Bambo Nature Review
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Bambo Nature | |||||
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Awards | |||||
Price | $0.45 List $0.45 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 | Great for health, durable, comfortable | 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 | Average for leak protection | Expensive, primarily available online | Not eco-friendly, uses coloring/inks | Uses inks | Not eco-friendly, disappointing health attributes |
Bottom Line | A healthy option that is comfortable and durable, but absorption and leak protection aren't the absolute best | 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 | Bambo Nature | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
Absorption (45%) | |||||
Leakage (25%) | |||||
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Bambo Nature | 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 | Says chlorine free but we couldn't find anything to confirm if it was either TCF or ECF | TCF | ECF | TFC | Not Listed |
Fragrance-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent |
Biodegradable | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | No | Not listed |
Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Miscellaneous Materials Details | Inner fluff made of wood pulp | 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 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Eco-Awards & Certifications | Nordic Eco-label FSC Certified Asthma-Allergy Denmark |
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 | There is a logo print on the front of the waist and a black rectangle in the center of each cuff. | 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 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Listed |
Latex-Free | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Bambo is a family-owned business run by parents dedicated to creating eco-friendly baby products that are healthy for your baby. Bambo believes that choosing safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible products shouldn't mean sacrificing performance. The company works hard to achieve and maintain ecologically responsible certifications by working with Abena, a Denmark company known for its environmentally sensitive manufacturing process. According to the Bambo website, "Bambo Nature was the first baby diaper in the world certified with the esteemed Nordic Ecolabel and EU Flower ecolabel." They are also members of the United Nations Global Compact.
Performance Comparison
Likes
Bambo earned a barely above-average score for absorption for the top-ranked disposable diapers we tested. This diaper had some moisture transfer to the test paper. It isn't a significant amount and is better than many of the diapers we tested, but any wetness on the paper indicates moisture that could be against the baby's bum. Wetness on the skin could lead to irritation or diaper rash, especially if your baby has sensitive skin prone to irritation. Our hands-on testers indicate this is one of the best for absorption, even for heavy overnight wetting. Find out more in our best overnight diaper review.
Bambo fell right in the middle of the group with its leakage score. This diaper had a small amount of run-off during leakage tests. Runoff indicates that liquid didn't absorb as quickly as some of the other diapers resulting in a potential for leaks. Also, our research indicates others have experienced leaks as well.
Being able to absorb liquids and prevent leaks is what a diaper is all about, so it would have been nice to see higher scores here. However, several competitors earned lower scores, so it isn't that your Bambo diaper will fail to perform. Depending on your goals and habits, we think the trade-off of the occasional leak is worth it, given the impressive health and ecology scores of this diaper.
Bambo earned an average comfort score. Bambo uses bamboo for the back fabric and inner liner. The material is soft, and the motion points are skin-friendly with no roughness compared to the competition.
Bambo makes substantial efforts to provide a baby-friendly diaper with as few additives and irritants as possible so you get the safest disposable diaper possible to place against your baby's skin. Bambo also provides one of the most transparent ingredient lists we have seen, and we are impressed by the amount of knowledge they offer to help consumers make informed choices. This diaper is free of chlorine, latex, lotions, perfumes, dyes (though it uses pigments on the waistband), deodorants, phthalates, organotins, heavy metals formaldehyde, PVC, and more (see video below at 0:55). If knowing what is in your baby's diaper is your thing, you'll be more than pleased with the disclosure and clarity provided throughout the Bambo website.
Bambo is a "green diaper," making more significant strides than the average diaper to create a gentler product on Earth than most disposable options. They offer a full disclosure list, and they include what best practices they use during the manufacturing process. Bambo uses a Denmark manufacturing company with the coveted Nordic Swan endorsement, which is hard to earn and keep and means they are living up to a certain standard that limits their impact on the environment. We love this!
Bambo earned an impressive result for durability in our testing and research. During our testing and hands-on use, we didn't experience any issues related to durability and this diaper, even after serious overnight saturations. However, our research did indicate a tiny percentage of reports on faulty tabs and the diaper falling apart. The numbers were so low that it is potentially a reflection of user error. Given our positive experience, we feel confident saying durability is high in this diaper compared to the competition.
At-home testers felt this diaper held together better than the competition during day and night use. If durability is a problem, you might consider how frequently you change diapers and if that plays a role in your experience.
Should You Buy the Bambo?
Bambo is a green diaper doing its part to help the environment and baby's health. With better than average scores for absorbency and leak protection, this durable and comfy diaper earned top scores for health, making it a good choice for parents with health-related concerns to include in their diapering lineup.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
While we really like this diaper, it isn't the best with absorption, and you can find a better absorber with better leak protection and similar health and eco-friendliness in our review. Parasol Clear and Dry offers the best absorption and high arks for eco and health, not as high, but it could fill the bill depending on your goals. For a more traditional or reasonably priced option, Hello Bello Premium is a good absorber and has several considerations for health and the environment, with higher than average scores in each metric. If you seek an eco-friendly diaper that won't break the bank and still has impressive absorption, the Eco by Naty should make your short list as well.
Manufacturer Video
More information on how Bambo diapers and made and what they do and do not contain.
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