Andy Pandy Review
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Andy Pandy | |||||
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Awards | |||||
Price | $0.50 List $0.45 each at Amazon | $0.56 List $0.56 each at Amazon | $0.27 List $0.27 each at Amazon | $0.33 List | $0.31 List $0.31 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Eco-friendly, few leaks, durable | Super absorber, great leak protection, comfy, durable, free from chlorine, fragrance, and lotions | Excellent absorption, great leak protection, comfortable, durable, inexpensive | Great absorbency, few leaks, very durable, fragrance and lotion-free, TCF | Better absorption, good leak protection, comfortable, durable |
Cons | Expensive, poor absorption, lower health results | Expensive, primarily available online | Not eco-friendly, uses coloring/inks | Uses inks | Not eco-friendly, disappointing health attributes |
Bottom Line | An eco-friendly diaper that is durable with fewer leaks but poor absorption and a higher price hurt its overall likeability | This super absorbing diaper offers great leak protection, comfort, and nods to the environment and baby's health, but it will cost you | A high-performing diaper that works well and has a reasonable price, but isn't as eco-friendly as you might want | Absorbent, durable option with good leak protection and impressive considerations for health and eco-friendliness | Cozy with great absorption and leak protection at a lower price, but eco-friendliness and health attributes are disappointing |
Rating Categories | Andy Pandy | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
Absorption (45%) | |||||
Leakage (25%) | |||||
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Andy Pandy | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
Type of Diaper Green/Traditional | Green | Green | Traditional | Green | Traditional |
Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF | TCF | TCF | ECF | TFC | Not Listed |
Fragrance-Free | No - Strong baby powder scent | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent |
Biodegradable | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | No | Not listed |
Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Miscellaneous Materials Details | Parts of it are made from bamboo | Made with "Drylock" technology, which means less wood pulp is used for core of diaper | Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) | TCF fluff pulp from sustainably managed forests, a high-performance Super Absorbent Polymer, polypropylene/polyethylene/polyester nonwoven fibers, plant-derived PLA nonwoven fiber, spandex strands, and an elastomeric fill | Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
Wetness Indicator | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stretchable side wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stretchable Back of Diaper | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Eco-Awards & Certifications | Nordic Swan Eco Label, PEFC Forest Sustainability, PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan, Original Excellent Dermatest , FSC, ROHS compliant | Good Housekeeping ~ "2022 Parenting Awards" New York Magazine ~ "Best Diaper Subscription" ptpa.com ~ "winner" |
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Dye-Free | Not listed, there was NOT a print on the diaper | Uses water-based inks | Not listed, does have a print | No | "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing." |
Lotion-Free | Aloe Liner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Listed |
Latex-Free | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Andy Pandy is a part of the Hansen Kids LLC company, a small owner-operated business located in Michigan. Inspired by their love of family and the planet, the company strives to create environmentally friendly and safe products for children. In 2013, the Hansen family released their dream diaper, the Andy Pandy Premium Bamboo disposable diapers, after years of research and testing to create a quality, eco-friendly product.
Performance Comparison
Likes
This diaper scored well for leakage, coming in above average in our tests. We had minimal to no leaking during testing, but some Amazon reviewers did experience some leaking during normal use, which impacted the leakage score.
We also love the efforts of this brand to create an eco-friendly diaper with nods to a baby's skin as well. This diaper uses renewable bamboo for the outside and inside covers grown without the use of pesticides or chemicals; it is totally chlorine-free (TCF) and biodegradable under the right conditions (rare in a traditional landfill). This diaper is latex, dye, perfume, alcohol, preservatives, phthalates, PVC, TBT, and Antioxidant free. It does have an aloe liner, which is akin to a lotion additive (in our opinion), and a pH strip for wetness indication.
The Andy Pandy diaper is comfortable with soft fabric, non-abrasive tabs, and elastic. It came in close to the front of the pack in the comfort metric and remained fairly durable, a step up from a previous version we've reviewed in the past (hooray for improvements!).
Dislikes
Unfortunately, this diaper did not score well in our absorption tests, with one of the lowest scores in the best disposable diaper review. Liquids don't get trapped in the diaper core and could either run off or sit wet against the baby's tushie, potentially causing irritation or possible diaper rash. Absorption is a key functional feature of a diaper, along with preventing leaks, and it is hard to consider a diaper with a score this low.
Our research indicated that some users had trouble with faulty tabs and leaking SAP (the portion of the diaper that collects and traps liquids and looks something like Jello when full). A diaper doesn't have to live long, and we suspect the attempt at biodegradability has left this product on the thinner side, but it should last between diaper changes so you don't end up with a mess on your hands.
Should You Buy the Andy Pandy?
Andy Pandy is an interesting diaper making keen attempts at being eco-friendly and effective. This diaper hits the mark for Earth-friendliness, but it misses the boat for absorption and baby health, making it a no-go no matter how much we love some of its other redeeming attributes. While being eco-friendly is important, other diapers from our best diaper review get the job done with better scores for leaks and absorption than Andy Pandy.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
While Andy Pandy is a diaper we want to love, it can't hang with the big boys. If you're looking for a high-end diaper with top performance in absorption and leak protection, Parasol Clear and Dry is the best choice in the group. It has better health and eco considerations. If budget is a concern, but you still want the best health and eco-friendliness you can afford, Hello Bello Premium is our pick. This reasonably priced diaper scores well for absorption and leaks but still offers above-average results for the baby's health and the environment. Both are better overall than Andy Pandy.
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BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.
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