Before I had my son, I thought diapers were just… diapers. You know, a thing that catches poop and pee. I figured I’d use whatever showed up from my baby shower or what I could grab at Target in a bind.
Then I actually became a mom. And realized:
- Diapers are on your baby 24/7.
- The wrong diaper can cause leaks, blowouts, rashes, wake a sleeping baby—or worse, have long term effects on your babies health.
- You’re going to go through thousands of them.
So yes, they matter. A lot more than I expected.
Over the last six months, I tested four popular diaper brands: Coterie, Millie Moon, Costco (Kirkland Signature), and Honest. I wanted to know: are the more expensive ones actually worth it? What’s just clever branding? And what will hold up to a real-life baby who’s becoming more mobile, starting solids, and learning to sleep through the entire night?
Let’s get into it.
Quick Comparison Chart
| Brand | Price 💸 | Aesthetic 🎨 | Functionality ⚙️ | Clean Factor 🧼 | Overall ⭐️ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coterie | $$$$ ($0.50+/diaper) | Minimal + Luxe | Exceptional | Cleanest on list | ★★★★★ |
| Millie Moon | $$ ($0.35–$0.40/diaper) | Simple | Good | Clean(ish) | ★★★★☆ |
| Costco | $ ($0.18–$0.22/diaper) | Generic | Good | Not “clean” labeled | ★★★☆☆ |
| Honest | $$$ ($0.40–$0.45/diaper) | Generic | Poor | Clean(ish) | ★★☆☆☆ |
What I Was Looking For
I wasn’t trying to find the cheapest diaper—I was trying to find the one that worked best for my real life. That meant:
- No leaks or blowouts
- No bad chemicals
- Good fit that didn’t prevent movement or leave red marks
- Low “crinkle factor” and flexibility
- Quick absorbency
1. COTERIE
The Rolls Royce of diapers—and it shows.
Coterie was the brand I’d seen on every aesthetic mom’s Instagram and I wanted to try it just for that reason. But, if felt like the branding was too good. Surely this was another DTC scam with a beautiful brand and an overpriced $90/month subscription?
Spoiler: they’re not. These are, hands-down, the best-performing diapers I’ve used.
What I loved:
- Legitimately zero leaks, even overnight. Previous to using coterie I would change my baby’s diaper at least once a night which would lead to him rousing from his sleep which meant a longer window for him to fall back asleep.
- Absorbs fast, keeps baby feeling dry
- No red marks, no plasticky smell.
- No red lines or indents. This one became a priority for me, because we’ve all been there when we take off a tight pair of socks and your skin is indented and red, and it itches.so.bad. I hated to think that my baby was experiencing this nonstop.
- Soft material, but not in a fake way. Feels like cashmere, or a nice organic material.
- Super stretchy waistband that moves easily with your baby
- Delivered monthly = one less thing to remember. They send a 5 day reminder email and the subscription is very easy to change. I was going to run out a few days before my next shipment came, so I went online and had it ship “today”. FYI – delivery has always been within 2 days of it shipping out.
- It’s the cleanest diaper of the bunch, more on that below.
What I didn’t:
- The cost. It’s steep. But if you can swing it, it’s worth it—especially for overnight or long windows between changes.
🍼 Hard Launch Mom verdict:
If you want the best of the best, this is it.
2. MILLIE MOON
The Target alternative with a luxe feel.
Millie Moon is one of those brands that feels like it should cost more than it does. The packaging is cute, the materials feel luxe, and it’s got a lot of the “clean” marketing bells and whistles (fragrance-free, lotion-free, etc.).
What I loved:
- It’s the softest, most plush material—feels high-end (but almost too soft?).
- Minimal designs (no licensed cartoon characters here)
- Affordable and easy to grab in a bind at Target
- Absorbs well during the day
What I didn’t:
- It left really really bad indents and red marks on my baby’s legs and stomach.
- Slightly bulkier than others, there’s not a lot of flexibility in these diapers,
- They’re hard to put on. There’s no give in the bands, and if your baby has their legs up ever, it will not fit correctly. I would have to fight my baby and push his legs down when strapping the diaper on for it to fit correctly. If I didn’t, leaks usually happened.
- Not the best for overnights—had a few wet sleep sacks and sheets in the morning.
🍼 Hard Launch Mom verdict:
If you want a stylish, clean(ish) diaper at a mid-range price point, this diaper is a good choice.
3. COSTCO (Kirkland Signature)
The budget MVP.
Listen, I look forward to my weekly Costco run, so when a mom friend swore by the Kirkland diapers, I was excited to give them a shot—and was surprised by how well they held up.
What I loved:
- Extremely affordable
- No major leaks during the day
- Decent stretch in the waistband
- Easy to buy in bulk and always in stock
What I didn’t:
- A little stiff/crinkly
- Not fragrance-free or “clean” labeled
- Designs are a little too “cutsie” for my personal preference.
