Disposable diapers are not food or medicine, so you will not always find an expiry date on the pack, and no single shelf-life rule fits every brand. Some packs show a manufacture date or a lot code and some do not, so the maker's own information is the guide to trust. Here is what to look for on the pack and how to check an older one before you rely on it.
Is there an expiry date on diapers?
Often there is no use-by line like the one on a food label. What you may find instead is a printed manufacture date or a batch code somewhere on the outer bag, such as a seam, the back or bottom panel, or near the barcode.
A batch code is not always a date in plain form, and even a plain date can be hard to read as either a made-on or a use-by date. If you cannot tell, the maker's customer service line or website may explain what the code means. Write down the code and the size before you contact them.
What manufacturers generally say
Some makers of disposable diapers publish guidance, and a common theme is how a pack is kept: somewhere cool and dry, in the original pack, away from heat and direct sun. Some makers also give a time frame for using a pack, and where they do, it applies to their own products only. No number of months or years fits every brand, so use the wording printed on your pack or published on the maker's website.
Calendar age is also only part of the picture. A pack kept dry and cool for a long time can be in better shape than a newer pack that sat in a damp basement or a hot car.
What can change in older diapers
These are general signs that a pack has been stored badly, has been stored for a long time, or both. None of them is a precise test, but each is a reason to look more closely:
- A musty, stale or sharp smell when you open the pack
- Padding that feels damp, clumpy or stiff instead of soft and even
- Leg or waist elastic that feels slack and does not spring back
- Tapes that no longer grip, or that tear the front panel when you peel them
- Stains, water marks or discoloured patches on the diaper or the bag
- A torn, crushed or split pack that has let dust or moisture in
How to check an old pack
- Look at the outside first. Check the seams and corners for tears, stains and water marks, and look for a date or lot code.
- Open one end and smell the pack. It should smell neutral.
- Take out one diaper and feel the padding. It should be dry and evenly soft, with no lumps.
- Stretch the waist and leg elastic gently. It should spring back.
- Fasten and unfasten the tapes once to see that they grip and release cleanly.
- Put one diaper on your baby and check it after a short while before you commit to the whole pack.
If anything is off, set the pack aside rather than hoping it will be fine, and contact the maker or the store. If your baby's skin looks red or irritated after any diaper, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, and follow the label on any diaper rash product.
Hand-me-down and stockpiled diapers
A friend's leftover pack is a kind gesture, and it is worth a few questions first. Ask where the diapers were stored, because a basement or garage tells you more than a date does. Take sealed or neatly closed packs, and be cautious with loose diapers in a bag, since they have lost the size and batch information that was printed on the pack. Skip anything that smells of smoke, damp or mildew. If you know of a recall notice for the product, follow the maker's instructions.
Check the size against the weight range too. The size chart for babies and adults and the diaper sizing guide help you match a pack to your baby.
If you are the one stockpiling, write the purchase month on each pack with a marker and use the oldest first. The smallest sizes are the ones to buy one pack at a time, because there is no telling how long your baby will stay in them. One option is Pampers Swaddlers Diapers, Newborn, 136 Count.
Storage that keeps them in good shape
A stock you plan to hold for a while deserves a good spot from the first day.
- Pick a place inside the heated part of the house, such as a closet shelf or a dresser, not a basement floor, a garage or an attic.
- Leave the factory plastic on. It carries the lot code you would need if you ever contact the maker.
- Stand packs so the date or code faces out, and put newer packs behind older ones.
- Look the stock over when the seasons change. Check for damp, torn plastic and any new smell, and move anything doubtful to the front for a closer look.
If a stored pack does not pass the check, you can look for a replacement in the same size in the baby diapers and training pants collection.
Shop this guide
- Huggies Overnites Diapers, Size 7, 60 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, Size 2, 186 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, Size 6, 112 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Pampers Pure Protection Diapers, Size 3, 168 Count (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Baby Diapers & Training Pants
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Can I use diapers that are past a printed date?
A printed date is the maker's information, and we cannot tell you how a particular pack has held up. Read the maker's wording on the date, inspect the pack with the steps above and contact the maker if you are unsure.
Is it fine to buy a big stock before the baby arrives?
You can, if you have a good place to store it. Because you will not know the fit until your baby is here, a small starter pack of the first sizes is a safer first purchase, and you can add more once you know how your baby fits.
What if an order arrives damaged, damp or smelling odd?
Set the pack aside and write to us with your order number and a short description of what you see. We reply within one business day.
Replacing an old pack and not sure which size to buy next? Tell us your baby's weight and current size through the contact page, and we will help you choose.