When you’re a new parent, finding the right set of diapers for your little one can seem like a never-ending quest, which is often the cause of a Kirkland diapers vs Huggies debate.
While not the most common line-up, Kirkland Diapers vs Huggies is a fight between the budget diaper titan from Costco, Kirkland, and one of the strongest brands on the market right now, Huggies, to see just how different (or similar) these two really are.
In this case, there are some clear signs of which one is better, showing how the lack of certain quality features can be a dealbreaker when picking a diaper brand.
Read on to discover who wins this little diaper debate.
The Key Differences Between Kirkland Diapers VS Huggies
To save you a bit of reading time, the main differences between the two diapers are that Huggies can absorb about 30% more than its Costco counterpart.
Kirkland also lacks the pocketed waistband, meaning the diaper is a lot less secure on your baby.
You may also notice that the Kirkland ones sag and bunch up a lot more than the Huggies brand, which may make it more uncomfortable for the baby.
Does That Mean That Kirkland Brand Diapers Aren’t Good?
Do these disadvantages make Kirkland a bad diaper? Not by any means.
Considering it’s meant to be a budget option, it does its job wonderfully, and even better than some of the other popular diaper brands out there.
The Kirkland brand diapers are available to purchase on Amazon on top of being a Costco diaper, which is already a big plus in availability.
They come in a variety of sizes, from size 1 to size 6, and they’re quite affordable in addition to being very absorbent.
They may not be as absorbent as Huggies Little Movers, but they do their job regardless.
On the other hand, the Huggies brand of diapers have a pocketed elastic waistband that protects against diaper blowouts, unlike Kirkland which lacks this option.
The levels of absorbency between the two are vastly different, with Huggies absorbing about 30% more than Kirkland.
There’s little to no bunching up with Huggies, while the Kirkland option bunches up quite quickly, which can be quite uncomfortable for the baby.
With all these positives under the Huggies belt, it’s clear why this specific name brand is considered as one of the best diapers on the market to date.
That said, these are not huge differences, and there’s apparently a reason for this as some claim that the current Kirkland Signature Supremes are simply older versions of Huggies Little Snugglers repackaged to be sold at Costco due to an existing brand deal.
Kirkland Diapers VS Huggies Little Snugglers: The Rundown
To give you a slightly more detailed depiction of what I’m talking about, here are two of the brands’ most popular products and all their characteristics so you can judge for yourself.
Kirkland Signature Diapers
- SOFT AND BREATHABLE OUTER COVER - Made with a cushiony liner to provide to most comfortable and well fitting diaper for your child
- WETNESS INDICATOR - Being super absorbent allows for the diaper to turn blue when wet so you know when its time to change
- MADE WITH PLANT BASED MATERIALS - Providing you with the safest, non-fragranced and hypo-allergenic diaper possible
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
First up it’s the Costco champion, Kirkland, with their signature diapers.
1. Solid absorption
The first thing you might notice is that this specific diaper option is quite absorbent, a key component of any quality diaper, allowing it to hold a whole lot of liquid and prevent discomfort for your baby when he’s walking or crawling around the house.
This, in turn, also helps minimize the potential of leakage, or worse, diaper blowout, and at the very least helps reduce the ‘blast zone’.
2. A wetness indicator
Another key feature of the Kirkland Signature diaper brand is the built-in wetness indicator.
This is an absolute must-have, as it helps cut down time on diaper checkups by allowing you to simply check the strip on the outside of the baby’s diaper, instead of having to pull at the band to peek in.
This way you don’t end up accidentally ruining the diaper’s elastic or seal, keeping that potent baby poop smell trapped inside your little rascal’s diaper.
You’ll recognize the wetness indicator easily as it’s a yellow strip in front at the center of the diaper, which runs all the way to the back center.
When it turns blue, it’s a sign that the baby needs a change.
3. Superior comfort
The Costco store brand diapers also boast superior comfort for the baby.
Comfort isn’t just about the level of absorbency the diapers have, but also about the feel of the material and the comfort of the fit.
Your average diaper is usually made out of a mix of plastics wrapped around a layer of cotton, or some other form of soft and absorbent material to provide some padding.
However, the Kirkland Signature Supreme diapers take it a step further by adding one more layer of soft material to protect your baby’s butt and make sure it stays safe and snug inside at all times.
The material is breathable, allowing the skin to have some air circulation, which minimizes the chances of a rash popping up.
