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:

1. Diapers are on your baby 24/7.
2. The wrong diaper can cause leaks, blowouts, rashes, wake a sleeping baby—or worse, have long term effects on your babies health.
3. 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.

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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)	★★☆☆☆

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.