A Coterie Baby… Why the Diaper Matters

Why the right diaper matters

Spoiler alert - the right diaper is a Coterie Diaper, at least in our experience.

*This post is not sponsored content, just the honest opinion of a pair of new parents.*

Coterie, in the American market, is by far the superior choice. From the materials, to the structure, to the durability, Coterie wins out at all costs. After trying a number of natural and generic competitors, the choice is clear. Hypoallergenic and fragrance free, there really is no product in the US market that even comes close; And the evidence is in your little one.

Our baby girl turns 5 months next week, and to this point we have had no diaper rash, no wet leaky diapers and she’s a star sleeper. While there are many contributing factors, a main attribute (at least we believe), are her diapers. After a full nights sleep and a totally loaded diaper, her skin stays much drier than half the load in your generic brand, because the absorption is fantastic. They are heftier than every other diaper we have tried, more padding yet more spacious, durable while being reliable.

With drier skin, that’s a more comfortable baby. Yes it is unnatural for a baby animal (of any species) to soil or wet themselves and be totally cool with it. Most will at least squiggle or squirm to distance themselves from their byproducts, so for our young it is super unnatural that they’re expected to sit in their own mess. And while that is the direction of our evolution, we can try to make it the most pleasant and natural experience possible.

The diaper is usually a babies first introduction to ‘clothing’, it is the piece that comes into contact with the most sensitive area, as well as the product they most time in.

I understand that people think the disposability of a diaper means its a space to invest less in (or perhaps save more) relative to all the new costs your taking on, but what if that investment is really worth it? Your child may only use each diaper for a set number of hours, but when cummulated that is on average between 18 months and three years of their lives spent in diapers - consistently, back to back, and that’s a lot of time to spend in something medio-functional and uncomfortable.

We can remember, as adults, how painful growing is, how much discomfort comes when you enter a new stage - a wisdom tooth coming down, muscle aches after working out. Well they’re going through that on a massive scale because everything is new for them. I believe we become more desensitized to pain with time as we accustom to the different feelings, but at the beginning it must be so overwhelming! Have you heard your little one cry like they’re transforming into a ball of fire - trembles in the voice, fists clenched with all the force their being has? Yep, that’s growing for you! And so with that intensity, don’t you want to ease the road for them a little, so they can focus on what they need to do not all the extra that’s out of their control.

And yes we have had a couple of explosions at less than fantastic moments, but our rule of thumb is 3 explosions in one week - it’s time for a size up. That normally sorts out our issues until the next growth spurt! Plus your baby grows in different areas day by day, sometimes the torso is longer, sometimes the hips are wider, so its best to pay attention to how they are each day: what was the perfect technique yesterday may not be ideal for them today.

There are plenty of green products in the baby market, but we’ve found that many of these, especially in the US lack the effectiveness of their mainstream counterparts. And although there are growing number of more natural alternatives, many still fail to deliver on the comfort and efficiency front and this is where Coterie sets itself apart. The engineering and design of the diaper itself is fantastic: spacious where it counts and fitted where it needs to be. The ‘poop pockets’ really do a good job of containing even the biggest of messes, even as they explore movement and express their discomfort. And they’re so soft!

And yes, I’ve seen the criticism that they’re not 100 percent plastic free; but don’t you want your babies diaper to actually stay put as they wiggle and squirm? because that is where the plastic is found - on the adhesive tabs, not the lining, not the parts that are coming into direct contact with your precious ones skin. Coterie is very transparent of their materials, their Total Chlorine Free (TCF) wood pulp which makes up the bulk of their product, delivers safety and comfort in contact where it matters most. Full ingredient list and safety report found here: https://www.coterie.com/safety-reports

This is also where other natural diapers on the market have missed comparatively: in the practicality. That’s what differentiates coterie as a luxury choice, not the price point, but rather their mastery at the intersection of innovation, efficiency and quality.

At the moment we are overseas in Mexico, and here there is no luxury choice, there is no Coterie. We brought back a couple from the states, but here we haven’t found anything that comes close, and it is definitely noticeable. So priority right now for us are the nights, making sure she is the most comfortable for her long stretches resting. So if you're considering giving Coterie a go, I highly reccomend it! Whether that is switching to them for your full time product, or integrating Coterie into a part of your routine, e.g. as the night diaper - you won’t regret it!

https://www.coterie.com - Enjoy!

the wipes are fantastic too, but the diaper is the true star!

And if anyone from Coterie reads this, I would love to recommend you all start making products for feminine hygiene for grown women- for monthly cyclical use as well as post-partum - you are missed in this market! I’d pay top dollar for you!