Pampers Swaddlers vs. Baby Dry (2023 Comparison)

Diapers are one of the most expensive recurring expenses you’ll have when your baby is little. It’s hard to know which option is best, especially because there are so many options out there.

This direct comparison between Pampers Swaddlers vs. Baby Dry should help you learn more and figure out which one might be better for you right now.

Swaddlers and Baby Dry are both made by Pampers and they’re both great for infants, but there are some distinct differences you’ll want to know about before you decide which one you want to use.

Pampers Swaddlers Overview

I think it’s safe to say that pretty much everyone has heard of Pampers. If you haven’t, or you don’t know much about them, here’s a quick history.

Pampers was created by Procter & Gamble in 1961. They only came in one size and there was only one bulky design. Luckily, since then, they’ve grown their offering to include several styles, sizes, and gender specific designs.

Pampers is well-loved, but has had their fair share of troubles. Their Dry-Max technology saw a lawsuit that said to have caused severe diaper rash, but extensive research showed that there was no correlation between the design and the diaper rash.

This provided relief for some parents whose children were struggling, while other parents decided to switch permanently to a different brand.

Reactions happen for many different reasons, and many parents find that one brand works better for their little one than another. This is normal so there’s no reason to worry about someone else’s baby having a reaction to a particular brand. Your baby may react differently.

Pampers offers all kinds of other baby gear, too. They have a Lumi baby monitor, baby wipes, training pants, and swim diapers.

Features

Pampers Swaddlers have plenty of great feathers that your baby needs in a diaper.

12 hours of wetness protection

You can use Swaddlers as a nighttime diaper because of their superior absorbency. Your baby will likely be able to sleep all night, giving them the rest they need, and you’ll be well rested, too!

Extra absorb channels

These extra absorb channels are designed to lock the wetness away and distribute it evenly so your baby stays dry and comfortable. Wetness won’t accumulate in one area, which can prevent blowouts, meaning the diaper holds more.

If your child doesn’t roll around at night yet or tends to sleep in one position, the wetness could build up in another diaper. In Swaddlers, it won’t. Instead, it will be channeled throughout the material.

Soft feel

Swaddlers have a soft, cottony feel so your baby stays comfortable. They’re said to be the softest Pampers diaper ever.

Umbilical cord notch

One of the primary benefits of the Swaddlers design is that for sizes Newborn, 1, and 2, this notch is available to accommodate your baby’s sensitive tummy. Some parents love this feature while others find that it still doesn’t quite fit right.

Dependable brand

Sometimes you just can’t beat the brand name. Many parents swear by a name they’ve heard of and refuse to use anything else. Swaddlers are made by Pampers, which is owned by Procter and Gamble.

It’s a reliable brand in baby care, and you can count on their absorbency to be leak free for several hours. They’ve been around since 1961 and over 50,000 parent reviews prove that they work.

Wetness indicator

Swaddlers feature a wetness indicator on all sizes, which is a huge time and stress saver. You simply can’t beat it. If you’ve been doing the squish test, or even worse, the sniff test, you won’t have to do that anymore.

The wetness indicator helps you easily and quickly identify a wet diaper so it can be changed. This yellow strip turns either blue or green when the diaper is wet. All you have to do is look at the outside of the diaper.

Absorb away liner

In addition to the extra absorb channels, Swaddlers have an absorb away liner, which helps to pull wetness away from your baby’s skin. It does a great job of keeping your baby’s skin dry to the touch, even if the diaper is wet.

It can also help to keep your baby’s skin free of rashes, because when the diaper is wet, the skin is actually dry.

Velcro fasteners

Swaddlers velcro-like fasteners make diaper changes super easy. They also make it easy to adjust the diaper or refasten it. Other diaper brands use tabs that don’t work as well, don’t stay put, and aren’t as secure.

Sizing information

Preemie: up to 4 pounds

Newborn/Size 0: up to 10 pounds

Size 1: 8-14 pounds

Size 2: 12-18 pounds

Size 3: 16-28 pounds

Size 4: 22-37 pounds

Size 5: 27+ pounds

Size 6: 35+ pounds

Size 7: 41+ pounds

Pampers Baby Dry Overview

Pampers Baby Dry diapers are made by the same company, and have some of the same features, with some differences, too. While they’re still a reliable diaper made by a company you can trust, they don’t have many of the premium features that Swaddlers do.

You likely won’t pay the same premium price for these, but you also may not have the same premium experience. It could lead to a more stressful experience for you, if you’re one to rely on those little extras.

Features

Baby Dry diapers have plenty of features to keep your baby comfortable.

12 hours of wetness protection

Baby Dry diapers advertise 12 hours of wetness protection, which also makes them a great nighttime solution. They also guarantee overnight dryness in larger sizes.

Older babies and toddlers are much more likely to be sleeping through the night, and wearing a larger size means more capacity and more absorbency. Baby Dry diapers are very reliable for holding an entire night’s wetness without a  problem.

Extra absorb channels

Just like Swaddlers, Baby Dry diapers have extra absorb channels, helping to channel wetness throughout the diaper, and prevent blowouts. This keeps your baby dry and comfortable, especially if they sleep in the same position all night.

Wetness won’t build up in the same spot, but it will be distributed throughout the diaper evenly so your child can sleep or play comfortably without a bulky, bulging diaper.

