In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Bambo Nature Review

A healthy option that is comfortable and durable, but absorption and leak protection aren't the absolute best
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Bambo Nature Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $0 List
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Manufacturer:   Bambo Nature
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Jun 2, 2023
62
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 18
  • Absorption - 45% 5.7
  • Leakage - 25% 5.2
  • Comfort - 20% 7.1
  • Durability - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

Bambo Nature is a green diaper with a soft, thick, high-end feel. This diaper has impressive consideration for health in our best disposable diaper lineup, making it a shoo-in choice for parents concerned with health and limiting chemicals around their babies. This diaper performs well enough for absorption and leakage and has better eco-friendly aspects that help it stand out from the crowd. Bambo is a healthy, eco-conscious option we suggest families consider when looking for a healthier, green, disposable diaper that still performs well for their diapering lineup.
REASONS TO BUY
Great for health
Durable
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Average for leak protection
Editor's Note: We performed an update on this Bambo review to include newly tested diapers and information from retested diapers. This update happened on May 30, 2023.

Compare to Similar Products

 
bambo nature
This Product
Bambo Nature
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Premium Disposable Diaper
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Disposable Diaper
Top Pick Award
Best Disposable Diaper in Stores
Best Value Award
Best Budget-friendly Disposable Diaper
Price $0.45 List
$0.42 each at Amazon
$0.56 List$0.27 List
$0.30 at Amazon
$0.35 List
$0.36 at Amazon
$0.31 List
$0.25 each at Amazon
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Bottom Line A comfy, durable, and baby-healthy option with okay leak protection, but it isn't the best for absorptionImpressive absorption and leak protection make this high-end diaper a real contender if you can afford the price of admissionImpressive performance and better health nods than you'd expect make this a budget-friendly diaper parents will loveWith great absorption and leak protection, this durable and comfy diaper is a reasonably priced option for most familiesGood absorption and few leaks with a budget price that are easy to find, but no nods for eco-health
Rating Categories Bambo Nature Parasol Clear and Dry Kirkland Signature Hello Bello Premium Huggies Snug & Dry
Absorption (45%)
5.7
10.0
10.0
8.7
8.0
Leakage (25%)
5.2
9.4
9.0
8.4
7.8
Comfort (20%)
7.1
8.0
8.6
7.4
7.5
Durability (10%)
9.0
10.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
Specs Bambo Nature Parasol Clear and Dry Kirkland Signature Hello Bello Premium Huggies Snug & Dry
Type of Diaper Green/Traditional Green Green Traditional Green Traditional
Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF Says chlorine free but we couldn't find anything to confirm if it was either TCF or ECF TCF ECF TFC Not Listed
Fragrance-Free Yes Yes Yes Yes No - Strong baby powder scent
Biodegradable Not listed Not listed Not listed No Not listed
Contains SAP Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Miscellaneous Materials Details Inner fluff made of wood pulp Made with "Drylock" technology, which means less wood pulp is used for core of diaper Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) TCF fluff pulp from sustainably managed forests, a high-performance Super Absorbent Polymer, polypropylene/polyethylene/polyester nonwoven fibers, plant-derived PLA nonwoven fiber, spandex strands, and an elastomeric fill Wood Pulp
Sodium Polyacrylate
Polypropylene
Polyethylene
Adhesives
Polyester
Polyrurethane elastics
Wetness Indicator Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Stretchable side wings Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stretchable Back of Diaper No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Eco-Awards & Certifications Nordic Eco-label
FSC Certified
Asthma-Allergy Denmark
Nordic Swan Eco Label, PEFC Forest Sustainability, PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan, Original Excellent Dermatest , FSC, ROHS compliant Good Housekeeping ~ "2022 Parenting Awards"
New York Magazine ~ "Best Diaper Subscription"
ptpa.com ~ "winner"
Dye-Free There is a logo print on the front of the waist and a black rectangle in the center of each cuff. Uses water-based inks Not listed, does have a print No "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing."
Lotion-Free Yes Yes Yes Yes Not Listed
Latex-Free Yes Yes Not listed Yes Not listed

Our Analysis and Test Results

Bambo is a family-owned business run by parents dedicated to creating eco-friendly baby products that are healthy for your baby. Bambo believes that choosing safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible products shouldn't mean sacrificing performance. The company works hard to achieve and maintain ecologically responsible certifications by working with Abena, a Denmark company known for its environmentally sensitive manufacturing process. According to the Bambo website, “Bambo Nature was the first baby diaper in the world certified with the esteemed Nordic Ecolabel and EU Flower ecolabel.” They are also members of the United Nations Global Compact.

