You will change around 2,500 nappies in the first year, so the brand you settle on matters for your baby’s skin, your sleep and your bin. We compared the nappies, wipes and disposal options sold on Amazon.com.au against CHOICE’s independent absorbency and leakage testing, checked ingredient and sizing claims, and read what verified Australian buyers report.
Our verdict
Best overall: Huggies Pure & Sensitive — the hypoallergenic Huggies line that led CHOICE’s infant-size test, with a wetness indicator and sold through Amazon AU. Check price on Amazon.com.au
Best budget: Huggies Essentials — the no-frills Huggies that CHOICE still recommended in the toddler and walker sizes, at a budget band. Check price on Amazon.com.au
Best for newborns: Huggies Newborn — the hospital-bag standard with a soft liner and clear wetness indicator. Check price on Amazon.com.au
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Price band | Key spec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huggies Pure & Sensitive Newborn | Best overall; sensitive skin | Mid-range | Hypoallergenic, 12-hour protection, wetness indicator, size 1 up to 5kg | Check price |
| Huggies Newborn | Hospital bag and first weeks | Mid-range | Zinc-enriched liner, wetness indicator, 216-count month box | Check price |
| Huggies Essentials | Best budget | Budget | Leak Lock core, wetness indicator, sizes 1 to 6 | Check price |
| Huggies Ultra Dry | Crawlers, toddlers and overnight | Mid-range | Rapid-Dry core, boy and girl absorbency zones, 144-count box | Check price |
| Eco by Naty Newborn | Plant-based option | Mid-range to premium | Plant-based materials against the skin, chlorine and fragrance free | Check price |
| WaterWipes Sensitive+ | Best newborn wipes | Mid-range | 99.9 per cent water, unscented, 720-count carton | Check price |
| Huggies Fragrance Free Wipes | Best value everyday wipes | Budget | Thick textured wipe, 640-count carton | Check price |
| Curash Simply Water Newborn | Budget water wipes | Budget | 99 per cent purified water, Australian brand, 8 x 80 | Check price |
| Tommee Tippee Twist & Click | Best nappy bin | Mid-range | Individually wraps each nappy, antibacterial film cassette | Check price |
The picks in detail
1. Huggies Pure & Sensitive Newborn (Size 1)
Huggies’ hypoallergenic line gives you the best chance of avoiding both leaks and irritated skin. In CHOICE’s most recent testing the Pure & Sensitive size 2 was the top-ranked infant nappy and the size 1 sat near the top of a newborn field that generally struggled with absorbency. It has a stretchy waistband, a colour-changing wetness indicator and Huggies’ 12-hour protection claim, and Amazon AU sells it in a bulk box.
Pros
- Strongest independent test results of any nappy sold on Amazon.com.au
- Fragrance-free, hypoallergenic construction for reactive skin
- Wetness indicator saves unnecessary changes
Cons
- Mid-range band; costs more per nappy than Essentials
- Bulk box only, so buy a small pack of another size before you commit
Who it’s for: parents who want the safest all-round choice for a new baby, especially one prone to rashes.
Check price on Amazon.com.au2. Huggies Newborn (Size 1, 216 count)
The nappy most Australian parents come home from hospital with. It has a soft inner liner with zinc, a wetness strip and a front cut low enough to fold below the cord stump, and the month-supply box is the simplest way to stock up before the birth. CHOICE found no newborn nappy outstanding on absorbency and this one landed mid-field, but fit, softness and availability keep it the default for the first weeks when changes are frequent anyway.
Pros
- Soft, low-cut fit for the cord stump stage
- Clear wetness indicator for first-time parents
- Sold by Amazon AU with Subscribe and Save
Cons
- Middle of the pack on absorbency in independent testing
- Babies outgrow size 1 fast, so one box is usually enough
Who it’s for: the hospital bag and the first month, before you know your baby’s shape and skin.
Check price on Amazon.com.au3. Huggies Essentials (Size 3)
Essentials is Huggies without the premium liner, and it is the budget pick because CHOICE recommended it in both the toddler and walker sizes, where several dearer nappies failed. You still get the Leak Lock core, a wetness indicator and stretchy tabs, and sizes run from newborn to size 6, so one brand can carry you to toilet training. Amazon AU sells single and multi-packs.
Pros
- Budget band with a recommended result in independent testing
- Full size run from newborn to 16kg plus
- Smaller packs make it easy to trial a size
Cons
- Thinner, less cushioned feel than Pure & Sensitive
- Fewer bulk-box options than the premium lines
Who it’s for: families keeping the nappy budget down without gambling on an unknown brand.
