Luvs Review

Our Verdict
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Luvs | |||||
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Awards | ![]() Best Budget-friendly Disposable Diaper | ||||
Price | $0.21 List $0.21 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $0.24 List $0.19 each at Amazon | $0.28 List $0.27 each at Amazon | $0.14 List |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Unfortunately, despite the lower price, it has lower performance in leaks and absorption | Good absorption and few leaks with a budget price that are easy to find, but no nods for eco-health | An affordable diaper that holds up well and is comfortable to wear with better health and eco considerations than similar options | A durable and comfy diaper but poor performance for absorption and health considerations | Disappointing absorption and leak results make this comfortable choice a no-go no matter what your diapering goals |
Rating Categories | Luvs | Huggies Snug & Dry | Mama Bear Gentle Touch | Pampers Baby Dry | Target Up & Up |
Absorption (45%) | |||||
Leakage (25%) | |||||
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specifications | Luvs | Huggies Snug & Dry | Mama Bear Gentle Touch | Pampers Baby Dry | Target Up & Up |
Type of Diaper Green/Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional |
Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF | ECF | Not Listed | ECF | ECF | ECF |
Fragrance-Free | No - Strong baby powder scent | No - Strong baby powder scent | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent | Yes |
Biodegradable | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Miscellaneous Materials Details | Uses spandex elastic instead of latex | Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
Petrolatum, Stearyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract. Topsheet/Inner-Liner: Polypropylene/Polyethylene nonwoven. Adhesive: Thermoplastic Polymers. | Wood fluff pulp for core | |
Wetness Indicator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stretchable side wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stretchable Back of Diaper | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Eco-Awards & Certifications | |||||
Dye-Free | Not listed, does have a print | "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." | Not listed, has a very minimal print on waistband | "Pampers uses pigments for these colors, not dyes, because some dyes can cause allergy. The pigments we use are non-allergenic and skin safe. They are also commonly used in other consumer products, contact lenses, and food packaging." | Prints on Diaper |
Lotion-Free | Not listed | Not Listed | Yes | No | No |
Latex-Free | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Luvs is owned by Proctor and Gamble, which also makes Pampers diapers. Luvs' idea is that it is possible to find the best diaper that works well without paying more. Luvs offers a money-back guarantee if you are not happy with their diaper compared to another brand you've used. Luvs believes that once you are an experienced parent, you'll choose Luvs over other brands because it offers the same quality and functionality while saving you money.
Likes
Our favorite part about Luvs diapers is the comfort factor. The inner liner is smooth and lightweight. It has almost no texture that could cause chafing or irritation. All elastics and gussets feel gentle on the skin and are not restricting. Compared with some other diapers, Luvs diapers are thinner and made with less material, leading to a less bulky feel, which some babies prefer. These diapers fit better under clothing and might be less restrictive for your little one.
Another attractive feature of choosing the Luvs brand is the price. It is one of the cheapest options we tested, making it a desirable choice for parents on a tight budget. However, we urge you to consider that the number of diapers you use overall may increase with Luvs compared to slightly more expensive brands, as they are less absorbent than much of the competition.
Dislikes
After completing all of our tests, Luvs left us not in love. With one of the lowest absorbency scores and an unimpressive leakage score, we do not trust these diapers to withstand extra heavy wetting or to contain a blowout. The lack of wicking properties means that your baby will be sitting with wet material directly against their skin, which can cause irritation and rashes. To avoid this, users often complain about having to put on a new diaper more frequently than with other brands, often encountering leaks if the diaper is not changed soon enough. Luvs left a large puddle of uncaptured mock urine during our leak tests because the diaper could not absorb the liquid quickly enough.
The amount of leaks you deal with is dependent on your child's potty habits; however, the consensus is that these diapers may not be the best option for nighttime or long car rides and could result in wet clothes, bedding, and car seat.
Luvs also didn't do much for health and eco-friendliness. While they do not list any dyes or perfumes, the diapers have a print all over and a fragrance so strong that you can smell it even before opening the package. Aside from touting latex-free materials, Luvs does not disclose a full list of ingredients, which leaves buyers guessing at the contents, and we would prefer that they be more transparent about what they put into their diapers. They are elemental chlorine-free (ECF), but we prefer diapers to be totally chlorine-free. Other than being ECF, they don't claim to make an effort to be biodegradable or use renewable resources during production.
Should You Buy the Luvs?
When making a final decision, we do not recommend using Luvs as your primary disposable diaper. If you are in a bind and need something baseline affordable, these will do the job. However, to prevent leaks and blowouts, remember to change diapers sooner than you think you need to, and you may end up using more diapers, raising the overall cost. If you are looking for a better-functioning diaper that will save you money in the long run, we recommend looking elsewhere.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
With a budget-friendly price and far better score overall, Hello Bello Premium is one of the best deals going. This impressive performing diaper has great absorbency and leak protection, is also cozy and durable, and offers all this for a price significantly lower per diaper than even the average-priced diaper. We think most parents will find the functionality is better than Luvs, and the price will endear them to the brand.
Meet Your Review Team
Senior Review Editor
Wendy is a mother of two who has been a leading member of BabyGearLab's Review team since 2014. She brings a combination of skills and talent to the team that translates into well written, thought-provoking, easy to understand reviews that provide the parents with the information necessary to make a well-informed decision regarding products for their children, as well as, entertain and encourage readers to read more articles on the site. Wendy has a BA in Biology and brings a scientific and practical-minded approach to evaluating baby products.
Mom-in-Chief
Dr. Juliet Baciocco Spurrier is a board-certified pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), mother of two, and founder of the Baby section of GearLab. Juliet earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and Italian Literature from the University of California at Berkeley and her Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC. She completed her pediatric residency at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, and subsequently practiced pediatrics in both the Pacific Northwest and... read more