In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Andy Pandy Review

An eco-friendly diaper that is durable with fewer leaks but poor absorption and a higher price hurt its overall likeability
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andy pandy disposable diaper review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $1 List
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Manufacturer:   Andy Pandy Kids
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Jun 2, 2023
51
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#14 of 19
  • Absorption - 45% 2.3
  • Leakage - 25% 7.6
  • Comfort - 20% 6.7
  • Durability - 10% 8.0

The Skinny

The Andy Pandy diaper is an intriguing option for parents concerned about the environment, as it earned one of the higher scores in our review for eco-friendliness. Andy Pandy has made significant efforts to create a more environmentally friendly and healthy baby diaper than the competition, and we appreciate their efforts. Unfortunately, this diaper struggled to absorb and lock away liquids in our tests, hurting its overall score during testing. The higher price and poor absorption results override the benefits of this diaper, as there are better-performing diapers with similar or better environmental and health advantages.
REASONS TO BUY
Eco-friendly
Few leaks
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Poor absorption
Lower health results
Editor's Note: We updated the Andy Pandy review with new details about our favorite diapers, including newly tested and retested diapers. It was updated on May 30, 2023.

Compare to Similar Products

 
andy pandy disposable diaper review
This Product
Andy Pandy
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Best Value Award 
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 Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Eco-friendly, few leaks, durableSuper absorber, great leak protection, comfy, durable, free from chlorine, fragrance, and lotionsExcellent absorption, great leak protection, comfortable, durable, inexpensiveGreat absorbency, few leaks, very durable, fragrance and lotion-free, TCFBetter absorption, good leak protection, comfortable, durable
Cons Expensive, poor absorption, lower health resultsExpensive, primarily available onlineNot eco-friendly, uses coloring/inksUses inksNot 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 likeabilityThis super absorbing diaper offers great leak protection, comfort, and nods to the environment and baby's health, but it will cost youA high-performing diaper that works well and has a reasonable price, but isn't as eco-friendly as you might wantAbsorbent, durable option with good leak protection and impressive considerations for health and eco-friendlinessCozy 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%)
2.3
10.0
10.0
8.7
8.0
Leakage (25%)
7.6
9.4
9.0
8.4
7.8
Comfort (20%)
6.7
8.0
8.6
7.4
7.5
Durability (10%)
8.0
10.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
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"
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


andy pandy disposable diaper review - andy pandy is comfortable with soft fabric and smooth elastic and...
Andy Pandy is comfortable with soft fabric and smooth elastic and closure tabs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

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.

andy pandy disposable diaper review - andy pandy performed well in our tests for leakage with no run-off...
Andy Pandy performed well in our tests for leakage with no run-off or leaks experienced during testing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

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!).

andy pandy disposable diaper review - the overall score the andy pandy was hurt by its inability to truly...
The overall score the Andy Pandy was hurt by its inability to truly lock away moisture to avoid messes and possible skin irritation or diaper rashes for baby.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

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.

andy pandy disposable diaper review - andy pandy is an eco-friendly diaper with good scores for leakage...
Andy Pandy is an eco-friendly diaper with good scores for leakage and health.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

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.

andy pandy disposable diaper review - several online reviewers reported that the closure tabs on the andy...
Several online reviewers reported that the closure tabs on the Andy Pandy diaper are often faulty resulting in a higher percentage of useless diapers compared to the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

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.

Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
 

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