Diapers in the News: November 2026 Roundup

Featured image: generated with Nano Banana (Google Gemini).

Welcome to Diapers in the News, our semi-weekly roundup of curated news stories that feature diapers from around the web. In this edition, we cover four stories. First, we check which diapers testers at Forbes, Wirecutter and Consumer Reports recommend. Next, we look at reports of babies burned by a popular diaper brand. After that, a new California law that will reveal what’s inside diapers. And finally, how concert diapers made it onto The Drew Barrymore Show.

Each story lists its sources, with the publication date or last-updated date wherever the page shows one.

Top 3 New Diaper Testing Results

Three big review outlets have been busy testing diapers and the gear that goes with them.

First, Forbes Vetted tested 32 diapers over three years. A panel of parents and more than a dozen children, aged 2 weeks to 5 years, took part. Every diaper first went through at-home lab tests for absorbency and leaks. Only the strong performers moved on to real-world use. Huggies Little Snugglers and Little Movers won best overall for fit and the fewest blowouts, although testers still saw occasional overnight leaks. Target’s Up&Up was the best value pick. Meanwhile, HealthyBaby won for sensitive skin, largely because it publishes its ingredients and carries third-party certifications.

Next, Wirecutter, the New York Times review site, keeps a guide to the best diaper pails. We couldn’t open the guide directly, so we’re relying on what the brands and retailers say about it. Munchkin’s STEP pail is advertised as Wirecutter’s best diaper pail. Ubbi, for its part, says Wirecutter named its steel pail a pick because it controls odor well and uses regular trash bags instead of costly refills. According to Ubbi, that can save hundreds of dollars over a few years.

Finally, Consumer Reports still rates adult pull-up underwear and tab-style briefs. Its recent tests include Target’s Up & Up underwear for women, Prevail Unisex Daily Underwear and Sunkiss Trust Plus.

Why it matters: Most of this testing is for babies, but the methods carry over. A good test checks absorbency in a lab first, then in real life. Diaper pails matter for adult wearers too, for odor control and discretion. Because adult briefs are much bulkier, a pail that takes standard trash bags may suit you better than one built around baby-sized refill bags. Specialty adult brands rarely get tested by these outlets, so see our look at best-sellers vs. specialty brands.

Sources:

Forbes Vetted, “The Best Diapers Of 2026: Results From Testing 32 Different Options”, by Alicia Betz, reviewed by Margaret Badore. Published April 17, 2026; last updated July 29, 2026
Wirecutter (The New York Times), “The Best Diaper Pail” (last-updated date not confirmed; we couldn’t access the page)
Ubbi, “The Best Diaper Pail: Ubbi Steel Diaper Pail has been chosen as a Wirecutter Pick”, February 7, 2019
Walmart, Munchkin STEP Diaper Pail product listing (date not shown)
Consumer Reports, Adult Diapers ratings (date not shown)

Parents report burns from Millie Moon diapers, but no recall

Millie Moon, a baby diaper brand that markets itself as luxury and dermatologist-tested, is facing a wave of complaints. Since late summer, parents across the country have reported that their babies developed severe rashes and what they describe as chemical burns. Many said their children had worn the diapers for months without trouble, then reacted after the family opened a new package.

The numbers have kept climbing. In September, Gray News reported more than 360 complaints on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s public database from the previous six months. Later, Consumer Reports counted more than 600 incident reports filed this year. On October 22, Consumer Reports told parents to stop using the diapers and called on Millie Moon to recall them. Walmart confirmed on October 30 that it had stopped selling the diapers online, and parents have filed a class action lawsuit.

However, Millie Moon says it hasn’t found a product-related cause. The company says its complaint rate is below 0.1% of diapers sold and that it hasn’t changed its materials, suppliers or construction. In the reports we reviewed, neither the company nor the CPSC had announced a recall. Many parents say the reactions cleared up once they switched brands.

Why it matters: Millie Moon makes baby diapers, but the lesson applies to all of us. If your skin suddenly reacts to a diaper you’ve worn for years, stop using that pack, switch products and tell your doctor. Keep the packaging, too, since lot numbers help if a recall comes later. Adult incontinence products are regulated as medical devices, so you can also report problems to the FDA through MedWatch. For prevention tips, see Skin Care for Diaper Wearers.

