MFM Awards 2023 Winners — Nappies, changing and potty training products

Elsewhere, we tried dozens of different wipes, found the best changing bags for busy parents, and tested out the durability, softness, safety and style of changing mats. For when the time comes, we've also tested out potty training products, to find the must-haves to help families through the next big milestone moment.

See the winners in:

• Reusable Nappy
• Biodegradable/Eco-Friendly Wet Wipes
• Biodegradable/Eco-Friendly Disposable Nappy
• Newborn/Infant Nappy — Sizes 1 & 2
• Baby Nappy — Sizes 3 & 4
• Toddler Nappy — Sizes 5 & 6
• Pants Style Nappy
• Wet Wipes
• Changing Bag
• Changing Mat
• Nappy Changing Accessory
• Potty & Toilet Training Product

Key features we tested/judged — Absorbency, fit, softness against baby’s skin, able to be adjusted as baby grows, designs.

Gold – Modern Cloth Nappies Pearl Pocket All-in-one Reusable Nappy Range, £13.95 - £16.95

Why it’s a winner: Our testers said: “Super easy to use”, “The prints are stunning and provide a lot of options for everybody, whether they are looking for nappies for boys, girls or gender-neutral choices”, “After several uses, the nappies fit amazingly and I had no leaks even after four hours of use”, “No leaks during the night, my little one had a great night’s sleep.” This small, mum-run business offers fully adjustable reusable nappies made from Oeko-Tex-approved and eco-friendly materials. They have a double leg gusset to control leaks and a stay-dry lining.

In the words of parent tester Emma, who tested this with her 7 month old: “The nappies fit both of my children well. I would really recommend them to others and will definitely be adding more to our nappy stash. I 100% believe they are worth the money. They are brilliant quality. The inside lining feels super soft on baby's skin and feels like it will do well with the large amounts of washes needed. The lining is buttery soft and feels very good quality. I was really pleased to see that the packaging was eco-friendly as this is the reason I first looked into using reusable nappies.”

Buy from: Modern Cloth Nappies

Silver – Pim Pam Reusable Pocket Nappy, £17.99

Best for: Pocket nappies with adjustable sizing to grow with your baby.

In the words of parent tester Kathryn, who tested this with her 1 year old: “They are a fairly good price point compared to other reusables, especially as a night-time nappy with two inserts. I really love the fun banana print and the fabric inside feels really nice and soft. The quality seems really nice and the double gusset fit very well around the legs.”

Buy from: Pim Pam

Joint Bronze – Juicy Bumbles Reusable Nappy Kit, £34.99

Best for: An easy-to-use nappy kit, one size fits all.

In the words of parent tester Georgina, who tested this with her 13 month old: “The nappies would work well as a starter kit for those on a budget as they are simple to use. The instructions were easy to follow too and there’s an easy guide for a beginner in the world of reusable nappies. I feel these nappies are more than worth the money. The overall designs of the nappy and wet bag were great, bright, colourful and gender neutral.”

Buy from: Juicy Bumbles and Amazon

Joint Bronze – Kit & Kin Reusable Cloth Nappy, £17.99

Best for: A simple-to-use nappy that fits from birth to potty training, these use naturally derived fabrics and fit well.

In the words of parent tester Catherine, who tested this with her 9 month old: “This is quite an expensive nappy at first glance – but really you are saving the planet as well as all those pounds and pence, which is literally thrown in the bin (and then landfill!) with every disposable nappy. With babies and children, there is never an empty washing machine – and these can be added to many of the loads I would already have on the go! They have a really sweet design, are thick and soft and really a joy to put on.”

Buy from: Kit & Kin

Key features we judged/tested — Ease of use, worth the money, effectiveness, quality and design, sustainability and eco value.

Joint Gold – Aldi Mamia Sensitive Wipes 60pk, £0.62

Why it’s a winner: Forget the tiny price tag, these wipes get the job done as well as any other and are an eco option into the bargain. Their green credentials come from the fact they’re made from 100% plant-based fibres – no plastics! They’re nice and thick so don’t tear, and our testers found it easy to remove just one from the packet at a time. They’re suitable for sensitive skin and don’t leave any unwanted residue on hands, bums or faces.

