Some swear by these diapers, but are they better than the brand names?
Some baby things can make your life so much better as a parent. If you have the right crib mattress, the right car seat, the right swing, etc., it seems like parenting gets a little easier. But what about diapers? Did you know that the right diaper can seriously change your parenting life? I’m not exaggerating when I say that great diapers make all the difference. And Kirkland Diapers are great diapers. They are super absorbent, they have a good fit with no chemicals, and they come at a great price. Fewer blowouts and less leaks from an inexpensive, yet quality diaper. What else could you possibly need in a diaper?.
Soak It All In
What’s the key feature in any diaper? How absorbent they are. If a diaper can handle a lot of liquid, then baby will stay more comfortable and leaking won’t happen.
Watch It!
How They Work
I’ve never questioned how diapers work, I just want to know that they will work. But let’s have a quick parent science lesson. Diapers work by using the same concept that makes a sponge work. They use something that will absorb a lot of liquid without taking up too much surface area. In the case of diapers, they use synthetic polymers that absorb liquid without letting any leech out. Combined with a fuzzy and absorbent cotton lining, moisture is wicked away from baby and turned into a sort of gel within the diaper.
Kirkland diapers are made with what they call “safe, absorbent particles that gel when wet” So while I’m not sure what the exact type of synthetic particle is, they do say that it’s totally safe for baby. The gel is contained in the super absorbent core. And I have easily left these diapers on my daughter overnight with no leaking, so they aren’t exaggerating when they say that these are super-absorbent. This gel is covered by a quick-draw liner that wicks moisture away from baby’s skin. It draws the liquid in and away from baby’s bottom so that it can be held in the gel and not by baby’s skin. This feature means that I can leave diapers on the baby for longer with less risk of rash.
Wetness Indicator
Most parents have a pretty good idea of when their baby’s diaper is wet. But just in case you aren’t sure, these diapers have a wonderful wetness indicator. There’s a yellow stripe that runs from the front center of the diver to the back center of the diaper. When baby has wet the diaper, the wetness indicator will turn blue. This is really nice for quickly checking to see if your baby’s diaper is wet no feeling and guessing, just look at the indicator and see what color it is. One thing I will say is that with my baby’s poop, sometimes the wetness indicator wouldn’t change colors. So my baby would have a little bit of poop in the diaper, but the diaper would appear as though it were still dry. Maybe that’s just because the poop hadn’t penetrated into that gel layer to make it change colors. In any case, I was really thankful to have the wetness indicators on many occasions, especially when out in public and wondering if I should change baby’s diaper before I go on to the next errand I have to run.
One thing I will say is that with my baby’s poop, sometimes the wetness indicator wouldn’t change colors. So my baby would have a little bit of poop in the diaper, but the diaper would appear as though it were still dry. Maybe that’s just because the poop hadn’t penetrated into that gel layer to make it change colors. In any case, I was really thankful to have the wetness indicators on many occasions, especially when out in public and wondering if I should change baby’s diaper before I go on to the next errand I have to run.
Baby’s Comfort is Key
Keeping baby from feeling wet is only the first step in keeping them happy when it comes to diapers. Baby also has to be comfortable and have a good fit to be happy in their diaper.
Soft Materials
It would be easy to make diapers out of plastic, since it repels moisture so well and is easy to clean, but that just wouldn’t be comfortable for baby. While almost all diapers are made with a plastic sort of material, they usually have cotton or other soft materials woven in. Kirkland diapers have an extra soft layer for your baby’s bottom. This keeps their skin soft and happy. Also, while the outer materials do have some plastic in them, you would never know it. Everything is nice and soft and baby won’t notice that they’re wearing a plastic disposable diaper. The fact that the outer layer breathes well just helps in keeping baby comfortable and getting some fresh air to that skin. Well, as much fresh air as is possible when wearing a diaper.
Also, while the outer materials do have some plastic in them, you would never know it. Everything is nice and soft and baby won’t notice that they’re wearing a plastic disposable diaper. The fact that the outer layer breathes well just helps in keeping baby comfortable and getting some fresh air to that skin. Well, as much fresh air as is possible when wearing a diaper.
Fewer Chemicals
Surprisingly, one of diaper manufacturers biggest concerns is making their diapers cute. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with cute designs, like the simple ones on Kirkland diapers. I am less concerned about how cute my diaper is, though, and more concerned about how well it works. Anyways, in order to make their diapers look a certain way, manufacturers spend a lot of money printing designs on their diapers, and also bleaching them. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal on the outside, on the inside of the diaper, that bleach can mix with the wetness from your child’s excrement and create the perfect storm for rashes and infections. Some companies also perfume their diapers. Because they need to look cute and smell cute, I suppose.
I personally don’t like the perfumed diapers, because the extra chemicals in the diaper just aren’t worth it to me. Between dyes, bleaches, scents, moisture wicking agents, and other chemicals, disposable diapers can really bother your child skin. That’s why Kirkland diapers are so great. They don’t have a lot of the scents, dyes, and perfumes that other diapers might have. Out of all the brands I’ve tried, only this and two other brands didn’t give my daughter really bad diaper rash. So big brand name or not, Kirkland can compete with the best when it comes to providing a low chem diaper for my baby.