Check price on Amazon.com.au4. Huggies Ultra Dry (Size 4, boys)
Once your baby is crawling and sleeping longer, you need a core that holds a full night and a waistband that survives a wriggler. Ultra Dry places extra absorbency up front for boys and lower down for girls, and CHOICE recommended the girls’ size 4. The boys’ box here is sold by Amazon AU; the girls’ equivalent is currently a third-party listing, so check the seller first.
Pros
- Gender-specific absorbency zones for fewer night leaks
- Strong stretch tabs that resist toddler removal
- Month-supply box from Amazon AU
Cons
- Girls’ sizes on Amazon.com.au come via a third-party seller
- Bulkier than Essentials under clothes
Who it’s for: babies from around six months who are starting to sleep through and soak through.
Check price on Amazon.com.au5. Eco by Naty Newborn
If you want fewer petroleum-based materials against your baby’s skin, Naty is the plant-based brand sold directly by Amazon AU: a plant-derived layer against the skin, no chlorine bleaching, fragrance or lotion. Be clear-eyed about the trade-offs. CHOICE found the eco nappies in its infant test were among the weakest for absorbency and the dearest, and no disposable nappy meaningfully breaks down in landfill. Treat it as a materials choice, not a waste solution, and change more often.
Pros
- Plant-based materials against the skin; no chlorine bleaching or fragrance
- Sold and shipped by Amazon AU, unlike most eco brands
- Sizes through to pull-up pants
Cons
- Independent testing puts eco nappies behind mainstream brands on absorbency
- Premium band and no change-of-mind returns on the current listing
Who it’s for: parents prioritising materials over cost who are happy to change on a tighter schedule.
Check price on Amazon.com.au6. WaterWipes Sensitive+ Newborn & Baby Wipes
The water wipe most often suggested for the first weeks: purified water and very little else, unscented and alcohol free, which is the combination least likely to upset new skin. The real reason to buy is simplicity when you do not yet know how your baby’s skin behaves. The 720-count carton is sold by WaterWipes’ Australian arm as a marketplace seller.
Pros
- Minimal ingredients; the common recommendation for newborn skin
- Thick enough for a full change with one or two wipes
- Local seller and bulk carton
Cons
- Mid-range band for a consumable you will use thousands of
- Dries out quickly if the pack seal is not pressed shut
Who it’s for: the newborn weeks, premature babies and any baby with eczema-prone skin.
Check price on Amazon.com.au7. Huggies Baby Wipes Fragrance Free (640 count)
The everyday wipe for most Australian households. Huggies’ thick, textured wipe grips mess better than thin water wipes, the fragrance-free version avoids the perfume that sets off many rashes, and the eight-pack carton from Amazon AU is one of the cheapest ways to buy a reputable brand. Once solids start, this is the one you will reach for most.
Pros
- Thick, textured wipe that cleans in fewer passes
- Fragrance-free; budget band per wipe
- Resealable packs that fit a nappy caddy
Cons
- More ingredients than a water wipe; not the first choice for reactive newborn skin
- Packaging varies between batches
Who it’s for: everyday changes from a few months old onward, and the car, the nappy bag and the kitchen.
Check price on Amazon.com.au8. Curash Simply Water Baby Wipes for Newborns
Curash is an Australian pharmacy brand, and its Simply Water line is the budget answer to WaterWipes: 99 per cent purified water, fragrance free, in a thick wipe sold by Amazon AU in an eight-pack. It keeps water wipes in the house without the WaterWipes premium, and every chemist stocks it if you run out.
Pros
- Water-based, fragrance-free formula at a budget band
- Australian brand with easy top-up at any chemist
- Sold and shipped by Amazon AU
Cons
- Slightly thinner than Huggies Thick wipes
- Travel-size packs are sold separately
Who it’s for: families who want water wipes as the default without the premium brand’s cost.
Check price on Amazon.com.au9. Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Nappy Bin
A nappy bin is optional, but with a weekly bin day and an upstairs nursery it earns its place. The Twist & Click wraps each nappy individually in antibacterial film as you twist the lid, which is what actually contains the smell; ordinary lidded bins do not. It holds a couple of days of newborn changes and the base unit comes from Amazon AU. Budget for cassette refills as an ongoing cost, or switch after six months to scented nappy bags such as babyU Nappy Bags once changes drop.
