Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Note: This is an old review and Pampers has dropped the "Dry Max" branding, but the "Swaddlers" and "Cruisers" line use an updated version of the "Dry Max" formulation and construction (adjusted for the age of the baby the product is targeted for).
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.
I have just finished my diaper trial period with my 6 week old son. I tried Pampers Swaddler's Dry Max, the old Pampers Swaddler's, Huggies and Up and Up, all in size 1. My son is long and lean. He is breastfed, and has a large BM every 2-3 days. This is important when choosing a diaper. He does not have sensitive skin.
Pamper's I see little difference in dryness between the new and the old diapers. The old Swaddler's had the wetness indicator, but the new ones are very firm when wet. I prefer this, because I do not need to unbutton his pants to see the wetness indicator, but my husband prefers the stripe. When he has a BM, both old and new Pampers leak around the legs approximately 50% of the time. Neither one leaks urine, but both must be changed every 2 hours or so. I think the Dry Max version is slightly better with urine. They are cut rather large around the legs, which isn't great for his chicken butt.
Up and Up (Target) Good diaper for the price. My go to diaper when we're home, but I don't entirely trust them when we're out. Again, the diaper is cut large around the leg openings, and leak during a BM about 50% of the time. No wetness indicator on the size 1, but diaper becomes firm when wet. Diapers slightly better than Pampers for urine. Not as soft at Pampers, but the baby doesn't seem to mind. A little difficult to put on. My mother won't use them because she finds them too stiff. Diaper tends to bunch up in the front when it is wet. He looks like he could lose his diaper when he's wet.
Huggies l'il Snugglers This is my diaper of choice. Diapers are cut trimmer, which is great for a leaner child. If your child is chubby, this diaper is probably not for you. Diapers are soft inside and out about on par with the new Pampers. Tabs stick well, and do not bunch. Holds in BM 100% of the time, and does not leak urine. Some moms report increased diaper rash with this diaper, but my little man has not had this problem. Diaper is firm when wet. No wetness indicator. Diaper stays put through all the wiggling.
I keep both the Target and the Huggies on hand all the time. I have a large case of Pampers that I'm working my way through. They're fine, but just not the diaper for my little guy. I recommend you buy a few smaller packs and try them all side by side. You may find that a cheaper diaper works better than the brand name ones. The baby will be just as happy, and you'll save yourself some dough.
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Edit (12/4/10): When writing the original review, I should have mentioned that Swaddlers did not always have the DryMax technology. This review was based on comparing the DryMax to the original Swaddlers. The original Swaddlers had a color indicator on the front of Size 1 diapers, which was great for new parents even though the DryMax does poof out when the baby wets the diaper. The original diapers also had a much softer powder scent. We are currently going back and forth between Pampers Cruisers Dry Max Diapers, Size 4, 140-Count and Pampers Baby Dry Diapers, Size 4 (22-37 Lbs), Economy Plus Pack, 176 Diapers (Packaging May Vary) (the kid grew!). I am still not a fan of the odor associated with DryMax (Baby Dry does not have it), but they certainly are thinner. Ultimately, we ask ourselves do they leak? do they smell weird? does it cause rash? Unfortunately the DryMax seems to always be a yes to the last two questions.
Original review: My husband and I purchased the Swaddlers to use with our newborn (born March 1 of this year) and were quite pleased until they changed to the DryMax. There is no longer a color-indicator for wetness, they smell horrible, and worst of all our son becomes absolutely miserable the moment he wets the diaper. We certainly don't want our child sitting around in a wet diaper, but when you purchase more expensive diapers you expect your child to be comfortable in them.
If they don't at least offer the old version again, we will not continue to use Pampers. It's a shame because it was such a great diaper!
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like all the other reviews.. the new dry max is truly worse than before. the true test? i had owned my last bag of the original, soft swaddlers and finally finished them. the first night i started my 4 months old baby in the new dry max swaddlers, he leaked. i thought maybe my son is outgrowing the size or drank too much breastmilk, but he leaked again the next night. once i read other reviews of the leaky diaper, i was convinced it was no coincidence. the new dry max seems to puff up a lot once filled with pee, more than the old ones. and they do leak! i was a pampers loyal customer with my first child and also my second one now.. but i am thinking about switching to another brand of diapers. and yes, old cruisers from 3 years ago use to have the netted lining and they slowly got rid of it and started stocking the new type of diapers with no netting (thinner and smelly) and it does seem like they just slapped on the new name and finally 'officially' rolled out the 'new dry max cruisers.' sooo sad and disappointing. i loved pampers especially for the special netting-liner in the swaddlers and how soft they were. i felt like my babies didn't get diaper rash as easily because that special netting would catch the seedy yellow poop better and not let it rub on their bum-bums as harshly. BRING BACK THE OLD SWADDLERS AND CRUISERS!
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I usually don't bother to write reviews, but this product is so disappointing I just had to warn other parents about this! I've always used Pampers Swaddlers for my almost 6-month old baby. When this new Swaddlers came out, I was so excited because I really loved this diaper. I mean, who doesn't want an improvement, right?
Much to my disgust, this new version of Swaddlers does not hold a candle to the previous one. Why? Here are my reasons:
IT'S NOT DRY AT ALL! I touch the diaper after I change my baby and it is really damp! Really disgusting!
CAUSES RASHES! Because it's not keeping your baby's skin dry, guess what? Here comes the rashes especially if you don't change your baby's diaper right away. I usually change my baby's diaper EVERY 3-4 hours, but now I always have to check because she needs to be changed as soon as she pees!
NO WETNESS INDICATOR! I think I know why Pampers removed the wetness indicator: because the diaper just doesn't stay dry! They should have renamed it Wet Max instead!
If you're expecting the same quality as the old Pampers Swaddlers, parents be warned! This is not what you'd want. You're probably better off buying the cheaper Pampers Baby Dry instead. As for me, I think I'm switching to the other brand!
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I had been buying these but my most recent boxes of both boy and girl aprpoximately 25% of the Easy Ups have been tearing at the sides, even while being put on. My kids are still well within the weight limits, so that isn't the problem. I think Pampers has some Q/C issues they need to address. I have switched to Pull-Ups since they have the velcro sides, so even if they "tear" you can at least still use them, whereas the Easy-Ups are just trash, once they rip.
