Why I Packed THESE Diapers in My Hospital Bag (Full Coterie Diaper Review)

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Knowing what to pack in your hospital bag can feel paralyzing for some. 

It’s hard to track what you need to bring, what you might want, what the hospital provides, and what you should probably bring your version of, even if the hospital provides it (like the diapers I brought from home).

My husband constantly questioned why we needed to bring our own diapers if the hospital provided them for us, and I told him that I was only comfortable using Coterie after what I had read about their quality standards, cleaner materials, and overall softness (hello, newborn skin!). 

Plus, I knew my son's legs would likely be in the typical “Frank breech” position, making them stiff and uncomfortable to move (he cried so much in those early days!). Coterie’s diapers are incredibly soft and offer movement, making them the easy choice for me with my son’s comfort in mind.

Ultimately, I brought Coterie diapers to the hospital and continued using them as my son grew up. (I’ll never forget that photo of him at his four-month-old check-up wearing Coterie!). Here's my full Coterie diaper review so you can learn for yourself why these are the best.

Fast-forward to today, and I’ve decided to research the differences between Coterie and hospital diapers typically offered (like Pampers Swaddlers and Huggies Little Snugglers). 

In this review, I’ll walk you through a detailed comparison of all three on markers like absorbency, ingredients and materials, softness, and convenience. Let’s dive in!

These diapers absorb up to 4x faster than other diaper brands, helping reduce your little one's chance of developing skin irritations. They also offer up to a whopping 70% more liquid capacity than other diapers. They’re the only diapers that helped my son sleep through the night!

These diapers can hold a decent amount of liquid, but when I used them for a moment with my daughter, I had to add a booster pad to get all-night protection.

These consistently leak for us. I know this from first-hand experience and chatting with my mom friends. I don’t know what it is about the diapers and my babies, but for some reason, they always leak. 

This diaper is free from phthalates, latex, parabens, lotion, fragrance, chlorine (they're rated as TCF; more below), dyes, and more. It has also been rigorously third-party tested to ensure the claims are accurate*.

*Coterie is the only diaper brand that publishes its Safety Reports. 

What’s the difference between TCF (total chlorine-free) and ECF (elemental chlorine-free)? In diapering, these terms describe the bleaching process and the chemicals used.

As a mom and consumer, transparency is important to me, and knowing that Coterie not only stands behind its product but also publicly shares its safety reports is more than enough for me to always choose Coterie.

While these are elemental chlorine-free, there is no word on whether or not they contain phthalates. Plus, “light fragrance” is used, and there is no definitive word on what ingredients and chemicals the fragrance is comprised of, in addition to added lotions and dyes.

These diapers are fragrance, lotion, elemental chlorine, and paraben-free and also considered hypo-allergenic, but a few years ago, there was a class-action lawsuit against Huggies claiming “their diapers contain a skin irritant that causes a rash.”

These diapers are incredibly soft—think knit sweater soft. I knew Coterie was soft, but I didn’t believe the hype until I felt it firsthand.

Don’t get me wrong—these diapers are soft. They’re not plushy-soft like Coterie, but they are soft. The biggest hangup I had? They have a very strong fragrance (and who knows what lurks underneath the “fragrance” ingredient).

These diapers are also soft but don’t boast the fabric-like feel that Pampers Swaddlers and Coterie do. They're more papery-soft.

Super soft, extra absorbent, and ingredients and materials that care. Order now.

5/5 stars

Soft (but overly fragrant), good absorption, and materials and ingredients are so-so. 

4/5 stars

Soft (but papery), absorption is okay, but wouldn’t recommend overnight, and the materials and ingredients are also so-so. 

3.5/5 stars

There’s no denying that it’s absolutely not necessary to bring diapers to the hospital. 

But, if you prefer to invest extra money to ensure your little one starts their life with more absorbent, better quality diapers (complete with safer materials and ingredients), then Coterie is hands-down the best.

Using Coterie gave me extra peace of mind in the early days, especially as my son’s body was adjusting to life outside the womb. The extra comfortable materials, stretchy leg bands, and easy fit made all the difference for us in the first few months of his life.

Coterie has graciously extended 10% off your first subscription order of $40 or more when you use the discount code HP10 at checkout.

I remember packing my hospital bag with my first (my son) and wanting to make sure I had the best for him, including the softest onesies, a cute little hat, all-natural diaper cream, water-based wipes, and quality diapers. 

As a first-time mom, I felt anxious, which personally translates to over-preparing, but I wouldn’t change a thing about what I brought to the hospital.

Like only 4% of babies, I knew my son was breech and that I would be having a C-section. Of course, this impacted what I would be packing in my hospital bag (did you know that Frank breech babies are born with their legs “stuck” overhead?). 

With that in mind, I knew I needed to have the right essentials on hand to keep him comfortable after birth, which, for me, included the right diapers.

Here’s a general list of what I added to my hospital bag for myself (I found it was just the right amount).

• A nursing gown with easy-access snaps

• Your go-to toiletries (including a hairbrush)

• Two nursing bras

• A loose-fitting change of clothes

• Slippers or socks with grips

• Hair ties and a headband

• Chapstick (or two)

• Reusable nursing pads

• Organic nipple cream

• Protein-rich snacks

• A phone charger with a long cord

• Colostrum collector set

• A towel for yourself*

*I didn’t pack my towel and what a regret that was, so I’m adding it to this list. 

The towels at my hospital were so small (about ⅓ the size of a standard towel), and I just desperately wanted a fluffy, big towel to dry off with after that (lovely!) first shower.

For my son, I packed him a few things:

• Two easy-to-change outfits (gowns worked well for his breech legs)

• Two pairs of socks

• Two swaddles (we loved the Ollie from the day he was born, as it gave his hips plenty of room!)

• One “coming home” or picture outfit

• An extra hat and booties

• A receiving blanket

• Diapers and wipes

• Car seat (you can’t leave the hospital without one!)

Ultimately, bring what will help you (and your baby!) feel comfortable at the hospital. This list could look different for everyone, but if diapers that work well and are made with quality ingredients are important to you, then Coterie should be on your packing list.

Don’t forget! Coterie has graciously extended 10% off your first subscription order of $40 or more when you use code HP10 at checkout.