It wasn’t very long ago when diapers were relatively impossible to find in Beijing. For young parents at that time, it must have made the culture shock of coming to this faraway land even more overwhelming. The only immediate remedies would, of course, be split pants or Macgyvering a couple of pairs of cloth diapers, which doesn’t actually sound like a bad idea (considering all those RMBs you might save) if you don’t mind doing laundry every day.
Now, diapers can be found at every international market across the city. While some, like Jenny Lou’s, are not the most cost-efficient places to pick up these essential items, they are very much available. Easy access to diapers is likely a significant influence for many young families to stick to their foreign-friendly bubbles.
Are you tired of spending hundreds or even thousands of RMB every month on Huggies or Pampers brand diapers, because they are just the most readily available? Some of us with Chinese spouses have been lucky enough to avoid the monopoly these markets have on convenient nappy buying, and are ready to share our secrets to help boost your diaper game. Here are some brands that come from Japan, Sweden, and even China that you can try out at a fraction of the price, along with some links to their pages for purchase on JD.com. If you have yet to set up your WeChat Wallet or JD account, these are essential to begin shopping. Make sure to click the hyperlinks for your info to get started.
Merries (Japan)
These are very high quality. In fact, we would have to say it’s nearly equal to that of Huggies or Pampers. They withstood our baby’s never-ending durability test of rolling around, tugging, and you know what else with flying colors. This explains why they were one of our favorites of the bunch. There were no visible signs of discomfort or rashes going on as well, which is usually a pretty clear indicator of decent quality. Be advised though, likely due to their popularity there are lots of fakes on the market. Some reviewers on the web even said that they sometimes sell both the fake and real versions together in the same pack.
Moony (Japan)
Moony has an official store on JD.com. This means that the quality is very reliable, and there is little risk of getting a knockoff. We were also very pleased with the sufficient amount of cushion in these, and the high level of absorption, which allows you to get more for your money. As a little extra bonus, there’s a cute Winnie the Pooh illustration that makes this brand immediately appealing to anyone who has ever had an ounce of love for that chubby bear with a debilitating affinity for honey. RMB 109 (114 per bag NB/ 105 per bag S/ 80 per bag M/ 68 per bag L)
Goon (Japan)
Goon are good too! All Japanese diapers have indication lines that usually turn from yellow to blue, to show how full the diaper is, while some from China leave you guessing. These weren’t as soft compared to Moony or Merries, which also made us more inclined to side with these Japanese offerings in the roundup. But, all in all, these weren’t bad, and our baby didn’t get up on his two feet to declare his scorn for the Goon brand, which is a good sign.
Libero (Sweden)
This is the only European brand from the list. We liked it a lot, but in all honesty, the Japanese brands had a bit more padding. We tried to put ourselves into our little one’s diaper. Not physically of course, but mentally, to really understand what a person of that size and stature would want in a nappy. While this one seemed pretty good, it wasn’t the most cost effective. It was kind of like if you had to choose between importing a Volvo from Sweden or getting a locally produced sports car with all the bells and whistles for the same price. Maybe not the best analogy, but hopefully you get the point.
Fitti (China)
These are pretty good by our standards and seem to have decent breathability. At the same time, good airflow also means mediocre absorption ability. If you hold it up to light, it shines right through. This being said it is still very popular among Chinese diaper brands and exhibits a respectable amount of cost effectiveness for what you get. These would probably be very useful early on when your baby is soiling his nappy a good 7-10 times a day, but later on, your baby will likely kowtow in appreciation for you picking up one of the better quality Japanese brands.
Fbibi (China)
At RMB .6 per diaper, you can’t find a better value. But are they any good? We weren’t able to try these out, but they’ve received mixed reviews on JD.com. Some mothers rave about them, while others express that they are likely cheap for a reason. We suggest you try them out and come to your own conclusion, because online reviews (especially if you are using Google translate) can only tell you so much.
photos: jd.com, images.contentful.com