Soft feel

While Baby Dry diapers are very soft, they are not quite as cottony soft as Swaddlers. They are a comfortable diaper, but don’t have the extra layers of softness against the skin or the cottony lining.

Umbilical cord notch

Baby Dry diapers have an umbilical cord notch in sizes Newborn, 1, and 2, which make them a great choice for newborns with a sensitive tummy. Many parents love this option for their newborns until their stomach heals.

Dependable brand

If you’re looking for a reliable diaper brand you can trust for your child, Pampers is owned by Procter and Gamble, and they’ve been around since 1961. Many parents trust them over any other brand and would never use anything else.

3 absorbent layers

Baby Dry features 3 absorbent layers of material instead of just 2, like most other diapers. This protects your baby from wetness for longer, which is part of what enables your baby to last through the night.

It pulls wetness away from the skin, keeping your baby’s skin dry and preventing rashes.

Sizing information

Newborn/Size 0: up to 10 pounds

Size 1: 8-14 pounds

Size 2: 12-18 pounds

Size 3: 16-28 pounds

Size 4: 22-37 pounds

Size 5: 27+ pounds

Size 6: 35+ pounds

Pampers Swaddlers vs Pampers Baby Dry: Side By Side Comparison

It’s tough to compare two diapers that look so similar face to face, so here’s a closer look at some of the most important features and how they measure up.

Absorbency

Both Swaddlers and Baby Dry use AGM gel for absorbency, so you won’t notice any difference in the technology. The primary difference is that Swaddlers have an absorb away liner while the Baby Dry diapers just have the extra absorb channels.

Both diapers attempt to channel moisture throughout the diaper so it gets evenly distributed throughout, but the Swaddlers will pull wetness away from your child’s skin more effectively than the Baby Dry diapers will.

They can help to prevent diaper rash and other discomfort better. However, both diapers advertise 12 hour protection, meaning less frequent diaper changes for you, especially at night. This could mean more sleep for everyone.

Winner: Swaddlers

Comfort, fit, and design

Pampers Swaddlers are made of a cottony soft material, so they will scratch less against your baby’s skin. They will leave your baby dry and happy with a cloth-like feel. While Baby Dry diapers are also soft, they lack the cottony softness of Swaddlers.

Both diaper designs do feature an umbilical cord notch in sizes Newborn, 1, and 2, for babies with a sensitive tummy, giving them a bit of breathing room and reducing rubbing. It also allows you to treat the area without the diaper getting in the way.

Winner: Swaddlers

Sizing

Swaddlers and Baby Dry diapers are nearly indistinguishable when it comes to sizing. Other than the fact that Swaddlers come in a Preemie size and a size 7, every other size from Newborn to Size 6 are identical.

Unless your child is born early or your child grows very large very quickly, either diaper design will work just fine for you.

Winner: Tie

Cost

All in all, you’re going to pay more for a premium brand like Pampers. Store brands like Costco and value diapers like Luvs can give you excellent value for your money, and if they work for you, that’s great.

However, due to the extra features, Swaddlers do cost a bit more than Baby Dry diapers, even though Baby Dry diapers cost a bit more than value brands.

Winner: Baby Dry

Convenience

It’s hard to beat the convenience of Swaddlers or Baby Dry diapers with their 12 hour protection and soft feel. Your baby will be comfortable and dry and you’ll enjoy less frequent changes.

With Swaddlers, you’ll have smoother changes with easy velcro fasteners, but both offer wetness indicators and umbilical cord notches.

Winner: tie

Stand Out Features

Both Swaddlers and Baby Dry diapers offer plenty of great features that give you what you need, and there’s no doubt you’ll be happy with either design for your baby. However, they each have unique designs that you may want to consider.

Pampers Swaddlers

• Absorb away liner: This feature works in conjunction with the extra absorb channels to not only reroute moisture and distribute it evenly, but keep your baby’s skin dry and prevent diaper rash at the same time.
• Velcro fasteners: These make diaper changes easier because they fasten much easier than traditional tabs and stay put when your baby moves. They can also be readjusted without compromising their grip.

Pampers Baby Dry

• 3 absorbent layers: While most other diapers have 2 layers, Baby Dry diapers have 3. This can help your baby make it through the night without leaking and can improve mobility without accidents when your child starts crawling and walking.
• Price: In terms of name brand diapers, Baby Dry prices can help you afford a name brand without breaking the bank. You might sacrifice a few premium features, but you’ll still get awesome absorbency and a reliable diaper.

Final Thoughts

Both Pampers Swaddlers and Pampers Baby Dry diapers are excellent choices for any age child. They have very similar features with a few differences that may help you make a decision.

Use Pampers Swaddlers if:

• You don’t mind paying a little extra for premium features like velcro attachments, plush softness, and superior moisture wicking ability.
• You need the wider range of sizes from Preemie to Size 7.

Pick up Pampers Swaddlers for your baby and give them a try today.

Use Pampers Baby Dry if:

• You like the idea of a full night’s absorbency but don’t need the extra softness.
• You don’t want to pay extra for features like velcro tabs.

Make sure you try out Pampers Baby Dry when your baby is on the move.

Every diaper design is different, but these two are so similar that you may not really understand what’s the big deal. No matter what you choose, either one of these is great. If one doesn’t work, try the other. It may just do the trick.