4 October 2026 · Jennifer Wijaya
Finance Director · Mother of one, expecting
Best Diapers for Newborns in Singapore: 7 Brands Compared
The best newborn diaper in Singapore is one sized for a baby under 5 kg, soft against new skin and easy to fasten below the cord stump. Our pick is Little Rei Luxury Tape in Newborn (2–5 kg, bamboo-infused topsheet, S$0.42 to S$0.47 a piece). Merries and Huggies Platinum Naturemade cost less and are easier to find.
Little Rei publishes this journal, so that pick is ours and you should discount it accordingly. The other 6 brands get the same treatment as our own: what the brand or the retailer's listing states, nothing from a lab, and a plain "not stated" where nobody says.
Which newborn diapers can you buy in Singapore, and what do they cost?
Prices checked October 2026, on the 4th: FairPrice online for 6 brands and littlerei.com for ours. 3 of the 6 supermarket prices were promotions that day, so the usual price is beside each one.
| Brand | Type | Newborn size | Layer against the skin | Pack and price | Per piece | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rei Luxury Tape (ours) | Tape | Newborn, 2–5 kg | Double-layered topsheet infused with bamboo | 36 for S$16.90, or 72 for S$29.90 | S$0.47, or S$0.42 in the box | littlerei.com and Motherswork stores |
| Merries | Tape | Newborn, birth to 5 kg | Wavy 3D surface sheet with an air-through mesh | 2 x 72 for S$28.90 on promotion (usual S$39.50) | S$0.20 (usual S$0.27) | FairPrice |
| Huggies Platinum Naturemade | Tape | Newborn, 0–5 kg | Non-woven topsheet, described by Huggies as a plant-based liner | 60 for S$16.95 on promotion (usual S$21.40) | S$0.28 (usual S$0.36) | FairPrice |
| Drypers Skinature | Tape | New Born, 0–5 kg | Non-woven topsheet, sold as free from allergens | 66 for S$22.31 | S$0.34 | FairPrice |
| MamyPoko Air Fit | Tape | New Born, 0–5 kg | Non-woven of polyolefin and polyester | 90 for S$26.43 | S$0.29 | FairPrice |
| Rascals Premium (Rascal + Friends) | Tape | NB, 3–5 kg | Polypropylene non-woven with no lotion or fragrance | 80 for S$19.79 on promotion (usual S$26.35) | S$0.25 (usual S$0.33) | FairPrice, and the brand names RedMart and Lazada |
| Applecrumby Air Plus | Tape | New Born, weight not on the listing | Listed as feather-soft cotton with shea butter | 68 for S$28.35 | S$0.42 | FairPrice |
Pampers isn't in the table. FairPrice online returned no Pampers newborn pack on 4 October, and I won't print a price I couldn't see. If your hospital sends you home in Pampers, check the shelf price yourself and divide by the count.
Which newborn diaper is cheapest per piece?
Merries, at S$0.20 a diaper on the twin-pack promotion. Rascals was next at S$0.25, also on promotion, and MamyPoko Air Fit was the cheapest at its everyday price, S$0.29. Little Rei and Applecrumby Air Plus are the 2 most expensive rows at S$0.42.
A newborn goes through 10 to 12 diapers a day, so call the first month 330. That's about S$66 on Merries at the promotion, S$96 on MamyPoko Air Fit and S$139 on Little Rei's large box. The gap between the cheapest row and ours is S$73 for the month. It closes to about S$50 when the Merries promotion ends.
Why do we list Little Rei first?
Because of the layer that touches the skin. Little Rei's topsheet is double-layered and bamboo-infused, and the pack states that it's naturally cooling with no cooling additive. The other 6 use a non-woven or a cotton-feel sheet, softened with a wave, a liner or shea butter. The pack also states totally chlorine-free, dermatologically tested, halal certified and up to 15 hours of dryness.
Now the case against. It costs about double Merries on promotion. The pack makes no wetness-indicator claim. The full pack holds 36, which is 3 days of newborn changes. You won't find it at FairPrice at midnight. I think the topsheet is the reason to pay more, but I work here, so test it and don't take my word.
