Have you ever sat in the store staring at boxes in the baby aisle …
… and wondered:
“What the heck is the difference between diapers and pull-ups?”
They look almost exactly the same, come in similar sizes, and do the same thing, too!
(Though one usually costs a little bit more than the other.)
So what’s the difference, and how do you know if you should be using one or the other?
Diapers vs pull-ups in a nutshell:
Pull-ups and diapers are, mostly, the same thing. The main difference between pull-ups vs diapers is that pull-ups usually have an elastic band that makes them easier to pull up and down without fully removing them, and can be useful for potty training.
That’s pretty much the gist of it, but if you want a little more detail on these two types of pee-catchers, read on.
If you’re in that in-between stage where you’re just starting to think about potty training, start with Pampers Easy Ups on Amazon. They’re easy, reliable, and affordable — perfect for making the transition and easing into big-kid underwear.
What’s the difference between a pull-up and a diaper?
Pull-ups are, primarily, designed as a potty training tool for older babies and toddlers.
The idea is that children of the right age can take the pull-up on and off on their own when they need to, giving them greater control over when they go to the bathroom.
(The key feature of a pull-up vs a diaper is the elastic waistband, which allows for easy up and down.)
Pull-ups usually have side velcro or rip-away connections, too, just like normal diapers.
The rest of the design and function of a pull-up is pretty much the same as a diaper:
- Multi-layered design for liquid absorption
- Contoured fit to prevent leaks
- Inside, a chemical in crystal form called sodium polyacrylate does most of the absorption
- Waterproof outer layer
In short, there’s very little difference between a pull-up and a standard disposable diaper outside of the elastic waistband.
Are pull-ups as absorbent as diapers?
There is a lot of debate and confusion about this topic.
Pull-ups are made using pretty much the same absorbing material as diapers (sodium polyacrylate), and they function in the same way. So for that reason, there’s no reason that they’d be any less absorbent.
Some brands even claim that since pull-ups are designed for older kids and nighttime use, that they may even be more absorbent.
But across the board, almost without fail, real-life parents who have tried both say that pull-ups are less absorbent and much more prone to leaking than normal diapers.
Browse any parenting forum or discussion board on this topic and you’ll see loads of firsthand testimonials that pull-ups are leakier and less absorbent than normal disposable diapers.
My thought is that if you’re wondering how much pee and poop pull-ups will hold, it likely depends heavily on the brand you choose.
If you want your child to try pull-ups for potty training, you may have to experiment with some different brands to find one that works best for you.
For example, a lot of parents wonder if there’s a difference between pull-ups vs Pampers 360 diapers.
Pampers 360 are designed to combine the absorbency of diapers with the ease-of-use of pull-ups. In theory, they’re the best of both worlds!
Who should use pull-ups, and what’s a good age to switch from diapers to pull-ups?
So what’s a good age for children to switch from diapers to pull-ups?
The short answer? Children should usually start using pull-ups any time after 2 years old.
But age is only one factor.
Every kid will be ready for potty training at a different age. And their psychological and physical readiness for the challenge is a much bigger deal than how old they are.
Here are some signs to look for that your child might be ready to potty train and to start using pull-ups for better control over when they go:
- They show a general interest in the bathroom and potty time
- They like to watch you go
- They can predict or tell you when they’re about to pee or poop
- They can follow instructions
- They ask to use the potty
- Their fine motor skills are improving (they can take off pants, socks, and shoes on their own, etc.)
Do pull-ups actually work for potty training? Are they better than diapers?
That all depends.
Some kids respond incredibly well to the independence of being able to take their own diaper on and off.
In that sense, pull-ups function like underwear with a built-in safety mechanism in case of accidents.
But for other kids, the fail-safe aspect encourages them to treat a pull-up like a regular diaper and just go ahead and pee or poop without making it to a potty first.
(In contrast to having a potty training child wear regular underwear: When they pee or poop in regular underwear, it gets really uncomfortable really fast. Theoretically, that discomfort encourages them to try to make it to the toilet next time.)