Pros
- Individually sealed nappies; genuinely controls odour
- Compact footprint beside a change table
- Sold by Amazon AU; refills easy to find in supermarkets
Cons
- Proprietary cassette refills are a running cost
- Twisting the lid one-handed takes practice
Who it’s for: upstairs nurseries, apartments and anyone who cannot get to the outside bin after every change.
Check price on Amazon.com.auHow to choose nappies and wipes in Australia
Size by weight, not age
Every pack prints a weight range, and the ranges overlap on purpose. Start with the size that puts your baby mid-range and move up as soon as you see red marks at the waist or thighs, leaks up the back, or tabs that barely meet. The waistband should take two fingers, and the leg frills should be pulled out, not tucked in.
There is no Australian standard for nappies
Unlike cots or car seats, disposable nappies and wipes have no mandatory or voluntary Australian product standard, so a brand’s claims about absorbency or being hypoallergenic are its own. The independent check is CHOICE, whose lab measures absorbency, leakage, surface wetness and tab strength, and whose results shaped our shortlist.
Be sceptical of eco claims
“Biodegradable”, “plant-based” and “eco” have no legal definition for nappies in Australia. The ACCC’s environmental-claims guidance requires businesses to substantiate them, and any nappy sent to landfill will sit there for decades regardless of its materials. Where plant-based nappies help is in what touches the skin: no chlorine bleaching, fragrance or lotion. Weigh that against CHOICE’s finding that eco nappies trailed on absorbency and cost more per nappy.
Wipes: water first, then thickness
For the first month or two, water wipes or cotton wool and water are the gentlest option. After that, a thicker textured wipe cleans faster once solids start. Choose fragrance-free regardless of brand, and never flush a wipe, even one labelled flushable; they are a leading cause of blocked sewers in Australian cities.
Nappy rash and when to see someone
Most nappy rash comes down to time in a wet nappy, friction and sometimes a reaction to a wipe or detergent. Prompt changes, patting dry, nappy-free time and a barrier cream are the usual routine. A rash that is bright red with satellite spots, blistering or not improving within a few days is one for your GP, pharmacist or child health nurse, not a different brand.
Disposal
Solids go in the toilet; the bagged nappy goes in general waste, never recycling or green waste. A sealing nappy bin is a convenience, not a hygiene requirement.
How we chose
We shortlisted nappies, wipes and disposal products available on Amazon.com.au, prioritised listings sold or shipped from Australia, then cross-checked each nappy against CHOICE’s independent absorbency and leakage results, excluding brands CHOICE rated poorly even where they sell well. We compared ingredients, sizing and pack formats before reading verified-purchase reviews on Amazon.com.au and Australian review sites for patterns around leaks, fit and skin reactions. We use price bands rather than prices because Amazon prices change daily.
Frequently asked questions
What size nappy does a newborn need?
Most full-term babies start in size 1 (newborn), which covers up to about 5kg, and move to size 2 within a few weeks. Premature or very small babies may need a size 0 from the brands that make one. Choose by your baby’s weight, not age, and move up as soon as you see red marks at the waist or thighs or leaks up the back.
How many nappies does a baby use a day?
Newborns typically go through 10 to 12 nappies a day for the first month, dropping to around 8 a day by three months and 5 or 6 a day by the end of the first year. A 216-count newborn box is roughly three weeks of changes, which is why one box of size 1 is usually enough before you move up.
Are eco or plant-based nappies worth it in Australia?
They can be worth it for what touches your baby’s skin, since most avoid chlorine bleaching, fragrance and lotions. They are not a landfill solution: there is no Australian standard for biodegradable nappies, and nappies in landfill do not meaningfully break down. CHOICE’s testing also found eco nappies behind mainstream brands on absorbency, so expect to change more often.
Are water wipes better than regular baby wipes?
For the first month or two, water wipes have the fewest ingredients and are the gentlest option, which is why they are often recommended for newborns and babies with eczema-prone skin. After that, a thicker fragrance-free wipe cleans more effectively with fewer wipes. Many families use water wipes early and switch to a thicker fragrance-free wipe once solids start.
Can I flush baby wipes?
No. Baby wipes, including those labelled flushable, do not break down like toilet paper and are a leading cause of blocked household pipes and sewer fatbergs in Australian cities. Bin every wipe. Solid contents from the nappy can go in the toilet, but the nappy and wipes go in general waste.
Related guides: setting up the change area? See our picks for the best change tables and change mats, the newborn hub for everything else in the first three months, and our guide to sleeping bags and swaddles for drier nights.
