Cloth Diapers 103: Bumgenius Organic All in One

Bumgenius diapers are like the Lexus of cloth diapers. They are snazzy, dependable and a bit expensive...but really i do love these diapers. They are so cute even the babies don't even need pants!


Although Bumgenius makes lots of different types of cloth diapers, we use their newest style, the Organic 3.0 One Size All-in-One Diaper . Bumgenius diapers are brightly colored and very well-made. Here's a pic of 2 of our diapers in Ribbit and Moonbeam.





All-in-One Diapers (AIO) are diapers that have both the absorbent diaper part and the waterproof cover sown together--you only need this one piece, it's by far the easiest cloth diaper system available. Once the diaper is dirty, just like with a sposie, you take the whole thing off and start over with a new diaper.





A one size diaper (OS) is a diaper that is intended to be used for your child's entire diapering years--birth to potty training. There is a weight range for which the diaper should fit: Bumgenius claims their diapers should fit babies from 7-35 lbs. From my experience and from what i have read, most other cloth diapering moms agree that bumgenius diapers do not fit babies very well until they are about 10lbs. This is really a common issue with most OS diapers. The way a OS diaper works is that there are 3 different rise settings on the diaper. The rise snaps are the lowest 3 set of snaps on the diaper. The first picture shows the diaper open to its largest setting ..the 2nd pic shows how to adjust the diaper to its smallest setting--this is the setting we are currently on with no sign of moving up any time soon.


Bumgenius diapers come with 2 types of closures, Aplix (velcro) or Snaps. Depending on who you talk to you will get a different opinion on which closure is best. In general, you can get a more customized fit with Aplix and the diaper change may be a bit quicker and/or easier for big hands (like a Daddy's), but snaps are more durable in the wash and are harder for kids to take off when they reach the age to want to do so. We have not experienced any fit problems so far with the snaps and i feel like because of the durability of the snaps--i am getting more for my money.



The material in the inside of this diaper is made from an ultra-absorbent organic cotton. I love buying organic cotton products whenever i can--so this is a BIG plus for this diaper. If you don't know much about organic cotton, it is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production symptoms replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Also organic cotton is very absorbent and doesn't retain some of the smells that other cloth diaper fabrics seem to have and lets face it...what more do you want from a diaper than something that is absorbent and not smelly?



The only real qualm that I have found with this diaper is that if you are exclusively breast feeding your child, the poo may not always be contained--at least in the beginning. We really haven't had too many problems with blowouts from Holden, but because of Nora's skinny legs, it's hard to get a tight fit around her thighs and therefore blow-outs tend to happen. Other types of diapers prevent these types of leaks by sewing in leg gussets--a pic of another diaper brands gussets are shown to the right. If Bumgenius had this one feature--it would be the BEST diaper available...that's just my opinion of course. Just now since Nora has hit around 12 lbs am i noticing a drop off in the leaks with her poo and i believe by the time they both get a bit bigger and they start eating solids, therefore resulting in more solid poops, there will be no more leaks.


There are however no blowouts from the top of the diaper. I used to HATE this problem with Nora, because it would run all up her back and get all over clothes. Bumgenius has a wonderful elastic feature at the top back of the diaper to prevent this problem from happening--and i love it!

The last thing i would like to talk about with these diapers are the laundering. I do plan to later devote a whole blog to cloth diaper laundering...that seems to be so many people's main concern with cloth. But for now, what's important to know is that as with all organic cotton diapers, they must be prepped in the beginning to get all the naturals oils off of the fabric in order for this to be absorbent. This process does take a little bit of time, but the more washes you do with your organic diapers the more absorbent they will become..so just stick with it! Also, as is a common problem with AIO diapers, they take a longer amount of time to dry. Usually I just hang them up on a drying rack and they are dry by the next day. They do get a little stiff this way, but if you just stretch the cotton out a little bit with your hands it will soften right up.


So that's it for Bumgenius...I would definitely recommend trying some of these diapers out. They are great to have around for babysitters, resistant cloth diapering dads, or for when you are running errand. They are so easy anyone can do it!


Here's a pic of Holden and his puppy showing off their cute Bumgenius bums!

Cloth Diapers 102: gDiapers

Oh gDiapers---the diaper i really WANT to love... but i just CAN'T

There are some really great things about these diapers, i'll go ahead and get them out of the way.

1. It's a great concept--the first well-known "hybrid" diaper. (this means that you can use it as both a disposable diaper when out and about, and then use it as a cloth diaper when you are home.)

2. Unlike some cloth diaper choices, g diapers are becoming easier to find. Places like Walmart and BabiesRUs are now carrying them.

3. They are oh so cute. They come in a multitude of great colors, some prints and even some ruffle butts for girls.

4. gDipes are super trim--out of all cloth diapers, i think they fit the most like disposables.

So all of this sounds great i know, i just can't seem to get the gdiaper system to work for us.

This is how it works.

There is a cloth diaper cover. This is the outer part that can come in many different colors and prints. It has velcro closures similar to disposables, the only difference is that they fasten to the back instead of the front.

Inside the cover there are 4 snaps to which you attach a small plastic liner..this liner is the most important part of the diaper, because it is waterproof and is what prevents leaks.

Inside the liner you can either stuff it with a cloth insert or a disposable insert.

-gCloth inserts are made of hemp, which is known for its super absorbency and then topped with a microfleece layer so that the baby will feel dry on their bum.

-Disposable inserts are 100% biodegradable and you have 3 options to dispose of them--either 1. flush 2. compost 3. toss. They are also, chlorine-free, plastic-free, latex-free and perfume-free.

Here's my qualms.

1. There are quite a few more steps involved in the gDiaper system than other cloth diapering options. I had to be very organized and prepared when using these. Have all the parts available, clean and stuffed ahead of time so that i was scrambling around putting them together while a naked baby bum was making a mess all over the place!

2. The cover is cotton. Most cloth diaper covers are mad e of a waterproof material, like PUL so that in the even of a leak, there is an extra barrier between the mess and the baby (or YOU). These are just cotton, so when there is a mess, everything gets soiled!

3. The liners. They aren't all they are cracked up to be. Apparently they are only guaranteed to last a few months, and although they are cheap ($2) a liner, you can only get them on the website so you better think ahead and buy a bunch so as not to incur crazy shipping costs. Also, they can not put in the dryer, so you have to fish them out of the laundry after they are done being washed. But worst of all, if they get poop on them, which inevitably they will--because they are after all a DIAPER--any mother would feel the need to clean it off--at least I did. BUT you CAN NOT pull at the elastic too hard and stretch it out because the "seal can be broken" and the diaper will no longer be effective...ie--IT WILL LEAK.

And this is wherein my problems lie. These diapers worked well for about 2 weeks--but after some use and cleaning i started noticing more and more leaks. So i did a LOT of reading and research trying to figure out what i was doing wrong. I could never come up with any clear answers. My guess is i messed up the liners by cleaning out the poop, but i absolutely can't apologize for trying to get the poop off.

Thing is, maybe if i had stuck with the diaper i could have figured it out. But i have twins, there's a lot going on in my house ALL THE TIME. I'm not looking to make things more difficult and after a week of having to change both the diaper and the clothes every time a baby pooped or peed, i just decided to cut my losses with this diaper and stick with what works.

Admittedly, i feel a little defeated by this diaper. But, there are plenty more diapers that have been great for us, gDiapers just obviously isn't the system for us.

Cloth Diapers 101: Prefold Diapering

When people first think of cloth diapering, prefolds are what come to mind. They are the oldest type of diaper used...these ARE what our mothers and their mothers and so on used...but i would like to bring up the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!


Prefolds are the rectangular cloth diapers that have three sections, the thickest part being in the middle, for maximum absorbency. With a prefold, it is necessary to use a waterproof cover. Rubber pants have been the go-to cover for years, and i do have some of those because they are so cheap and good to have around. But now, there are LOTS of colorful and printed covers out there that are both cute and very effective at holding in the poop! My favorite covers right now are Thirsties Duo Wraps which have a wonderful leg gusset that doesn't let anything pass through! I am also "eyeing" the blueberry covers because of how cute the prints are, but i don't have any yet!


When changing your baby's dirty diaper it is necessary to use a clean new prefold with each change but a cover can last quite a while. We only change a cover if it has been used all day and of course if it has poo on it. I've had days where i have used the same cover all day and then i've had days where a baby will go through 3 or 4. It's always good to have at least 6 covers per baby.


For some reason prefolds are "scary" to most new moms, but after reading about them and watching how-to videos on you tube, i had to give it a try--and in all honesty, at this point in my babies lives, prefold diapers are my favorite diapering system for every-day use!



Here's a few great things about prefolds to know...

1. They are CHEAP--if you are looking to save money, prefolds are the way to go. For about a 1-2 dollars per diaper you are making a great investment. 24-36 diapers per baby can get you a LONG way. Then you just need a few waterproof covers and you are set!

2. If you are not willing to do your own diaper laundry, prefolds are the way to go. There are diaper services out there that will pick up your dirty diaper laundry, wash them, fold them and then deliver them all nice and clean to your door. All diaper services that i know of ONLY wash prefold diapers--not the fancy kinds.

3. NO MORE PINS! Diaper pins are a thing of the past! Snappis are the new fastening system--and they make the whole process "oh so easy". Snappi's are basically a T-shaped fastener with "teeth" or grippers on each end that grab onto the fabric and hold the diaper in place. Ingenious really, if you ask me--and i have had zero malfunctions with them!

4. BURP CLOTHS--prefolds double as our burp cloths...and i think they are the best burp cloth available. The prefolds are so absorbent, easy to wash and cheap it makes the perfect burp cloth! But just a suggestion, if you decide to go this route, buy extras so you don't run out of diapers!

5. BEST CHOICE FOR EBF BABIES--EBF is "exclusively breast-fed". And i guess this is a matter of opinion, but if you have had any experience with breastfed newborns, you know the poo is very runny. Pair a prefold diaper with a great cover....like a Thirsties Duo Wrap, and you have a bullet-proof system for preventing the dreaded "blowout".

The one down-side i found with prefolds was how SOAKED they can get. The first day i used the diapers on Holden he developed a rash. I was really bummed because i had read so much about how cloth diapers help prevent diaper rashes. After some late night research--because i was determined to fix this problem immediately, i found that some babies with really sensitive skin develop rashes from the wet material constantly touching their bums. The solution? --They make very inexpensive fleece liners that you can lay on top of the diaper that repels away the moisture from the skin so that the baby doesn't get wet. I use these liners with both babies although i have never noticed a problem with Nora--but i didn't want to chance it.

I will say that many people do not find this to be a problem, as long as their baby is not getting a rash, moms say that these diapers help their baby know when they are wet and aid in faster potty training. I personally don't know if this is true since i am not there yet...but fleece liners solved my problem and for now i am prefold diaper fan!



I think the secret to successfully using prefolds is just to be patient when learning...it takes a few weeks to get the hang of this. You may have to try out a few different folds to find what works for you and your baby--and believe me everyone has there own way to fold a diaper! Squirming babies can be a bit of a challenge when learning, but before long you will get the hang of it and putting on a prefold can be as easy as putting on a disposable!

Here's Holden modeling his first-ever prefold diaper. Now that he has grown they fit even more naturally and don't hang all the way to his knees...He was just a little guy here, at about 6 1/2
lbs!

prefold diaper fastened with a "snappi"

Thirsties cover over the diaper---easy to use velcro!

"you have twins and you use cloth diapers...what??"

Okay, so I hear this A LOT. and i'd like to say upfront this has nothing to do with me trying to be some kind of super mom --i just have a genuine interest in cloth diapers and i really support what they are all about.

Do i judge all disposable ("sposies") diaper using families out there?? heck no. But do i think more families should at least consider alternatives to sposies? Definitely. But really, each family has to do what is right for them--that's what is most important. Raising a baby is difficult enough and there is no need to put added stress on yourself. I am here to say though that using cloth may not be as complicated or "gross" as you may think...they have come a LONG way since the cloth diapers our mothers and grandmothers were using on us!

When i first was researching cloth i began to weigh the benefits of them vs. sposies.

1. There is a definite cost savings. Depending on the type of diaper you use, a family can spend on average $1600-$2000 on sposies per child...times two or three kids...that's a lot of money! Especially when you can reuse your cloth diapers for each child. The more kids you have the more savings you will have. The cost of cloth varies greatly and it all depends on the type of diapers you decide to use. So far on both babies i have spent close to $650 and i have a variety of different kinds. Most of my diapers are one size and will fit up until they are potty trained.

2. Cloth is an environmentally friendly choice! In almost every other aspect of our lives there is so much emphasis on *Recycle , Reuse, and Reduce*--why not put this into practice with your diapers? I could include a very long list of reasons why cloth is better for the environment, but i won't. I will however lead you to this website so you can check out the statistics yourself.
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php I would like to leave you with one stat--The average child will use over 7000 diapers -- each diaper takes an estimated 300-500 years to decompose. That's a LOT of waste. It's something to think about.

I would also like to acknowledge the argument that the use of water and energy to clean cloth is equal to the negative impact that disposables create. I'm not discounting the facts, but I found this article interesting http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/49/1/Reusable-cloth-vs-disposable-diapers.html and i like this quote "Disposable diapers will most always likely be very unfriendly to the planet, but there are opportunities for minimizing the impact of reusable cloth diaper usage."

3. they are BETTER for you babies SKIN! --Between all the materials and chemicals used to make a disposable diaper there are studies that show babies are more likely to get diaper rash, have other skin irritations, have asthma-like symptoms and have infertility issues when they are grown. Also---cloth is 100% more comfortable and soft on your babies bum. Any woman out there would have to admit that wearing a maxi pad is terribly uncomfortable...well its really no different for your baby, except they have to wear one 24-7 for 2 years straight..at least!

and here are some --not exactly scientific reasons--but still good reasons for cloth!

4. no late night runs for diapers...just throw them in the wash..you'll never run out!

5. they will facilitate in faster potty training because a cloth diapered baby can tell when they are wet, unlike disposables.

6. Modern cloth diapers can be so easy to use that diaper changes aren't any more complicated once you get the hang of it.

7. I personally think sposies STINK...i can smell that a baby in disppsables has urinated the minute i get near them...and its even worse with poop. Cloth does NOT smell the same--i rarely smell anything at all!

8. AND....they are SO SUPER CUTE! I jut love seeing my babies colorful fluffy bottoms!

I have a friend who is now considering the use of cloth diapers and the first thing she said to me was how much information there is to sort through...and she is SO RIGHT. Admittedly though with my difficult pregnancy, i had plenty of time to sit on the couch to do a thorough research. I thought instead of just giving her all of my advice via the phone, i would post it on the blog so maybe others would also consider their options as well. So over the next few months i will be posting other cloth blogs with my opinions of diapers i have liked, ones i don't, and laundering tips--i am still learning new things every day, so why not share it with all of you?