Rumparooz "Lil Joey" Newborn All In One Diaper Review

The Lil Joey newborn AIO diaper by Rumparooz was one of the first diapers we used.  We wanted to love them, they were cute, and seemed like they'd work well, but we always had leaks.  In the beginning Claire's legs were too skinny, even though these fit pretty little babies, and as she got bigger, she kept leaking at the legs.  I guess they just weren't a good fit on her.  They do have a snap-down rise to go under the umbilical cord.  They have a shorter rise in general than a lot of other diapers.  You can see in the pictures how low it is, even though it isn't snapped down.

Goodmama Newborn Fitted Diaper Review

The Goodmama Newborn fitted diaper was so soft and squishy!! We didn't start using it in our diaper rotation until after these newborn pictures, but it quickly became one of my favorites for our nighttime diapers.  We started using fitteds with wool early on to allow her some breathable bum time at night. The goodmamas fit her pretty well, we occasionally had some gapping at the leg, but she had little tiny chicken legs.  They fit her until 10 pounds or so, and it was mostly the rise that got too short (Claire has a long rise).  These diapers are expensive to get new, but we bought ours mainly for pictures, so it justified the cost (plus I then got to use it as an everyday diaper -so it was split).  The diaper has a snap in front to lower the rise beneath the umbilical cord.  We didn't have it snapped down in these pictures because Claire's cord fell off at 5 days old.  I also did not have the diaper on tight enough, as I was still figuring out the exact science to snapping diapers at that point!

Happy Little Hippos AI2

Happy Little Hippos is a WAHM (work at home mom) that makes diapers.  She had taken a break last time I checked.  I was really hoping to get another few of these.  I purchased this diaper as a tester, and I really like it.  It fit her here at a week old, and still fits today at 4 months old and a little over 12 pounds.  It has a few different rise adjustments, and a really absorbant soaker insert that has an extra doubler.  In the beginning I just used the doubler because the insert was so big, now I just use the regular insert.  This was my favorite diaper because of the fit, and the cute print!  You can see it was a little bunched in the crotch, but she wasn't quite 7lbs in the picture.  It fits really well now.  It has a non-wicking fleece interior, and a hidden layer of PUL.

Claire at less than a week old.

The back side.  You can see the snaps for the snap-in soaker.

Grovia AIO Newborn

The Grovia Newborn AIO was my favorite diaper in the beginning stages!! It was easy to use since it was one piece - and it held in messes.  No leaks with this bad boy!! The inside is cotton, and absorbs quickly, unlike some of the synthetic AIOs that leak all the time.  It fit her well here at a little under 7lbs, and continued to fit until 10lbs or so when we pulled out our OS diapers and put away the newborn stash.  This diaper has a lower rise setting that allows it to fit under the umbilical cord, you just can't see it because of her gown in the picture.  This diaper would still fit, but we put all the newborn items away together.  The other thing I liked about this diaper was that the soaker was stitched down on one end, so it dried a little faster than a traditional AIO diaper.  The other bonus is that these come in the cutest patterns!!!

Here is Claire at 3 days old, you can see the snapped down rise.

Here is a back side shot.  Isn't this just the most adorable!

Bummis Super Brite XS Cover

The Bummis Super Brite cover was one of the first covers we used.  The XS has a dip in the front to ensure it doesn't rub the umbilical cord stump.  We bought ours used, but you really couldn't tell, it was in great shape (so I assume they hold up well!).  These fit tiny little babies, but alas, they got snug quickly, too.  They have gussets on the legs, so they hold in messes well.  The velcro is super easy to get a perfect fit on a chicken legged, skinny waisted newborn.

This is Claire in the hospital at 1 day old.

Here at 3 days old.

Here is a view of the side.

Kissaluv's Fitted, Size 0

The Kissaluv's fitted, Size 0, was one of the first diapers we used on Claire when we got home from the hospital.  I was a little nervous about using prefolds, so we did fitteds and other easy diapers for the first few days home.  The KL0, as they are nicknamed, were great the first few weeks.  Around the 2 month mark Claire started to become what is known as a heavy wetter - and started to pee through these rather quickly.  They are worn with a cover over them, so they didn't leak, but they were saturated for her. 

That being said, I saved them all to use on the next one.  They worked so well in the beginning I didn't mind that she outgrew the absorbancy.  They still fit really well when we stopped using them, however.  She was probably 8 or 9 pounds at that point.  They are plenty roomy for most newborns, and also got pretty small for the peanut.  You can see in the picture that they are well below the umbilical cord, so they didn't irritate!

