measurement Diaper Dimensions

[Mars.inDiapers]

Hi, 

I'm starting this thread to see if there's any interest or use to anyone to have a sort of database of diapers with objective measurements how big in which direction diapers actually are.
Not how well they fit, feel, look, absorb, etc. things that are more or less subject to opinion.
Only things that are objectively measurable or discernible.
For a reference, I took everyone's favorite (that's a hyperbole), the revered NorthShore MegaMax in size L which I will post as a first practical example.

Standardized content format, in my opinion, would be best that starts with a headline: brand, type and size, then a picture with dimensions, and then a bulleted list of properties and features. See below
______________________________________

 

Brand and Type - Size 

(Picture with dimensions in centimeters goes here. Centimeters because SI (metric) is the superior measurement system, get over it, it is the system of science and this is meant to be scientific. For measurement, diaper should be placed at a reasonably flat surface and fully spreaded, but not overstretched. 

Specs and features:

• Rated ISO Capacity: number in mililiters
• Rated waist circumference: range in centimeters (inches in parentheses, because converting this is not that much extra work and many manufacturers state it in inches anyway)
• Backing material: polyethylene foil OR non-wowen fabric (alternatively plastic or cloth-like, but note that not all non-wowen fabrics are made equal ... Seni and ABU are of different kind than others)
• Base color: base color of the backing
• Print: landing zone OR full OR none OR stock (stock means full legth pattern stripe typical for medical diapers, sometimes with drop symbols, size letters etc.)
• Relative thickness: + OR - OR ~ (with Mexamax as a reference, + for thicker , - for thinner than, ~ for comparable) * 
• Tapes:  number of tapes on both sides, simple adhesive OR stacked adhesive OR hook-and-loop OR single combination OR stacked combination 
• Landing zone: adhesive refastenable OR  hook-and-loop OR none; width, height, offset from top in centimeters
• Elastic waistband: front only OR rear only OR front & rear OR none
• Standing leak guards: yes OR no
• Wetness indicator:  yes OR no
• Soak pad: yes OR no
• Scented:  yes OR no

(* relative thickness to Mexamag (the reference). Measurement should the thickness of a diaper at the highest point (typically in the middle) that has been taken out of a package but has NOT been unfolded yet, and let sat for > 12 hours on a flat surface with no weight on top of with, and also measured without any pressure acting upon it. Why? Well, measuring thickness whilst inside a package is not informative, because diapers are heavily compressed to fit in. It should be not unfolded, because unfolding and refolding will completely skew results. And why relative and not actual number? Because in this case, number doesn't mean that much. Measurement in this dimension introduces a lot of variables that are difficult to control, so a Megamax L that has been taken out of a pack and let sit for some time is about 4.5 cm thick. A diaper that is within +/- 5 mm of that should be ~, otherwise + for thicker or - for thinner. 

 

Now, the point of this all might be, that if someone is trying out some type of diaper, but feels that it could do with few centimeters (inches) more or fewer in certain directions, could look into this, and find comparison. See, manufacturer numbers for waist circumference, let alone the S, M, L, XL, L/XL and other designation are not always comparable, all manufacturers have their own ideas of how actually large should a "Large" be, and sometimes, you even find variances between products of the same company. ABU is guilty of this, where their size Large Space is bigger than most other size Large diapers, Betterdry XL is shorter in length than size large Crinklz (same company), and lots of other shenanigans.

So, enough yapping, here's an actual example:

 

 

NorthShore Megamax White - L

• Rated ISO Capacity: 6500 ml
• Rated waist size: 107-137 cm (42-54")
• Backing: polyethylene foil 
• Base color: white
• Print: none 
• Relative thickness: = 
• Tapes:  4, simple adhesive 
• Landing zone: adhesive refastenable
• Elastic waistband: front & rear 
• Standing leak guards: yes
• Wetness indicator:  no
• Soak pad: no
• Scented: no

 

Some commentary about the dimensions, because there are curves between the crotch and wings, the distance between front and rear wing (32 cm) is taken between the apexes of these curves. Otherwise, it's (I hope), quite clear.

Measurements should include overall length (99 cm), wing width (77 and 77 cm, can differ depending on type), wing height at edge (17 cm front, 24 cm rear), crotch width at middle (35 cm), padding height (79 cm), padding width at front, mid and rear (30 cm, 21 cm, 36 cm), padding hourglass height (18 front, 24 rear), tape width (4 cm).

