Pampers’ response to the Honest Co.’s of the world, Pampers Pure are the only fragrance-free diaper Pampers sells. They are soft, chemical-free, and come in cute patterns. They definitely pass.
Things We Love
- Chemical and Fragrance-Free: Chlorine-free. Fragrance-free. Latex-free. Hypoallergenic. The only “unnatural” thing in this diaper is the sodium polyacrylate fill*, which is the same moisture-absorbent gel fill used in all effective disposable diapers on the market. These diapers do tend to have a bit of a chemical smell straight out of the plastic packaging, and while this may bother some, it is not technically a “fragrance.”
- Environmentally Considerate: Pampers Pure diaper cores are made with wood pulp from sustainably managed forests, and the diaper's top sheet layer is plant-based. However, know that even despite Pampers Pure's green intentions, these diapers are not commercially compostable and must be sent to landfill like any other disposable diaper out there.
- Great Prints: Pampers Pure diapers are available in a few cute prints, though the options are limited.
- Super Soft: Like buttah.
Things We Don’t Love As Much
- Moderate Greenwashing: Pampers isn’t particularly transparent about their actual eco-friendliness, and they aren’t as green and natural as they market themselves to be. (Their diapers still end up in landfill and nothing about them is “organic.”)
Compare Them To Other Disposable Diapers
Pampers Pure Diaper Alternatives
- If You Want Eco-Friendlier Options… Bambo Nature diapers are as soft and commercially compostable at the same price point when purchased via Amazon Prime subscription, though they are not available in nice prints. Naty by Nature Babycare diapers are not quite as soft, but are less expensive, commercially compostable, and available in a nice neutral print.
- If You Love Great Prints but Want Softer Diapers… Aden + Anais and Parasol also have great, fun prints at a similar price point and similar softness to Pampers Pure diapers. Honest Co. diapers have great prints, are a teeny bit less expensive, but are not as soft.
- If Cost is a Concern… If money is tight, less expensive alternatives include Earth's Best, 7th Generation, Target Up & Up, or even cloth. None of these options (except cloth!) are as soft, nor do they have particularly cute prints.
Total Cost of Ownership**
- $2400 – $3700/child (list)
- $1900 – $3100/child (subscription with Amazon Prime)
Gallery
*Sodium polyacrylate fill is considered safe in diapers by all current measures and standards, but has been linked to toxic shock syndrome when used in tampons and feminine hygiene products. If its use concerns you, cloth diapers may be a better option for your baby.
**Total cost of ownership was calculated using a few arbitrary averages, knowing full well that no baby is average. We used approximate weights from height/weight charts to determine how many days the average baby would be in each diaper size. These are the numbers we used:
- 30ish months as the arbitrary average potty training date, though this is “early” for some and “late” for others
- Five Newborn diapers/day on the low end and fourteen Newborn diapers/day on the high end, for 40 days
- Seven Size 1 diapers/day on the low end and ten Size 1 diapers/day on the high end, for 60 days
- Seven Size 2 diapers/day on the low end and ten Size 2 diapers on the high end, for 110 days
- Five Size 3 diapers/day on the low end and eight Size 3 diapers/day on the high end, for 160 days
- Five Size 4 diapers/day on the low end and eight Size 4 diapers/day on the high end, for 180 days
- Five Size 5 diapers/day on the low end and eight Size 5 diapers/day on the high end, for 365 days.