Are Coterie diapers worth it? We tried them to find out

Parents and caregivers make an endless amount of decisions for their children—including which diapers to buy. I’ve spent my fair share of time trying out popular diaper brands with my toddler son, but lately I’ve been intrigued by Coterie, a brand that makes chemical-free, sustainably sourced diapers.

I’m always on the lookout for a fragrance-free diaper that doesn't contain parabens or other harsh chemicals. Curious to know more about Coterie diapers, I decided to give them a whirl with my 2-and-a-half-year-old son.

Here’s how it went.

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What is Coterie?

Based in New York, Coterie makes sustainably-sourced, hypoallergenic diapers that are free of over 200 harmful chemicals including chlorine, pesticides, VOCs and optical brighteners.

Coterie was founded by Frank Yu, an “accidental diaper engineer,” after stumbling upon a Japanese diaper so soft he initially thought it was cashmere. That inspiration is exactly what makes these diapers different from other brands—they’re super soft and also very effective at absorbing liquids, offering a snug fit, and limiting leaks.

The back of the diaper is made with apparel-grade fabric that doesn't pill or snag during wear. There's also the secure leakage barrier that's loose enough for a comfortable fit and tight enough to lock in blowouts. Inside a Coterie diaper, you'll find a highly absorbent core that’s designed to soak up liquids within 15 seconds.

Where to buy Coterie diapers

Coterie's baby diapers are primarily sold through the Coterie website, which allows you to set up a subscription with an auto-renew feature.

They’re also available at Pottery Barn Kids. If you prefer to shop in person, most Whole Foods locations carry Coterie diapers as well.

How much do Coterie diapers cost?

For a one-time order, a six-pack of diapers costs $100. Coterie also offers a discount on automatic renewal subscriptions, bringing the six-pack diaper bundle down to $90 (a savings of 10%).

The number of diapers per pack varies by size. (For example, there are 22 diapers in one pack of size 5 Coterie diapers.) Coterie offers seven diaper sizes from Newborn, for babies up to 10 pounds, up to Size 6 which fits kiddos 35 pounds and up.

In addition to diapers, Coterie also has a line of tear-away pull-ups called The Pant and 100% plant-based wipes. Like Coterie diapers, the baby wipes are also hypoallergenic, fragrance- and paraben-free, dermatologist-tested and made for sensitive and eczema-prone skin.

What we like about Coterie diapers

They're soft and absorbent without being bulky

During my time at Reviewed, I’ve tested a couple of similar chemical-free and eco-friendly diaper brands like Hello Bello and Dyper, and none have felt as soft as Coterie diapers.

I love Coterie diapers’ soft and smooth feel, which is similar to that of a pillow-top mattress. These diapers even caught the attention of my husband (which is hard to do), who commented about how soft and well-made they are.

Smoothness aside, let’s talk absorbency. It’s arguably one of the most important factors when choosing a diaper. During our month of testing, Coterie diapers did a great job of absorbing liquids and keeping my son free of diaper rash.

Coterie claims its diapers “move liquid away from skin within 15 seconds,” up to four times faster than other brands. I didn't crunch the numbers myself, but there were a few days where I noticed we were using fewer diapers than normal. My son is almost ready to potty train and promptly informs me when he’s ready for a diaper change, but it seemed like we were using fewer diapers than normal because the wetness was less bothersome to him.

Additionally, some diapers bulk up when they take on liquids, but I found that the Coterie diapers held their shape after hours of wear.

They're made without harmful chemicals

Fragrances, lotions, latex—all of these ingredients come with the potential to irritate your baby’s skin. These days, most nontoxic diapers are formulated without dyes, fragrances, or lotions, and are considered to be hypoallergenic. Coterie diapers are free of many other questionable ingredients like parabens, phthalates, heavy metals, alcohol, rubber, latex, and chlorine bleach.

Coterie says its diapers are tested by dermatologists and not on animals (yay) and, as you may have guessed, don’t contain any harsh chemicals. The company also provides a toxicity report that is available for download, so you can see exactly how much and of what these diapers are made of.

Coterie diapers offer a good design and snug fit

Finding diapers that offer a snug fit (in addition to being ultra-absorbent) is a bit of a guessing game because every brand fits a little differently. Coterie diapers fit my toddler son well, leaving no gaps or room for messes to escape in the event of a blowout.

I was also impressed by how well the diaper’s Velcro-like fasteners stayed stuck to the outside of the diaper. One soiled diaper and several hours later, the diaper held its shape without sagging or coming undone.

Coterie diapers have a wetness indicator on the front and back. It’s a small but helpful way to quickly eyeball whether it’s time for a diaper change or not.

What we don’t like about Coterie diapers

They're more expensive than other mainstream brands

One box of Coterie diapers, which should last about a month based on the company’s estimates, runs $100. Remember, the quantity of diapers you get will depend on the size you select. The bigger the size, the fewer diapers are included since changes become less frequent with age.

Based on my calculations, a six-pack bundle of 132 size 5 Coterie diapers works out to about $0.75 per diaper. Whereas, a 100-count box of size 5 Honest Co. diapers, a comparable diaper brand, only costs $0.50 per diaper.

While Coterie costs more than I pay per month for diapers, the saying “you get what you pay for” rings true here. That said, I do wish that premium diaper brands like Coterie were generally more affordable for parents and caregivers of all income levels.

There are no fun prints and patterns

Taking on a minimalist white-cloth look, Coterie doesn’t offer any fun prints and patterns for its diapers like Hello Bello and Honest Company. The lack of stylish diapers isn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it may be for anyone who prefers a colorful disposable diaper.

Are Coterie diapers worth it?

Yes! They are totally worth the investment.

Coterie diapers are like the Rolls Royce of the diaper world. Are they nice to have? Definitely. Will your kid be just fine without them? Of course. But if you’re looking for a sturdy, hypoallergenic diaper that excels at preventing major blowouts and diaper rashes, and wicks away moisture while they sleep, Coterie diapers are worth the investment.

Let’s not forget that these diapers are luxuriously soft, feature a slim yet absorbent design, and are made with clean materials that you can feel good about, too.

For anyone on the fence, we’d encourage you to take advantage of Coterie’s trial pack, which includes 10 diapers—you can mix and match the sizes—and costs $15.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.