Which Type of Diaper Absorbs the Most Amount of Water?

The anticipated arrival of a newborn baby also requires a lot of planning for the first year of life. Soon-to-be parents must stock up on many baby items, from bottles to clothing. And a major choice must be made regarding diaper types. Every parent desires a leak-free diaper that can hold a lot of urine. Diaper types have many advantages and disadvantages, but only one variety has the best absorption ability.

Diaper Types

• Improvements in diaper design have given consumers many variations on the basic baby necessity. Cloth diapers are reusable, avoiding a massive pile of disposable diapers bound for the local landfill. Disposable diapers are the most convenient but must be thrown out after one use. Eco-friendly diapers are disposable but are constructed of reusable resources like wheat and wood pulp. Hybrid diapers are also available, featuring an absorbent interior that can be flushed down the toilet, leaving a reusable outer shell that is washable.

Best Absorbency

• The diaper with the best fluid absorbency is the disposable diaper equipped with super-absorbent crystals. These super-absorbent crystals are sodium polyacrylate polymers, or plastic resins. Within the comfortable wood pulp filler of the diaper are interspersed sodium polyacrylate crystals. As the diaper fills with fluid, the crystals increase in size, absorbing the incoming fluid and wicking it away from the baby's skin.

Sodium Polyacrylate Crystal Science

• Resembling basic table salt, sodium polyacrylate crystals allow for a thinner diaper construction, without negatively affecting the diaper's functionality. The sodium element of the polymer attracts incoming fluid to the crystal. The polymer slowly unravels as it gains more fluid within its structure. The crystals retain the fluid even with the baby in motion, preventing diaper rash, since the baby's skin remains dry.

Diaper Considerations

• Many cloth diaper proponents argue that the environmental impact of disposable diapers is worse than the use of cloth. Though super-absorbent diapers eventually find their way into a landfill, the laundering cost of the cloth diapers contributes to using more fossil fuels for powering the washing machines and dryers, reports the University of Minnesota.

Expert Insight

• The Utah Education Network reports that the super-absorbent crystals were initially produced for astronaut diapers. In addition, the crystals are found in potting soil. Regions that have frequent droughts use these crystals for water retention. They are placed in planting pots and under grassy lawns, creating an instant water supply for those dry days. Overall, the crystals save on water supplies and are not prone to evaporation.