I have been cloth diapering for three months. When I was expecting our first child (born November 5, 2009) I started researching cloth diapers. My main reason was the money factor – I wanted to save some! I remember the cloth diapers that my mom used on us kids. You know…the old flat prefolds with the plastic pants. That’s what I thought I would be using. Wow! Have cloth diapers evolved or what?!?

I started reading reviews on The Diaper Pin. I visited websites. I devoured every bit of CD information that I could find. In general, I felt that Fuzzi Bunz received the most positive feedback and reviews. So I started a registry through Diaper Junction for Fuzzi Bunz perfect size diapers. I did not take into account that my baby could be chubby or thin, and that it would affect the fit of my cloth diapers. (By the way, I love my Fuzzi Bunz!).

Once my baby arrived I started exploring the myriad of cloth diaper systems on the market. I bought some and tried them out. I experimented with the econobum, flip diapers, prefolds, cloth wipes, hemp diapers & inserts, and stay-dry liners for my prefolds.

When my daughter started sleeping through the night I quickly realized that I needed something different. Nothing I owned had enough absorbency to withstand 10-12 hours at night. That’s how I discovered bamboo diapers. Bamboo is plush, yet absorbent. Then I won the Kissaluvs Marvels One Size Fitted Cloth Diapers & cover in the FYSF (FEED YOUR STASH FRIDAY) cloth diaper giveaway, and it has been a life-saver.

I really like the soft bamboo interior of the Marvels diaper. I also tried a hemp diaper, but I disliked the roughness that was against my baby’s skin. I think that my bamboo diapers absorb just as much as the hemp diaper does, but with much less bulk and much more softness.

Kissaluvs Marvels are TRIM

When you consider that the Marvel will fit a baby from 10-40 pounds, it is really very trim. My three-month old weighs just over ten pounds, but I don’t feel like the Marvels diaper is huge or bulky on her. It is also very snug on the legs to prevent leaks.

I am a huge fan of snaps over aplix, and the overlapping snaps on the waist of this diaper are a big plus. At first they were confusing, but now I appreciate the numerous fit options that the snaps provide. I never run out of snaps and I can get the diaper snug & secure, even on my slender baby.

There is also an inner layer of snaps in a unique patent-pending design. It allows me to adjust the rise by simply folding it down. This feature would also make it easy to use when you have more than one baby in diapers. No need to adjust elastic or un-snap the rise for you different children…just fold over and go!

Kissaluvs Marvels Holds up to Night-Time Use

I found that the Marvels diaper held up extremely well to night-time use. The absorbency is amazing, and I haven’t had a leak yet! When using it overnight, I still use a stay-dry liner.

I feel that there are two downfalls to this diaper. First off is the price. At $24.95 each, there is no way I can afford a fleet of Marvels, even if I can use them through potty training and for multiple children. I am using it just as my overnight diaper right now, and I’m sticking with my prefolds and few Fuzzi Bunz during the day.

I also found that the Marvels diaper is hard to get dried. I think it is the bamboo. And because it is a fitted diaper and not a pocket diaper, the multiple layers are sewn together. I wash & dry it with my other diapers, but then I have to run another cycle to get my bamboo diapers completely dry. It’s kind of a waste of energy to run another cycle for just a few diapers.

Try it with the Marvels Diaper Cover!

I also really like the Kissaluvs Marvels Diaper Cover. Again, I like the overlapping snaps on the waist. The double leg gussets are a big plus – especially to prevent leaks and blow-outs. The rise is easily adjusted to accommodate thicker diapers for night-time vs. daytime. My absolute favorite diaper cover is the Flip because I love the two rows of snaps. However, the Marvel is a close runner up and definitely worth the price.

If you’ve been considering bamboo diapers, or looking for a softer diaper, or a more absorbent solution I would definitely recommend the Kissaluvs Marvels One Size Fitted Cloth Diapers. You won’t be disappointed!

GUEST BLOGGER

Andrea Hamilton’s full time job is being Ben’s wife and Elaine’s mommy in Virginia Beach, VA. She started cloth diapering in November 2009 - initially to save money, and now because she loves it. In her “spare time” she enjoys studying God’s Word, playing the piano, scrapbooking, blogging, and bargain-hunting. Andrea has a Bible & Missions degree, and her family is preparing to move to NYC where her husband will be an assistant pastor.

