We’ve been working with Pampers for nearly a year now, and it’s the diaper we’ve used on Arlo since he was born—well, almost always. Once we tried a sample of a natural diaper from an event, and it was a disaster. We put it on Arlo for a nap and he woke up soaking wet. It didn’t absorb nearly as well as Pampers. Jeff tossed the remaining samples and said, “Never again.” Then we went back to the diapers we trusted.
In December, Pampers invited me to discuss a new product they were developing: Pampers Pure. Their goal was to create a diaper made with premium cotton and carefully chosen materials parents asked for, while maintaining the protection Pampers is known for. The line is described as using plant-based fibers, with 0% chlorine bleaching, fragrances, parabens and latex—yet still offering full Pampers protection. I was excited but skeptical given our previous experience, so I visited P&G headquarters in Cincinnati to see the collection and learn more.
In January, I joined the other soon-to-be Pampers Pure tribe members in Cincinnati and was genuinely impressed. As part of the visit we did absorption tests: we poured liquid into a Pampers Pure diaper and a competitor’s natural diaper, then tested both with a cloth. The cloth used on the Pampers Pure diaper was almost completely dry while the other was soaking wet. I was sold.
We also tested breathability. We wore two gloves—one with Pampers-like breathable material and one without. The non-breathable glove became sweaty and sticky quickly, while the breathable glove stayed dry. It’s one thing to see claims in an ad and another to experience the difference yourself; these tests were real eye-openers.
We also sampled the new Pampers Aqua Pure Wipes. In a squeeze test, the Aqua Pure wipe—made of 99% water—felt noticeably different and more gentle than several natural wipes we compared. Another small but meaningful detail: you can pull a single wipe from the pack without dragging out half the roll. Simple conveniences like that make daily life easier.
After trying samples at home for a couple months, Pampers Pure has become our favorite diaper for Arlo. They avoid ingredients we prefer not to use while still delivering the absorbency and protection we rely on—so we don’t spend extra time doing laundry. The prints are adorable too, with designs like blocks, milk bottles, llamas and sloths, which is a fun bonus.
Diapers are one of the most essential baby items; you use them constantly, so choosing the right one matters. I don’t usually gush about products, but this one surprised me. The Pampers Pure line felt like a real breakthrough: no need to compromise between thoughtful materials, reliable protection and appealing design.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
If you’re curious about Pampers Pure, they’re available in stores. I’d love to hear what you think if you try them—thanks for letting me share the science experiments and what we learned. I may try to recreate some of those demonstrations to show you someday!
This post was created in partnership with Pampers. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Studio DIY going.