Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)If you read down the list of reviews, you will find two basic camps: "I love this diaper" or "It gave my baby a terrible rash". Now this seems true of just about any diaper, but the reaction against the new "Dry Max" pampers has been particularly vocal. So the question any parent would naturally ask is: will this diaper give my baby a rash? My answer: Well... maybe.
First of a bit about diapers: To over simplify a little, diapers keep your baby dry using two things: "SAPs" or Super-absorbent polymers and Cellulose (made from wood pulp). There are some other materials in the diaper, but the real work is being done by these two ingredients. Cellulose can hold a limited amount of water when under pressure (i.e. a baby sitting or lying in a wet diaper will apply pressure to part of it) so SAPs are brought in to provide a more absorbent and stable moisture trap.
Now a little diaper history: the two main diaper manufactures are Proctor and Gamble (Pampers and Luvs) and Kimberly Clark (Huggies). Kimberly Clark is a paper and wood products company and they brought their considerable expertise to the table when they created the successful "Huggies" line of diapers. Proctor and Gamble countered by leveraging its extensive chemical portfolio and began a long drive to improve their SAPs which allowed them to use less cellulose and make thinner diapers than Huggies. Huggies do use SAPs, but they are less advanced than what P&G has brought to the market.
As a result you have more cellulose between skin and SAP in a Huggies than in a Pampers. If the SAP, or some other chemical related to engineering the SAP into the diaper is the cause of the mysterious rashes, this could be why Papers is getting a lot of flack: With "Dry Max" P&G claims to be using a new a powerful SAP. So it seems plausible that Dry Max Pampers may be more likely to trigger a rash, but nobody knows for sure. One unproven theory is that the powerful SAPs are drawing moisture out of the skin making it crack, which when exposed to urine and bacteria leads to a rash. It's also possible that fragrance is the culprit (there are some vocal advocates of this theory but I don't find the evidence definitive). Proctor and Gamble is sticking by its claims that Dry Max Cruisers don't cause any more rashes than the old Cruisers.
In my personal experience the child with sensitive skin couldn't wear Pampers (only Huggies) and the child without could wear anything (Pampers included). My best advice would be that if your child has sensitive skin they may be happier in Huggies but otherwise you are probably fine with Pampers. I usually found that Huggies were a better fitting diaper but that varied depending on the kid and their age. I think that fit is more kid specific than diaper specific (no two brands fit the same and depending on your baby's shape one is likely to fit better than another - and the "best" brand may change as your child grows).
I think it simply comes down to getting a small pack and trying them out. If your baby seems to react, has more rashes or you get a lot of leaks, just move on to something else.
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Pampers Swaddlers Dry Max DiapersPampers Swaddlers Dry Max Diapers helps lock in wetness. The Absorb-Away Liner helps keep babies dry and happy. Quilted blanket-like softness wraps babies in all-around comfort. Super-stretchy sides gives infants a flexible fit.
Click here for more information about Pampers Swaddlers Dry Max Diapers