You can read more from Andrea at her blog, Random Issues.

Let me preface this post by saying that we started out using a cloth diaper service. I knew I wanted to use cloth, but when our son was born, we found the diapers provided by the service to be less than helpful.

There were leaks everywhere, both poo and pee alike, and no matter what size of diaper or cover we used, we still ended up with a mess. We had to change his clothes at every diaper change–which for a newborn is a lot! And of course he didn’t like having his diaper or his clothes changed at the time, so each encounter was torture for all involved.

So, sadly, we bade farewell to the service and resorted to disposables. We still had blowouts from breastfed baby poo, but at least fewer leaks. I couldn’t escape the idea that we were slowly killing the environment with each change, but I couldn’t deny the convenience, and the boy did seem to stay dry for the most part.

Fast forward to a visit to our local lactation store, Baby Beloved. I went there for another purpose, but noticed a display of the Gro Baby One Size Diapers and was interested. I purchased the smallest package they offered (which is identical to the Gro Baby Cloth Diaper Package you can find on cloth diapering websites) and gave them a whirl. Here’s my report after three months of use:

FIT

The first big sell for these diapers is that they are basically all-in-ones, built to grow with your child (hence the name). They have three snap settings to choose from–newborn, infant, and toddler. I have heard from other bloggers that the newborn setting is a little small to comfortably contain the soaker pads, but I never knew this for myself, as my little guy was already big enough at 3 months to wear the infant setting (he was roughly 14 lbs. then). He’s now over 5 months old, approaching 18 lbs., and still wears it on the infant setting comfortably.

One of the features I also enjoy in terms of fit is the velcro closures can be placed anywhere on the top-front of the diaper–ensuring a perfect fit every time, even as they grow. You can also purchase snap-fronts, or have your old velcro-fronts retro-fitted with snaps if you send them in to the Natural Baby Co. 

Since Matthew is figuring out how to grab on to the velcro and pull it, this might be something we look into in the future. The velcro itself is amazing–it’s so soft, both on the “fuzzy” part and the “sticky” part–it never rubs or scratches my son at all. Three months of constant use and washing haven’t worn it out, either.

Elastic around the legs and in the back make sure that everything stays in place. Sometimes I think the fit around the legs is a little snug, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.

ABSORBENCY

The Gro Baby One Size Diapers come with an organic cotton “bio-soaker” that is six layers of absorbent material. This makes it considerably thicker than a standard prefold, but it is also hourglass-shaped to contour to the baby’s body, which is nice. The result is a little bit more bulk on the butt than some moms might like, but we haven’t had a problem with it. The soakers snap in and out, so no folding or stuffing of sleeves. This makes them very daddy-friendly, and we’ll soon be requesting our daycare provider use them, too.

I suspect Matthew is a bit of a heavy wetter, so he absolutely must be changed every two hours in a soaker alone during the day. For overnights and traveling, you can throw in a booster pad that increases absorbency. We have worn these overnight several times without any leaks.

FLAIR

I have to admit, one of the first things that attracted me to the Gro Baby One Size Diapers was how cute they were! The colors are lush and gorgeous, and just recently they came out with some prints, too. I can’t wait until summer so the little guy can run around in his diaper!

The covers themselves are great–besides being stylish, they have a quick-dry mesh inside that helps keep baby dry. If the cover itself isn’t soiled and might only be a little damp, you can set it aside to dry and switch it out with another in the meantime. They also have the laundry tabs already built in, although I’m finding I get a little lazy about making sure they’re attached. I’m not too terribly bothered by diaper chains, though.

I really enjoy being out and about with my son in these diapers. They attract a lot of attention when I change him in public, and I’d like to think I’ve turned some moms on to cloth diapering who wouldn’t normally be. When they see how easy they are to use, cloth diapering seems possible. Just throw a few soakers, an extra cover, and a water-resistant tote in your diaper bag, and you can go wherever!

