t shop on brand alone.

In fact, they were the lowest-scoring nappies by 13 percentage points, scoring a soggy 20% for absorbency and 40% for leakage.

Unfortunately the four ‘eco’ infant nappies we tested were the lowest scorers overall due to issues with absorbency, leakage or both. They’re also some of the most expensive infant nappies we reviewed, so while they might be better for the planet, they’re worse for your wallet.

These are the lowest-scoring infant nappies from our tests:

Cuddlies Bamboo Eco Nappies Size S Small Infant

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 41%
• Absorbency score: 20%
• Leakage score: 40%
• Price: 78c per nappy

Bunjie Probiotic Eco Nappies Size 2

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 54%
• Absorbency score: 46%
• Leakage score: 40%
• Price: 57c per nappy

Bambo Nature Size 2

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 56%
• Absorbency score: 30%
• Leakage score: 60%
• Price: 89c per nappy

Tips for saving money on nappies

There’s no two ways about it: children can be expensive. And new babies go through nappies at an alarming pace, so you’re likely to see your grocery bills grow as your baby does. 

To help minimise your nappy spend, here are a few tips for new parents:

• Check unit pricing whenever you’re buying nappies – it’s a much better indicator of cost than the overall pack price. And it’s much easier to understand when you’re sleep deprived!
• Buying in bulk can save you money – while a large pack will cost you more than a smaller one, you’ll pay less per nappy. 
• Reusable nappies are far cheaper in the long run than disposables. They might cost more up front, but over time they’ll significantly reduce the impact on your wallet, and the planet. If you don’t want to commit to cloth nappies full-time, you can always alternate with disposables. 
• Check prices from online retailers as well as at your local supermarket. You might be able to find a good price on special, and as a bonus they’ll be delivered to your doorstep so you won’t have to lug them home from the shops. 

How we test nappies

We send nappies to be tested in a state-of-the-art laboratory where we test for:

• Absorption: We measure the amount of time it takes for synthetic urine to disappear into the nappy
• Leakage: A visual assessment of whether any leaks come out the side of the nappy
• Rewet: We assess how wet the nappy is five minutes after the absorption test
• Velcro strength: We measure how strong the nappy’s adhesive closure is

Want to know more? Learn about how we test nappies.

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Alice Richard

Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid. Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.  Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.

Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid. Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.  Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.