RELATED: 10 Best Organic Diaper Rash Creams For Baby’s Bottom
4. Fewer chemicals used in the manufacturing process
A common practice among many popular diaper brands is to bleach diapers or print all of those fancy, brightly colored patterns on them to attract the attention of kids and coax their parents into buying them.
All of that presentation sounds cute when it’s in the box, but these chemicals can pose a greater risk for potential allergic reactions on your baby’s sensitive skin, in addition to a few other health issues.
When some of these chemicals become wet, they produce chemical reactions which do not mix well with the baby’s skin.
Luckily, Kirkland Signatures don’t have any artificial dyes nor do they use bleach to make their diapers look whiter than they are.
While on the topic of chemicals, Kirklands are completely fragrance-free, unlike other brands that use artificial fragrances to add to the novelty of the diaper and mask bad smells.
This is just more chemicals that increase the chance of rash or a potentially severe allergic reaction, so kudos to Kirklands for getting rid of them.
5. Only comes in large packs
One of the slight downsides to buying Kirkland diapers that I need to mention in this diaper review is the fact that you can only buy them in large packs.
While they are cheaper when bought in bulk, if you’re nearing the stage where your baby is about to go up a size and you run out of diapers, you don’t really want to have to buy 100 extra pairs that’ll just end up going to waste.
Not to mention that Kirklands sizes are on the smaller side, meaning you’re more likely to size up quicker and that the old size won’t be a proper fit.
6. A snug fit
A good diaper fits the baby well while being comfortable and easy to move in.
You don’t want it to be too big or too small, as larger ones won’t be quite as snug and will leak, while the smaller ones won’t have enough room to hold poop and may lead to diaper blowout more often.
Kirkland diapers are a bit smaller than your average diaper, meaning they’re a bit more blowout prone, but they managed to make up for the size through adjustable velcro tabs on the sides for a larger fit, as well as a size-up indicator.
This helps parents see when it’s time for their child to size up to the next stage.
7. Partly organic
While Kirklands aren’t exactly organic diapers, only about 23% of the nappy is, they’re still classified as regular disposable diapers, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
Pros:
• Super-absorbent gel allows for more comfort
• Natural moisture-wicking properties with the extra soft layer
• Wetness indicator to see when it’s time for a diaper change
• Fragrance, bleach, and chemical-free
• Made from soft materials that allow the skin to breathe
• Affordable for most families, especially when buying in bulk
Cons:
• The velcro straps on the side are a little thin and prone to breaking
• The diaper size is smaller than that of other brands
• There’s no option to buy in smaller packs, only large ones
Huggies Little Snugglers
- Huggies Little Snugglers baby diapers size 2 fit babies 12-18 lb. (5-8 kg)
- GentleAbsorb Liner provides absorbent layer of protection with premium softness & breathability for sensitive skin
- Huggies Pocketed Waistband helps prevent diaper blowouts & contains the mess.Do not flush
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Next up in the Kirkland diapers vs Huggies square-off are the Huggies Little Snugglers, one of the best products from the Huggies line, alongside their quality baby wipes.
1. Absorbency through the roof
While Kirklands has a solid level of absorbency, the GentleAbsorb liner on the Huggies provides up to 32% extra absorbency compared to regular diapers, making them one of the best picks for your little one.
It absorbs liquid almost immediately, so your baby never feels any discomfort as long as the diaper isn’t too full.
2. Wetness indicator
One way you’ll be able to tell whether the diaper is full or not is through the built-in wetness indicator on the diaper, something that’s practically become an industry standard for quality diapers.
3. Extra comfy
Another outstanding feature of the Snugglers line is the fact they’re extremely comfortable for the baby.
Firstly, the newborn diapers come with umbilical cord cutouts that protect the baby’s umbilical cord stump, which is an excellent addition.
Secondly, the diapers are completely hypoallergenic, meaning they don’t have any harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances, nor do they go through the elemental chlorine bleaching process.
The diaper is also made out of soft and breathable material, providing your baby with extra comfort and air circulation inside the nappy to stave off any nasty rashes.
The leg bands on the nappies are just as soft, meaning the baby never really feels constrained in that regard.
4. The option of buying in bulk
While the option for buying smaller packs exists, Huggies also has an option to buy in bulk for when you really need to stock up.