Getting the Right Fit
Perhaps the single most important factor in avoiding a blowout in the diaper is proper fit. If a diapers too big, there’s gaps and the poop and pee has lots of places to escape. Likewise, if the diaper is too small, it won’t cover enough area, and the poop and pee will have no choice but to escape the diaper. That’s why making sure you put your baby in the right size is important. One thing about these Kirkland diapers is that they do run on the small side.
When I compared them to the name brand of the same size, they were definitely smaller. But that doesn’t mean the right fit isn’t possible. These diapers have adjustable velcro tabs on the side. I do wish the tabs were a little bit larger, like one of the other name brands I’ve tried, but, they did their job. I also like the elastic waistband on the back of the diaper. Both of my kids were a little bit on the bigger side, and having some extra stretch in the waistband meant that I could get the diaper tight enough to keep the poop from coming up the back and keep the pee from coming up the front.
A Price for Parents
Even the most absorbent and comfortable diaper in the whole world isn’t realistic for parents if it costs too much. So where do Kirkland diapers come in on the price scale? At the lower end, but that’s no indication of their quality.
Mid-Price Perfection
I don’t usually talk a lot about price, but since diapers can get so expensive, price is one of the more important features. When it comes to diapers, you should look at the price per diaper. Many experts recommend not paying more than about $0.15 per diaper. Most of the name brands huddle well above that point. Kirkland diapers come in just above that mark. So while they aren’t the cheapest, they are also not the most expensive. The other perk about Kirkland diaper prices? You don’t have to clip coupons and obsess over sales to get that price. Their price stays reasonable everyday.
Big Pack Convenience
For whatever marketing reason, price per diaper isn’t the same across all package sizes for the big brands. You get the better deals when you buy the bigger packs. Kirkland doesn’t have the option of just buying a small package, which some parents just hate. And with good reason- if baby is almost grown out of a size, you don’t want to buy 100 more diapers in that size. I personally think that’s a good thing. Why? First, you get a lower price all the time. But my favorite thing about the Kirkland big packs is their size. No running to the grocery store every week to buy diapers (by the way, most regular grocery stores don’t even carry big size diaper packages!). I can buy one pack and be good to go for up to a month, depending on the diaper size. It’s so much more convenient than buying 5 smaller packs. And if baby is on the cusp of a size change, I just go up a size. It hasn’t failed me yet!
Pros
- Super absorbent gel
- Liner keeps moisture away from skin
- Wetness indicator strip means no guessing
- Soft and breathable materials
- Fewer chemicals and no perfumes
- Good price in big packages
Cons
- Velcro straps are too skinny
- Wetness indicator doesn’t work on poop alone
- Run smaller than other brands
- Can’t buy in smaller packages
FAQ’s About Kirkland Diapers
Are Kirkland diapers made by Huggies?
Kirkland’s diapers are made by Kimberly Clark, the manufacturer of Huggies diapers. The two brands are very similar. General consensus indicates that both diapers are excellent. Huggies are just a little better, and Kirklands are just a little less expensive.
Are Kirkland diapers eco friendly?
Kirkland’s diapers are standard disposable diapers. They are effective, comfortable, and convenient. They do boast “plant-based materials” (23% by weight), but their excellent absorbency is effected by the presence of synthetic gel (SAP). Disposable diapers are said to comprise (very roughly) one percent of landfill volume.
Where can I buy Kirkland’s diapers?
You can purchase them at Costco or online, through Costco’s website or at Amazon.
Are there other good discount diapers?
Target’s Up and Up, Walmart’s Parent’s Choice, and Walgreens’ Well Beginnings diapers are all relatively well-rated by parents. You might want some of these economical brands.
Is there an economical organic diaper?
Disposable organic diapers tend to be more expensive than other disposables. For a more reasonably priced organic diaper, you might check Babyganics Skin Love diapers or Seventh Generation (Sam’s Club brand). These are relatively well-rated, and they are less expensive than some of the other eco-friendly brands.
What is the least expensive, performing diaper?
ExperiencedMommy recommends for newborns, Huggies Little Snugglers; for toddlers, Parents’ Choice; and Earth & Eden for organic diapers. Target’s Up and Up is another very popular choice for the economy.
Conclusion
If you are tired of paying big bucks for name brand diapers that just go in the trash, I am right there with you. That’s why you should try Kirkland Diapers. While they are a bit less well-known, they work just as well as any other diaper I’ve tried.
They absorb really well, even if left on overnight. I love that these diapers have fewer chemicals than other diapers because of my daughter’s sensitive skin. Although the velcro straps are skinny and flimsy, I find that I’m still able to get a good fit on my daughter. Most messes were contained with no problems.
I can buy big packages so I don’t have to haul the kids to the store once a week just to grab diapers.
If you want the absolute cheapest diaper on the market, then it’s definitely not these. But if you want a good diaper at a decent price, then you will love Kirkland Diapers.
Kirkland’s good, but it’s not the best. Find the Best Baby Diapers here on Experienced Mommy.