For this reason, you’ll find a lot of mixed reviews around on whether pull-ups are actually effective for potty training.
(Read about training pants vs pull-ups here.)
Are pull-ups more expensive than regular diapers? What’s the cost of pull-ups vs diapers?
There seems to be a commonly held belief that pull-ups are vastly more expensive than regular disposable diapers, but based on my research, I’m not sure that’s 100% accurate.
When comparing the two biggest diaper brands, here’s what I found according to pricing on major online retailers when buying in bulk:
- Pampers Swaddlers vs Pampers Easy Ups (pull-ups): The regular diapers were actually about 3 cents per diaper more expensive
- Huggies Snugglers vs Huggies Pull-Ups: Pull-ups were about 8 cents more expensive per pull-up
Again, brand plays a huge role here, as does the actual style of diaper.
(You can get diapers as cheap as 12 cents per diaper with brands like Luvs, or Huggies Snug & Dry. In that case, going with pull-ups will probably cost about twice as much.)
It’s hard to say for sure whether the cost of pull-ups is a lot more expensive than diapers, just slightly more, or about the same.
To be safe, I would expect to pay a little bit more (a few cents more per unit) for a comparable brand of pull-ups to the current diapers you’re using.
So can you use pull-ups instead of diapers?
Potentially! But pull-ups don’t usually come in newborn and baby sizes, plus they often cost a little bit more, so they’re not really a useful alternative to diapers until your toddler is almost ready for potty training.
Pros and Cons of Pull-Ups
To wrap things up in a neat bow here, let’s just take a quick look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using pull-ups for toddlers and potty training.
PRO: Easy on and off creates independence and confidence
Kids tend to gobble up any little bit of independence they can get. And having the ability to take their own diaper on and off as they need can be just the push some of them need to totally master potty training.
Again, pull-ups work great for some kids, and not so great for others. But either way, they’ll probably enjoy the freedom.
CON: Pull-ups can be slightly more expensive vs diapers, on average
I still think the idea of pull-ups being super expensive is a little overblown, but you’ll probably pay a little bit more for them than you’re used to.
If you’ve done an awesome job bargain hunting and getting great deals on diapers, pull-ups might end up being as much as twice as expensive. But generally, I would expect to pay only a few cents more per unit.
PRO: More likely to come with fun designs and characters
I didn’t mention this above, but this can be a great selling point for kids. Newborn and baby diapers sometimes come in fun designs, but more often than not they’re designed for you to go through them quickly and are a bit utilitarian.
Pull-ups are for older kids, in general, and you’ll typically find lots of choices whether it’s Paw Patrol, Sponge Bob, Disney, or Marvel Characters.
This can be another great motivator for stubborn potty-trainers!
CON: Some parents say pull-ups are more likely to leak, especially overnight
In theory, pull-ups should be just absorbent and provide the same protection as a regular diaper.
But for whatever reason, the general consensus is that pull-ups don’t tend to hold up well against really big pees and overnight sessions.
Your mileage may vary. Try some different brands and read reviews carefully to find the best ones that have a good balance of fit, comfort, absorbency, and fun designs.
(For my money, we’ve always done really well with Pampers. You can check out their well-reviewed Easy Ups right here on Amazon.)
Wrapping Up
If you’ve been wondering what the difference actually is between a pull-up and a diaper, hopefully we’ve been able to solve that mystery.
Again for the folks in the back, there’s not really that big of a difference. Pull-ups have an elastic band so kids can pull them up and down easily on their own.
They also almost always have a tear-away or velcro side, as well.
(Regular diapers only have the latter.)
So are pull-ups the right choice for you and your child? Maybe! If you can get a good deal on pull-ups with a fun design or cool characters, they might be worth a shot for potty training.
Just don’t be surprised if they don’t make much of a difference, or if your kid ends up treating them just like a normal diaper.
Hope this helps, parents!