Huggies Slip On vs Pull Ups, Which To Buy? (2022)

By Lynn •  Updated: 01/22/22 •  9 min read
Hey Mamas and Papas! This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site.

Huggies slip on diapers vs pull ups, what is the difference? All babies reach a certain age where they try to resist a diaper change. Luckily with slip on diapers, changing is really quick and easy since you simply slip them on as the name suggests. When they reach a potty training age, pull ups come in handy. Just like normal pants, the pull ups can be pulled up and down making it easy for kids to use the potty or toilet. In this article, we shall go in depth into the differences between the two in order to help you understand and make an informed decision the next time you go shopping.

Huggies slip on diapers vs pull ups differences

What are slip on diapers?

At around 8-10 months, diaper changing becomes a time to exercise your muscles. Most babies will not lie still to get a diaper change as they try to grab anything around them to play with. Fortunately, parents have found relieve by using slip on diapers.

Slip on diapers are simply disposable diapers that are designed to be worn like normal pants. They are highly absorbent in order to keep the baby dry.

Are slip ons diapers?

Yes, they are diapers with a little more absorbency.

Pros

  • Make diaper changing easier
  • Easy to remove once soiled by simply tearing the sides
  • Highly absorbent to keep baby dry

Cons

  • Once the sides are torn, the diaper cannot be reused.

Huggies Little Movers Slip on Diapers

  • The huggies Little Movers are the best slip on diapers you can find in the market.
  • They have a stretchy waistband that enables you to easily slip the diaper on and pull it off whether the baby is standing or lying down.
  • Stretching waist band gives comfort and eases baby movement.
  • The elastic band also provides maximum comfort to the baby.
  • Pre-fastened sides that make it very easy to remove once the diaper is soiled.
  • These slip ons come in different sizes from size 3, 4, 5 to 6.

What are Pull ups?

Pull ups on the other hand are similar to diapers except that the waist has an elastic band and they are more padded. So they are worn like normal pants. They come in handy during potty training because they can easily be pulled up and down. Pull ups are also referred to as disposable training pants or underwear.

Pull ups vs Diapers

Pull ups and diapers are made using the same absorbent material and function in a similar manner. However, the level of absorbency depends on the brand just like with diapers.

I’m sure you have come across diapers brand that are highly absorbent while others leak easily. This also applies to pull ups, some leak easily while others have a high level of absorbency. This is why you have to consider several factors when choosing the best pull up diapers for your babies. Great reviews have been given my moms who have used Pampers pull ups and Huggies pull ups.

The question of whether pull ups are as absorbent as diapers has brought a lingering debate among parents.

Some argue that they are designed to be less absorbent so that they can encourage kids to use a potty. Hence, the reason why they are mainly used when children reach potty training age. Other parents claim that the level of absorbency is the same as that of diapers since they are made from the same absorbent material.

Have you used pull ups before? You tell us your experience by leaving a comment below.

Are pull ups diapers?

Pull ups differ slightly from diapers in that they have an elastic band at the waist that helps in pulling up and down like a normal pant.

They are specially made for babies aged 18 to 30 months who are beginning to independently use a potty or a toilet.

When to use pull ups instead of diapers

The right time to start using pull ups is when you start potty training the little one and during night time training. The night time pull ups tend to be more absorbent so as to prevent leaks.  Pull ups also come in handy when potty regression occurs because they make it easy for kids to pull them down to do their business and pull them back up with little assistance from you.

Pros

  • Elastic waist band
  • Easy to pull up and down
  • Disposable; hence good for traveling
  • Very comfortable
  • Great for potty training and nighttime training

Cons

  • Less absorbent compared to slip on diapers
  • A little more expensive than normal diapers

Pull ups Learning Designs

  • These pull ups come in two designs; for boys (Mickey Mouse) and girls (Minnie Mouse).
  • The graphics on the pull ups fade when wet
  • Huggies pull ups also come in different sizes ranging from size 2T, 3T to 5T.
  • They are disposable training pants which can be worn during the day and at night.
  • The pull ups fit comfortably like normal cotton underwear and make it easy for the baby to pull up and down.
  • You do not have to worry about the waist not fitting your little one because they can be refastened on the sides like diaper pants.