In the words of parent tester Lucy, who tested these with her 8 month old: “They seem to have made a good attempt at being eco-friendly, the packaging is recyclable with plastic bags. They’re perfect for nappy changes, as well as hands and face after eating. Changes are a breeze and even the worst nappies only take 2 wipes. I’m very impressed with these.”

Buy from: Aldi

Joint Gold – Pura Eco Baby Wipes, £1.82

Why it’s a winner: Despite being 99% water and organic aloe vera, these wipes work as well as anything else out there. They’re clinically proven to be kind to sensitive bottoms (even eczema-prone skin), and as they’re compostible and entirely free of plastics they’re gentle to the planet too. We’re not the only ones singing their praises – The British Skin Foundation and Soil Association have also endorsed the brand. Crucially, there’s no compromise on performance and our testers found them to be strong and generously sized, with a lovely fragrance.

In the words of parent tester Elizabeth, who tested these with her 1-year-old daughter: “They clean effectively without the need for lots of rubbing. They’re thick enough to avoid ripping and haven’t made my daughter’s sensitive skin react at all. I love that these wipes are biodegradable and use planet-friendly ingredients. They’re still disposable but the packaging is recyclable, so that is a massive plus.”

Buy from: Boots and Pura

Silver – Jackson Reece, Kinder by Nature Plant-Based Wipes, £2.00

Best for: Gentle ingredients.

In the words of parent tester Emilia, who tested these with her 1-year-old son: “The ingredients (and in particular the lack of citric acid) were so gentle on my baby’s skin. I liked that they didn’t make the baby’s skin too wet, which sounds silly but when applying a barrier cream afterwards it meant it didn’t slip off like it does with other brands.”

Buy from: Ocado and Kinder By Nature

Bronze – Aqua Wipes Premium 3-in-1, £3.50

Best for: Preventing nappy rash (contains barrier protection).

In the words of parent tester Sarah, who tested these with her 6 month old: “Even though they’re expensive, I would say they’re definitely worth the money and it’s nice that some of the money goes to charity. It holds a lot of poo, for example when wiping it can be folded and used multiple times, whereas I found with other brands you can’t do that.”

Buy from: Ocado and Aqua Wipes

Shortlisted: Aldi Mamia Extra Sensitive Wipes 60pk | Aldi Mamia Toddler Wet Wipes | Jackson Reece, Kinder by Nature Water-Based Wipes | Kit & Kin Biodegradable Baby Wipes | Lupilu Water Wipes Biodegradable | Nice’N’CLEAN Baby Wipes | Pura Flushable Baby Wipes

Key features we tested/judged — Absorbency, softness against baby’s skin, fit, eco credentials, value for money.

Gold – Kit & Kin Eco Nappies, £8

Why it’s a winner: Our testers said: “Great quality – soft and flexible, not flimsy and not stiff.” “We found the fit to be excellent – really secure and perfect for my skinny-legged child.” “The design on the nappy is very cute, with either a penguin or dog and they look adorable.” “The nappies are very easy to use, with a clear and simple front and back.” The brand behind these hypoallergenic nappies has a raft of eco credentials, and the company purchases and protects rain forests to keep them sustainable. They use plant-based materials and are cruelty-free. Their channel technology distributes wetness and locks it away to prevent leaks.

In the words of parent tester Georgia, who tested these with her 7 month old: “Absolutely loved them. Apart from a couple of overnight leaks (which I'm putting down to user error) they were fantastically supportive, easy to use and brilliant quality. I love the eco-friendliness, sustainability and values of the company.”

Buy from: Kit & Kin

Silver – Pura Eco Nappies, £2.82

Best for: Good fit and a unisex style.

In the words of parent tester Emily, who tested these with her 9 month old: “I can tell by the feel and the quality of the nappy that it's eco-friendly and it’s extremely well made as well. It is easy to know the front from the back of these nappies and the fit is a lot better than any other nappies we've tried. I love the design as well, it’s suitable for both girls and boys.”

Buy from: Ocado, Superdrug and Pura

Bronze – Mama Bamboo Eco-nappies, £7.80

Best for: Sustainability, as they are made from fast-growing bamboo.

In the words of parent tester Emily, who tested these with her 16 month: “Baby seems very comfortable in them. She's used to wearing quite bulky cloth nappies and these fit like normal disposable nappies, so no issues. No significant red marks left by them. I think it's great that they're fully compostable but unfortunately a lot of local authorities (like ours) burn their non-recyclable waste.”

Buy from: Mama Bamboo

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, quality and design, comfort, quality of fit, ability to stop leaks, value for money.

Gold – Aldi Mamia Premium Size 1 Newborn, £0.79

Why it’s a winner: Working out at just pennies a nappy, these are incredible value for those first few weeks of frequent bottom changes. And not just that, our testers pointed out that for bleary-eyed new parents they’re super easy to use with a wetness indicator that mums also loved. The softness and quality belies the tiny price tag, and there’s no compromise on performance. One mum pointed out that even as a newborn sheds some of their birth weight, these nappies still fit snugly around their legs and tummy and protect against leaks.

In the words of parent tester Kim, who tested these with her 1-month-old son: “We found them very easy to use as first-time parents. We’ve not had any irritation or nappy rash, which has made for a very happy little boy! They have a great wetness indicator, when wet it goes bright blue and you can see the stripe through light-coloured clothing so you don’t have to strip baby down.”

Buy from: Aldi

Silver – Aldi Mamia Premium Size 2 Mini, £2.19

Best for: New parents on a budget.

In the words of parent tester Hannah, who tested these with her 12-week-old son: “The nappies seem well made and are nice and thick. My baby seemed happy and comfortable in them, even when he has done a big wee and the nappy seems full. They’re simple and easy to use and a good price – £2.19 for 60 nappies is very reasonable.”

Buy from: Aldi

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, quality and design, comfort, quality of fit, ability to stop leaks, value for money.

Gold – Rascal + Friends CoComelon Nappies, £5.50

Why it’s a winner: Thanks to their great quality, snug fit and cutesy CoComelon design these nappies were a hit with all our testers. And the sterling absorbency sealed the deal. The waistband and wide tabs came in for particular praise for being strong but flexible and able to keep leaks to an absolute minimum – with no sign of nappy rash or irritation in our testing bottoms. Notably, the nappies are thick and soft, and really outperformed other brands when it came to overnight protection.

In the words of parent tester Eva, who tested these with her 1-year-old son: “The nappies’ absorbency deserves top marks, there were absolutely no leaks day or night. They are more than reasonably priced for how well they perform. They seem heavy duty, as if they could tackle anything! The tabs have fantastic grip and have never come undone.”

Buy from: Tesco

Silver – Aldi Mamia Ultra-Dry Nappies Size 4, £2.79

Best for: Value for money.

In the words of parent tester Ashna, who tested these with her 4-month-old son: “I’ve tried various brands and Aldi has always been the best for my baby – no sharp edges and all very soft. A great feature of this nappy is the wetness indicator all around so you can see from any angle. The fold-out creases work well and protect baby’s clothes from unpleasant ‘poonamis’.”

Buy from: Aldi

Bronze – Aldi Mamia Premium Size 3 Midi, £2.79

Best for: Frequent changes.

In the words of parent tester Katie, who tested these with her 6-month-old daughter: “These are soft, easy on the eye and it’s clear which way round they go. The wetness indicator is fab, most nappies stop at size 2 and I love it as a feature. We haven’t had any wee leaks, it can be huge and full by morning but no wet escapes.”

Buy from: Aldi

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, quality and design, comfort, fit, ability to stop leaks, value for money.

Gold – Aldi Mamia Ultra-Dry Nappies Size 6, £2.79

Why it’s a winner: A luxurious feel for a fraction of the price, according to one of our testers – and we couldn’t have put it better. No matter whether our young judges were tall, slim or ‘chunky’ (mum’s word, not ours!) these nappies fit securely and stayed leak-free all night. Aldi claim they’ve been designed not to sag even when full, and in our opinion they really live up to the promise. They’re soft and smooth, and don’t look bulky under clothing. And with two designs in each pack, little ones can take their pick at changing time.

In the words of parent tester Liz, who tested these with her 22-month-old daughter: “These are really good value and definitely perform as well as, if not better than, some of the more expensive brands. I liked how thin they were, for fitting in our nappy bag. During day time and normal play we had no leaks, the nappies gave good coverage and a good fit round the legs.”

Buy from: Aldi

Silver – Rascal + Friends CoComelon Nappies, £5.50

Best for: Sensitive skin.

In the words of parent tester Nicola, who tested these with her 24-month-old daughter: “It’s a great brand that felt kind to my daughter’s skin, and great fun with JayJay from CoComelon on the nappy, making changes a little calmer! I loved the softness of the product and after night time they don’t have the smell that sometimes you get from other brands.”

Buy from: Tesco

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of putting on/taking off, quality and design, ability to stop leaks, comfort and fit, value for money.

Gold – Aldi Mamia Ultra-Dry Nappy Pants Size 6, £3.19

Why it’s a winner: Yet again, performance and value saw Mamia come out top of the bottoms. In fact, our testers would choose them over and above the more expensive brands, praising the quality and comfort. Leaks weren’t a problem either, even overnight. For the toilet-training stage, they’re easy for a toddler to pull on and off themselves without tearing, meaning they’re free to concentrate on getting to the potty on time! The flex and stretch allowed plenty of movement without compromising on protection.

In the words of parent tester Charlotte, who tested these with her 3-year-old son: “We loved these nappies. He’s comfortable overnight with no leaks. We’re potty training and he has found it easy to pull these down himself, he struggles with other brands. And if we needed to rip the sides to get it off it was very easy to do so.”

Buy from: Aldi

Silver – ASDA Little Angels Comfort & Protect Size 6 Nappy Pants, £4.00

Best for: Eczema and delicate bottoms.

In the words of parent tester Leah, who tested these with her 27-month-old daughter: “Before using these nappy pants on her eczema-prone skin my mind was put at ease as they are dermatologically approved. They’re soft to touch and my daughter seemed to enjoy wearing them. The super-soft leg cuffs worked wonders for our very active and long sleeper.”

Buy from: Asda

Bronze – Pura Nappy Pants, £5.20

Best for: Sustainability and recyclability.

In the words of parent tester Erika, who tested these with her 2-year-old daughter: “They looked super comfortable on her. The material is so soft, it definitely does feel like cotton! There’s plenty of stretch in the waistband so she has lots of room to move but they still fit snugly, so there’s no chance of gaping or leaks.”

Buy from: Ocado and Pura

Shortlisted: Aldi Mamia Ultra-Dry Nappy Pants Size 5 | Rascal + Friends CoComelon Nappy Pants

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, effectiveness, quality and design, value for money.

Joint Gold – Aldi Mamia Sensitive Wipes 60pk, £0.62

Why it’s a winner: For well under a pound a pack, these are lifesavers for parents who are doing a lot of bottom wiping. And despite the budget price point they’re infused with aloe vera with a fresh scent and quality feel. Some of our testers were using them on newborn skin with no irritation issues, and they praised how easy it was to remove just one or two wipes with one hand when holding down a squirming baby! Because of their thickness and quality, testers found they needed fewer wipes per change than with other brands, meaning they score double for value.

In the words of our parent tester Jenni, who tested these with her 15 week old and 2 year old: “My baby is 15 weeks so the sensitive aspect is really useful. They’re equally good on my toddler and are moist without being too wet. It’s easy to get only 1 or 2 out of the packet, which is always a juggling act when you’re trying to change a nappy quickly.”

Buy from: Aldi

Joint Gold – Aldi Mamia Fragranced Wipes 60pk, £0.62

Why it’s a winner: Not everyone is a fan of the synthetic whiff of fragranced wipes. But the scent of these ones is subtle and pleasant, and they’re made of plant-based fibres, making them a much nicer option that other more expensive brands. Despite the fragrance, testers said they’d happily use them on their little ones’ bottoms, hands and even faces. They’re moist enough that two of the wipes are enough to stand up to a really messy bum. And the packaging went down well too, with the resealable lid proving simple to open and impressively robust.

In the words of parent tester Lindsay, who tested these with her 10-month-old son: “My little boy is weaning on to solids so these were perfect for both sticky hands and dirty nappies. I really love that they are cruelty-free as well as being dermatologically accredited. They have so many good features and they have thought about everything. Fantastic value!”

Buy from: Aldi

Silver – Nice ’N CLEAN Baby Wipes, £2.00

Best for: ‘Poonamis’ and heavy-duty wiping.

In the words of parent tester Alex, who tested these with her 7 month old and 3 year old: “The wipes had a fresh smell without being perfumed. The material also gets through ‘poonamis’ well and you don’t need a whole wad to get the baby clean. I really liked the way they listed on the ingredients list what each product was used for – really insightful.”

Buy from: Tesco and Nice 'N Clean

Bronze – Rascal + Friends Sensitive Wipes, £1.10

Best for: Newborn skin.

In the words of parent tester Emily, who tested these with her 4-month-old daughter: “I’m very impressed with these wipes, they can definitely be used from newborn as they are very kind to the skin. My daughter had no rashes. They’re thick enough not to break and they don’t get soggy when cleaning a pooey nappy.”

Buy from: Tesco

Shortlisted: ASDA Little Angels Plastic-Free Sensitive Baby Wipes

Key features we tested/judged — Quality and design, ease of use, comfort for parent and worth the money.

Gold – Pottiagogo Changing Backpack, £59.99

Why it’s a winner: With excellent scores across the board this fun yet functional bag impressed our home testers. The bag's quality and range of compartments made light work of holding everything necessary for one parent tester who has 2 children under 2. The bag's sleek and stylish design make it easy to carry around, and the adjustable straps ensure maximum comfort. Packed with features to make all stages of early parenting easier, there’s even a compartment at the back of the bag for a potty! A thoughtful additional for on-the-go potty training or if you’re caught out with no public facilities nearby.

In the words of parent tester Lucy, who tested this with her 6 month old and 21 month old: “This bag is lightweight and comfortable when wearing. I love how it’s waterproof and can be wiped clean. I think this bag is well priced for the quality and the useful storage compartments.”

Buy from: Amazon and Pottiagogo

Silver – Notting Hill Backpack Baby Changing Bag, £89

Best for: Longevity as it can double as a laptop bag.

In the words of parent tester Katie, who tested this with her 11 month old: “The product arrives packaged in a drawstring bag, which feels very luxurious. The bag itself is supple leatherette and feels sturdy and well made. The black and gold looks quite 'bling' and not at all mumsy.”

Buy from: Mamas & Papas and London Olivia

Key features we tested/judged — Comfort for baby/child, quality and design, effectiveness, safety features, durability and worth the money.

Gold – Pottiagogo Teddy Changing Bag/Mat, £24.99

Why it’s a winner: This fun, eye-catching yet extremely functional design is competitively priced for the category. Its portable, compact design suits a host of situations helping it stand out even more from the competition – and turn the heads of envious parents. One home tester was unable to access baby changing facilities while out and about. The design of the Pottiagogo Teddy Changing Mat meant she could lay her pushchair flat and unfold the changing mat into it for a quick nappy change with the added security of the strap around baby. The teddy shape isn’t just cute, it’s practical too.

In the words of parent tester Lauren, who tested this with her 11 month old: “This changing mat needs to win this category as there is nothing on the market like it. I have recommended already. The arms which strap the baby in are fantastic and the head of the mat is also padded, which gives it a lovely cocoon feel.”

Buy from: Amazon and Pottiagogo

Silver – BabyDam SuperMax Anti Roll Changing Mat, £27.99

Best for: Extra safety from the high sides.

In the words of parent tester Charmaine, who tested this with her 2 month old: “My baby seemed happy on this changing mat. The mat had a good thickness and high sides to prevent the baby rolling off. The thickness and durability seemed a little better than others.”

Buy from: Amazon and BabyDam

Bumbo Changing Pad, £72.99

Best for: Securing wriggly babies.

In the words of Faye, who tested this with their 10 month old: "As a mum with a baby who likes to wriggle and squirm when getting their nappy changed, this product was a life saver. Because he felt secure with both the centre strap and high sides he was a lot less fidgety."