Sources:

The Cut (New York magazine), report on parents and Millie Moon diapers (date not confirmed)
KMOV/Gray News, “‘It was peeling like a sunburn.’ Parents raise concerns about once-trusted diapers”, published September 19, 2026
Consumer Reports, “Parents Should Stop Using Millie Moon Diapers on Their Babies” (no date shown; updated after October 30, 2026)
NBC Select, “Consumer Reports urges parents to stop using Millie Moon diapers” (date not shown)
WCPO, “Millie Moon says it won’t recall diapers, despite reports of chemical burns” (date not shown)
WCPO, “Walmart stops selling Millie Moon diapers amid skin reaction complaints” (date not shown)
LegalScoops, Millie Moon diaper recall and lawsuit update (date not shown)

California will make diaper makers reveal what’s inside

California has become the first state to require full ingredient lists for diapers. The bill, AB 1901, was written by Assemblymember Marc Berman and backed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Consumer Reports, the Center for Environmental Health and Children Now. It passed the Assembly 68 to 1 in May, cleared the Legislature in August, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed it in September.

Under the new law, makers of children’s diapers sold in California must list every intentionally added ingredient. For each one, they must give its name, its chemical registry (CAS) number and what it does. Online disclosure starts January 1, 2029, and on-package labels follow on July 1, 2029. That goes further than New York’s 2023 law, which only requires ingredients on the package.

Why it matters: Federal law doesn’t require diaper makers to publish ingredient lists. In fact, a Consumer Reports review of 37 diaper products found that seven disclosed little or no ingredient information. California’s law covers children’s diapers only, so adult products still aren’t included. Even so, it sets a precedent, and many manufacturers use similar materials across their baby and adult lines. Advocates may push for adult incontinence products next.

Sources:

Concert diapers make it onto The Drew Barrymore Show

Adult diapers reached daytime TV in October. On a “Drew’s News” segment of The Drew Barrymore Show, Drew Barrymore and co-hosts Sunny Anderson and Ross Mathews reacted to a viral trend: concertgoers who wear adult diapers so they won’t lose their spot near the stage. In a short clip from the segment, Mathews explained the trend and asked viewers how far they’d go for a front-row spot.

The trend took off this summer. In June, Olivia Rodrigo told the UK radio station KISS FM that some fans wear diapers to stay in the front row at concerts and festivals. Then, in July, Noah Kahan jokingly told fans at a Washington, D.C. show to wear diapers after reports of fans relieving themselves in the crowd. The published coverage of Barrymore’s segment doesn’t quote what each host said, so we suggest watching the clip to hear their takes.

Why it matters: Much of this coverage treats diapers as a gross-out joke. For many of our readers, though, a diaper at a long event is simply a practical need. Even so, every time adult diapers come up on mainstream TV, the topic gets a little less taboo. Heading to a show yourself? Start with Choosing the Right Absorbency Level.

Sources:

The Drew Barrymore Show, “Drew Barrymore Reacts to Viral Trend of Concert-Goers Opting for Adult Diapers | Drew’s News” (video), October 2026
The Drew Barrymore Show, “TOO FAR: Drew Barrymore’s Show Reacts to Fans Wearing Diapers for Front Row Concert Spots” (YouTube Short), October 2026
Rachel Stone, “Drew Barrymore Reacts to Concert Fans Wearing Adult Diapers”, BroadwayWorld, October 12, 2026
Ruby McManus, “Olivia Rodrigo Says She Has Smelled Fans Wearing Diapers to Stay Front Row at Concerts”, Classic Hits (Ireland), June 19, 2026
“By Congressional Order, Noah Kahan Tells Concertgoers To Wear Diapers”, Stereogum, July 23, 2026

Image generated with Nano Banana (Google Gemini).

Seen a story we should cover?

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A note on how this article was researched

Some of the research and writing for this article was done with the help of Claude, an AI assistant made by Anthropic. We’ve tried to base every fact on the sources linked in each story, but AI tools can sometimes get things wrong, misread a source or miss important context.

If you spot an error, have a correction, or know of information or sources that should be added, we’d genuinely like to hear from you. Please contact us through our contact page, and we’ll review your suggestion and update the article.

More diapers in the news

Keep reading: Diaper Prices in 2026: What’s Changing and Understanding Return Policies for Diapers.