Diapers have a seemingly simple job—contain your baby’s pee and poop—but they’re actually pretty complex and...dare I say cool? They’ve come a long, long way over the years. With developments like sticky side tabs and wetness indicators, diapers are always advancing, and they’re only getting better—a far cry from the piece of cloth held together by safety pins of the past.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, I regularly research changes in diaper design and production, and always keep an eye out for up-and-coming brands offering the latest and greatest in diaper technology. I also test diapers in the Lab annually, evaluating their absorbency, construction, and softness, and send hundreds of diapers to consumer testers who use them on their babies before sharing helpful feedback about their experiences.
Over the years, I’ve evaluated dozens of diapers and have seen the innovations occurring in real time. Here are a few of the biggest developments in diapers and how they make parents’ lives way easier when it’s time for a change.
Hundreds of years ago, parents used to leave their babies in the same diapers for days, but now we understand that it’s not healthy or comfortable for babies to sit in a diaper for that long. We change babies’ diapers regularly throughout the day, and to help parents know when it’s time for a change, diaper manufacturers introduced the wetness indicator. This is a small strip of pigment on the front and/or back of the diaper that changes color when a baby pees, letting parents know, without having to peek inside, that it’s soiled and should be swapped. The indicator starts out as yellow when the diaper is dry but gradually turns a green-blue color, which is a chemical reaction to the change in pH in the diaper.
No matter how mindful parents are of when their baby goes potty, accidents happen, and diapers can leak. A prime spot for leaks is the sides of the legs because babies are always wiggling around, which can shift their diapers out of place or create gaps.
Brands introduced double-elastic leg openings to try to prevent leaks. The two elastic barriers look like little ruffles that stretch around a baby’s leg and create a flush fit that moves with the baby, helping to keep everything contained inside the diaper instead of dripping out the sides.
Arguably the most important innovation in diapers is the absorbent core. Diapers are made with a variety of materials designed to soak up liquid to keep your baby dry. The absorbent core typically combines Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) with wood pulp and is covered by a thin layer of polymer that allows liquid to pass through before trapping it inside. The inner materials swell as they soak up the liquid, which causes the look of a bloated and saggy diaper, but the surface of the diaper that touches the baby’s skin stays relatively dry for optimal comfort.
Within the world of diapers, there are several types of absorbent cores. Overnight diapers have larger cores, since they’re designed for babies to wear longer without being changed. Some pull-up style diapers have specially designed absorbent cores depending on gender. For boys, the absorbent core is longer in the front, and for girls, the core is more centered. Swim diapers are in a world of their own. They’re actually not meant to be absorbent at all—or your baby’s diaper would swell up like a balloon in the pool. Instead, swim diapers allow liquid and water to flow through and are designed only to contain solid waste.
There’s little parents dread more than a super messy blowout. What’s supposed to stay inside the diaper can unfortunately make its way up and out of the back, ruining clothes and potentially soiling the crib or car seat.
One of the more recent diaper developments is the blowout barrier, which is designed to stop blowouts, or at least make them easier to manage. The blowout barrier is a small pocket or flap of material right inside the diaper’s waistband at the end of the absorbent core. It’s designed to catch poop before it squishes out the top of the waistband (gross), and according to our parent testers, the barriers really do minimize huge messes.
Once upon a time, diapers were simply held together with safety pins. Now, instead of parents having to fumble with poky pins at every diaper change, diapers are equipped with side tabs that are self-adhering. The tabs, also known as tape, stretch from the back of the diaper to the front and stick securely in place, thanks to a hook-and-loop design, which is similar to Velcro. This development allows for parents to achieve a secure fit and easily readjust the waist as needed. When it’s time to remove the diaper, the tabs can be used to wrap and secure everything inside before throwing it away too.
Diapers have come a long way throughout history, with innovations gaining momentum over the last 50 years. They’re bound to continue changing, and as we look ahead to a technologically advanced and AI-driven era, we can suspect that some of those new technologies will be incorporated into baby diapers. Possibly smart sensors that connect to apps to let parents know when it’s time to change their babies or color-changing pigments like a wetness indicator that provide valuable information about a baby’s health. Whatever developments do arise, my team and I are sure to put it to the test to see if it really works and is worth the time and cost.
BabyBjörn’s New Carrier Slips on Like a Jacket
9 Best Nursery Gliders, Rockers, and Recliners
We Found A Seriously Odor-Locking Diaper Pail
2026 Parenting Award Winners for Learning and Play