Diaper Review: Hello Bello vs Rascal + Friends
Since having 4 kids (3 of them still being in diapers) I feel that I have come to learn a thing or two about what makes a good diaper and what does not. So I thought I would take some time and share my thoughts with you on two different diaper brands: Hello Bello and Rascal + Friends.
For me, when I’m looking at diapers there are a few factors that I feel are the most important:
Cost
Fit
Absorbency
Sensitivity
Availability
Before we get started, I think it’s important for you to know that I’m not sponsored by either brand, I’m simply just sharing my opinion on these diapers in hopes that it might help you make a decision on which diaper is right for your family. I’ve chosen these two brands because I personally am not a fan of the leading diaper companies like Huggies and Pampers. They often leave my littles with a diaper rash and are nowhere near as soft as Hello Bello or Rascal + Friends diapers.
Okay let’s get started!
Cost
Hello Bello
There are a number of options when it comes to purchasing these diapers. You can sign up online for their Diaper Bundle Program which (depending on size of diaper) will get you anywhere from 245 to 119 diapers. One really awesome thing about the Diaper Bundle, is that you can split the sizes that you want. So in my case since I have 2 kids that are currently in a Size 2 diaper and 1 kid that is currently in a size 6 diaper, I have the ability to custom build my bundle. You’re able to order 7 packs of diapers per order which I think is a really great option!
The Diaper Bundle option from the Hello Bello website, will run you about $85 and includes diapers as well as 4 pack of wipes. They now have Free Shipping in Canada and you can also add some extras to your order for a discounted price such as baby lotion, baby shampoo, etc. This works like a subscription program, and you can choose how often you want them to send you more diapers, every 3, 4 or 5 weeks and you’re able to cancel anytime.
If you’re not interested in doing a subscription program, you can purchase Hello Bello diapers online at Well.ca or through Superstore. A box of diapers from Well.ca will run you $26.99 and depending on the size you will get anywhere from 108 to 54 diapers. If buy in store or through Click and Collect at Superstore, you are looking at $24.98 for a Club Size of diapers again, the amount of diapers you will get will depend on the size you buy.
According to Well.ca each Hello Bello diaper works out to the following unit price based on the size:
NB - 96 diapers per box = $0.28 per diaper
Size 1 - 108 diapers per box = $0.25 per diaper
Size 2 - 100 diapers per box = $0.27 per diaper
Size 3 - 92 diapers per box = $0.29 per diaper
Size 4 - 74 diapers per box = $0.36 per diaper
Size 5 - 66 diapers per box = $0.41 per diaper
Size 6 - 54 diapers per box = $0.50 per diaper
Rascal + Friends
Rascal + Friends diapers are sold exclusively at Walmart and can be purchased in store or online. If you purchase these diapers online through Walmart.ca, you are able to create a subscription for the diapers which allows you to save 20%. For the purpose of this review though, let’s just look at the regular cost of these diapers if you were to buy them in store. I prefer to buy the Jumbo Packs because I know I’m going to need a lot of diapers! The jumbo packs run for $29.97 a box. Let’s break down what each unit cost is based on the size of box.
Size 1 - 168 diapers per box = $0.18 per diaper
Size 2 - 152 diapers per box = $0.20 per diaper
Size 3 - 136 diapers per box = $0.22 per diaper
Size 4 - 124 diapers per box = $0.24 per diaper
Size 5 - 110 diapers per box = $0.27 per diaper
Size 6 - 100 diapers per box = $0.30 per diaper
Verdict
Rascal + Friends wins this category by a long shot. These diapers are a lot more cost effective compared to Hello Bello. Not only do you get more diapers per box, the price per unit is much lower. Especially when you move into the larger sizes of the diapers. When I need to buy Size 6 diapers for my son, I'd be saving $0.20 per diaper when purchasing Rascal + Friends.
