This overall score is made up of absorbency (40%), leakage (30%), rewet (20%) and velcro strength scores (10%).

Note: Only products within each type are directly comparable to one another, so use our filter tool to sort by type.

Using synthetic urine, gushes of the liquid are dosed into the centre of the nappy using a pump. For newborn nappies each gush is 30mL, for infant nappies it's 40mL and for crawler nappies it's 50mL. This simulates a child wearing the nappy overnight. We measure the amount of time it takes for the liquid to disappear. This is repeated four times with a five-minute gap between each gush. The total time taken for all four gushes to be absorbed is the absorption speed.

This is a visual assessment where we check if any leaks come out the side of the nappy.

Five minutes after the last gush from the absorption test, six pre-weighed dry filter papers are placed on the wet nappy and held down for 30 seconds. The filter paper is then removed and weighed. Ideally, the filter paper should remain relatively dry.

We measure the force required to open the velcro tabs.

Based on the visual assessment leakage is rated as either: none, slight, light, moderate or heavy.

Velcro strength is rated as weak, moderate or strong, depending on the force required to open the velcro tabs.

We recommend newborn nappies that score of at least 80% overall and at least 70% for absorbency. For infant and crawler nappies, we recommend products that score at least 70% overall and at least 70% for absorbency.

This is the cost per nappy. We used the price of the largest pack size available to determine the cost per nappy. 

This is the price of the largest pack we've found available. Prices may vary between stores.

This is the weight range as specified on the packaging.

This is a line on the nappy that changes colour when the nappy is wet. It can be a useful indicator to parents/carers that the nappy is wet and might need changing.