Pampers Baby Dry vs Swaddlers: A Mom’s Guide to the Best Diapers for Your Baby
Every baby is different, but through exhaustive research, I’ve found the key differences between Pampers Baby Dry vs Swaddlers.
Did you know the average baby uses 2,460 diapers in their first year alone? That’s why choosing the right type of diaper for your baby is so important!
Armed with that information, you can make an informed decision about what diaper is best for your baby!
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What’s the difference between Pampers Swaddlers and Baby Dry?
What’s the difference between Pampers Swaddlers and Baby Dry? There are 4 key differences:
- Absorbency: Baby Dry have more absorbent material to soak up 21% more liquid than Swaddlers
- Softness: Swaddlers have an extra soft, quilted interior liner to keep moisture away from your baby’s sensitive skin. Baby Dry do not.
- Breathability: Baby Dry are designed to be breathable and stretchy. Swaddlers are designed to be soft and stretchy.
- Umbilical Cord: Newborn sizes of Swaddlers have an umbilical cord notch. Baby Dry do not.
When to use Pampers Baby Dry vs Swaddlers
Baby Dry (click to view lowest price on Amazon) are designed for overnight use when parents don’t want to wake their baby for a diaper change.
Swaddlers (click for lowest price on Amazon) are best for a newborn’s delicate skin from 0-6 months.
Baby Dry work best for ages 6-12 months, especially at night. If you have a baby who’s at least 6 months old, I recommend Pampers Cruisers or Cruisers 360 on your baby during the day. Their contoured fit is great for babies who are starting to crawl and roll over.
Related post: Review of Pampers Cruisers 360 vs Cruisers vs Easy Ups
Sensitivity
Pampers Swaddlers have a super-soft quilted interior liner that is gentle on your baby’s skin. Baby Dry have a liner designed to keep moisture away from your baby’s bottom.
Absorbancy
As you probably guessed from the name, Baby Dry are built to soak up a ton of liquid. I took one Baby Dry diaper and one Swaddler diaper and poured water on them, one quarter of a cup at a time to test this.
The Pampers Swaddler held 4.25 cups of water. That seemed like a ton of water! But the Baby Dry just kept soaking up more water: it held 5.25 cups of water! That’s 23% more!
I was also impressed by the fact that both diapers soaked up the water quickly! After each cup of water, I patted each diaper with a paper towel, and they came away dry. That means both diapers are great at keeping your baby’s skin moisture-free, which means less chance of diaper rash.
But I want to add, I was amazed at just how much water a diaper can hold! While Baby Dry clearly held more water than Swaddlers, Swaddlers do absorb quite a lot!
Related post: Pampers Baby Dry Diaper Review
Available sizes
Baby Dry are available in sizes newborn to 6 (children over 35 pounds). Swaddlers are available in sizes newborn to 7 (children over 41 pounds).
Umbilical cord notch
Swaddlers newborn size have a notch cut out to protect your baby’s umbilical cord. But Baby Dry do not have a notch.
Wetness Indicator
All sizes of Pampers Baby and Swaddlers have wetness indicators. Baby Dry used to only have the indicator on sizes newborn, 1, and 2. But now all sizes of Baby Dry have wetness indicators!
Related post: My Mom’s a Nerd’s Ultimate Guide to All the Major Diaper Brands
Pampers Baby Dry Review
My honest Pampers Baby Dry Review
Pampers Baby Dry do exactly what they say they will! They hold more pee and work great for overnight use. Baby Dry fit nearly as snugly as Swaddlers to prevent leaks. They sacrifice a little bit of comfort and softness for added absorption and moisture wicking.
I’ve used Baby Dry when my little one was about 3-6 months old and didn’t experience any diaper rash or irritation. And they held up great overnight!
Likewise, I tried them again around 16 months because my daughter empties her sippy cup at night and pees a lot. Even though she moves around a lot in her sleep and has so much water, Pampers Baby Dry stay on snug with no leaks and absorb it all!
Related post: Pampers Swaddlers vs Cruisers Diaper Comparison
Pampers Baby Dry vs Cruisers
The differences between Pampers Baby Dry vs Cruisers are
- Absorbancy: Baby Dry absorb more and protect your baby from moisture for up to 12 hours
- Fit: Cruisers are built to stay on active babies who are rolling over, crawling and walking
Cruisers stay on by having great elastic leg cuffs, and the waistband is kinda stretchy! That way, the diapers stay on your child while they are moving.
But Baby Dry lock moisture away from your baby’s skin more quickly, keeping them drier between diaper changes.
When to use Pampers Baby Dry vs Cruisers
Pampers Baby Dry are great for overnight use in babies six months and up since they are so absorbent and your baby may be sleeping longer at night. Pampers Cruisers work best on babies who are at least 3-6 months old and are starting to roll over or crawl since they have a great contoured fit for active babies.
Related post: My review comparing Pampers diapers versus Costco’s diapers
Pampers Baby Dry vs Swaddlers FAQ
Are Pampers Baby Dry overnight diapers?
Pampers Baby Dry are overnight diapers. They have better absorbency than Pampers Swaddlers to prevent leaks and hold in more poop and pee overnight. They also have a special liner to keep the moisture away from your baby’s skin.
Can you use Pampers Baby Dry during day?
You can use Pampers Baby Dry during the day. Baby Dry’s main benefit is their ability to absorb more, and keep the mess away from your baby’s skin, keeping them rash free.
They are designed for overnight use when your baby is sleeping for long periods and you don’t want them to wake up due to a leaky diaper. However, there’s no reason you can’t use them during the day.
Which is better: Pampers Swaddlers or Baby Dry?
Pampers Swaddlers and Baby Dry are best for different situations. Pampers Swaddlers are great for small babies who have their diapers changed frequently. Baby Dry work well when your baby is sleeping through the night and needs a more absorbent diaper.
Conclusions: Pampers Baby Dry vs Swaddlers
If you have a newborn and are changing diapers frequently, Swaddlers are the best choice for your baby’s sensitive skin. Click here for the best price on Amazon
If you like Pampers and are looking for overnight protection for your baby, click here to get the best price on Baby Dry on Amazon!
Related posts:
- What are the best diapers for newborn babies?
- Read my comparison of Pampers vs Huggies here
- Here’s our Pampers Easy Ups Training Pants Review
I’m a mom of two and I’ve tried both Pampers Baby Dry and Swaddlers. I think Pampers Baby Dry are better because they’re more absorbent and they don’t leak as much.