So, after 3 months of cloth diapering, I am officially addicted. I have, however, changed my system a little.
Originally, I was using all Pocket Diapers, mostly BumGenius 3.os. These are super popular, because they are as easy to use, and almost as trim and absorbent as disposables. They are also one size, adjustable from 7-35lbs. I loved them, but after a while got sick of tired of stuffing them. See they are diapers that get stuffed with an absorbent insert, and stuffing them all when I was done washing them all got tired fast.
So, I added a bunch of All In One (AIO)s to the mix, since I already had a few, and liked them. These are basically like disposables. They are one piece. No cover, no stuffing. One diaper you out on, take off, and throw in the laundry. They take longer to dry and tend to be a bit bulkier than pockets, but are easy to use and easy to take care of. They are also pretty expensive.
Before I knew it, I was trying out fitted diapers, because they seem to be popular on online diapering communities, and are really cute, and affordable. These are diapers with no waterproof cover, and a lot of absorbency. You can use them on their own for a short period of time, or longer with a cover. I use mostly fleece covers.
So now, my system:
At home, I use mostly fitteds with fleece covers. They let Charlotte’s skin breathe, and are super cute. Too bulky to wear comfortably under clothes, so I wear them with a t-shirt and baby-legs.
When we go out, I use mostly AIOs. They are easy to use and carry, trim enough under clothes, and can go a few hours before being changed.
At night, I still use the pockets. They work well at night, and I don’t want to mess with nights, so until they stop being enough, I am sticking with them.
Now, for the reviews. A while ago, I got obsessed with One Size AIOs. The best of both worlds-no stuffing, and not sizing up (needing to buy all new dipes when your baby moves to the next size). Here are reviews of the the 4 OS AIOs I use most:
Mommy’s Touch with Aplix:
These are my faves! They are quite nice fitting with elastics at the legs and the back. It is easy to adjust them by just folding down or not folding down the front, and there is crossover aplix (like velcro) for a nice snug fit. They are quite trim. They have a soft fleece lining as well as a sewn in flap type fleece soaker. The fleece is soft and absorbent. They come with a small snap in doubler that can go at the back or front for girls or boys. I don’t use these often since these are daytime diapers, and they do make the diaper quite a bit bulkier. I think that I may use them more when Charlotte is older though, if she is a heavier wetter, as they wont seem as bulky on a bigger baby. I have found these to wash well with no stain or stink issues. Bonus points for cute patterns. The dry very fast in the drier, and overnight if line dried indoors.
The only problem with these is the laundry tabs, which don’t stick well. I do the trick of twisting one tab and sticking them to each other, and that works well.
Also, they did not fit Charlotte well until she was about 10 lbs. Before that, the thighs were too loose and they were way too bulky. I see them fitting to potty time though.
DryLine Bamboo baby
I love these because they are are so soft. The bamboo is very soft and absorbent, and I have never had leak or blow out issues. They wash well and I have had no stain or stink problems. They are a good fit with elastic at the thighs and the back. They have a sewn in flap type soaker, and that’s it. I am sure you could add some sort of doubler over or under it if you wanted to. the laundry tabs usually work on these, and the velcro is nice and strong.
The problem is that they are very small. At about 14lbs and 3 months, Char is already on the largest setting …and the aplix fasteners are nowhere close to touching at her tummy. I imagine they would be great for newborns , but am quite sure they will not fit until anywhere near potty training. There are a few good inches left though.
Also, boring colours. Light green, light yellow, light blue and white. Blah.
Urban Fluff OS AIOs
These are so cute-great colours. Mine are chocolate brown PUL with pink fleece lining and snap in soaker. A long fleece soaker that you fold in half so it is 2 layers, and is very absorbent and soft. They are a great fitting dipe-they fit my DD from about 8 weeks on, and are still on the smallest sizing with the tabs crossed over, so they have a lot of room left . No stink or stain problems.The Aplix is not great and needs to be twisted than secured.
The problem is that the lining rolls out at the thighs and bum, which is nice and soft and looks cute, but can lead to a bit of wicking if I am not careful to change often, so I mostly use them at home with Baby-legs.
Also, I wish the soaker was sewn in instead of snap in. The website says it is so you can change the soaker and re-use the diaper,but I have never found the cover to stay dry enough to do that. I’d have to change Charway more than I am willing (I normally change every 2-3 hours, and whenever I am aware of poo) to in order to do that, so I’d rather it be sewn in so I would not have to re-attach them when sorting the laundry. Sometimes they stay snapped, but not always.
Bum Genius One Size Organic
I love the fit, the sizing and the trimness. I do find the soaker a bit bulky on the smaller settings, since you cannot fold it or anything, it just kinda bunches-and is a stiff fabric.. This does not seem to bother Charlotte at all though. I have heard these take forever to dry, but I do not find they take very long to dry really. Longer than the others since they all have the flap soakers, but they do dry in a full dryer cycle for me.
Brandy said,
April 15, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
that’s awesome that you are so committed to cloth diapering. And she’s looks so flippin cute in them!
Leia said,
April 15, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
You know I loved reading that!! :) Do you plan on selling your diapers when Charlotte is grown? They are all just too cute, I wish I had a husband that understood laundry, so I could still be using mine :( Maybe someday!
The Blogger said,
April 15, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
Thanx B & L!
I already have sold a whole bunch of my BGs to buy AIOs and Fitteds Leia…and I buy (or swap) used now…so it is no longer as pricey and endeavor as it seemed at first. I do plan to sell the whole stash when I am done as well…since I am SO done having kids LOL!
Leslie said,
April 17, 2009 @ 2:32 am
I’m really glad to hear your reviews since you’ve tried some brands that I haven’t. What fitteds are you using? I’ve used Motherease with Thirsties covers and they worked great. I was just into using different coloured pockets at the time. I have quite a few Blueberry AIO’s. They have cute colours & patterns, fit great but sometimes leak. Sometimes they are just fine, but it isn’t like I get a warning that a huge pee is coming! I usually put a small BG insert in them and then they are fine, but the point of an AIO is no stuffing.
The Blogger said,
April 17, 2009 @ 2:51 am
Leslie, I use Muttaquins, GoodMamas, NorthernBaby (from ETSY) and Piddle Poddles. I have one Bummis Whisper Wrap, but mostly use fleece wraps. I love fitteds…so soft and cute!!
I have a Bluebery pocket, it is so cute, boes does seems to wick and leak at times. I find the BGs the best for absorbancy and leak containment…but stuffing them gets so tired!
SoMo said,
April 17, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
Now, you have scared me. I have nothing but BG 3.0s. I am a little annoyed that I have to find some place to store the inserts, because I have stuff them for a newborn. I only have about 13 of them with a few AIOs and one Blueberry, not impressed with that one. I am going to wait until baby is here and try a few different brands here and there. I figure that 19 might be enough to get me through, I will just be doing laundry everynight. Nothing new there. Thanks for the reviews, though, I have another place to reference, which is always good.
The Blogger said,
April 17, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
somo, don’t be scared. plenty of moms use only BGs and love them! You just gotta play around and find what wprks for you. i started out with about 30 BGs. i sold some, swapped some, and my newer dipes are mostly used…so i have not lost any money by playing around with my system and customizing my stash some!
Leslie said,
April 19, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
I find my Blueberries work best with the combo Microfiber/hemp insert. I don’t have any issues with the pockets, just the AIO’s. Stuffing pockets is kind of boring but I prefer that to putting on a fitted, then a cover on a wiggly baby. Its no problem with a small baby, but I can’t imagine it with a toddler. I have a friend who is the most economical cd’er you’ve ever met! She bought 13 Motherease OS and ME covers in each size and 6 BG and that was it. She is not a shopper though. I could never limit my diaper shopping like that.
The Blogger said,
April 19, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
Wow, your friend is so disciplined. I have way too many dipes even though I sell them regularily.
Leslie, I don’t find fitteds and covers much trouble at all-I use covers in place of pants, so instead of taking off pants, changing diaper and putting pants back on, I do it with fitteds, so it is the same amount of work (less when I use snapping covers, put I prefer the pull on fleece ones!)! Most of the fitteds do have snaps though, so it is more that I worry about with an older baby since snaps take more time than velcro—but then people say snaps are better, because older babies can undo the velcro, so who knows? I’ll see when the time comes!
Anyways, have 12 one size AIO Mommyr’s Touch which will absolutely fit Charlotte until toilet learning-so if fitteds no longer work for me whern she is a bit older, I’ll just stick with those and the other OS AIOs (since I see all of them fitting except the Bamboo). I also have 6 Drybees AIOS in large I got on swap and am holding onto until Charlotte is big enough. By then, I probably wont mind the BGs (I kept about 10) anymore either, since she’ll likely be using less dipes in a day, and the nanny will be doing the laundry (if things go according to plan, and we get a nanny!)