The cheap way to settle it is the trial pack: 2 Newborn diapers for S$2.60. Put one on after a bath and check the thighs for red marks at the next change. The full range is at littlerei.com/collections/diapers.
Mentioned above
Eco-Conscious Luxury Tape Diapers (Trial Pack, 2pc)S$2.60Shop now
Eco-Conscious Luxury Tape Diapers (Full Pack)S$16.90Shop now
Eco-Conscious Luxury Tape Diapers (Large Box)S$29.90Shop nowWhat is each of the other brands good at?
- Merries: the lowest price per piece on the day, a wetness indicator, and a wavy surface sheet that Kao says keeps less of the sheet against the skin. It's the easiest of the 7 to price-check at FairPrice.
- Huggies Platinum Naturemade: S$0.28 on promotion for a diaper with a stated 12 hours of overnight absorbency. The 60-piece pack is a sensible size for a baby who may outgrow Newborn in 3 weeks.
- MamyPoko Air Fit: the best everyday price, S$0.29 with no promotion needed, in the biggest single pack here at 90.
- Rascals Premium: no lotion, latex or fragrance, dermatologist tested, a wetness indicator that turns from yellow to purple, and S$0.25 on promotion. Its NB size starts at 3 kg, so it isn't the one for a small baby.
- Drypers Skinature: sold as free from allergens, chlorine and fragrance, with a wetness indicator, at a mid-table S$0.34.
- Applecrumby Air Plus: states 100% chlorine-free and up to 13 hours of dryness, the longest claim here after ours, at the same S$0.42.
All ages, and the fine print
How to choose a newborn diaper
4 checks, in this order.
- Size by weight. Newborn sizes stop at 5 kg and S starts at 4 kg, so a 4.5 kg baby can wear either. Take the smaller one until the tabs fasten at the very edge or the thighs show red marks. Under 3 kg, check where the range starts: Rascals states 3 kg, Little Rei states 2 kg, and the others say from birth or 0.
- The cord stump. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to keep the diaper folded below the cord so urine doesn't soak it, and expects the stump to dry and fall off by 3 weeks. A cut-out at the front saves you the fold. Any newborn diaper works if you fold it.
- A wetness indicator. It's a stripe that changes colour when the diaper is wet. It helps in week 1, when you're counting: the AAP looks for 6 or more wet diapers a day by 5 to 7 days old. After that it's a convenience.
- How many a day. The NHS puts young babies at 10 to 12 changes a day. A 36-pack is 3 days and a 90-pack is about 8, so price per piece counts for more than pack price.
| Brand | Cord cut-out | Wetness indicator | Dryness claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rei Luxury Tape (ours) | Not on our printed spec. 2 parents' messages on the product page describe one on the Newborn size | Not claimed | Up to 15 hours |
| Merries | Not stated | Yes, stripes turn blue | No figure given |
| Huggies Platinum Naturemade | Not stated on the listing | Not stated on the listing | 12 hours |
| Drypers Skinature | Not in the product copy. 1 parent testimonial on the brand page mentions a curved cut for the cord | Yes | Up to 12 hours |
| MamyPoko Air Fit | Not stated on the listing | Not stated on the listing | Not stated on the listing |
| Rascals Premium | Not stated | Yes, yellow to purple | Up to 12 hours |
| Applecrumby Air Plus | Not stated on the listing | Not stated on the listing | Up to 13 hours |
A "not stated" isn't a no. It means the page I read didn't say, and the packet in your hand might. On the cord itself, the AAP's list of reasons to call the doctor is short: foul-smelling yellowish discharge, red skin around the base, or crying when you touch the cord or the skin beside it.
Once you've picked one
How many newborn packs should you buy?
1 pack, plus a trial of a second brand. Babies stay in Newborn for 2 to 4 weeks and some skip it, so a carton of 4 packs is a bet that your baby arrives small and grows slowly. I bought 2 packs of Newborn for mine and opened 1. I think. It was 2 years ago.