Performance Comparison


bambo nature - bambo earned an average score for absorption indicating it can get...
Bambo earned an average score for absorption indicating it can get the job done, but there are options that work better.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Likes


Bambo earned a barely above-average score for absorption for the top-ranked disposable diapers we tested. This diaper had some moisture transfer to the test paper. It isn't a significant amount and is better than many of the diapers we tested, but any wetness on the paper indicates moisture that could be against the baby's bum. Wetness on the skin could lead to irritation or diaper rash, especially if your baby has sensitive skin prone to irritation. Our hands-on testers indicate this is one of the best for absorption, even for heavy overnight wetting. Find out more in our best overnight diaper review.

bambo nature - the bambo diaper had some run-off in the pan and more moisture...
The Bambo diaper had some run-off in the pan and more moisture absorption on the test paper than some of the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Bambo fell right in the middle of the group with its leakage score. This diaper had a small amount of run-off during leakage tests. Runoff indicates that liquid didn't absorb as quickly as some of the other diapers resulting in a potential for leaks. Also, our research indicates others have experienced leaks as well.

bambo nature - while online reviewers complained of leaks from the leg cuffs, we...
While online reviewers complained of leaks from the leg cuffs, we didn't experience this in our tests.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Being able to absorb liquids and prevent leaks is what a diaper is all about, so it would have been nice to see higher scores here. However, several competitors earned lower scores, so it isn't that your Bambo diaper will fail to perform. Depending on your goals and habits, we think the trade-off of the occasional leak is worth it, given the impressive health and ecology scores of this diaper.

bambo nature - the inner liner and back of the bambo are soft and very skin friendly.
The inner liner and back of the Bambo are soft and very skin friendly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Bambo earned an average comfort score. Bambo uses bamboo for the back fabric and inner liner. The material is soft, and the motion points are skin-friendly with no roughness compared to the competition.

bambo nature - bambo diapers are a healthy choice for little ones with the highest...
Bambo diapers are a healthy choice for little ones with the highest score in the review for health features.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Bambo makes substantial efforts to provide a baby-friendly diaper with as few additives and irritants as possible so you get the safest disposable diaper possible to place against your baby's skin. Bambo also provides one of the most transparent ingredient lists we have seen, and we are impressed by the amount of knowledge they offer to help consumers make informed choices. This diaper is free of chlorine, latex, lotions, perfumes, dyes (though it uses pigments on the waistband), deodorants, phthalates, organotins, heavy metals formaldehyde, PVC, and more (see video below at 0:55). If knowing what is in your baby's diaper is your thing, you'll be more than pleased with the disclosure and clarity provided throughout the Bambo website.

bambo nature - bambo is a more eco-friendly option than some of the traditional...
Bambo is a more eco-friendly option than some of the traditional options we reviewed.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Bambo is a “green diaper,” making more significant strides than the average diaper to create a gentler product on Earth than most disposable options. They offer a full disclosure list, and they include what best practices they use during the manufacturing process. Bambo uses a Denmark manufacturing company with the coveted Nordic Swan endorsement, which is hard to earn and keep and means they are living up to a certain standard that limits their impact on the environment. We love this!

bambo nature - some online reviewers indicated faulty tabs on the bambo diapers.
Some online reviewers indicated faulty tabs on the Bambo diapers.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Bambo earned an impressive result for durability in our testing and research. During our testing and hands-on use, we didn't experience any issues related to durability and this diaper, even after serious overnight saturations. However, our research did indicate a tiny percentage of reports on faulty tabs and the diaper falling apart. The numbers were so low that it is potentially a reflection of user error. Given our positive experience, we feel confident saying durability is high in this diaper compared to the competition.

bambo nature - even with an overly full diaper the bambo kept it together in our...
Even with an overly full diaper the Bambo kept it together in our tests.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

At-home testers felt this diaper held together better than the competition during day and night use. If durability is a problem, you might consider how frequently you change diapers and if that plays a role in your experience.

Should You Buy the Bambo?


Bambo is a green diaper doing its part to help the environment and baby's health. With better than average scores for absorbency and leak protection, this durable and comfy diaper earned top scores for health, making it a good choice for parents with health-related concerns to include in their diapering lineup.

What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?


While we really like this diaper, it isn't the best with absorption, and you can find a better absorber with better leak protection and similar health and eco-friendliness in our review. Parasol Clear and Dry offers the best absorption and high arks for eco and health, not as high, but it could fill the bill depending on your goals. For a more traditional or reasonably priced option, Hello Bello Premium is a good absorber and has several considerations for health and the environment, with higher than average scores in each metric. If you seek an eco-friendly diaper that won't break the bank and still has impressive absorption, the Eco by Naty should make your short list as well.

Manufacturer Video


More information on how Bambo diapers and made and what they do and do not contain.

Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz