BumGenius, Ecobaby Absorb-It-All Organic and Thirsties Diaper Covers

Cloth diapers are fast becoming a popular item for shower gifts, bringing home baby gifts, and new mommy gifts. The variety of cloth diapers that are manufactured and sold on the internet can be overwhelming. Over the last few months, I have developed some favorite brands and styles of cloth diapers. For those of you shopping for cloth diapers for the first time, this review is designed to take some of the trial and error out of cloth diaper shopping.

Cloth diapers come in a variety of styles. One of the most economical styles is a diaper service quality (dsq) prefold with a simple waterproof cover. Snappies or pins are used to hold the diaper together. Some parents will even forego pins in favor of a nice, tight cover.

One of my favorite covers so far is a Thirsties cover. Thirsties diaper covers cost just over $11.00 each and come in a huge variety of colors. They are sized to fit infants extra small, small, medium, and large, so plan on going through a number of covers as your baby grows. However, a Thirsties diaper cover can be used a few times before it needs to be washed, so you can buy fewer covers than diapers.

The Thirsties diaper covers are easy to use. They fit right over a prefold or fitted diaper and fasten in the front with Aplix Velcro for a custom fit. Thirsties diaper covers are also easy to clean, and so far mine have held up really well to hot washes and the clothes drier. I have also hung my Thirties covers to dry, and find that they dry very quickly. Overall, Thirties covers are user-friendly and relatively cost effective.

I use my Thirsties covers with an Ecobaby Absorb-It-All organic cotton diaper. The Ecobaby Absorb-It-All diaper costs about $16.00. Like Thirsties diaper covers, the Ecobaby Absorb-It-All diaper comes in sizes (infant and toddler), so you may have to buy more than one size as your baby grows. These diapers are made of 100% organic cotton. The outside is dyed, but the inside is left natural so no dyes touch baby's skin. This is a fitted diaper that fastens with snaps around baby's waste and legs. Since this is a fitted diaper, it requires a cover.

When I bought my Ecobaby Absorb-It-All, I thought it was the softest thing I have ever put on my baby. After some use, including drying in a clothes drier, my Ecobaby has gotten a little stiff and less soft, but it is still as absorbent as the first day I used it on my baby. I find that this diaper takes a very long time to dry, which can be inconvenient if I am in a hurry.

In addition to my fitted diapers and covers, I also like my Bumgenius 3.0. The Bumgenius 3.0 is a pocket diaper that is easy to use, easy to wash, and very comfortable. They cost about $18.00, and come with a newborn insert and a regular insert. In theory, the Bumgenius 3.0 may be the only diaper you ever have to buy because it is designed to fit newborns, infants and toddlers. It has a fold-down front with snaps to adjust the rise and Aplix Velcro closures to adjust the waste.

To use the Bumgenius 3.0, you select the size of insert you want and stuff it into the pocket between the soft inner layer and the waterproof outer layer. The inserts can even be doubled to increase absorption during naptime or overnight.

After using my Bumgenius 3.0 several times and washing it, the diaper is in good condition and still works well. This is a soft diaper that has not leaked, and it seems to be very comfortable for my son. While this diaper is somewhat expensive, the cost can be justified since this is the only size diaper that your baby should ever need. Further, since this diaper works much like a disposable diaper it is babysitter and grandparent friendly. My only complaint is that fitting the insert in properly can be a hassle, and some parents may find removing a sopping wet insert to be a little messy.

Sources:

Bumgenius.com, "Elegant Simplicity," http://www.bumgenius.com/.

RG Natural Babies, "Organic Cotton Absorb-It-Alls," http://www.rgnaturalbabies.com/ecobaby-organic-absorbitall-fitted-diaper.html.

ThirstiesBaby.com, "Thirsties Diaper Covers," http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/covers.htm.