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The Best Diapers to Avoid Blowouts

The Best Diapers to Avoid Blowouts (Pros, Cons, and Advice)

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You are here because you are looking for the best diaper to avoid a blowout for your baby. At one point or another, every parent will have to deal with diaper blowouts and it is crucial to know what to do in these situations to minimize the mess and frustration.

The best diaper to avoid blowouts is one that is super absorbent and has proper elastic on the back and legs. Getting the correct size diaper and ensuring a proper fit on your baby is just as important as the brand you use. In some cases, special blowout extensions or cloth diaper covers can help prevent blowouts with any diaper.

We didn’t struggle too badly with blowouts when our twin girls were babies, but my son has definitely changed the game over the past year and a half. We weren’t prepared to deal with diaper blowouts and certainly didn’t know where to start when choosing the right diaper and fit. Let’s run through my overall top diaper pick to avoid blowouts, things you should pay attention to when diapering your baby, and a few other options that should work for you!

My top pick for the best diaper to avoid blowouts

If you are a mom or dad dealing with frequent blowouts, then I know you want relief and you are looking for the right diaper to solve all of your problems.

I’m going to tell you a little secret, though – there is no perfect diaper to prevent blowouts completely.

Sorry, it just doesn’t exist.

What I can tell you, though, is that there are options out there that can help reduce the chances that you will have to deal with a blowout and there are lots of tips that you can use to make sure that the diaper you choose works in the best way possible.

Your best bet for preventing blowouts with a diaper is to choose one that is cut to fit your baby snugly and securely, feels comfortable on their skin while they wear it, and doesn’t break the bank.

With all of that being said, my personal pick for the best diaper to avoid blowouts is the Mama Bear Best Fit diaper, which you can check out here (and see the great reviews on Amazon). It has great elastic around the legs and the back of the diaper (the area most prone to blowouts), which helps contain messes inside the diaper instead of letting them leak out. It also has great absorbency and it is very affordable compared to most other brands.

Tips for how to prevent diaper blowouts

Blowouts could happen for many reasons but the biggest ones are that the diaper is:

  • Too small
  • Positioned incorrectly
  • Doesn’t have a snug fit
  • Not absorbent enough

It is important to keep in mind that many cheap-o diapers are not going to be very absorbent and many of them are just plain smaller than better brands on the shelf (as in they have less surface area). That doesn’t mean that you need to spend a fortune on diapers, but it does mean that you pay for what you get in most cases and you should be sure that what you are buying is of quality and it has worked for others before you try them out.

The right size diaper to prevent blowouts

Before you even worry about which diaper you are using with your baby when you have issues with blowouts, you first need to ask yourself whether or not it is actually the right size. In most cases, a diaper that is too small can lead to blowouts because there is simply no room for the poop to go when it comes out.

Think about it.

While liquids are absorbed into the diaper, solids are going to take up some of the space inside. While the diaper shouldn’t be hanging off the baby, don’t be afraid to jump into the next size up if you are getting close to the weight range on the package or if you are having frequent issues with blowouts. In some situations, this can fix the problem right then and there as long as you have a good fit with the diaper.

The right fit for your baby’s body

Speaking of the right fit, this is the next thing to check when trying to prevent blowouts because many parents get this wrong or don’t pay enough attention while changing a diaper to make sure everything is in order.

Here are some tips to make sure everything is snug and sealed up:

  1. Make sure the diaper is sized correctly
  2. When positioning the baby on top of the diaper be sure that the back is slightly higher than the front.
  3. Before you fold the diaper over, check to make sure the elastic material around the leg holes are flared out to make a good seal around the legs
  4. Get those elastic straps pulled snug across your baby’s belly so there isn’t an unnecessary gap in the back. You want a snug waste with a loose area around the bottom where the poop is going to come out.
  5. Be sure that your baby is comfortable and that the diaper isn’t too tight!

If you pay attention to these things when changing a diaper, you will likely have much less to worry about when it comes to leaks and blowouts!

The best design to prevent leaks

I already mentioned that not all diapers are created equal.

If you pick up twenty different diapers from the store and place them side-by-side, you will see that while the basic design is the same, there are still many differences. The most important differences to note are the size of the absorbent pad and the elastic around the legs and back of the diaper.

Many diapers don’t have any elastic on the back at all. Others have a poor design around the legs, which creates a weak point as well.

The best diapers will have all of these bases covered while also being extremely soft and comfortable for your baby. Personally, I also prefer that the diaper be as natural as possible, avoiding unnecessary chemicals and additives that could be harmful or irritate the baby’s skin.

Consider using a diaper blowout blocker extension

I’ve given you my top diaper recommendation and I’ve put a lot of emphasis on how to make sure that you are using that diaper effectively so far.

At this point, I should mention that there are actually other products available that you could use to help prevent blowouts from happening or at least to contain the mess more easily. Of all the products I have seen, this one here is the most highly rated and many parents report that it did a great job managing their troublesome blowouts. It is a piece of absorbent cloth that wraps around your baby’s waste and extends the back of the diaper higher up on the back.

While this kind of extension will probably help keep the mess contained, it will still have to be washed and dried and your baby will still be covered in poop.

