When my baby became more active around 9 months old, his whole lifestyle changed. He started crawling, walking, and engaging in all sorts of activities that demanded a diaper that stayed put. Whenever his diapers would wriggle around or shift lopsided, we'd often pick him up only to discover leaks. And don’t even get me started on how difficult diaper changes become with a wiggly little one. So I began to wonder what was the best diaper for active babies.
As a mom to 3 kids under 5 and a writer focused on reviews and research (usually behind the scenes at New Modern Mom), I decided to put my reporting skills to good use, and search for the best diaper for babies and toddlers on the move. So here’s my comparison of Coterie The Pant, Pampers Cruisers 360, and Huggies Little Movers.
TLDR: Coterie is my clear winner for the best diaper for active babes! Get 20% off your purchase with code: NEWMODERNMOM
Test #1: ingredient safety
Coterie The Pant
Hypoallergenic, independently lab tested, free of fragrance, lotion, latex, rubber, dyes, alcohol, heavy metals, parabens, phthalates, pesticides, chlorine bleaching, VOCs, and optical brighteners. And they're third-party tested with a publicly shared Diaper Safety Report. 5/5
Pampers Cruisers 360
Hypoallergenic and made without parabens, BPA, elemental chlorine, latex, disperse dyes, dioxins, ethanol/drying alcohol, lead and mercury in printed inks, organotins, pesticide residues, phenol, and PVC. *Note there is a strong, overwhelming scent reminiscent of baby powder, which I personally found quite nauseating. 2/5
Huggies Little Movers
Labeled as hypoallergenic, but there is no specification which substances or chemicals they are free from. Huggies claims their materials are tested for allergens and irritation, but it's unclear which products undergo testing, and they don't share the results publicly. 1/5
Ingredient safety winner: Coterie
Test #2: the fit
Coterie The Pant
What makes The Pant stand out is its versatility – you can put it on two different ways. You can either pull it up and down like underwear or use the resealable waistband to open and close it like a traditional diaper. I love having two options for little wigglers like my son, who just can't sit still on the changing pad. And it gives him the chance to practice his fine motor skills by pulling it up and down, which is a great step towards potty training.
Also, something I never really considered until trying The Pant is how babies’ and toddlers' bodies change throughout the day. Their stomachs are flat when they wake up because they haven't eaten, and their bellies are rounder after meals. Fortunately, the wrap-around pleating gives a snug fit regardless of my son's belly size.
The materials used in The Pant are incredibly stretchy, providing my son with the freedom to comfortably move around. Whether he's climbing on the jungle gym or rolling around in the sand at school, I don't have to worry about him feeling restricted. 5/5
Pampers Cruisers 360
The Cruisers 360 are Pampers version of pull-ups or transitional diapers. They feature a stretchy waistband to help diapers slide on, and have tear tabs on both sides to remove it like a traditional diaper. I struggled with the tearing feature, especially while my toddler was squirming around during a diaper change. This meant trying to remove the diaper like underwear resulted in a messy and smelly diaper change that was far from pleasant. Also, while The Pant is geared towards gentle potty training, the Cruisers 360 provide a less flexible fit in order to keep them from removing their own diapers. 3/5
Huggies Little Movers
Huggies Little Movers are basically just a regular diaper, and must be put on using velcro tabs like a typical diaper. They also come with curved elastic and a contoured pad to minimize any gaps around the legs and have double grip strips to provide flexibility. Overall, I was not impressed and would not recommend them for active toddlers. 2/5
The fit winner: Coterie
Test #3: absorbency
To thoroughly evaluate absorbency, I conducted three tests.
- Test A: I poured water directly onto the diaper liners to see how quickly they absorbed it.
- Test B: Next, I poured 1 ounce of water into each diaper to simulate urination. I waited 30 seconds before assessing dampness by touch.
- Test C: After about 90 seconds, I checked the diaper exteriors.
Coterie The Pant
Coterie instantly absorbed the liquid when poured, and remained dry to the touch both on the interior liner and the exterior. 5/5
Pampers Cruisers 360
Pampers noticeably did not absorb the liquid for some time, but once absorbed felt slightly drier than Huggies, but nowhere near as dry as Coterie. And these diapers also felt damp on the exterior. 3/5
Huggies Little Movers
While Huggies absorbed the liquid right away, they felt the wettest after water was poured onto them, and were a bit damp on the exterior. 2/5
Absorbency winner: Coterie
Test #4: cost
Coterie The Pant
One-time purchase of 156 Pants: $105.50 ($0.68 per diaper) or Subscription of 156 Pants: $95.00 ($0.61 per diaper).
Pampers Cruisers 360
144 Cruisers: $53.14 ($0.40 per diaper).
Huggies Little Movers
156 Little Mover: $49.36 ($0.32 per diaper).
Cost winner: Huggies Little Movers
IMO the best diaper for active babies and toddlers: Coterie Pants
Coterie Pants stand out for their superior comfortable fit and excellent absorbency. And they come with the peace of mind that you’re using a diaper created with clean, high-quality materials—something every parent appreciates when it comes to their baby’s sensitive skin. While the cost might be higher than other brands, I'm happy to spend a few extra cents per diaper for the added value Coterie provides.
✅ Ingredient safety: independently lab tested
✅ Brand transparency: third-party testing and published results
✅ Stretchy fit: these diapers stay put on the wiggliest of babies
✅ Resealable waistband: personalized fit for maximum comfort and makes it easier to dispose
✅ Top-notch absorbency: highly absorbent and remain dry to the touch
Get 20% your purchase with code: NEWMODERNMOM
So, while you're testing out the best diaper for active babies and toddlers with the Coterie's Pant, I highly suggest you try the wipes. They won the top non-toxic baby wipe in our research. (And if you're searching for other non-toxic items for your kids, be sure to check out the other blogs in our non-toxic series here: shampoo, detergent, sunscreen.)
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