Ours were purchased used.  One thing I do have to say is these aren't the softest diapers in the world.  They are a terry-type material, and since you don't use fabric softeners, they tend to get a little rough after a while.  Not awful, but not as soft as others.  There are things you can do to soften them - vinegar or Ecover softener (it's cloth diaper safe).  I never did, and Claire didn't seem to mind!

We liked these under a Bummis Super Brite cover in the beginning - it fit well under her cord stump.  (The Bummis is under the KLO in the picture).

Claire in her KL0 at 3 days old.  She was down to 6lbs 8oz here, and about 21.5 inches long.

Review of Tweedle Bugs Cover (XS)

I bought two Tweedle Bugs Covers as seconds for $5!  Brand new as well.  I thought, if nothing else, it was only $10.  If I'd have known I'd have bought 4!  They were, and still are, my favorite covers!  They fit at 6lbs 8oz, and still fit at 12ish lbs!  The rise is getting a tiny bit short, but they still work, even with an infant size prefold trifolded underneath!  They have the double gussets and we have never had a leak in the four months we have used them.

The inside of the cover

The double gusset

The front (see how the tabs are still touching!)

The back.

Review of Tiny Tush Infant Prefolds

I bought a dozen infant sized prefolds along with a few other things.  I originally bought them for newborn size, but realized when I got them they were a little big.  So I put them in with my other infant sized prefolds.  These didn't fit our 7lb newborn, but fit well around 10-11 pounds when the newborn prefolds got a little snug.  They've got room to go as well.  We are using these with either the angel wing fold or trifolded in a cover.  Both are super absorbant!!  These are very absorbant, as absorbant as my Green Moutain Diaper prefolds of the same size, but cheaper.  These were ~$18 new for a dozen!! They are thick and soft, too.  These are the unbleached variety.

Review on Bumgenius 4.0 Pocket Diaper

I have two BumGenius 4.0 diapers.  An aplix and a snap version.  They were purchased as seconds from cottonbabies, but I can't figure out why!  I really love these diapers.  I only pictured the aplix, the snap is the same size/fit.  We haven't had leaks with these, and they fit great.  They didn't start fitting until around 10lbs or so.  We still only use the newborn insert inside of them, and it seems to be enough.   These have 3 rise adjustment settings, Small, medium, and large.  Small fits well now, and still has a little room to go.  In the large setting picture, the diaper is not pulled up as high as it can go, so it's actually a little bigger than what it appears.



Small rise setting

Medium Rise Setting

Large rise setting.

Here is the inside, with the insert partially sticking out so you can see where the opening is.



Review of Rumparooz Pocket Diapers

Rumparooz pocket diapers are pretty awesome.  The have 4 rise settings, from XS to Large.  XS fit Claire first out of her OS diapers.  They are also the only pocket diaper to feature inner gessets to hold in messes.  We have yet to leak out of these!!  I got them for our sitter to use when she finishes all the disposables we got at our shower.  I have mostly aplix (velcro), and one snap.  I like them both.  The aplix is holding up well.  I bought about 50% of ours used, and they seem to be doing well.  The elastic is quite strong and stretchy still.  The inside picture only features the smaller insert.  They do come with a larger, wider insert as well as the smaller thinner insert.  Since we are still only on the second snap setting, I have felt no need to go up to the larger insert.  They may not fit as long as other OS diapers, but they fit so well now, I'm glad I decided to buy them!  I bought mine used from re-diaper.com, and new at Kelly's Closet where I got a free one in a promotion.

The XS rise setting - it's a bit short for us now.

The small rise setting - fits perfectly!

The medium rise setting - lots of room to grow.

The largest setting.  It will be a while before we need this one!

Here is the inside.  You can see the gussets on the inside.  This is the smaller insert pictured on the right.  It's plenty absorbant!

Getting those diapers sparkly clean!

Cloth diapering laundry will be a bit of a trial and error for most everyone, since everyone's water is different depending on where you live, but a few things are the same for everyone.

We put dirty/soiled cloth diapers right into either a wetbag (no water inside, it's just what it's called), or a pail with a pail liner.  We wash every 2-3 days, depending on our schedule.  Wash day I bring everything to the laundry room and dump out the bags into the washer and toss them in, too.  Then I do a hot prewash (cold is good, but we were having stink issues), then a hot wash/cold rinse with cloth diaper detergent, and then an extra cold rinse.

