Which? Don't Buy nappies

Which? Don’t Buy disposable nappies are slow to absorb liquid, fail to lock moisture inside the core of the nappy and have inadequate protection against leaks. 

Choosing a Don't Buy nappy rather than a Best Buy could mean the difference between your child being uncomfortable and wet or pleasantly snug and dry.

Go to our nappy reviews to compare 19 nappies we've tested from the likes of Pampers, Aldi, Lidl and Sainsburys.

What makes a Don't Buy disposable nappy?

Many disposable nappies claim to offer fast absorption and a comfortable design that prevents leaks. 

While this is the case for a range of nappies we've tested, we've also discovered some that fail at the basic task of keeping your baby's skin and clothing dry. 

Our tests have found: 

• The worst disposable nappies fail to soak up liquid quickly. Some nappies can struggle with this as they get full, but those that are poorly designed fail to do this even when empty. 
• We place an absorbing filter paper on top of a fully fluid-loaded nappy and weigh it down to check how well the nappy locks it in. The nappies that fail to do this leave wetness in contact with your baby's skin, which can cause nappy rash. 
• Our leakage test reveals the nappies that let wetness onto the outside of the nappy, leaving you dealing with soggy babygrows and damp bedding.

Disposable nappies can go all the way up to more than 20p per nappy. With babies using between six and 12 nappies a day in their first few months, costs can significantly rack up, so you don't want to choose a nappy that doesn't do its job. Our tests will help you to find the products that offer excellent value for money and won't let you down. 

Join Which? to find out which nappies we've named as Don't Buys. 

How we test disposable nappies 

Which? has reviewed a range of disposable nappy brands to help you find the best option for you and your baby. This includes supermarket brands such as Aldi and Asda, premium brands like Pampers and eco brands such as Kit & Kin and Eco by Naty. 

Our in-depth lab test uncovers the nappies that will keep your baby's skin dry. We know that all babies are different, too, so we also ask parents to rate the disposable nappy brands they use. We combine the results from our lab testing with their insight to bring you the top-scoring nappies that are comfortable, absorb and lock in fluid quickly and minimise the amount of messy leaks to deal with. 

• Our lab experts apply synthetic urine to the nappy to check how long the nappy takes to absorb fluid. This is repeated four times to test how well the nappy works as it fills up, which reflects how it will perform overnight.
• We give every nappy a Which? test score so you can immediately see at-a-glance which are the best and worst, plus how parents rate each one.
• Manufacturers often update the design of their nappies, so we make sure to regularly retest nappies to keep up with these changes. 

Our reviews will help you to avoid choosing bad disposable nappies. Join Which? to find out which nappies we've named as Don't Buys - and see our selection of Best Buys.