The diapers can be bought from either Amazon (arguably the best option due to the wonders of online shopping) and Walmart, so you may end up landing on a deal or two to get them for cheaper.
5. Proper fit is key
Like I said earlier in the Kirkland diaper review, it’s important that the diaper fits the baby like a glove.
If it’s too small it won’t be able to absorb liquids, but if it’s too big it’ll be too loose and end up leaking.
There’s a reason Huggies have this name – their double grip strips ensure you can fasten the nappy nice and tight, regardless of whether it’s your first or one-hundredth time.
The diapers come with an elastic waistband that provides extra snugness around the waist and a proper fit that adjusts to the baby’s movements.
In order to prevent you accidentally using the wrong-sized diapers when your baby grows out of them, Huggies has a size-up indicator on all of their diapers to help parents realize when it’s time to go to the next step.
Speaking of which, Huggies only go from size 0 to size 5, so do keep that in mind in case you have a child that ends up needing to size up from 5.
Pros
• The addition of the umbilical cord stub cutout
• A wetness indicator to help you save time when diapering
• An elastic waistband to provide a more flexible and snug fit
• Free of harmful chemicals, artificial fragrances, and any bleaching processes
• They come in sizes 0-5
• GentleAbsorb liner to absorb even more moisture than other diapers on the market
Cons
• Thick and comfortable padding inside tends to bunch up when wet
• Diapers are more prone to leaking the longer your baby wears them according to some reviews
• While genuinely free of any artificial fragrances, there may be an odd medical smell that might put some people off buying them.
Kirkland Diapers VS Huggies: The Winner
There’s no doubt that there are many similarities between these two brands, but there are a few features that Huggies have which make it the superior diaper overall.
The umbilical cord cutout for newborn babies is a real blessing for instance, as is the Gentle Absorb liner.
In comparison to Kirkland, they offer a more consistently snug fit thanks to better padding on the leg holes and the elastic waistband that adjusts the nappy while the baby is on the move.
However, you may prefer Kirkland Signature Supremes just because they’re cheaper, and that’s completely fine.
How Is Absorbance Measured?
There’s all this talk of absorbency, but few people are able to explain what it actually means.
It refers to the amount of liquid the super absorbent polymers in the diaper can absorb.
The polymers are located in between the outer layers, which is where all of the liquid goes.
Huggies has two liners, which is why they are so much more absorbent than the competition while still remaining comfortable.
Cloth diapers don’t have these liners, which is why they need to be regularly washed and are more prone to giving your child rashes and skin infections, on top of being a lot of work to maintain.
All of that is just to get a cheaper price, but if budget is your concern, they might be better if you can spare the time to clean them.
Who Makes These Diapers?
Funnily enough, both diaper brands are made by Kimberly Clark, which is why they’re so similar and people believe the Kirklands are simply old Huggies diapers.
How Much Do Diapers Cost On Average?
As your child grows, they’ll go through an astronomical amount of diapers, something that you don’t think about because you only go through one at a time.
But children, on average, go through almost 2700 diapers in their first year of life.
That number only keeps going up.
One child on average ends up going through around 8-12 diapers daily, which is an insane number when you consider how much that is over the course of a year.
It comes out to around 900 dollars annually, which is a lot!
That is quite a bit of money, and a few cents up or down on cost can make a big difference when it’s applied almost 3000 times.
This is why it’s so important to always take everything into consideration, especially your budget.
For example, the Kirklands and Huggies have the same prices for size 1 and 2s, but as the size goes up further the Kirkland raises in price slower, while the Huggies keep on skyrocketing.
At size 5, the difference between the Kirklands ($0.36) and the Huggies ($0.48) is 12 cents.
That might seem small, but that’s going to rack up massively over time and make a sizable dent in your budget.
RELATED: How Many Diapers Do I Need To Get For My Baby?
In Conclusion
The Kirkland Diapers VS Huggies competition ended up being a bit of a moot point considering how similar they are, although Huggies did end up being a clear winner if budget isn’t your concern.
However, if you are mindful of your budget, then Kirklands would be the best choice for you.
They sacrifice a little bit of quality to provide you with a more than generous price, while still remaining a top competitor in the nappy business.
Ultimately, it’s up to personal preference.
You may not even like either of them and choose to go for other competitors like Luvs or Pampers Swaddlers.
Whatever you end up choosing, I’m positive it will be the best choice for your little one.
Until next time, mamma.
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