Knowing that I’m quite the curious type, Gr eg and Andrea graciously invited me to do a little dissection experiment on today’s premium diapers. It didn’t take long to discover what makes the

Kirkland Signature diaper so darn good.

I first caress the diapers. Costco’s outer cover feels very soft and clothlike. Some of the others are rough on my hand and cheek. I know which one my grandchildren will prefer!

Next stop, waistbands. Waistbands that stretch provide a snug, comfortable fit, offer great overnight protection and help prevent red marks on tender skin. The Kirkland Signature diaper has wide front and back stretch waistbands.

The rest either don’t have this feature or have added a small, skimpy strip only in center areas.

Laying the diapers out flat is also very telling. Kirkland Signature’s patented, breathable dual leak guards of gathered material run the entire interior length of the diaper. This provides double insurance that incidents are kept within the diaper. Other brands I examine have only single containment flaps.

Savings gained by using Costco’s Kirkland Signature™ diapers instead of national brands can add up over your baby’s diaper days.

Here’s a comparison,

PRODUCT

_NATIONAL looking at Kirkland ^{COSTCO BRAND} Signature Step 4

Cost per medium diaper

. 19

$496

$130

$291

. 24 (medium) diapers (aver-

Total cost of medium diapers

age use: 2,610 diapers), $626

Savings per medium diapers

and all Kirkland Signature sizes (average use:

Total diaper savings*

6,210 diapers).

*Based on 6,210 uses for Steps 3, 4 and 5 (medium, large and extra-large) diapers.

And then there are the diapers’ silhouettes. The most common baby diaper cut is a straight-sided rectangle. Costco’s is shaped like an hourglass and more tear resistant and smoother than top national Send your questions enhanced with curved leg elastic. Hourglass con- brands,” notes Greg. or comments for struction is more expensive to manufacture but Cotton, while more costly, makes for a stronger, _{Pat Volchok to:} offers a trimmer, less bulky fit and works like a gas- more usable wipe with a feel similar to a gentle wash- _{ket to help prevent leaks.cl oth. Wanting to check out strength for myself, I did buyingsmart@}

The mention of leaks brings me back to con- a baby-wipe stretch test. The number-one national costco.com tainment. Costco’s diaper is constructed in layers brand in the country tore apart almost instantly, just so that fluid is rapidly pulled away from skin and like a cheap, wet paper towel. I really had to tug hard locked into a super-absorbent core. This core is a to pull the Costco wipe apart. blend of fluff fibers and a polymer that gels when The Kirkland Signature wipe is still the same it gets wet. It has an absorption factor of 100 times extra-large size at about 8 inches by 7 inches. They its weight in water. have been upgraded to an eight-pack of 88 wipes

To test absorption, I pour equal amounts of warm each, and embossed graphics have been added for water into each sample diaper. I’m dumbfounded by better “cleanup” power.

how much water the Kirkland Signature diaper holds and how poorly some of the others perform. The right formula for baby

I also appreciate the straightforward sizing I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Costco’s approach used by Costco. Some brands confuse the Kirkland Signature Infant Formula with iron. heck out of you with a whole slew of different dia- Experts say that breast milk is the ideal food for per options for boys and girls, day and night and/or babies. Kirkland Signature formula, levels of activity—and all at different prices. with DHA and ARA, lipids found natu-

The Kirkland Signature diaper sizes are based rally in breast milk, is closer than ever to on baby weight. There’s medium for the 16- to 28- the real thing. The price was just pound baby (Step 3, with baby cheetahs and blue reduced by 20 percent and the product graphics), large for 22 to 37 pounds (Step 4, with repackaged into a 51.4-ounce twin-pack zebras and yellow graphics) and extra-large for 27 while keeping the gentle, easy-to-digest pounds plus (Step 5, with elephants and green formulation the same. graphics). And the large, stretchy, adjustable, refas- Why change the container size? tenable tabs not only make it a cinch to put the dia- Andrea says the dual cans offer greater pers on and take them off, but also allow for a convenience (e.g., one can for home, the perfect fit, no matter the baby’s actions, body shape other for day care or babysitter). And they or hunger level. (Full tummies expand more.) can help keep the infant formula fresher Costco sells all cases of Step 3 (184 per case), than a single large container.

Step 4 (160 per case) and Step 5 (140 per case) dia- This new twin-pack retails for $19.99. pers for $29.99. The Kirkland Signature savings over National brands sell for more than $28 per other premium diapers can be as much as 21 per- 38-ounce can. cent. And, of course, satisfaction is guaranteed. The bottom line on Costco’s private-label, made-in-the-USA baby products couldn’t be simpler: Also at Costco: baby wipes Kirkland Signature offers quality and value plus one Baby wipes go hand in hand with diapers. immeasurable attribute—caring.Hugs to all. C Also for baby: Kirkland