Even when we look at the Diaper Subscription method, Rascal + Friends is still much more affordable. Let’s look at Hello Bello’s bundle program and say I purchased all Size 2 diapers. I’d get 224 diapers total and 4 packs of wipes for $85 which works out to be about $0.34 per diaper. If we compare that to the Rascal + Friends diaper subscription through Walmart.ca a box of 152 Size 2 diapers would be 23.98 which works out to be about $0.16 per diaper which is a savings of $0.18 when compared to Hello Bello diapers.
fit
Hello Bello
These diapers are super easy to get on and off your little ones. Even when you have an almost 2 year old that moves quicker than a greased up piglet running away from little kids at the Winter Fair Pig Scramble. The tabs are super stretchy so you can the diaper nice and snug and the inside is extremely soft and gentle on even the tiniest of little bums. They offer a range of sizes from Newborn to Size 6. I find that these sizes are similar to those of Pampers or Huggies so you don’t have to worry about them being to big or small if you’re making the switch from a well known brand.
I do have to say though that I find these diapers aren’t that strong. So when the diaper gets really full, it’s easy for your child to pull it off themselves or for it to even come apart on it’s own. For example the other morning my little guy was walking around and he had on 1 piece footed pyjamas and all of sudden his diaper was just gone. The tabs must have got caught on his jammies and then came off and it fell down the one leg of his pyjamas. They claim that they will “stay snug when soiled reducing sag and keeping a secure and comfy fit.” but I have to say I disagree with that. I don’t find that they are super snug to begin with and they certainly don’t stay secure even after a few voids or a rumble and tumble play session!
They just move around a lot on the older kids so if you have a very active child in the Size 5-6 range I’d be aware of that. I will often notice that my son’s diaper has slipped to one side and so the diaper is half up his butt and this results in some occasional leaks. From some other reviews I have read, it appears that the bigger these diapers get, the worse they fit. So you might find they are great for real little ones but once you get to size 4 and up they start to become less reliable.
Rascal + Friends
Rascal + Friends diapers are probably the best fitting diapers I have ever come across. They are bit bulkier that your average diaper, so some people might not like that but I personally really appreciate that about them for a few reasons: 1) They give some added padding which is great when our babies are learning to walk and they tend to fall down a lot and 2) They absorb a lot of liquid and the best part is that they don’t leave any of those weird little residue pearls that other leading diaper brands like pampers leaves behind. The other thing I love about these diapers is that they have a higher waist on the back which helps prevent up the back blow-outs. It’s a rare day that my kids are able to completely shit through one of these diapers. They also have some of the best side tabs that pull around and help to keep the diaper snug and in place. I find that they fit so well and are able to really hug my little one’s bums, keeping them super soft, and the best part is that they stay in place.
Now it can’t all be good news, the biggest thing I don’t like about these diapers is that they only start at a Size 1. They say that their Size 1 is good for 6-11 lb babies but I’d say they are a bit on the larger size. You can stretch them out to a 12 lb baby if need be but they won’t go much further than that and they seem to be a bit large for a 6lb baby. When we had the twins, they were just over 5lbs and the Size 1 Rascal + Friends diapers were waaayyy too large for them. Since they don’t offer Preemie or Newborn sizes, we had to go with a different brand until the girls were big enough to fit the Size 1’s. They also top out at Size 6 diapers which many diaper companies do, but if you have large kids that aren’t interested in potty training, you might need to swap out these diapers for a different brand that offers a size 7. Even the Training Pants that Rascal + Friends offer, only go to a size 6 which they say is good for 35+ pounds. I think my son is around 40 lbs and he does still fit the Size 6 diapers comfortably just to put that into a bit of perspective.
Verdict
Rascal + Friends wins this category as well! Overall I just like how these fit my kids better than Hello Bello. They fit the best around the waist, they don't move around a lot even though my kids do and they have a special design for a double leak guard that helps prevent leaks and poop-splosions! Plus they consistently fit well from Size 1 to Size 6 and I can't say that Hello Bello does the same.
Absorbency
Hello Bello
Hello Bello seems to pride themselves on how absorbent their diapers are. They have two types of diapers: daytime and night time. The night time diapers are apparently even more absorbent than the daytime ones. I haven’t tried them yet, so I will only be reviewing the daytime diapers at this time.