Elastic waist band widths (front 24 cm, rear 25 cm) are optional. They introduce sort of a variable as they stretch (that's what they're for after all), and some diapers don't have them usually on front, or at all.

 

I would very much appreciate your feedback, ask questions, have suggestions, and if there's enough interest, I'll get to work measuring and posting shortly (well, in about a week and a half - I'll be out of town for some time), 
and I would like to ask admins if it would be possible to perhaps eventualy pin this thread, if it gains traction.

Thanks

[Mars.inDiapers]

Crinklz Aquanaut  - L

 

• Rated ISO Capacity: 5128 g (~5130 ml)
• Rated waist size: 110-150 cm (43-59")
• Backing: polyethylene foil 
• Base color: white
• Print: full
• Relative thickness: - 
• Tapes:  4, stacked adhesive 
• Landing zone: none
• Elastic waistband: front & rear 
• Standing leak guards: yes
• Wetness indicator:  no
• Soak pad: no
• Scented: no

 

[Mars.inDiapers]

Abena AbriForm - L4

• Rated ISO Capacity: 3600 ml
• Rated waist size: 100-150 cm (39-59")
• Backing: polyethylene foil 
• Base color: white
• Print: stock
• Relative thickness: + 
• Tapes:  4, stacked adhesive 
• Landing zone: none
• Elastic waistband: none 
• Standing leak guards: yes
• Wetness indicator:  yes
• Soak pad: no
• Scented: no

Note: slightly defective, as you can see front right wing is missing a triangular portion of same size as an excess that's there on rear right wing, probably from a badly sharpened or calibrated cutter on production line.

[Mars.inDiapers]

Tykables Camelot - L

• Rated ISO Capacity: 7000ml
• Rated waist size: 91-122 cm (36-48")
• Backing: polyethylene foil 
• Base color: white
• Print: landing zone
• Relative thickness: ~ 
• Tapes:  4, hook-and-loop
• Landing zone: hook-and-loop
• Elastic waistband: front only
• Standing leak guards: yes
• Wetness indicator:  no
• Soak pad: no
• Scented: no

Note: front left wing isn't cut properly

[Mars.inDiapers]

Abena AbriForm Air Plus - XL4

 

• Rated ISO Capacity: 4000 ml
• Rated waist size: 110-170 cm (43"-67")
• Backing: non-woven fabric
• Base color: white
• Print: stock
• Relative thickness: + 
• Tapes:  4, stacked combination
• Landing zone: none
• Elastic waistband: none 
• Standing leak guards: yes
• Wetness indicator:  yes
• Soak pad: no
• Scented: no

Note: So, back again with more measurement. Only difference in size between L and XL is the width of the wings. Cloth-backed Abri-Form L4 has same dimensions as PE backed version.

 

[Mars.inDiapers]

Seni Super Quattro - L

• Rated ISO Capacity: 4600 ml
• Rated waist size: 100-150 cm (39"-59")
• Backing: non-woven fabric
• Base color: white
• Print: stock
• Relative thickness: - 
• Tapes:  4, single  combination
• Landing zone: no
• Elastic waistband: front & rear
  
• Standing leak guards: yes
• Wetness indicator:  yes
• Soak pad: no
• Scented: no

Note: The backing of this diaper is of different kind of non-woven fabric than is found on other breathable diapers, it's denser, stronger and better quality in general. Possibly the best of its kind. Impermeable to liquid, but still breathable.

[Mars.inDiapers]

ABU DinoRawrz - L

• Rated ISO Capacity: 5500 ml
• Rated waist size: 89-104cm (35"-41")
• Backing: polyethylene foil 
• Base color: white&blue
• Print: full 
• Relative thickness: ~ 
• Tapes:  4, hood-and-loop
• Landing zone: hook-and-loop, 61x15.5 cm, 5.5 cm offset from front edge
• Elastic waistband: front & rear
• Standing leak guards: yes
• Wetness indicator:  no
• Soak pad: no
• Scented: optional 

Note: quite small for a supposedly size Large diaper

[Mars.inDiapers]

