REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very absorbent
Runs small
No considerations for health or environment
Luvs Review
It may be inexpensive, but it is disappointing in absorbency and leak protection, so you might not save much using more
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Disposable Diapers
Our Verdict
Luvs diapers are a desirable choice for many budget-minded parents because this well-known brand is affordable. However, they are one of the lowest-ranked diapers in our disposable diaper review, showing poor durability, absorption, and leak containment. While Luvs often cost less than half the price of other brands, we think that you may find yourself using more than twice as many to keep your baby dry and prevent blowouts or leaks while filling your diapering needs.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Luvs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Disposable Diaper |  Best Budget-friendly Disposable Diaper | |||
| Price | $0.21 List $0.21 at Amazon | $0.27 List $0.32 at Amazon | $0.31 List $0.25 each at Amazon | $0.24 List $0.17 each at Amazon | $0.14 List |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Unfortunately, despite the lower price, it has lower performance in leaks and absorption | Impressive performance and better health nods than you'd expect make this a budget-friendly diaper parents will love | 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 | Disappointing absorption and leak results make this comfortable choice a no-go no matter what your diapering goals |
| Rating Categories | Luvs | Kirkland Signature | Huggies Snug & Dry | Mama Bear Gentle Touch | Target Up & Up |
| Absorption (45%) | |||||
| Leakage (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Luvs | Kirkland Signature | Huggies Snug & Dry | Mama Bear Gentle Touch | Target Up & Up |
| Type of Diaper Green/Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional |
| Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF | ECF | ECF | Not Listed | ECF | ECF |
| Fragrance-Free | No - Strong baby powder scent | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent | Yes | 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 | Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) | Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
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 | 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 | Prints on Diaper |
| Lotion-Free | Not listed | Yes | Not Listed | Yes | No |
| Latex-Free | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
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.
Performance Comparison
We tried out Luvs diapers with a 6-week old tester to see how they performed in a real-life scenario.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
Luvs diapers may run a bit small compared to other brands, so you may want to step up from your baby's regular size.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
Luvs had a lot of green showing on the filter paper, indicating that there it is not very good at retaining moisture and locking it away.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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.
The purple print on the outside of the diapers is eyecatching, but dyes may be an irritant to sensitive baby skin.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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 similar price and far better score overall, Kirkland Signature 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.
—Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
You Might Also Like