I do think that the daytime diapers are really absorbent, certainly more so than Pampers or Huggies in my opinion. I love that they use a plant derived absorbent core liner and sustainably harvested fluff pulp as the main source of absorption. This creates a super soft inside which feels nice and gentle on babies & toddlers. I also love that they don’t contain any absorption beads so when the diaper gets really full, there is no weird diaper residue left behind on those cute little tushies.
The downside though is that on the larger size, the more full they get, the more saggy they become which can cause issues for kids in larger sizes (4-6). They do have a leak guard on the sides of the diaper, but it’s a bit flimsy and doesn’t do that much in helping protect against blow-outs.
Rascal + Friends
I’m pretty sure the folks over at Rascal + Friends have developed the most absorbent diaper on the market. The overall design of these diapers was created specifically to reduce leaks and blow-outs. The front is a bit deeper which allows for more absorbency (great for boys), there is a double leak guard around the sides plus an extra absorbency channel to help prevent leaks. The inside is non-woven and ultra soft, almost like a blanket and features a 3D core that is highly absorbent. If that’s not good enough, they also added an extra breathable back sheet to help with airflow which helps to reduce the likelihood hood of diaper rash.
These diapers are also made from sustainable fluff pulp, non woven fabrics and are dermatology tested and approved. In my experience these diapers really help with preventing diaper rashes, and can usually handle enough voids to get the twins through a solid 12 hours at night without any leaks. There is of course the occasional time where I wasn’t fast enough at changing their diapers in the morning and they took a big poop and the absorbency had reached its max and so a leak occurred but that is a pretty rare occurrence. These diapers, like Hello Bello, also don’t contain any absorption beads so when the get super full, you can be assured that the only gross sticky substance stuck your babies butt, is poop and not traces of the diaper.
Verdict
I have to give this one to Rascal + Friends. You can tell that the overall design of these diapers was created with messes in mind.
Sensitivity
Hello Bello
These guys have created a diaper that is safe for our little ones to use. They are made without any lotions, fragrance, phthalates or latex. They also use eco-friendly and plant based ingredients as much as they can and use 100% chlorine free processing.
My little guy has really sensitive skin and I felt like these diapers didn’t worsen a diaper rash that was caused by teething which was great because other diapers I’ve tried such as Pampers, would often worsen the diaper rash or prolong it.
Rascal + Friends
In my opinion these diapers deserve a gold star when it comes to sensitivity. Truth be told, I switched to these diapers because a friend of mine told me to try them out. My little guy would get such bad diaper rashes because of his sensitive skin and when he is teething, it only gets worse. Once I tried Rascal + Friends, his diaper rash cleared up within days and he now only gets a rash when he is teething and it only lasts a few days compared to before when his rashes would seem random and last for weeks.
These diapers are made without lotions, fragrance, latex, chlorine, or formaldehyde. They use water based inks to create their diaper designs and are certified by PETA to be cruelty free and vegan. Rascal + Friends diapers are also have the following Certifications:
DermaTest - meaning they are third party approved to be free of contact skin allergens and reactors.
OEKO-TEX’s Standard 100 certification - which means that each component of these diapers has been thoroughly tested for harmful substances and have been guaranteed to be harmless in human ecological terms
PETA Cruelty Free & Vegan - this certification verifies that no animals tests are conducted on their ingredients, formulations or finished products, making their products cruelty free and vegan.
BioChecked™ Non-Glyphosate - this third party certification tests Rascal + Friends diapers regulary in an ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory to ensure that they contain zero traces of Glyphosate (pesticides).
Verdict
It's a Tie on this one. Both are made without any bad stuff. While Rascal + Friends might have a lot of certifications, it doesn't change the fact that both diapers are made with good stuff and don't use the bad stuff. If you have a baby with sensitive skin, I think either brand would do you well in this department.
Availability
Hello Bello
As I’ve already alluded to at the start of this article, there are many spots you can purchase these diapers which is great. Probably the easiest thing to do is sign up for the Diaper Bundle Program and get diapers sent to you ever 3, 4 or 5 weeks (you can pick how often). While this option is a bit more pricey, let’s not discount the convenience factor. How amazing is it to just have diapers sent to your house every few weeks. You don’t have to worry about running out or running to store because your last box only has a few in it. The peace of mind alone is worth the few extra bucks!
