9 Best Diapers

When it comes to the right diaper for your baby, we've got those precious little bums covered—here are our 9 picks.

Seventh Generation's diapers are not biodegradable, nor can they be composted, but they are better for the environment (and your sweet babe's little bottom) thanks to their construction and lack of chlorine processing. Free of fragrances, latex, and petroleum-based lotions, they are definitely absorbent and soft. Seventh Generation also offers a line of overnight diapers that are even more absorbent for the longer overnight stretch.

BroodyChicks—we'd buy them for the name alone. Hailed as the most eco-friendly alternative to disposable diapers, these are one of the first diaper options in North America that are fully biodegradable and compostable. Created by a BC mom who was tired of putting her babies' butts in less-than-natural surroundings, the company also offers wipes, soaps and lotions. These diapers might be pricey, and feel slightly stiffer, but they get an A+ from us for holding leaks well (and for saving the planet in the disposable diaper arena).

For parents dealing with stubborn diaper rashes, a hypoallergenic, soft, organic cotton diaper with aloe added (with few ink dyes) may be the answer. While cloth diapers were the original solution, Huggies now has a Pure & Natural line. More expensive than other readily-available disposable brands, Huggies' Pure & Natural line is available from newborn to size five.

If you've decided that cloth diapering and laundering are going to be part of your daily duty, Bummis Complete Cloth Diapering Kit could be the most economical and comprehensive way of diving in. Sizes and contents of each kit vary depending on the age and/or weight of your child. It may sound like a lot, but easy instructions are included to get you started.

They're so small, so sweet, and so jaw-droppingly capable of gargantuan gastro-emissions. Securely lock in the liquid and everything else that's going to come out of them (and trust us, it will all come out) with a diaper known to be tough enough. Pampers Cruisers (and their premie and newborn line, Swaddlers) are known to be especially strong in keeping things sealed up. No longer made with the controversial DryMax material, the Cruisers are back to their original formula, and for that (especially on a crowded plane, bus or in the middle of a baby class) you can be grateful.

There are many benefits to all-in-one cloth diapers, not the least of which is that they expand with your babe, from a newborn, all the way up to a 35-pound toddler. You're set size-wise with bumGenius Elemental All-in-One Diapers. Made with absorbent, organic cotton liners integrated into a waterproof outer layer, stretchy tabs, durable leg elastics (to contain messes), and double snap enclosures (which we like because as the kids get older, they can pull at Velcro). Good to Know: ‘All-in-one' cloth diapers can take longer to air dry or tumble dry, so you'll want a few on hand as the soiled ones make their way through the wash cycle.

If the ‘pocket/insert cloth' diaper system is for you, Rumparooz get rave reviews for overall quality and a smart design that includes inner gussets that keep all the yuck stuck inside where you want it. Each Rumparooz diaper comes with two micro-terry inserts (during nap time or nighttime it's best to double them up for added absorbency). With biodegradable fabric, and three rows of snaps, there are essentially four sizes in one Rumparooz diaper. Added bonus: no separate diaper cover required.

No getting the bum rap here. This is another smart line that combines the ease of disposable diapering with the earth-friendly consciousness of cloth diapers. The gDiaper system offers re-useable, washable cotton diaper covers along with inserts (called gRefills) which, when simply wet, are biodegreadable and compostable and when soiled can be flushed just like toilet paper (approved for standard North America homes, those with septic systems should verify flushability). The washable gDiaper covers are soft, with cute patterns, and have been designed to keep diaper rash at bay.

There are dozens of fitted cloth diapers on the market, and most come in different sizes as your babe gets bigger. Save a little with Sugar Peas' Cloth Diapers, which offers a 2-step fitted diaper using multiple snaps and rise settings, extending its life. Made entirely of organic hemp fleece—known for absorbency—Sugar Peas' diapers have elastic at the edges to keep the babe (and the contents of the diaper) snug. You'll want waterproof and breathable diaper covers on top.