One of the best ways to ensure that taking care of your newborn is as convenient as possible is to purchase the right products. This includes the diapers.
Torn between Kirkland diapers vs Huggies? Often parents opt for the cheaper, generic variations because they’re just going to be thrown away after use. But, is this the right train of thought? Are these branded diapers the better option? What are some of the differences?
Are Kirkland diapers the same as Huggies?
Kirkland diapers aren’t the same as Huggies. Huggies don’t manufacture Kirkland diapers. However, both Huggies and Kirkland are made by Kimberly-Clark. Kirkland is sold primarily by Costco. While both brands are made by the same manufacturer, they do have a few considerable differences.
Main differences between Kirkland diapers and Huggies
Despite being made by the same manufacturer, there are a few noticeable differences between these two brands. The most prominent being that Huggies are by far much more absorbent. Huggies also have a pocketed elastic waistband and a bigger variety of patterns and designs.
To get a more comprehensive idea of the differences between Kirkland and Huggies, I’ve summarized the main differences in a side by side comparison. I selected the Kirkland Signature Supreme Diapers and Huggies Little Snugglers as a good basis for an accurate comparison.
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| Features | Kirkland Signature Supreme | Huggies Little Snugglers |
| Absorbency | Can leak if left on too long or overnight | Hold an average of 32% more liquid |
| Tab Sturdiness | Less durable, often rips | Very durable, holds well |
| Tab Fastening | Changes in 2021 have removed the purple strip, making them slightly weaker | Double grip strips to strengthen the diapers hold |
| Wetness Indicator | The wetness indicator is made up of a yellow line that turns blue when the diaper is wet. | The wetness indicator is made up of a yellow line that turns blue when the diaper is wet. |
| Design | No size up indicator | Size up indicator shows when it’s time to move to a bigger diaper size |
| Waistband | Waistbands are made up of elastic | Waistbands are pocketed elastic waistbands |
| Outside feel | Soft | Soft |
| Fit | Easily fits different sized babies quite well | The better elastic grip on the legs |
| Bulkiness | Tend to curl up when wet and sag between the baby’s legs | Stay flat when wet but also sags between the baby’s legs |
| Leg cuffs | Fit snugly on the baby’s legs | Fit snugly on the baby’s legs |
| Ingredients | Hypoallergenic and latex-free | Latex-free, zero allergens, no fragrances and chlorine-free |
| Blow out prevention | Has the normal elastic band around the legs and can leak during a diaper blowout | Extra pockets prevent diaper blowouts |
Absorbency
Diapers with superior absorbency rank very highly on most parents’ favorite lists. The most annoying thing would be to have to change your baby and all the bedding every time a diaper change is needed.
The best way to combat this is to have a diaper that can easily be changed without leaking. A plus point is that both brands are great for absorbing all those unsightly fluids. However, the Huggies has been estimated to hold at least 32% more liquid than a Kirkland’s diaper.
Huggies holds so much more liquid by adding a “gentle-absorb liner”. This liner absorbs any wetness immediately. Fluids are absorbed from all angles, which is great since babies don’t only pee in one place. The liquid also won’t pool on your baby’s skin and cause diaper rash and irritation. This is a plus point for any diaper!
Tab Sturdiness
Tab sturdiness might not be a crucial situation when your baby is small. Newborn babies tend to lie still when you change them. As babies grow, they wiggle around more and start mimicking your hand movements. That means they’ll start reaching for tabs and tugging at their diapers.
Up until 2021 Kirkland and Huggies were considered to have similar fastening tabs. In 2021, the changes made to Kirkland diapers have seemingly made their sturdiness less durable. The area around the area where you fasten the tab often rips open. This is something you should consider when opting for the Kirkland brand.
Tab Fastening
Diaper tabs should always be sturdy and difficult for babies to loosen on their own. They should also be strong enough to keep the diaper in place, even when it has a full load.
Huggies is the superior option when it comes to tab fastening. Double grip strips help keep the diapers firmly on. What this means is that aside from the usual velcro-like diaper tabs, the diapers also have a purple strip on the outside of the diaper waistband.
