Moisture responsive members are disposed outboard of the absorbent core within disposable absorbent articles. The moisture responsive members expand in response to moisture from the wearer of the absorbent article thereby creating a seal between the moisture responsive member and the wearer of the absorbent article. The moisture responsive members can be disposed along the longitudinal sides of the disposable absorbent article or along the waist edges, both front and rear, of the disposable absorbent article.