Are pull ups as absorbent as diapers?

Are pull ups as absorbent as diapers? This is a common questions that parents ask when they want to start using pull ups particularly during potty training.

Our previous article talked about the difference between slip ons and pull ups. We also saw that pull ups are very similar to diapers except for a few differences such as the elastic band on the waist and their absorbency.

In this article, we shall focus mainly on the absorbency of pull ups so that we can determine whether they are as absorbent as diapers.

In order to understand the absorbency of pull ups and diapers, we first need to look at what makes them absorbent.

Diapers and Pull ups absorbency

Both diapers and pulls are made using Sodium Polyacrylate. Sodium Polyacrylate is a white granular powder that absorbs liquid. When the granules absorb liquid, they turn into a solid substance that appears slushy.

I’m sure you have seen this in one of your baby diapers. When a diaper is completely full, it may leak through exposing some small crystalline granules. Well, that’s how Sodium Polyacrylate looks like after absorbing urine or any form of liquid.

Nonetheless, Sodium Polyacrylate is preferred in the making of diapers and pull ups due to its high absorbency.  It can absorb up to 1000 times its own weight. This is what makes disposable diapers super absorbent.

The difference between the absorbency of diapers and pull ups

Majority of parents have found pull ups to be less absorbent that diapers.

You must be wondering why the absorbency differs yet they are made of the same absorbent material.

First, you must understand that both are designed for different purposes. Pull ups are specially designed to be used during potty training while diapers are meant to be worn before a child reaches potty training age.

In this regard, pull ups are designed in a way that when they get wet, they do not absorb much so that the kid feels uncomfortable and gets encouraged to pull them down.

Apart from absorbency, pull ups also differ from diapers in that they do not have adhesive panels on the sides rather they have an elastic band on the waist. This waistband helps to pull them down like normal underwear; thus, they help in transitioning from diapers to pants or undies.

However, manufacturers argue that there is no much difference between pull ups and diapers apart from the obvious elastic band and the ability to pull them up and down. They argue that the difference in absorbency depends on the brand you buy. Just like with diaper brands, some pull up brands are more absorbent than others.

In my opinion, if pull ups would absorb as much as diapers do, kids would feel comfortable in them and would not be motivated to pull them down to use a potty. That is why they are less absorbent to give kids a cold sensation and encourage them to pull them down.

Pull ups are preferred during potty training because kids learn how to use a toilet without creating a mess in the house when they get ‘accidents’. They are therefore closer to diapers than undies.

As children get more accustomed to potty training, you can stop using pull ups and start with the training pants. Training pants resemble pull ups but they are less absorbent and can be worn alone with underwear.

So, are pull ups as absorbent as diapers?

My answer is no. Although they are made from the same absorbent material, pull ups are not as absorbent as diapers.

However, the absorbency of pull ups also differs based on when they are to be worn. There are pull ups designed for overnight use, which tend to be very absorbent compared to day time use pull ups.

The nighttime use pull ups have extra absorbent layers for better protection at night.

So what is the difference between Huggies slip on vs pull ups?

  1. Slip ons are more absorbent and take time to fill up while pull ups are less absorbent and fill up easily.
  2. Pull ups are thinner and easier to pull up and down compared to slip ons
  3. Slip ons are opened on the sides during changing while pull ups are simply pulled down
  4. Pulls are less bulky compared to slip ons
  5. Slip ons keep the baby dry while pull ups remain wet

Conclusion

The main difference between the huggies slip ons and pull ups is that the former are designed to be highly absorbent so that they can hold more liquid just like a normal diaper. Pull ups are designed to be less absorbent so that the baby can feel wet and be encouraged to pull down the diaper and use a potty.

Lynn

Lynn is a freelance writer, a wife, and a mother of two beautiful kids. Lynn started Infant Empire with the aim of making parenting easier for fellow mums and dads. She believes the parenting tips provided here will be of great help to all parents.