These strips help keep the waistband in place. This is very beneficial for older babies who become more lively.
Wetness Indicator
For experienced parents, it’s easier to know when your baby needs changing. Alternatively, it also becomes easier to determine when the diaper needs changing as the baby grows. For smaller babies, it might be a little bit challenging to know exactly when the diaper is wet.
Fortunately, both brands feature a yellow stripe from the center of the diaper and run all the way to the back of the diaper. When the diaper is wet, the wetness indicator turns blue. This is possibly the best way to check if your baby’s diaper needs changing.
Using a diaper with a wetness indicator is the best way for parents to know if the diaper is wet. This will prevent all those paranoid new parents from opening and closing their baby’s diapers every hour or so!
Design
When it comes to design, diapers tend to look very similar. Despite this, you want a diaper with a design that’s easy to wear, and easy to clean. In instances where the baby wears the diaper for extended periods, you want to have peace of mind that it’s not going to result in an unsightly mess!
Huggies have a prominent difference that makes them slightly superior to Kirkland in this regard. Huggies diapers feature a handy size-up indicator. The indicator on the waistband shows you when it’s time to consider sizing up to a larger size.
While the Kirkland diapers don’t have a size-up indicator, they do come in bright and colorful animal-themed prints. Each box contains 2 different fun designs in each box.
Waistband
Irrespective of what size diaper your baby wears, you want to know that there’s a strong waistband holding it up. The last thing you want to do is deal with diapers that keep sliding off.
Both Huggies and Kirkland have strong elastic bands that quite comfortably keep the diapers on. The waistbands do differ slightly. In addition to the elastic band, Huggies have a little pocket. This pocket will catch and prevent diaper blowouts up your baby’s back.
Using these diapers with the waistband will go a long way to keeping your baby’s sheets and blankets clean. Not to mention no more stained and dirty clothes!
Outside Feel
You might think the outside of a diaper doesn’t really matter. After all, the inside is where the trouble’s at. While this is partly true, it’s important to remember that your baby will touch the outside of the diaper with their hands and even other legs as they move around. The outside of the diaper should be as soft and allergy-free as the inside.
Both diaper brands are soft on the outside. Huggies on the other hand have a slight plastic feel to them, which doesn’t really affect the diaper. Neither one is scratchy and both will be comfortable enough for your baby.
Fit
Considering everything that your baby’s diaper needs to keep in, it’s important to find an option that’s comfortable for your little one. Uncomfortable diapers can leave your baby fussing all the time. Additionally, the fit shouldn’t restrict your baby from moving and also shouldn’t be too loose.
Kirkland diapers contain an additional layer in the bottom area. This layer helps to provide extra support. In combination with the breathing from the outer layer, Kirkland’s diapers keep the baby’s skin dry. A dry skin will easily minimize the onset of painful and itchy rash.
Huggies diapers have a better elastic grip on the legs. This keeps the diapers from sliding down or spills from leaking on the legs. These sturdy elastic bands fit babies of all sizes and are comfortable enough for the baby to comfortably move around.
A huge plus point on the Huggies diaper is the small cutout on the front of the diaper. The space allows the area where the umbilical cord rests to stay safe. This will minimize the risk of the wound being accidentally torn open.
Bulkiness
Ideally, you want a diaper that isn’t too bulky. A bulky diaper will affect how your little ones’ clothes fit. If the diaper is too bulky, you might need to get bigger clothes which will also be bulky. This isn’t an ideal situation.
Both brands, however, will end up sagging between your baby’s legs. Kirkland diapers also tend to curl up when they’re wet while Huggies remain flat. Ensuring your baby wears the right size diaper will reduce the bulkiness.
Leg Cuffs
Leg cuffs on diapers go a long way to keeping everything where it belongs, which is inside the diaper! Diapers with comfortable and supportive leg cuffs also make it easy for your little one to move around comfortably.
Huggies and Kirkland have identical leg cuffs. Both brands offer a snug and comfortable fit which keeps the diaper contents from leaking out. It also keeps the diaper firmly on.