Once they are done washing, I hang the pail liner, wetbags, and anything with snaps, elastic, or a waterproof layer either on the clothesline or drying rack, and everything else goes in the dryer with dryer balls.  You want to avoid fabric softeners!! They leave a residue on your diapers that will cause repelling.

I started using Rockin Green cloth diaper detergent, but we ended up with ammonia stink issues.  I recently switched to Tide Ultra and it's working well.  Just use less than the lowest line for your diapers.  It will probably be different for you, though, because everyone has such different water, washers, etc.

Diapering Accessories!

There are lots of accessories for cloth diapering, some necessities, some are just nice to have.  Here are the things I've found helpful so far:

-Pail liner (two of them so you have one clean to put in the pail while the other is in the wash, mine are Planetwise brand)
-Pail (I use a plastic step-lid kitchen pail from Target).
-Snappi (at least 2-3 - we are always temporarily misplacing these!)
-XL hanging wetbag (we have 2, we use the pail upstairs and the XL wetbag downstairs)
-2 medium/large hanging wetbags (these are for daycare.  I have two because I sometimes work two days in a row)
-1 small/medium wetbag - great for the diaper bag
-2 small wetbags - these are our "poop" wetbags.  If we are out and about and the baby poops, I put it in a separate wetbag so that I'm not greeted by the smell every time I open the bag to put a new dirty diaper into! (this is purely a nice thing to have)
-Wool Dryer balls - these are awesome to have in the dryer, they lessen drying time for diapers and other loads of laundry since you don't use dryer softener sheets.
-Clothesline for outside drying when the weather is nice
-Drying rack for inside drying when its cold or raining outside
-A diaper spray for once baby starts solids and you'll need to spray them prior to washing
-Spray bottle for wipe solution if you are going to use cloth wipes
-Cloth wipes
-Cloth friendly diaper cream - I like CJs BUTTer (available online)
-Cloth friendly diaper detergent - here's a link to a good detergent chart

Just how do I get started?

Many people get overwhelmed by all the different kinds and brands of cloth diapers, and there are a lot!!  The easiest way to do it is to either get a few of each kind (just 1 is enough), or to do a trial, such as Jillian's Drawers (I did not do a trial). 

I shopped on Spots Corner on Hyena Cart, Craigslist, and Ebay for used diapers.  I found good deals for new diapers online.  I slowly built my stash during my pregnancy, and I ended up going a bit overboard.  Cloth diapering can save you money in the long run.  The best advice I have is to not invest a lot of money all in one kind of diaper.  Each baby has a different fit that works best for them.  Other people may rave about a certain kind of diaper - you may hate the fit on your baby.

I had enough prefolds and then had a few of each of the other types to sample and try them out.  I still have a ton of different kinds because I like them all.  I have prefolds for at home, AI2s for out and about, pockets and AIOs for daycare, as well as for out and about. 

How many do you need?  To wash every 2-3 days, you'll want 12-18 diapers per day for a newborn.  So 36 is a good number for newborn diapers.  You'll need slightly less as baby gets older.  This is why prefolds are so great for the newborn stage, they are so cheap!

Part 6: What's so wonderful or not so wonderful about all those diapers?

Here I will list pros and cons to each type of diaper I talked about previously.  Hopefully this will help you see what might work best for your family.

Prefolds
Pros: indestructible, cheap, you can always get a good fit, versatile (so many folds), once they outgrow them you can toss them inside other diapers for absorbancy, use them as burpcloths, and continue using them after baby is out of diapers for all sorts of things, and super easy to launder, made of natural materials (cotton, sometimes hemp), can get them in organic materials
Cons: not waterproof, folds can be complicated especially at 3am, you need a separate fastener for some folds, and they aren't as absorbant as some of the other diapers.

Fitteds:
Pros: absorbant, breathable, have snaps/velcro already on them, inserts snap out for easier cleaning and faster washing/drying time, natural materials, can get organic
Cons: Can be expensive, need a cover

Pockets
Pros: inserts separate for better cleaning and faster drying, no need for waterproof cover, once prestuffed they go on just like a disposable, adjustable absorbancy by changing the inserts, stay dry inside so baby doesn't feel the wetness
Cons: Can be pricey, have to stuff them, often made of synthetic materials

All in Ones (AIOs)
Pros: Most like a disposable - no stuffing required, stay dry inside, usually the trimmest options
Cons: Longer drying time because the insert is inside the diaper, sometimes harder to get clean because of this, too.  They are also expensive.