Personally, I would stick to proper diapering or even try the next option.

Consider using a cloth diaper cover over a disposable diaper

It’s no secret that cloth diapering does a better job managing blowouts, in general, because it is easier to make sure that the waist is good and snug. It’s also very easy to add extra padding in the back of the diaper when you use cloth because it’s so versatile compared to disposable diapers.

Many parents are scared to use cloth diapers because it can get pretty gross. Personally, we have chosen not to cloth diaper ourselves and I haven’t regretted the decision yet.

With that being said, picking up a couple of cloth diaper COVERS can be a great investment to help prevent blowouts even if you don’t plan on using cloth diapers. Essentially, you will put the disposable diaper on your baby just like normal but then add the cloth diaper cover on top. That way you get the convenience of disposable diapers with the blowout protection of cloth.

There are a bunch of great, inexpensive options available. Personally, I would choose this one here because it is highly reviewed, very affordable, and it adjusts enough that it should fit your baby until she is potty trained.

Of course, you will still have to clean up the poopy cloth diaper cover if you have a bad poo, but it should keep the mess confined to the inside of the diaper cover!

The best disposable diapers to avoid blowouts

I’ve already given you my top pick for the diaper that I think will work best for you.

Here, I’ll give you more details about that diaper along with a couple more options that could work even better if you have room in the budget. For each diaper, I’ll give you the main features, pros, and cons so that you can make your best pick.

1. Mama Bear Best Fit – The overall best pick

We haven’t used this particular brand much lately since our son is no longer breastfeeding, but it’s an excellent choice to help prevent blowouts. As the name suggests, they are cut to have the best fit possible, even on active babies. This means that you’ll have good seals around the legs and a strong elastic back for containment.

Features

  • Designed for 12-hour leak protection
  • Pocketed-back waistband (helps keep the poo inside)
  • Quilted inner liner with extra absorbency
  • Made without fragrances, chlorine, or latex
  • Available in Newborn through Size 6

Pros

  • Fewer chemicals than most diapers
  • Very affordable
  • Wetness indicator

Cons

  • Sizes run a little small
  • Doesn’t avoid all chemicals

Again, you can check these diapers out right here (and read reviews for yourself on Amazon).

1. Honest Company – A solid and affordable option

If you don’t mind spending a little extra money on your diaper, you won’t regret buying diapers from The Honest Company. They take all of the pros from the Mama Bear brand and add to it a more premium feel, a safer ingredients list, and way cuter designs.

We’ve purchased many boxes of Honest diapers and, aside from a leak here or there overnight, we haven’t had a single complaint. You’ll feel the difference when you pick them up and, since they come in a lot of different styles and designs, we like having different ones on hand and letting our son pick out the one he wants!

Features

  • A bio-based core that includes sustainably-harvested fluff pulp and other plant-derived materials
  • Avoids chemical irritants such as latex, chlorine, fragrances, or lotions
  • Blowout-resistant design with elastic waistband and sure-fit leg cuffs

Pros

  • Affordable for a premium, more natural diaper
  • Great design for proper fit
  • Incredibly cute
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Refastenable tabs
  • Natural ingredients to help reduce odor

Cons

  • Could be pricey for your budget
  • No wetness indicator
  • Can run a little small
  • No stretch in the front

If you want to check these out for yourself, then head here (and find the latest reviews from parents like you on Amazon).

1. Huggies Special Delivery – If cost isn’t an issue

We picked up these diapers to try shortly after they were first released this past summer and I personally fell in love with them right away. There is just such a premium feel and weight to this diaper that you instantly know it will provide quality results. Special Delivery diapers also feel incredibly soft. I would even go so far as to say that they are the softest diaper that I’ve tried so far with my son.

While the Huggies brand hasn’t necessarily ever been that concerned with providing a more ‘natural’ or eco-friendly product over the years they are starting to change their tune. This particular option uses more natural ingredients, eliminates irritating chemicals, and does the job it is supposed to. If you can afford them, you won’t regret your choice!

Features

  • Diapers are made from more plant-based materials which are proven to be hypoallergenic
  • Made without any parabens, fragrances, or chlorine
  • Huggies’ softest diaper ever!

I’ve actually reviewed the Huggies Special Delivery diaper here. I cover all of the features, pricing, and other details as well as my personal experience!

Pros

  • Amazingly soft inside and out
  • Great absorbency and leak protection
  • Strong elastic on the backside
  • Subtlely cute designs available

Cons

  • More expensive than other options
  • Not biodegradable

Check out the latest parent reviews and purchase this diaper on Amazon right here.

Related Questions

Are diaper blowouts normal?

Yes!

Diaper blowouts are a completely normal part of diapering a baby and they are impossible to prevent completely. Blowouts can be caused by an upset stomach, virus, or food sensitivity. Breastfeeding babies, meanwhile, are more prone to blowouts, in general, because their poop tends to be more liquid compared to formula-fed babies.

Joshua Bartlett
Joshua Bartlett

My name is Joshua Bartlett I run this blog with my wife Jarah. We have more than 11 years of parenting experience including three girls and one boy. I started this blog in late 2018 when I realized that I was dealing with baby-related issues on a constant basis…please read more about me here!