Overall, we’re really happy with Gro Baby One Size Diapers. I have heard some discussion amongst bloggers that the company-recommended amounts of soakers and covers to have on hand might be more than one really needs, we haven’t found that to be true. We have ten covers and maybe 16-18 soakers, and find that it’s perfect to get us through a couple of days between washes, with a couple left over for while the wash is running.

GUEST BLOGGER

Issa M. Lewis is a first-time mom to Matthew (8/23/09).  She is employed as a college English instructor, and is always seeking to find balance between being a full-time mother at heart and a working at a fully rewarding job.

You can read more from Issa at her blog, Matthew’s Mom Blog.

When I learned that I had won the Feed Your Stash Friday Super-Sized Giveaway, I was excited for two reasons. One, because I won such a large cloth diaper package made by a terrific company and two, because I almost did not enter at all!

With $250 worth of The Natural Baby Company products up for grabs I felt there would be no chance of my winning. But I did!

My FYSF prize consisted of:

• one (1) Gro Baby Half Time Cloth Diaper Package
• one (1) box of Gro Baby Disposable Bio Soaker Liners
• one (1) box of Tiny Bubbles Cloth Diaper Detergent
• one (1) The Natural Baby Company Cloth Diaper Wet Bag
• one (1) Magic Stick Diaper Ointment

I chose 3 solid color shells and 3 shells in the new Gro Baby prints.
Add this up and it totals up to 12 cloth diapers (6 shells and 12 snap-in soakers) and FIFTY Disposable biosoaker inserts!!

After taking a week to prep the soakers (I washed them with every diaper load I did), they were ready to go. The wonderful part about the Gro Baby system is the snap-in soaker. My little one is at the 8-10 diaper changes a day stage, so quick and easy changes are essential. Gro Baby makes this possible because all I have to do is remove the soiled soaker and snap in a clean one. Plus, each soaker has a built in booster making leaks a thing of the past.

With the Gro Baby shell set you do get a separate booster which is great for nighttime diapering. Another nice thing about the Gro Baby shell is that it is one size. You just snap down to the size your little one needs and you are good to go. One con of the additional booster is that if you have the shell set to the smallest size, the booster hangs over. I just fold the slack back in for a little more coverage when we are using them.

I just have to say that I love these diapers!

They are even my husband’s “go to” diaper when he is on duty. The super soft hook and loop never rubs my daughter’s skin the wrong way and the legs fit her slightly chubby thighs beautifully. We have never had a leak or blowout with our Gro Baby Diapers! How can you not love a diaper that practically molds to fit your child?

I also had the opportunity to try the disposable biosoakers over the holidays. The biosoakers are completely biodegradable making them earth friendly. I used one on my daughter overnight for around 8-9 hours and her sleeper was completely dry in the morning! Those little soakers hold a lot of liquid! The only problem I found was that the sticky backing left a film on the soaker snaps. But that was not a deal breaker since we have continued to use them.

There are just too many good things to say about this Feed Your Stash Friday package. I do know that we have found a diaper system that has become an integral part of our little one’s diaper stash.

Thank you to Cloth Diaper Blog and Diaper Junction for an amazing giveaway and to The Natural Baby Company for a great cloth diaper product in the Gro Baby One Size cloth Diaper System!

GUEST BLOGGER

Jessica Charleston is a SAHM of 2 beautiful girls ages 3 years and 5 months. She has been cloth diapering since August 2009 and loves to try out new diapers. In her spare time (what little she has!) she enjoys blogging, scrapbooking and spending time with her wonderful family.

You can read more from Jessica at her blog, Life With BooBoo and Bug.

In our house, both my husband and I take turns being the stay-at-home parent and thus it is very important we both understand the use and care of our baby’s cloth diapers.

While we were pregnant, we both realized that adding a third person to our family had the possibility of putting a real strain on our finances, so we started brainstorming ways to alleviate that pressure.

Cloth Diapers Met our Budget Needs

Cloth diapering was at the top of our list and we were very excited to find how cloth diapers have changed since we were little.

Our daughter is now ten weeks old and slowly but surely we’ve added to our stash week by week and paycheck by paycheck.

I’ve taken the responsibility of researching and buying our diapers and accessories, but my husband is equally involved in the decision-making process of which diapers we will sample from week to week. I excitedly come to him with the newest cloth diaper I’ve found online, and run all my perspective purchases by him, and he obliges in listening to me babble on excitedly about it all and generally agrees to my choices.

Every time we get a new diaper, I try it on our baby first and then I make sure he has a chance to use it on our baby before I grill him to get his opinion on whether or not he likes it and why.

This scenario has played out various times now that we have a collection of twenty-two one size pocket diapers. Our stash includes about eight different kinds which means that he and I have received a really great education on cloth diapering together.

We both have different preferences…

…as well as different experiences with cloth diapering, and since his are decidedly male perspectives and thus intriguing to the female mind, I thought it would be interesting to interview him about the whole process.

Me: So, honey, when did we start using cloth?
Dave: We started using it when our daughter was born because we wanted to save money.

Me: What do you like best about cloth diapers?

Dave: I like that they save money and that they’re environmentally friendly. I also like that you can’t run out of cloth diapers.

Me: How quickly are you able to put a cloth diaper on our daughter?
Dave:I can change her in about a minute to two minutes with cloth diapers. That’s just about as fast as it took me to change a disposable diaper.


Me: How do you compare cloth diapers to disposables?
Dave: I think cloth diapers are slightly more work than disposables but not unmanageable. They’re just as easy to use as disposables except for the fact that you have to clean them. I have to say that I do like the idea of disposable diapering a little bit better when our daughter’s diaper is poopy, but the benefits of cloth diapering outweigh those of disposables overall so I’m willing to put up with rinsing a poopy diaper here and there.

Me: What’s your favorite cloth diaper?
Dave: I like bumGenius and Happy Heiny’s because they’re the easiest for me to use. I really like hook and loop diapers.

Me: Which of the diapers that you have tried so far do you find difficult to use?
Dave: I have a hard time with some of the snap diapers that have a series of snaps that you have to snap in the right place. Sometimes it’s hard for me to work with those when my daughter is wiggling around.

Me: How are cloth diapers with leaks?
Dave: From my experience, cloth diapers are equally as good with leaks as disposable diapers.

Me: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve found with cloth diapering?
Dave: The hardest thing about them is the way you have to wash them and sometimes strip the detergent residue.

Me: Would you feel comfortable enough to wash the diapers without my help?
Dave: Yeah. I do the washing process by myself all the time—though I haven’t done any stripping yet. It doesn’t seem that complicated though after watching you do it.

Me: What are some things you wish you could change about cloth diapering with one-size pocket diapers?
Dave: I can’t really think about anything I’d change about it, but I don’t think about cloth diapering nearly as often as you do!

I have to add, as a mommy note, that my husband and I went out this morning for a few hours and left our daughter with her grandfather who was here for a visit, and with very little instruction he found our diapers amazingly simple to use—especially since he was quite familiar with the prefolds and vinyl pants he and my mother used on me when I was a baby.

My conclusion? Cloth diapers are not only easy for daddies to use, but granddaddies have no problem with them either!

GUEST BLOGGER

Becca is a part time Spanish Teacher, a part time Stay-at-home-mom, and the wife of the best husband imaginable. Becca’s absolute favorite thing to do is to spend time with her little family. She also enjoys doing anything crafty - from making jewelry, to writing, to sewing, to photography.

You can read more about Becca at her blog, Becca’s Cloth Diaper Blog.

The Flip One Size Diaper System is a diaper that can meet all the different needs of cloth diapering in one package. From adjustable lengths and widths to differing styles of inserts, the Flip Diaper has many different options for diapering your child from the newborn to toddler years.

The Flip diaper has many important features that I enjoy in a diaper cover and insert. The front of the diaper cover has adjustable snaps so you can increase or decrease the length thus making it suitable for babies ranging from 8-35 pounds.

In addition, unlike many diaper covers, the Flip cover has pockets at the front and the back to slide the insert in. No more worrying about your insert sticking out of the back of the cover and causing leaks. The sides of the Flip diaper have a level of stretch that I have never seen before which helps obtains a snug fit without leaving red marks on your baby’s tummy and being too tight.

