Over the past 14 months, I've tried numerous brands and types of disposable diapers on my youngest child, Tristan. Most of the time, I cover his bottom with Pampers Baby Dry or Huggies Ultratrim and am quite pleased with the results we receive from both. However, from time to time, I've occasionally purchased the higher priced Huggies Supreme Diapers as I found the $2 off coupons I owned admittedly too hard to resist. While these diapers do an average job, much like those listed above, they definitely are not worth paying full price for. This is one of those cases where you do not always get what you pay for.


FEATURES

Advertised as the ultimate in care, Huggies Supreme Diapers feature a cloth-like cover, ultra skinguard liner, and elastic leakguard protection light green in color around the leg openings for a more snug fit. On the back side of each diaper, there is additional leakguard protection at the waistline to help prevent those stinky, messy leaks that often come shooting out the back of many regular diapers. Packaged in a dark red, attractive plastic bag, Huggies Supreme Diapers contain velcro-closure tabs that may be opened and closed many times, unlike those containing the regular tape fasteners that lose their stickiness after taking them apart just once. Even though these diapers are rather thin in appearance, they provide adequate absorption similar to that most regular disposable diapers exhibit. And now, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends may be found on the front and back of each individual Huggies Supreme Diaper. Two different designs within each size may be found, adding up to a total of 12 cute designs in all.


PRICE

Each jumbo package of Huggies Supreme Diapers can be purchased at major discount stores, such as Wal-Mart, for around $10.90. The number of diapers contained in each package depends on the size purchased. For example, there will be a larger number of size 1's (50) and a much smaller number of size 6's (26) within each jumbo package. Currently, my 14 month old son, Tristan, wears a size 4. Each jumbo package of Huggies Supreme Diapers in size 4 contains only 34 diapers, whereas the same size package of Huggies Ultratrim Diapers purchased for a similar price ($11.04) contain 42 diapers. Paying close to the same price for 8 less diapers just doesn't add up. If Huggies Supreme Diapers provided superior performance in both leakage prevention and fit as advertised, this extra price might perhaps be worth it. But they do not. The quality of these overpriced disposable diapers is no better than that found in the less expensive Huggies Ultratrim line. So purchase Huggies Ultratrim Diapers only if you have a coupon and find them on sale. Otherwise, the extra expense just is not worth it, unless the cute Winnie-the-Pooh designs are too hard for you to resist.


PRICE PER DIAPER

In general, smaller sized diapers are less expensive than the larger ones, but over time, this price discrepancy thankfully tends to even out. For example, most newborns wearing a size 1 need changing anywhere from 10 to 12 times daily or more, but a 1 year old wearing a size 4 usually needs changing only 5 or 6 times a day on average in comparison. So keep this in mind when comparing the price per diaper if you choose to purchase Huggies Supreme Diapers for your baby or toddler. Here is a price-per-diaper breakdown that will list such price variances at a glance when the jumbo package is purchased for $10.90 without coupon:

Size 1: (contains 50) 21.8 cents per diaper
Size 2: (contains 44) 24.7 cents per diaper
Size 3: (contains 38) 28.7 cents per diaper
Size 4: (contains 34) 32.1 cents per diaper
Size 5: (contains 30) 36.3 cents per diaper
Size 6: (contains 26) 41.9 cents per diaper


SIZES

Huggies Supreme Diapers are available in six different sizes to provide a more accurate and comfortable fit for your baby's rapidly developing body. In the beginning, stock up on several different sizes as many babies tend to outgrow the smaller sizes rather quickly. Compared to the roomy fit provided by Pampers Baby Dry and Huggies Ultratrim Diapers, I've found that the same size of Huggies Supreme Diapers tends to be a bit on the small size. And the velcro-tab closures do not stretch as much as those found on Pampers Premium either. In my experience, I usually have to begin purchasing the next larger size when Tristan's weight reaches the lower weight range recommendation. For example, he's been wearing a size 4 for several months now, which are designed for babies weighing 22 to 37 pounds. Once he passed the 20 pound mark, the size 3's (16 to 28 pounds) just were not large enough anymore. So experimenting with sizes might be warranted if leaks are frequent or the recommended size seems too small.


SIZE AND WEIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS

Listed below is a breakdown of the weight range recommendations for each size of Huggies Supreme Diapers:

Size 1: Up to 14 pounds
Size 2: 12 to 18 pounds
Size 3: 16 to 28 pounds
Size 4: 22 to 37 pounds
Size 5: 27 pounds and over
Size 6: 35 pounds and over


SPECIAL PROMOTIONS AND COUPONS

Quite frequently, coupons up to $2 in value for Huggies Supreme Diapers can be found in the Sunday newspaper to help offset their higher cost. And registering at their website (www.huggies.com) or writing them with comments, both positive and negative, will result in valuable coupons that are mailed to your doorstep as well. Collect "proof-of-purchase" points found on each package of any type of Huggies products to redeem for products included in the Huggies Reward program (see website for further details). Just pay shipping and handling for a variety of baby-related prizes. And now, for a limited time only (until 10/01/01) as part of a new Winnie-the-Pooh sweepstakes, special adventure game pieces can be found within each package of Huggies Supreme Diapers. Prizes include a 2001 Family Adventure Van, interactive Winnie-the-Pooh software and music CD's, and thousands of free packages of Huggies Supreme Diapers.


SPECIAL MESSAGES (on side of package)

***The Ultra SkinGuard Liner in Huggies Supreme Diapers contains the following mild cosmetic ingredients to help keep skin soft and healthy-looking: petrolatum, ozokerite. Recommended storage conditions: Avoid excessive heat (over 104 degrees F or 40 degrees C). Huggies Supreme Diapers contain safe, absorbent particles that gel when wet. If you notice a small amount of gel-like material on your baby's skin, it can simply be removed with a baby wipe or damp washcloth.***


OVERALL RECOMMENDATION

Because the performance and quality of the more expensive Huggies Supreme Diapers is no better than that found from other less expensive name brands, purchase these ONLY if you have a valuable $2 off coupon as I did, find them on sale, or just can't resist the cute Winnie-the-Pooh designs. In my experience, I've found these disposable diapers are simply an expensive alternative to using the lower priced but equal in quality Pampers Baby Dry or Huggies Ultratrim Diapers. Even though these diapers deceivingly seem to be the same in price as those listed above, take a closer look before purchasing them and discover that Huggies Supreme Diapers contain a smaller amount of diapers per package than the same size found in these other types do. While they perform adequately by protecting baby's skin and clothing against wetness and leaks, the same performance can be found when lower costing types are used as well. So think twice the next time you are browsing the disposable diaper bin at your local discount store in search of your next purchase. Several lower priced, equal in quality disposable diaper alternatives can easily be found instead.

For more information on Huggies Supreme Diapers and other similar baby care products produced by Kimberly-Clark, check out their website online at:

www.huggies.com

While you are there, register to receive valuable coupons, enter daily sweepstakes, and sign up for their free newsletter submitted via email, called Happy Baby Times.

parentstages.com

Questions or comments?
1-800-544-1847

Kimberly-Clark, Corp.
Dept. HSP4-34
PO BOX 2020
Neenah, WI 54957-2020




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