🍼 Hard Launch Mom verdict:
Costco wins on value. Functionally they perform well and their price can’t be beat. Just maybe skip them for overnight or if you’re concerned about the clean factor.
4. HONEST COMPANY
Cute patterns, but functionally underwhelming.
I wanted to love Honest. They’re everywhere, and the brand is all about clean ingredients and conscious parenting (To me it actually feels like the brand greenwashes). But in practice? These diapers just didn’t perform for us.
What I loved:
- Widely available
- Fun designs
What I didn’t:
- Every single tab ripped at some point
- Prone to sagging and leakage
- The diaper is extremely thin, especially compared to others – which may feel lighter for baby, but I believe this lead to reduced absorbency.
- Not cheap enough to justify the performance
🍼 Hard Launch Mom verdict:
Skip. Buy any other diaper and they’ll be better.
Price:
| Brand | Price 💸 |
|---|---|
| Coterie | $$$$ ($0.50+/diaper) |
| Millie Moon | $$ ($0.35–$0.40/diaper) |
| Costco | $ ($0.18–$0.22/diaper) |
| Honest | $$$ ($0.40–$0.45/diaper) |
Winner: Costco
Functionality
| Brand | Functionality |
|---|---|
| Coterie | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Millie Moon | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Costco | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Honest | ⭐ |
Winner: COTERIE
Aesthetic:
| Brand | |
|---|---|
| Coterie | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Millie Moon | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Costco | ⭐⭐ |
| Honest | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Winner: COTERIE
Clean Factor:
🧼 Clean Ingredient Comparison Chart
Ranked below, here’s a breakdown of what each of these mean:
| Category | Why It Matters | Coterie | Millie Moon | Kirkland Signature | Honest Company |
|---|
| Total Chlorine Free (TCF) | 0% chlorine bleaching reduces harmful dioxins and chemical residue, gentler on baby’s skin and environment | ✅ | ❌ (ECF) | ❌ (ECF) | ❌ (ECF) |
|---|
| Fragrance Free | Avoids potential irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive skin | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Lotion Free | Reduces risk of chemical additives that can irritate baby’s skin | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Latex Free | Prevents allergic reactions related to natural latex | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Rubber Free | Avoids common allergens from rubber that can cause rashes | ✅ | ❓ | ❌ | ❓ |
|---|
| Dye Free | Prevents skin irritation and reduces exposure to unnecessary synthetic chemicals | ✅ | ❓ | ❌ | ✅ |
|---|
| Alcohol Free | Eliminates drying agents that could irritate or damage baby’s skin | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Free of Heavy Metals | Prevents exposure to toxic metals that can be harmful even in trace amounts | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| Clinically Proven Hypoallergenic | Tested to minimize allergic reactions and skin irritation | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Dermatologist-Tested | Tested by skin experts for safety on sensitive baby skin | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Paraben Free | Avoids preservatives linked to hormone disruption | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Phthalate Free | Excludes chemicals that may interfere with hormone development | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Free of Harsh Chemicals | Ensures diapers avoid irritants that could harm baby’s delicate skin | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ✅ |
|---|
| No VOCs | Avoids volatile organic compounds linked to respiratory and skin irritation | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| No Optical Brighteners | Prevents skin irritation and reduces environmental harm | ✅ | ❓ | ❌ | ✅ |
|---|
| No Animal Testing | Ethical choice avoiding cruelty | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ✅ |
|---|
| Made in the USA | Ensures stricter manufacturing oversight and labor practices; many parents prioritize this | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
|---|
| Third-Party Certifications | Verified by OEKO-TEX®, EWG Verified™, FSC® etc., confirming clean and safe product claims | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ✅ |
|---|
| No SAP on Baby’s Skin | Reduces risk of SAP contacting skin; safer absorption technology | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| Plant-Based Core or Topsheet | Limits plastic contact and lowers environmental impact | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| Biodegradable Components | Eco-friendly choice to reduce landfill waste | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| No Petroleum-Based Ingredients | Reduces exposure to potentially irritating, petroleum-derived chemicals | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| Transparent Ingredient Disclosure | Full ingredient transparency builds trust and accountability | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| Pediatrician or Expert Approved | Backed by expert clinical input for additional trustworthiness | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| Breathability & Moisture Wicking | Enhances skin health by reducing rash risk and irritation | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
| pH Neutral | Helps maintain the skin’s natural barrier, critical for sensitive skin | ✅ | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
|---|
Winner: COTERIE
TL;DR: What I’d Actually Recommend and What I’m Currently Using
If you’re looking for a diaper that does it all—comfort, performance, aesthetics, and safety—Coterie is unmatched. I have been using it exclusively now for over 3 months and will use them until we have fully potty trained.
To me, if a good diaper buys you a few additional hours of sleep or one less outfit change, it’s worth every penny.
SHOP COTERIE FOR 20% OFF.
June 3, 2025
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