Three Different Options for Inserts

The Flip One Size Diaper System has three different inserts options: the Flip Organic Cotton Diaper Insert, the Flip Stay Dry Diaper Insert, and the Flip Disposable Diaper Insert.

The Flip Organic Cotton Diaper Insert is similar to that of a prefold with the ability to fold it to suit the needs of your child’s size and gender.

The Flip Stay Dry Diaper Insert folds down to small, medium, or large with predetermined lines and folds on the insert. The fold can be placed in the front or back of the Flip diaper cover depending on the gender of your child. Since the diaper cover has pockets on both ends, you do not have to worry about the insert sliding out of place especially if you put the bulk of the insert in the back.

The Stay Dry Diaper Insert works by having four layers of material with three of the layers being absorbing microfiber and the top stay-dry suede. The stay-dry suede goes towards the baby’s bottom and works wonders! Several times I have gone to change my baby’s diaper and the top has felt dry while the bottom layer of microfiber has been wet. The stay-dry suede layer works by wicking moisture away from your baby’s skin and depositing it in the three layers of microfiber. When changing your baby’s diaper, all you have to do is ‘flip’ the dirty insert into the diaper pail and replace it with a clean one. Because the stay-dry insert has three layers of absorption and stay-dry suede layer, I feel like I do not have to replace the cover as often for getting wet or soiled.

PROS of the Flip One Size Diaper System:

• The Flip One Size Diaper System can be tailored to your personal preferences with three different insert options that can either be used with the Flip diaper or other diaper covers.
• The Flip Diaper Cover has pockets at each end of the diaper to help the insert stay in place.
• With snaps to adjust the length as well as the width, the Flip Diaper Cover can be used throughout your cloth diapering years.

CONS of the Flip One Size Diaper System:

• The Flip Diaper Cover needs to be washed separately 6 times as the color tends to bleed in the first few washes.
• The Organic Cotton Insert is very similar in appearance to that of a prefold but comes with a higher price tag.

Visit Suburban Saving Mama for Your Chance to Win (1) One Flip Diaper!

Jamie received one Flip One Size Diaper to test on her baby and review for our blog. In addition, she is hosting a Flip One Size Diaper Giveaway on her blog, Suburban Saving Mama. Get on over there for your chance to win!

GUEST BLOGGER

Jamie is a current SAHM to a daughter born in September. She enjoys walking, cooking, and making crafts. Aside from being a mom, she is currently working on two Master’s degrees in Social Work and Early Child Development and plans to be a School Social Worker when she graduates.

You can read more about Jamie at her blog, Suburban Saving Mama.

Jackie was one of our “FEED YOUR STASH” Friday Cloth Diaper Giveaway winners back in August. She’s had plenty of time to figure out whether or not she likes the three (3) bumGenius Deluxe All In One Cloth Diapers and one (1) pair of BabyLegs by bumGenius! she won; we’re thrilled to post her personal review of her experience with these two cloth diaper products!

“I was so excited when I opened my email and saw that I won the Feed Your Stash Giveaway from Cloth Diaper Blog! Winning a diaper is definitely fun, but winning a great cloth diaper (or actually 3) is even better!”

“Thank you very much Cloth Diaper Blog – both my baby girl and I love what you’ve added to her cloth diaper stash!”

THANK YOU JACKIE! We are so glad they are working out for your daughter!

This post is written by “Bess” of See Bess Run.

Bess is currently hosting a Fuzzi Bunz Review & Giveaway and sent us a review to post of her experience with Fuzzi Bunz Pocket Diapers.

Don’t forget to get on over to Bess’s blog for a chance to win!

Bess’s Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Pocket Diaper Review

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to try the Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Pocket Diaper on my 15-month-old son. After a year of using one brand of cloth diapers exclusively, my big boy started leaking through his diapers at EVERY nap-time and overnight. If we put a cloth diaper on him before laying him down, we were guaranteed to be bathing him and changing sheets in the morning. Even though he is somewhat bigger for his age, he definitely is not over the suggested weight range for the diapers.