ABU Space - L

• Rated ISO Capacity: 5000 ml
• Rated waist size: 94-112cm (37"-44")
• Backing: polyethylene foil 
• Base color: blue
• Print: full 
• Relative thickness: ~ 
• Tapes:  4, simple adhesive
• Landing zone: adhesive refastenable, 60x15 cm, 3.5 cm offset from front edge
• Elastic waistband: front & rear
• Standing leak guards: yes
• Wetness indicator:  yes
• Soak pad: no
• Scented: no

Note: largest "Large" of all ABU models, but still not that large when compared to other "Large" diapers

[Crinklz Kat]

I'm going to bump this back up because I think this is useful since published sizes are generally such a joke.   I'm going to be doing a bunch tonight of my own.  But, to ensure I write everything down, I thought it would be handy to have a template.  The PDF file has 2 diaper outlines with all of the dimension lines ready to fill in.   This way I don't forget anything.    And, I thought I'd be courteous and provide it in both US Letter and A4 page sizes (in the same file).

dp dimensions.pdf

Happy measuring!

[Little BabyDoll Christine]

All the stuff you have to go through to decide. And here I was thinking that throw-aways were more conveinient

With cloth, unless you are using some special type of diaper, usually homemade, all you reallly need to know is the size. With prefolds, the layers arrangement and size and for the rubber panties, waist and leg size, crotch width and side seam length. Use the 3" pins and you are all set

When we were babies, Mommy did all of this

[Crinklz Kat]

I had a thought on the "relative thickness" --- I feel that's a bit subjective without actual measurements.  So I thought about how I could make a repeatable process.  Here's what I came up with.  A plate of glass from a picture frame, a container with a measured .5L of water and a caliper.  The water is just to provide a little even pressure on the glass.  Then using the caliper, measure from the glass to the shelf, then subtract the thickness of the glass.  I wouldn't call it perfect, but it seemed to work well enough, and as the saying goes, "close enough for govt work"! 

With that worked out, I was able to measure my sample group in just a few minutes.  And the "winner" was not the one we would have otherwise assumed!   All of the samples had already been unpackaged for some time.  I still have others I want to measure, but those bags are still sealed, so it will happen later.

 

And the winner was????   Not the Trest Elite!

 

[Crinklz Kat]

Here's the table of those I've done so far.  Of course, thickness isn't always a good indicator of how much it will hold.  Some of the lower capacity models may be just as thick, but they have less SAP.  Others have way more SAP.  Of course, it's the SAP that causes that swelling. 

Brand	Model	Size	inches	mm
Rearz	Li'l Squirts Splash	X. Large	1.36	34.5
ABU	Dino Rawrz	X. Large	1.4	35.6
Tykables	Little Builders	X. Large	1.4	35.6
ABU	Kiddo	X. Large	1.41	35.8
ABU	Little Paws	X. Large	1.43	36.3
Bambino	Cloudee	X. Large	1.45	36.8
ABU	Little Kings	X. Large	1.52	38.6
Rearz	Dino Elite	X. Large	1.56	39.6
Bambino	Binaco	X. Large	1.58	40.1
Trest	Elite	X. Large	1.71	43.4
Tykables	Koda Cubs	X. Large	1.82	46.2
Tykables	Overnights	X. Large	1.82	46.2
Tykables	Camelots	X. Large	1.82	46.2
ABU	PeekABU	X. Large +	1.24	31.5
Crinklz	Original	Large	1.2	30.5
Abena	Abri Form	Large	1.42	36.1
CTDC	Bear Hugs	Large	1.55	39.4
ABU	Little Paws	Small	1.21	30.7
Crinklz	Original	Small	1.38	35.1

[Crinklz Kat]

I put this aside some months ago and didn't really have much time to work on it due to other projects.  But, someone had asked what the thickest disposable was and reminded me of this and that there was still a lot of work yet to be done.

I've created a generic google account so I can share this via Google Docs:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QVEXoACXUtXjEYqy2rcsnY-fINg30sYaM0ujSfHrmuc/edit?usp=sharing

It still needs a lot of work and as I don't have any small, medium, and few large samples to deal with, filling in data for those sizes is going to be difficult.  I can't justify the cost of buying samples for sizes I can never wear.  Or products which aren't readily available here in the US.  Then there's taking all of the photos and overlaying the measurements too.