In partnership with HealthyBaby. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
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Did you know babies can use upwards of 2,000 diapers in their first year of life? If you have ever had a baby, you know it’s a LOT of diapering for parents…and a lot of time spent in diapers for our littlest loves. Their quality and safety matter, and while I used to believe that all diapers were pretty close to the same, I’ve learned over time that that is certainly not the case. Two of the most talked-about brands in our parenting circles are Coterie and HealthyBaby, and I tried both to compare them on everything from absorbency to safety and fit. After several weeks, I emerged with one chosen brand. Discover which – and shop my recommendation – below!
The Players
HealthyBaby: First on the list of players is HealthyBaby. The brand’s website states they are on a mission to provide the “safest essentials for your baby and our planet” and to support baby’s “healthy connected brain.”
Coterie: Coterie was established after its founder noted the lesser quality in US diapers as opposed to Japanese ones.
Test 1: Safety
HealthyBaby: If you’ve been around the “clean” diaper space for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard the acronyms “TCF” and “ECF,” which mean totally chlorine free and elemental chlorine free, respectively. TCF is considered safer for baby, as that means no chlorine is used in the making of the diaper – period. HealthyBaby is TCF and actually goes above and beyond to be the 1st and only EWG Verified diaper, meaning it is free of 2800+ chemicals and materials linked to health risks.
Coterie: Also TCF, this one is a good choice from a safety perspective. It is also free of many major chemicals and contains some plant-based materials.
Winner: HealthyBaby
Test 2: Absorbency
HealthyBaby: Isn’t this the test that really counts?! Just kidding, they all do… but no one likes #1 and #2 all over you. HealthyBaby is designed with specific leak protection and “magical air channels” for superior absorbency. I definitely noticed this in action with my 2-month-old and overnight changes. As he’s begun to sleep longer stretches, these diapers have successfully wicked away moisture to keep him asleep longer… that’s a win for mama!
Coterie: Though this kept my baby asleep for longer than the others (praise!), we did experience a few messy blowouts… and no parent likes that.
Winner: HealthyBaby
Test 3: Softness
HealthyBaby: I simply can’t get enough of HealthyBaby’s softness. I live in Michigan, so my hands are constantly dry in the winter months and touching some soft things gives me the “ick.” Not HealthyBaby – my dry fingers still love the touch of these… and so does my baby. From what I’ve read, that’s thanks to this diaper’s 15% organic cotton outer layer – it feels like a total dream!
Coterie: I tried Coterie first out of all three brands and I doubted the softness could be beat. It felt amazing on my bare hands, so I could only imagine it on my baby’s booty. But… HealthyBaby was somehow hands-down way softer.
Winner: HealthyBaby
Test 4: Price
HealthyBaby: HealthyBaby is what I’d call a luxury diaper, so you can expect a higher price tag from them. They run $0.50/diaper for a 5 pack when you bundle (210 diapers in size 1).
Coterie: Coterie is about the same price as HealthyBaby, coming in at $0.51/diaper for a pack of 198 size 1 diapers.
Winner: Tie
Test 5: Sustainability
HealthyBaby: You’ll immediately notice HealthyBaby diapers are different as soon as you see the packaging: it's made of paper not plastic. These diapers are also made in the EU at a carbon neutral manufacturing plant, and the brand is even certified Plastic Neutral, which means that HealthyBaby offsets every gram of plastic it generates (from the absorbent center of the diaper) through a nonprofit partner called rePurpose.
Coterie: While Coterie appears to recognize the importance of sustainability, its website alludes more to R+D that the brand is doing over ways their current diaper is made more sustainably: “We’re currently making significant reinvestments into sustainable materials R&D, with the ultimate goal of a fully-sustainable diapering solution.” The other important thing to know is that more liquid capacity means more absorbent plastic in the center of the diaper. In the meantime, Coterie offers complimentary recycling for your Coterie plastics.
Winner: HealthyBaby
Test 6: Convenience
HealthyBaby: HealthyBaby thrilled me with its convenience factor. Not only is it available on their website for a subscription or one time purchase, it is also available at Target nationwide. In the case of emergencies or travel, this is perfect for our family to supplement the subscription. Even better, the subscription is able to be tailored to your schedule.
Coterie: Coterie I found to be moderately convenient. On top of being available DTC, they are available at Erewhon, Whole Foods, and Wegmans. In the midwest, we aren’t spoiled enough to have Erewhon or Wegmans… so I went to Whole Foods. This was fine, I thought, but the Whole Foods also didn’t carry every size you might need for your babe and the packs were quite small.
Winner: Tie
Overall Winner: HealthyBaby
All things considered, HealthyBaby took home my trophy for best diaper on the market. Their softness, absorbency, ingredient list, sustainability and total convenience for parents simply can't be beat. If you’re looking for a safe diaper that actually works – look no further than HealthyBaby.
Try HealthyBaby diapers here!