A change was needed, and we decided to try out a Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size. From the moment I opened the packaging, I have been in love with this diaper! The fleece inner layer is so soft and luxurious, and the microfiber insert is incredibly thick, seeming beyond absorbent even before trying it out. The fact that the insert has four layers instead of the typical three found in regular pocket diaper inserts definitely stands out. The diapers also come in a variety of bright and trendy colors and prints, making it difficult to choose just one!

My favorite feature of this diaper is the adjustability. I love the button/elastic adjustment system so I can adjust the diaper around my son’s waist and legs, making it comfortable and perfectly fitting every time. We are used to the “hook and loop”, or velcro closure, which needed to be replaced on most of my son’s diapers because they wore down so quickly…not the case here! Also, the Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Pocket Diaper is so adjustable that most babies only need the size Small or the size Medium diaper! So easy to use, very soft, economical…what else could you ask for?

The true test, though, was having my son wear the diaper overnight. We tried it out twice, and both times he woke up to dry pajamas and sheets! Success! Needless to say, I highly recommend the Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Pocket Diaper and plan on using them for baby #3, coming in March 2010.

The deadline to enter is 11:59pm on Saturday, November 14th. Don’t delay! Get over there and win a Fuzzi Bunz for your baby!

Like I mentioned yesterday, the world wide web has busted wide open with cloth diapering information - whether you are looking to buy cloth diapers or simply want to learn about them, Google is your oyster!

Once parents have decided they do want to use cloth diapers they have several more decisions to make - first, “What kind of cloth diapers do I want to buy?”, and then, “How many cloth diapers do I need?” Over at Diaper Junction we have comprised an archive of Cloth Diapering How To’s to assist parents when navigating this information for the first time. We present you with how to how to choose cloth diapers for your baby or toddler and how many diapers are needed to cloth diaper your baby full-time.

The Cloth Diaper Report

There are several mommas out there sharing their own experience and information about cloth diapering in their own blogs and today I want to point you to The Cloth Diaper Report. This momma started a blogging series on How to Build a CD Stash, this past Tuesday she began with Week 1: How To Build a CD Stash where she answers the question, “How did you decide on what styles and brands of diapers to purchase?”.

Other Helpful Cloth Diaper Articles

• Cloth Diapering Definitions and Terms for Cloth Diapers and Cloth Diaper Accessories
• How Many Diapers Should I Buy to Cloth Diaper My Baby?
• How Do I Find the Right Size Cloth Diaper for My Baby?

Next Tuesday, The Cloth Diaper Report will blog about “How many cloth diapers are in an ideal stash per child? What is your reality?”. Check out Emi’s cloth diaper reviews or visit our online cloth diaper store and scroll to the bottom of any cloth diaper or cloth diapering product we sell to read personal customer reviews.

In their October 14, 2009 Press Release, PTPA Media Stays True to Their Family-Friendly Focus and Cleans up the Mess on Cloth Diapers, “Parent Tested Parent Approved” Media announces twelve new cloth diapers for the coveted PTPA Seal of Approval!

“The parenting community is all a buzz over cloth diapers. They’re economical, easier on baby’s bottom and also present a greener option to traditional diapers.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!

If you aren’t already familiar with PTPA Media, you can get more information at their website, www.ptpamedia.com, however this particularly campaign was launched after listening to the desires of an international parenting community of over 20,000 parents.

Sharon Vinderine, Founder and CEO of PTPA Media said “Our goal is to empower families when making purchasing decisions and hopefully the results from the latest test will help parents make informed choices when it comes to diapering their little ones”

Forty different cloth diaper (including hybrid diapers) brands were tested in four different homes over a period of 1 month. Participants answered multiple questions regarding durability, absorbency, ease of use, comfort, style, and price, in an online survey.

We aren’t surprised to find that several of the brand we have carried over the last 7 years were awarded this year’s PTPA Green Award Seal; most specifically Kissaluvs Fitted Diapers, bumGenius! 3.0 One Size Cloth Diapers, and the Thirsties Duo Wrap Cloth Diaper Cover

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PTPA GREEN AWARD Seal Winners

You can read about each of these diapers in the Baby Care section of the PTPA Media website.

AMP Diapers

AppleCheeks

Cotton Babies, Inc.

