Diapers & Potty Training Products Pampers Swaddlers Review Diapers that get the job done without breaking the bank By Leigh Weingus Leigh Weingus Leigh is a lifestyle writer specializing in health, wellness, and parenting content. She reviews products for Verywell Family. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 16, 2021 Medically reviewed by Lyndsey Garbi, MD Medically reviewed by Lyndsey Garbi, MD LinkedIn Lyndsey Garbi, MD, is a pediatrician who is double board-certified in pediatrics and neonatology. Learn about our Medical Review Board We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. 3.5 Pampers Swaddlers Verywell Family / Leigh Weingus What We Like Soft and absorbent Contain most blowouts Inexpensive What We Don't Like On the smaller side Can get twisted Not made with any better-for-baby materials Bottom Line If you don’t want to spend a ton of money but want a basic diaper that will get the job done, Pampers Swaddlers are for you. Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Target 3.5 Pampers Swaddlers Verywell Family / Leigh Weingus Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Target In This Article Expand Design Materials Absorbency Price Competition Why Trust Verywell Family Final Verdict Specs Our reviewer purchased the Pampers Swaddlers so she could thoroughly test and assess them with her daughter. Keep reading for our full product review. When I first learned I was pregnant, one thing I realized very quickly is that babies are expensive. They need a place to sleep (and for me that meant upgrading to a larger apartment —oof), clothes, furniture, childcare, and yes, diapers. I spent a lot of time researching diaper brands ahead of my daughter’s birth, and was shocked by how expensive some diaper brands and models were. Many hours later (and one week before my due date), I pulled the trigger and bought Pampers Swaddlers, a relatively inexpensive model of Pampers that seemed like it would get the job done. Read on to find out exactly how effective Pampers Swaddlers really are and how they stack up compared to other leading diaper brands and models. Verywell Family / Leigh Weingus Design: Standard and to the point, with a few flaws Pamper Swaddlers don’t come with any bells or whistles. While other diaper brands and even other Pampers models boast natural materials and extra coverage, Pampers Swaddlers diapers simply promise to be effective. And for the most part, they are. They have a wetness indicator strip, which in my opinion is the most important feature on any diaper. They have a little design, too, but it’s nothing too eye-catching—just cute and clearly made for a baby. The two edges that fasten to the front of the diaper often get twisted. I did have a few gripes with the overall design of Pampers Swaddlers, especially when I started testing other diapers and had a point of comparison. First, they’re on the smaller side, meaning they provide less coverage all around. The back doesn’t come up as high as the back on other diapers do (hello, outfit-ruining blowouts), and they don’t provide as much coverage on the sides, either. Another problem? The two edges that fasten to the front of the diaper often get twisted. While my daughter has come to like diaper changes a lot more recently, when she was first born she hated them. Having to waste precious seconds untwisting a diaper while my daughter screamed her head off in my sleep-deprived face absolutely killed me. Verywell Family / Leigh Weingus Materials: No-frills and a little bit irritating As I researched diapers, I quickly learned that materials are something diaper brands use as a selling point: eco-friendly, non-irritating, all-natural, bleach-free, aloe liner, plant-based, the list goes on and on. I do find Pampers Swaddlers to be me more irritating than other diaper brands I’ve tried. Pampers Swaddlers are soft to the touch and do have air channels that can reach the skin, which keeps babies dry and well-ventilated, but that’s about it. Again, they’re on the more inexpensive side, so this makes sense—you get what you pay for. But as someone who prioritizes natural materials (especially with my underwear, pads, and tampons), it did set off a few alarm bells when I thought about the fact that I wasn’t putting my baby in diapers made of more natural materials—especially because they’re so close to her sensitive skin. I do find Pampers Swaddlers to be me more irritating than other diaper brands I’ve tried. My daughter hasn’t gotten a diaper rash, but her skin does get red and irritated-looking after she wears Pampers Swaddlers for a while. I’ve tried fastening the diaper less tightly, but this tends to mean a less easily-contained blowout. And any parent knows that’s a nightmare. Absorbency: Impressive Like I mentioned, Pampers Swaddlers are a little smaller than other diaper brands and models I’ve tried (and to be clear, all of them claim to be the same size!) but their absorbency is impressive. We were lucky enough to get a baby who started sleeping nine hours at a time when she was just 6 weeks old, and one of the first things I worried about was her diaper. Would it be able to absorb all the pee that comes with her liquid diet over such a long period of time? The answer (thankfully) was yes. Pampers Swaddlers did a top-notch job of absorbing her pee all night long, meaning she woke up dry and comfortable and I could get as many hours of sleep in a row as she was getting. Their absorbency is impressive. The diapers are just as absorbent when it comes to poop, too, which is mostly liquid. Of course, no amount of absorbency can contain a blowout that leaks out of the back or the sides—but that’s another story. Price: Very reasonable The price was one of the main things that drew me to Pampers Swaddlers in the first place, and although I have a few problems with this diaper model as a whole, I maintain that they’re a good deal. If you buy a box of 198, you can find them for as low as 24 cents a diaper. The price varies slightly depending on the size. When you’re going through eight or more diapers a day, an inexpensive diaper is nothing to sneeze at. Verywell Family / Leigh Weingus Competition: Other diapers win Andy Pandy Premium Bamboo Disposable Diapers: I also tested the eco-friendly Andy Pandy diapers (view on Amazon), and, in addition to being better for the planet, we found them more effective at containing blowouts. They were also way better for my daughter’s sensitive skin. The only negative factor about these diapers is the price. Pampers Pure Protection Diapers: I tested Pampers Pure diapers (view on Amazon), which is Pampers’ more premium option. According to Pampers, they’re made with no chlorine bleaching, fragrance, parabens, or latex and didn’t irritate my daughter’s skin as much as the Swaddlers. They are more expensive than the Swaddlers but can be found for less than the Andy Pandy diapers. I really loved the adorable designs on these diapers, too. However, they weren’t the best at containing major blowouts. Final Verdict If you want the bare bones, buy them. Pampers Swaddlers are not for the parents who want to get a little extra “oomph” out of their diapers. They won’t do much to protect the environment or your baby’s skin from irritation and they won’t prevent massive blowouts, but they will save you some money. Why Trust Verywell Family Leigh Weingus is a lifestyle writer specializing in health, wellness, and parenting content. She’s reviewed and tested multiple diapers for Verywell Family. Specs Product Name Swaddlers Product Brand Pampers UPC 037000799832 Available Sizes Newborn-Size 6 (35+ pounds) Price $37.97-49.98 1 Source Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Pampers® pure protection diapers | pampers. Web-Pampers-US-EN. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit