Now that Cora is potty trained and we've sold the last of her diaper stash, I thought I'd write ONE LAST POST about cloth diapering. This is simply a summary of which diaper brands and styles we loved and which ones we disliked (and why). No two
babies are created equally though, so some brands work better for chunky
thighs, skinny legs, Buddha bellies, heavy wetters, etc. These are the ones that worked best for us. If you're planning to cloth diaper, you'll likely have to go through your own trial and error to see what works for you and your family, but hopefully this list can help get you started! And no, you don't need all-in-ones AND pockets AND hybrids AND fitteds AND prefolds AND covers. You can mix it up, or stick with all the same. Whatever makes you happy.
Our FAVORITE cloth diapers by style:
All-in-Ones: bumGenius Elemental and bumGenius Freetime
(There's a reason bumGenius is becoming a household name - their diapers are truly excellent!)
Other all-in-ones we tried included the bumGenius One-Size (which we found to hold "stink" - these were discontinued a while back) and a few WAHM (work at home mom) diapers (which we thought were awesome at home, but too bulky to leave the house in with kids fully dressed).
Pockets: bumGenius 4.0 and Rumparooz G2
Rumparooz runs a little smaller than the bumGenius one-size, but the inner gussets are amazing at catching messes. The inside lining is softer than bumGenius too, BUT, they stained easier...
Doopsy was another good and INEXPENSIVE brand (just stay away from their SD version with the Super Doopsy insert because it was a pain to stuff, and stick with the R version - also note that this brand runs smaller than bumGenius as well), Blueberry was pretty good too (super cute prints, but their back flap was wide and open, so the insert would slip around), Thirsties Duo Diaper stained REALLY easily and had annoying inserts that came out the front or back (making for a bulky/awkward fit), and FuzziBunz were just hit-or-miss (we only owned the sized diapers, not the one-size, and we had no problem with ours, but heard that the one-size diapers had issues with delaminating and leakage).
Hybrids: FLIP
(This is another branch off CottonBabies, the makers of bumGenius)
We used the Organic and Stay-Dry inserts and loved them both, and their disposable inserts were the cheapest (while still working well) on the market.
We also used gDiaper (covers and inserts were great, but FLIPs were cheaper, and gDiapers only came in velcro - we've always preferred snaps, except for newborns), GroVia (they were called GroBaby back when we tried them and we disliked the mesh lining and thought they were too bulky overall), and Best Bottoms (the inside was a very thick PUL fabric that felt sticky against the skin, and they didn't fit James well at all).
Rumparooz runs a little smaller than the bumGenius one-size, but the inner gussets are amazing at catching messes. The inside lining is softer than bumGenius too, BUT, they stained easier...
Doopsy was another good and INEXPENSIVE brand (just stay away from their SD version with the Super Doopsy insert because it was a pain to stuff, and stick with the R version - also note that this brand runs smaller than bumGenius as well), Blueberry was pretty good too (super cute prints, but their back flap was wide and open, so the insert would slip around), Thirsties Duo Diaper stained REALLY easily and had annoying inserts that came out the front or back (making for a bulky/awkward fit), and FuzziBunz were just hit-or-miss (we only owned the sized diapers, not the one-size, and we had no problem with ours, but heard that the one-size diapers had issues with delaminating and leakage).
Hybrids: FLIP
(This is another branch off CottonBabies, the makers of bumGenius)
We used the Organic and Stay-Dry inserts and loved them both, and their disposable inserts were the cheapest (while still working well) on the market.
We also used gDiaper (covers and inserts were great, but FLIPs were cheaper, and gDiapers only came in velcro - we've always preferred snaps, except for newborns), GroVia (they were called GroBaby back when we tried them and we disliked the mesh lining and thought they were too bulky overall), and Best Bottoms (the inside was a very thick PUL fabric that felt sticky against the skin, and they didn't fit James well at all).
Fitteds: WAHM diapers hold the market here!
(check ETSY and HyenaCart)
My favorites had inserts made with velour as the top layer. We liked them with snaps and without (using Snappi's to secure the wings). Most WAHM shops make all-in-ones as well as fitteds, and while we loved the WAHM all-in-ones at home, they were generally too bulky or risked compression leaking when worn out of the house. Besides, they were too cute to cover up with clothes anyway, so we usually just used our prettiest diapers at home.We loved Sassy Britches, Bebe Britches, Nifty Nappy, Primm-N-Proper Baby, Bagshot Row Bamboo, Doodle Dype, and Dolce Baby.
We actually never had issues with any WAHM diapers not working as expected (WAHMs tend to take a lot of pride in their work, so their products are generally really well made), so the only WAHM diapers I'd advise you to stay away from are those with poor customer reviews (usually due to shipping time or other admin-type issues, not with the diapers themselves) or ridiculously high prices - they aren't worth it. After all, even with super cute fabric, it's STILL just a diaper, and it's STILL going to get poop in it. In fact, there are (at least) two WAHM brands that have turned into companies: Goodmama (seriously, these are considered collectibles - and who the heck pays upwards of $100 for a USED diaper?! I've seen them sell on the swap for that much and more...) and Sustainable Babyish (great diapers, but we eventually no longer liked the inserts because they crinkled in the wash, which annoyed us for folding/stuffing, and sometimes left indentations on the kiddos legs). We also had issues with ZunyBaby (the Elmo diaper) because it was really oversized, but I suspect if we'd known that and ordered down, we'd have been fine.
Prefolds: Green Mountain Diapers
If you ask around on any diaper forum "Who makes the best prefolds?", you're going to hear about Green Mountain Diapers. We went with the organic and they were SO SOFT and super absorbent. I never even considered trying a different brand, although some of our FLIPs were purchased with organic inserts, which looked and folded like a prefold, and we liked them a lot too (they stained easier than the GMD prefolds though).