Ingredients
Since your baby spends the first few years in diapers, it’s crucial to use a product that won’t cause skin irritation. You also don’t want your baby to be exposed to harsh chemicals when the diaper comes in contact with urine.
Kirkland diapers don’t contain any of the dyes, scents or perfumes found in many diapers. The lack of all these additives means there is less chance of your little contracting any skin rashes. The labeling on Kirkland diapers also reveals there’s no latex and advertise that they’re made of plant materials. Since many babies and children are allergic to latex, it’s absence is a bonus.
Huggies Snugglers are also allergen-free. They’re also hypoallergenic and very seldom cause allergies, rashes or other skin ailments. A plus point is Huggies also doesn’t use any chlorine bleach to whiten their diapers. In general, Huggies have less harmful chemicals.
Blowout Prevention
Any parent will agree that diaper blowouts can be pretty awful! If you’re new to parenting,or still expecting your little one, let me tell you, you’re in for a nasty surprise! A diaper blowout happens, your baby poops and for whatever reason, your diaper doesn’t contain the mess.
It ends up being up the baby’s back, up the front of your baby and around the legs. Most parents will spend the extra money to get a quality diaper to avoid blowouts!
Huggies has come up with the perfect way to prevent diaper blowout. The Waistband has a small pocket on the back area to prevent those nasty blowouts from getting all over your baby!
Kirkland Diapers (Signature Supreme Diapers from Costco’s) Review
Since Kirkland Signature Supreme diapers are made by the same manufacturer as Huggies, it’s not surprising that there are quite a few similarities to Huggies. As I’ve mentioned before Kirkland is Costco’s in-store brand and is sold in bulk quantities. This makes them quite popular in the first year when babies use a lot of diapers.
Pros
- A wetness indicator strip eliminates guesswork
- Doesn’t contain perfumes – good for allergies
- Constructed from breathable, soft materials
- The inner lining keeps moisture away from the skinless chance of rash
- Contains ultra-absorbent gel
- Contains fewer chemicals than other brands
- Available in bulk quantities
- Affordable
Cons
- Sizes are generally smaller than most other brands
- No small packs are available
- Velcro straps are thinner and might peel off
If you’re wondering how your Kirkland diapers will be packaged, and how to identify that you’re getting the right size, watch this short clip!
Where are Kirkland diapers made?
The hypoallergenic Kirkland diapers are manufactured in the USA. They can primarily be bought at Costco. The good news is, if you don’t live near a Costco store, you can order as much as you need online!
Did Costco change their diapers 2021?
2021 has seen a few changes to Costco’s Kirkland diaper. Parents who have used both versions have reported that the new diapers seem less durable. The big difference though is the lack of purple double grip strips which can make the waistband tear quite easily.
Huggies (Little Snugglers) Review
For many experienced parents, Huggies Little Snugglers is a very popular brand. Huggies’ most noticeable feature is their “gentle absorb liner” which absorbs any type of wetness without letting it touch the skin. It’s also worth noting that Huggies is often used by hospitals for newborns.
It’s a brilliant way to minimize the risk of rashes. Huggies are also known for their umbilical cord cut out which keeps your baby’s belly button safe and clean while it heals. Huggies diapers also have a leak lock system that provides an average of 12 hours of protection.
If you’re considering going with Huggies, you should check out an article I wrote on Little Snugglers vs Little Movers for another informative comparison.
Pros
- Available in premature to size 5
- Elastic fit make for a better fit
- Wetness indicator helpful for new parents
- Umbilical cord cutout is super practical and safe
Cons
- Inside padding may cause the diaper to bunch up and become uncomfortable
- Doesn’t hold as much liquid as Huggies – leaks if left on overnight
Conclusion
My opinion regarding these two popular brands is that either one will be great for your baby. Kirkland’s bulk quantities is handy to make sure you don’t run out in the middle of the night! While Kirkland is easy on the budget, it might be easier to find Huggies if you’re not near a Costco store!
And what do you think about how Kirkland compares to Pampers?
Last update on 2024-07-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