Buy from: Kidly and Bumbo

Shortlisted: The Little Bumble Co. Anti Roll Wedge Changing Mat | Mama Shack Anti Roll Changing Mat | Three Little Cubs Wedge Changing Mat | Little Wild Cubs - Anti Roll Changing Mat

Key features we tested/judged — Effectiveness, ease of use, quality and design, and worth the money.

Gold – Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment, £7.29 – 100g

Why it’s a winner: Quite simply: a must for all parents. Not a single judge or parent tester had a bad word to say about our category winner. Our home testers reported fast working, effective relief from the first application, especially when used at the earliest sign of irritation. They even noticed that any rash had cleared up by the next nappy change. Beyond nappy rash, one parent tester found Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment also relieved their baby’s sore neck and quickly became their choice for keeping the nappy area healthy and protected.

In the words of parent tester Emily, who tested this with her 4 month old: “It’s fairly priced for a nappy cream and definitely worth the money as it works from first use. It also has multiple uses other than nappy rash, which makes it a great, versatile cream.”

Buy from: Boots and Amazon

Silver – Vital Baby HYGIENE odour-trap nappy disposal system, £49.99

Best for: Sleek, modern design.

In the words of parent tester Laura, who tested this with her 2 week old: “The product provides a clean and tidy way of storing dirty nappies; there is no smell from the unit even after a few days! It’s also well balanced and not top-heavy, which makes it easy to use one-handed.”

Buy from: John Lewis, Amazon and Vital Baby

Bronze – Angelcare Nappy Disposal System, £19.99

Best for: Budget-friendly pricing.

In the words of parent tester Katie, who tested this with her 7 month old: “Holds a huge amounts of nappies and no odour has escaped despite us putting a few soaked nappies in there! It’s nice smooth plastic and unless you know what it is, you would never guess it’s a nappy bin.”

Buy from: Mamas & Papas, Amazon and John Lewis

Shortlisted: Shnuggle Eco Touch Nappy Bin

Key features we tested/judged — Ease of use, effectiveness, quality and design, value for money.

Gold – Potette Plus Premium Bundle (inc Reusable Liner & Flash Cards), £38.99

Why it’s a winner: Even before your little one is fully verbal, this potty helps them understand toileting, thanks to the Baby Sign flash cards that let them tell you when they need. It’s a full-size potty with a reusable silicone liner, but it also folds flat (and has collapsible legs) for when you’re on the go – it easily fits in a pushchair or large changing bag. And it gets better; the legs can also be adjusted to turn it into a training seat for the big toilet. As one of our testers noted, it’s really 3 potties in 1.

In the words of parent tester Jess, who tested this with her 2 year old: “The bundle contains everything you need to potty train your child from start to finish. It’s also a great space-saver as you only need this one product. All the components feel of good quality, light yet sturdy. It’s also very easy to use, my toddler can set it up.”

Buy from: Cheeky Rascals

Silver – Bumbo Step’n’Potty, £49.49

Best for: Comfort and security.

In the words of parent tester Bryony, who tested this with her 23-month-old son: “It absolutely changed our little boy’s relationship with potty training. He had previously been very reluctant but now he sits on the seat and is clearly very comfortable, with a few successful attempts already. It’s an excellent design and very simple to set up.”

Buy from: Bumbo and Amazon

Bronze – Nuby My Real Potty, £37.50

Best for: Encouraging independence and looking like a real toilet.

In the words of parent tester Georgina, who tested this with her 2-year-old daughter: “The flush is super easy to use, just needing a light touch. I found having a space for wet wipes was a lifesaver, it looks neat and encourages children with independent wiping. It’s stylish and we found it looks a lot tidier than previous potties we’ve had.”

Buy from: Nuby and Argos

See all our MFM Award winners:

• Prams, pushchairs, lightweights and double buggies — 2023 winners
• Car seats — 2023 winners
• Baby carriers, slings and wraps — 2023 winners
• Sleeping and nursery products — 2023 winners
• Breast and bottlefeeding products — 2023 winners
• Products for your pregnancy — 2023 winners
• Family health, bathtime and skincare products — 2023 winners
• Baby & toddler weaning and feeding products — 2023 winners
• Lifestyle, travel, fashion, books and gifts — 2023 winners
• MadeForMums Special Awards — 2023 winners
• MadeForMums Editor's Choice Awards — 2023 winners