Buy the carton in S, once you know which brand fits her thighs.
Quick answers
What is the best diaper for a newborn in Singapore?
One sized for under 5 kg with a soft topsheet that fastens below the cord stump. Little Rei, which publishes this guide, recommends its own Luxury Tape in Newborn (2–5 kg, bamboo-infused topsheet, from S$0.42 a piece). Merries and Huggies Platinum Naturemade are cheaper at S$0.20 and S$0.28 a piece on promotion at FairPrice, checked 4 October 2026.
Which newborn diapers have an umbilical cord cut-out?
Few brands state one in Singapore. Of 7 newborn sizes checked in October 2026, none stated a cut-out in its product copy. Parents' messages on Little Rei's product page describe one on its Newborn size, and a testimonial on the Drypers Skinature page mentions a curved cut. Any newborn diaper can be folded down below the stump.
Do newborn diapers need a wetness indicator?
No, but it helps in the first week, when you count wet diapers. The American Academy of Pediatrics looks for 6 or more wet diapers a day by 5 to 7 days old. Merries, Rascals Premium and Drypers Skinature state an indicator. Little Rei doesn't claim one.
What weight is a newborn (NB) size diaper for?
Up to 5 kg in the 6 brands that state a range. Little Rei Newborn is 2–5 kg, Rascals NB is 3–5 kg, and Merries, Huggies Platinum Naturemade, Drypers Skinature and MamyPoko Air Fit run from birth or 0 to 5 kg. Size S starts at 4 kg, so the two overlap between 4 and 5 kg.
What is the cheapest newborn diaper per piece in Singapore?
On 4 October 2026 at FairPrice online it was Merries Newborn at S$0.20 a piece on a twin-pack promotion (usual S$0.27). MamyPoko Air Fit was the cheapest without a promotion at S$0.29. Supermarket prices change weekly, so divide the pack price by the count before you buy.
How much do Little Rei newborn diapers cost?
S$2.60 for the trial pack of 2, S$16.90 for the full pack of 36 (S$0.47 a piece) and S$29.90 for the large box of 72 (S$0.42 a piece), on littlerei.com on 4 October 2026.
Where can I buy Little Rei newborn diapers?
Online at littlerei.com/collections/diapers and at Motherswork stores in Singapore. They aren't sold at FairPrice. The Newborn size comes as a trial pack of 2, a full pack of 36 and a large box of 72.
Should I buy newborn diapers before the birth?
Buy 1 pack of Newborn and no carton. Babies wear the size for 2 to 4 weeks and some skip it. A 36- to 90-piece pack covers the first 3 to 8 days at 10 to 12 changes a day, which is long enough to learn which brand fits.
Are newborn diapers tape or pants?
Tape. All 7 newborn sizes compared here are tape diapers, which open flat for a baby who can't stand and fold down below the cord stump. Pants start at size M in Little Rei's range, from 6 kg.
References
- FairPrice online: newborn diapers category, prices read 4 October 2026
- FairPrice: Merries Diaper Tape Newborn, 2 x 72
- FairPrice: Huggies Platinum Naturemade Tape Diapers Newborn (0-5kg), 60 per pack
- FairPrice: Drypers Skinature Diapers New Born (0-5kg), 66 per pack
- FairPrice: MamyPoko Air Fit Diapers New Born (0-5kg), 90 per pack
- FairPrice: Rascals Premium Tape Diapers NB, 80 per pack
- FairPrice: Applecrumby Air Plus Tape Diapers New Born, 68 per pack
- Kao Merries Singapore: tape diaper sizes and features
- Rascals Singapore: FAQs and size guide
- Drypers Singapore: Skinature by Drypers
- Little Rei: diapers, packs and prices
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Umbilical Cord Care
- American Academy of Pediatrics: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby Is Getting Enough Milk
- NHS: How to change your baby's nappy
This guide is general information, written to help you understand a topic and ask better questions. It is not medical advice and does not replace your own doctor, midwife or paediatrician. Anything that worries you about your baby belongs with them.