Soakers: again, WAHM is the way to go
(also from ETSY and HyenaCart)
Soakers are a cheap-yet-adorable diaper cover made of double-layered polar fleece (or wool, which tends to be very expensive and addictive) to keep fitted diapers or prefolds/flats from leaking. They also come in "longies" (AKA pants) or "shorties" (shorts) or "skirties" (yup, you guessed it - skirts) or even capris. These are generally used overnight, or during the day if you're not leaving the house (because you can get compression leaks, and they can be really bulky all layered up with a diaper AND a thick cover). They can be SO CUTE!
Newborns: prefolds and fitteds with covers
Our recommendation for those wanting to cloth diaper a newborn (for the first few months) is to keep it simple and cheap. Get yourself 18 prefolds (from GMD!) for daytime use, 4-6 fitteds for overnight (we liked the Thirties Fab Fitted XS and Kissaluvs size 0 best), and 4-6 covers (we liked the Thirsties Duo Wrap size 1 best, with velcro, to get the tightest fit on bitty babies).
We didn't have any luck with the newborn-sized All-in-Ones that we tried (the Rumparooz Lil' Joey's leaked BADLY), and you don't NEED them, but if you want a few for easier trips out of the house or for photo ops, then bumGenius now makes a newborn AIO that we hear is awesome.
Swim Diapers: ImseVimse and iPlay
Swim diapers are better if they DON'T have any layer of absorbent fabric inside, because who wants a lap full of pool water (and probably urine) when they pick up baby? Just stick with a swim diaper that has 2-3 layers of NON-ABSORBENT fabric with tight elastic leg casings to keep poop well contained (should an accident occur). And personally, we prefer the ones with snaps down one side (both ImseVimse and iPlay make versions with snaps) because if you DO have to deal with an accident, it's a lot easier to do if you can unsnap one side of the diaper.
(check ETSY and HyenaCart)
My favorites had inserts made with velour as the top layer. We liked them with snaps and without (using Snappi's to secure the wings). Most WAHM shops make all-in-ones as well as fitteds, and while we loved the WAHM all-in-ones at home, they were generally too bulky or risked compression leaking when worn out of the house. Besides, they were too cute to cover up with clothes anyway, so we usually just used our prettiest diapers at home.We loved Sassy Britches, Bebe Britches, Nifty Nappy, Primm-N-Proper Baby, Bagshot Row Bamboo, Doodle Dype, and Dolce Baby.
We actually never had issues with any WAHM diapers not working as expected (WAHMs tend to take a lot of pride in their work, so their products are generally really well made), so the only WAHM diapers I'd advise you to stay away from are those with poor customer reviews (usually due to shipping time or other admin-type issues, not with the diapers themselves) or ridiculously high prices - they aren't worth it. After all, even with super cute fabric, it's STILL just a diaper, and it's STILL going to get poop in it. In fact, there are (at least) two WAHM brands that have turned into companies: Goodmama (seriously, these are considered collectibles - and who the heck pays upwards of $100 for a USED diaper?! I've seen them sell on the swap for that much and more...) and Sustainable Babyish (great diapers, but we eventually no longer liked the inserts because they crinkled in the wash, which annoyed us for folding/stuffing, and sometimes left indentations on the kiddos legs). We also had issues with ZunyBaby (the Elmo diaper) because it was really oversized, but I suspect if we'd known that and ordered down, we'd have been fine.
Prefolds: Green Mountain Diapers
If you ask around on any diaper forum "Who makes the best prefolds?", you're going to hear about Green Mountain Diapers. We went with the organic and they were SO SOFT and super absorbent. I never even considered trying a different brand, although some of our FLIPs were purchased with organic inserts, which looked and folded like a prefold, and we liked them a lot too (they stained easier than the GMD prefolds though).
Soakers: again, WAHM is the way to go
(also from ETSY and HyenaCart)
Soakers are a cheap-yet-adorable diaper cover made of double-layered polar fleece (or wool, which tends to be very expensive and addictive) to keep fitted diapers or prefolds/flats from leaking. They also come in "longies" (AKA pants) or "shorties" (shorts) or "skirties" (yup, you guessed it - skirts) or even capris. These are generally used overnight, or during the day if you're not leaving the house (because you can get compression leaks, and they can be really bulky all layered up with a diaper AND a thick cover). They can be SO CUTE!
Newborns: prefolds and fitteds with covers
Our recommendation for those wanting to cloth diaper a newborn (for the first few months) is to keep it simple and cheap. Get yourself 18 prefolds (from GMD!) for daytime use, 4-6 fitteds for overnight (we liked the Thirties Fab Fitted XS and Kissaluvs size 0 best), and 4-6 covers (we liked the Thirsties Duo Wrap size 1 best, with velcro, to get the tightest fit on bitty babies).
We didn't have any luck with the newborn-sized All-in-Ones that we tried (the Rumparooz Lil' Joey's leaked BADLY), and you don't NEED them, but if you want a few for easier trips out of the house or for photo ops, then bumGenius now makes a newborn AIO that we hear is awesome.
Swim Diapers: ImseVimse and iPlay
Swim diapers are better if they DON'T have any layer of absorbent fabric inside, because who wants a lap full of pool water (and probably urine) when they pick up baby? Just stick with a swim diaper that has 2-3 layers of NON-ABSORBENT fabric with tight elastic leg casings to keep poop well contained (should an accident occur). And personally, we prefer the ones with snaps down one side (both ImseVimse and iPlay make versions with snaps) because if you DO have to deal with an accident, it's a lot easier to do if you can unsnap one side of the diaper.
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