Ecobumz Earth Friendly Diaper Solutions

FuzziBunz

gDiapers

LolliDoo Diapers

Mother-ease

Thirsties

Baby Kangas

Berry Plush

Bummis

Find out more about cloth diapers, or the Panel of Moms by visiting the PTPA Media blog.

“What’s the difference between the Bummis Super Whisper Wrap and the Thirsties Diaper Cover?” When it comes to product comparison, this is the most frequently asked question we get from our customers. It is an interesting question since you would expect Bummis, a trusted brand for more than 20 years, to be a more familiar name than Thirsties. However, in 5 short years, Thirsties has made quite a name for itself when it comes to quality cloth diapering products.

First, let’s clarify the purpose of a diaper cover.

In the cloth diaper world, a diaper cover is worn over a cloth diaper; specifically a cloth diaper without a waterproof or water-resistant exterior fabric, like prefold diapers, contours, or fitted diapers. Although diaper covers can be made from various waterproof or water-resistant materials such as wool or fleece, the most popular material used is a polyester knit fabric laminated with a Polyurethane Laminate or PUL. An interesting sidenote: In the industry PUL is pronounced in two ways; some say PUL like the word “pull” and others spell it out “P-U-L”. Either reference is accepted and understood.

Both the Bummis Super Whisper Wrap and Thirsties diaper cover are made with a poly knit fabric laminated with PUL. The difference is that Thirsties diaper covers are constructed with one layer of laminated poly knit, while the Bummis Super Whisper Wraps are constructed of two layers of poly knit fabric bonded together with the laminate.

With the Thirsties Diaper Cover, the plastic laminate is visible on the inside of the cover, this may concern those parents not keen on the possibility of any plastic parts of a diaper cover touching their baby. To be fair, many parents find this slick surface easy to wipe off so the cover can be reused on a subsequent diaper change without having to be totally rewashed first.

Because Bummis diaper covers have two layers of fabric, the inside of the cover matches the soft poly knit fabric found on the outside. Like Thirsties, the inside of the Bummis Super Whisper Wrap can be wiped out to use on another diaper change, but because the poly knit fabric is porous, some parents may feel the cover just isn’t clean enough for reuse without actually washing.

Gussets or no gussets?

We believe the claim to fame of Thirsties diaper covers is the leg gusset. We refer to these gussets as “side walls” as they seem to “fully encase” the diaper, providing wall barriers as they go around leg/thigh. The leg gusset helps control the possibility of a “blow out” in the leg area. Bummis Super Whisper Wraps do not have a “visible” leg gusset, but it is there. The bottom of the cover seems to scoop down with the leg openings sitting higher to create a sort of built-in gusset area. This cover does just as well of a job with “fully encasing” the diaper inside and controlling “blow outs”.

Sizing

For the most part, the sizing between the two covers is pretty comparable; with the newborn sizing being the exception. The Bummis newborn cover is cut a bit smaller than the Thirsties x-small/newborn size. Because the newborn Bummis Super Whisper Wrap is cut significantly smaller than other newborn/x-small size covers, we usually recommend bypassing that size unless parents are pretty certain their baby will be small enough to require it. With the Thirsties, however, we recommend using the newborn/x-small size for a newborn baby.

Added Features

Both diaper covers provide the same added features important to cloth diapering parents such as cross over tabs that can cross-over either left or right, as well as laundry tabs to secure the hook and loop material in the wash.

Comparing Apples to Apples

Although the Bummis Super Whisper Wrap and Thirsties are diaper covers made to perform a specific function, they can’t fully provide an “Apples to Apples” comparison. Bummis does make a cover more similar to the Thirsties diaper cover, called Bummis Super Brite. This cover is made with the same one-layer of laminated knit polyester, with the “visible” gussets. When comparing the two they are equal in function and mostly equal in sizing.

If you are tossed-up over which cloth diaper cover to buy, any one of these covers are suitable for the job. So if you like the raspberry colored Thirsties Diaper Cover, the blue Super Brite print, and the Celery Dot printed Bummis Super Whisper Wrap, we say get them! The similarities across the three diaper covers means you can have variety in your stash and don’t necessarily have to stick to just one brand.