Pampers Moms Pissed, Want Answers

May 11th, 2010. By AbiK

Skip the puns here—there’s none intended. Moms are pissed, and rightfully so. Tried and true diaper brand Pampers has come out with a “new and improved” diaper–this time with “Dry Max” technology. It’s in their Swaddlers and Cruisers sizes…those for newborns and those starting to “cruise”.

Only problem is this Dry Max seems to generate Diaper Rash Max. And apparently not the “oh, throw some White’s A&D or Butt Paste on it and give it a couple of days” type.

There are stories circulating on the web right now…Facebook, Mommy Forums…about “burning” rashes. And “bleeding”. And “welts”. You’re not going to be putting Butt Paste on that—that’s when it becomes time for a trip to the pediatrician. And, I know I don’t have to tell any moms it also means diaper changes that are akin to a living hell and some (more) sleepless nights.

Of course, there’s seemingly little coming out of the Pampers (P&G) camp on the issue. Though some folks on Facebook—hard to say whether they’re plants which is always the risk with social media—are saying that P&G is responding if you email them; you get “paperwork” to fill out. I haven’t emailed or called—yet. You can also fill out a complaint with the CPSC if you’d like.

If you go to the Pampers site, however—home to tug-at-the-heartstrings promotional headlines like, “Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers with Dry Max, Caring for the world the way a mom would”—there’s no mention that anything may be out of sorts. Ditto the P&G site. They’ve got a PR mess on their hands and where’s the statement?

Meanwhile, you’re sitting at home trying to blow on your infant’s bottom as you change her just to try to ease her agony. You know something’s out of sorts.

Mind you, the Pampers site is more of a community. Called Pampers Village. Remember Hillary’s “it takes a village?” If this is the village that’s opening its arms for my baby, no thanks. And you have to love the self-aggrandizement in the statement, “Caring for the world the way a mom would” —the WORLD!

I’m guessing that Kerri Hailey, of P&G’s R&D team who is quoted on the Pampers site as saying,

“As an integral part of the research team for the past five years, I was responsible for developing Dry Max, the brand’s biggest product innovation of the past decade. After working with consumers during the day, I would return home and use it on my own children at night. After all, if I didn’t feel comfortable using it on my own babies, how could we expect consumers to be? To say that I was swimming in diapers would be an understatement.

The fruits of our labor? A diaper that’s great for your baby and one step better for the environment. They’re our driest and thinnest diapers ever-2X drier,¹ in fact-with a flexible fit and thinner core than before. Our thinnest diapers are also perfect for moms on-the-go. Finally, an outstanding diaper that’s a great value and effective, but whose byproduct doesn’t weigh as heavy on the conscience!”

must know by now that there are apparently some issues with Dry Max—no?

I GUARANTEE you that there isn’t one mom out there who’s worrying about landfills as her baby’s wailing. Maybe before, maybe after. But trust me, it ain’t happening during. Point being, the baby and the baby’s bottom come first. Then the environment. And don’t talk to me unless you’ve been there.

My guess is that we’ll all be hearing from P&G before the week’s out. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some boxes of Pampers being yanked from store shelves either. C’mon Pampers, do the right thing. After all, when over 6,000 moms join the rallying cry against Dry Max on Facebook—seemingly overnight—that ought to tell you something. 

Tags: Cruisers, Diaper Rash, Diapers, P&G, Pampers, Procter & Gamble, Swaddlers

This was posted on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 at 1:24 pm and is filed under Defective Products . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.