You can also find these diapers online at Well.ca and in store or online at Superstore/Loblaws. Last time i checked my local Superstore, they only had the small diaper packs available and the sizing was pretty picked over, so if you want to be guaranteed you’re getting diapers, I’d say sign up for the Bundle program!
Rascal + Friends
This is where these diapers really fall short. The only spot you can buy Rascal + Friends in Canada is at Walmart either online or in store. Walmart.ca offers a diaper subscription as I mentioned before, which is really the smartest way to do it in my opinion. If you are going to leave it up to chance and head into the store, be forewarned that sometimes they don’t have the size you need, when you need it. Usually when I go in the store, I will buy 2 to 3 boxes at a time so I know I’m covered for a long time because there have a been a few times where I’ve been down to my last few diapers when I go to get more and they have none in the size I need.
One new exciting thing is that Rascal + Friends has just launched their premium diapers and sensitive wipes in the USA exclusively with Walmart! They are available in Walmart stores throughout Texas and nationwide on Walmart.com.
Verdict
Hello Bello wins this round. The way they've streamined the process of getting diapers to the consumer is extremely smart on their end. Plus as a busy Mom to 4 kids under 4, I don't ever want to go into a store with all of the kids so if there is a way I can just have diapers shipped directly to my front door, I'm here for that!
Extras
Hello Bello
I couldn’t write a review for these diapers and not talk about the super cute design options available. The Millenial in me is drawn to the option to pick out the different designs of these diapers as a way to individualize the diapering experience. Also as a Mom to twins I love that I could have the option to put each baby in different diaper designs to help keep them apart.
Beyond just diaper, I also have to admit that the branding and design for this business is on point! Everything from the logo to the box design to the text on their website makes me want to just throw all of my money at them. You can’t help but fall head over heels in love with this brand and they are smart to put Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell at the forefront of everything because I mean c’mon, who doesn’t love everything about them? They are #relationshipgoals and I want everything they are selling.
Rascal + Friends
These folks know exactly what they are doing and have grown their business big time. They are now selling in 15 different countries around the World and continue to grow. Their brand is super approachable and makes you feel like family without being too over the top as they need to be able to sell to so many different markets. They make you feel a sense of comfort which is key and have strived and delivered a premium product at an affordable cost.
While their diapers don’t come in as many design options as Hello Bello, they do offer 1 cute unisex design that truly makes them stand out compared to other leading diaper companies.
Conclusion
Well when it comes down to the nitty gritty, Rascal + Friends is the better diaper when compared to Hello Bello in my opinion. While I’m happy I’ve found a diaper brand that works so well for our family, I can’t help but be a bit sad that Hello Bello didn’t meet all of my expectations. I wanted to fall in love with this product sooo badly. I’m a huge fan of Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell so I felt like if I tried their diapers, I’d somehow feel closer to them in a weird strange way (the power of marketing at work). However, when push comes to shove, Hello Bello offers an expensive diaper that feels a bit cheap compared to Rascal + Friends and quite honestly just doesn’t stay on that well. I would pick their diapers any day over Pampers or Huggies but they just don’t stack up to Rascal + Friends in my opinion.
At the end of the day both are good diapers compared to the brands we grew up knowing but Rascal + Friends is a superior product to every other diaper I have tried. In my opinion Hello Bello is riding the popularity wave of Kristen & Dax right now but if they want to really expand and sustain their business they will need to work on the functionality of their diapers a bit more and find a way to lower their price point in order to truly live up to their Standard of delivering a premium product at an affordable price. I don’t know about you, but I’m not prepared to pay $0.50 to $0.65 a unit for size 6 diapers that don’t stay on very well. While they are more affordable than the Honest Company diapers which can cost anywhere from $0.49 to $0.94 per diaper, they still range on the high side and cost more than Pampers Cruisers that sell for around $0.48 a unit.
So in conclusion, Rascal + Friends wins out in nearly every category that is important to me. They feel super soft, they stay on, blow-out’s rarely happen and they keep my little one’s bottoms feeling soft, fresh and smooth. Plus they end up being the best bang for your buck.
Have you guys tried either of these diapers? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.