All in Twos (AI2)
Pros: Great for out and about, can reuse the shell and just replace the absorbant inside, cute prints, don't need a cover, wash/dry well because they are in 2 pieces
Cons: Some WAHM AI2s can wick because of the way they were made

Part 5: Fitted diapers

Fitted diapers are wonderfully breathable!  They have a cute cotton outer layer, a hidden absorbant layer, and a soft inner layer.  They have snap or lay in inserts like an AI2, but they are not waterproof.  Fitteds must be worn under a cover or wool to be waterproof.  Some people let their little one's run around the house during the day in a fitted without a cover, and just frequently check for dampness on the outside.

A goodmama fitted diaper.

The insides of two fitted diapers.  You can see how soft the insides look!

The cute cotton outer layer.

The insert pulled out - you can see how it snaps into the diaper to make it more absorbant.

Fitteds with wool are great for nighttime because it's the most breathable, yet waterproof option available. 

Part 4: All in twos (AI2s)

All in twos are the newest type of cloth diaper.  They feature a hidden waterproof layer sandwiched between a cute cotton print outer and a non-wicking inside (such as fleece), and soakers/inserts that lay or snap into the diaper.  The theory with an AI2 is that you can just change the insert and put in a fresh one, so you can reuse the same cover all day.  Some work this way, others don't.  They are better than an AIO or a pocket because they dry faster since they are in multiple pieces, and you don't have to stuff them - just snap or lay in and go!  I only have Work at Home Mom made AI2s, which typically dont' come with extra inserts, so I just use the whole thing once and toss them into the dirties bag.

Here is a MamaTutu AI2

Here is a Bumboozle AI2

Here is another MamaTutu AI2

This is the inside of the above diapers.

They feature a cute cotton print outer

A fleecy non-wicking inner, with a hidden water proof layer inside.

Inserts that either snap or lay in (these snap)

The inserts are made long, called a "snake style" so you can fold them under where you need absorbancy most.

Part 3: All-in-ones (AIO)

An "all in one" or AIO diaper is the closest to a disposable.  They feature an outer waterproof layer, a sewn in absorbant inside.  Many also have that same stay dry feeling inner (this allows wetness to pass through to the absorbant layer, but isn't absorbant itself, so it keeps baby feeling dry, like a disposable, but without the chemicals).  Some AIO diapers have a pocket opening for if you need to add more absorbancy.

Here is a sized BumGenius all in one (size small).

Here is the inside.  It's hard to tell from the pictures, but the insert is sewn in, underneath the stay dry suede cloth inner.  There is a pocket opening for adding an extra insert if one is needed.

Here I turned it inside out so you can see the insert sewn inside.

Part 2: Pocket Diapers, An introduction

A pocket diaper is a diaper that has a built in waterproof layer, a stay dry feeling inside, and a slit, or pocket, at the top to put in an insert.  Most pockets come with microfiber inserts.  Microfiber can't touch baby's skin, as it can dry it out quickly and leave a rash, but inside a pocket it works as a wonderful absorbant insert!  If baby wets through the microfiber, you can add a second microfiber insert, or try a hemp or bamboo insert.  These are all very absorbant materials.  Pockets do not need a cover over them because of their outer layer of waterproof material.

Inside of a Bumgenius 4.0 pocket.  You can see the insert opening at the back.  I purposefully pulled the insert out a tiny bit to make it easier to see.

Here is the insert and I made the opening nice and open to see it easier.

This is called "stuffing" a pocket.  You grab the insert in your hand and literally stuff it inside, making sure it's lying flat inside the diaper and not bunched up.  It's easiest to do this once your diapers are dry so they are "prestuffed" and ready to just grab and go!

The BumGenius 4.0 pocket on the bum.

A Rumparooz pocket on the bum.

A Blueberry Minky (fuzzy material) pocket on the bum.  This is fuzzy on the outside because there is a hidden inside layer of waterproof material, so it still doesn't need a cover.

Snap down vs. Fold Over - what's the difference?

On one size diapers there are two options to make them smaller or larger.  Most big-box brand diapers feature a snap down rise.  This usually consists of 2-3 columns of 3 snaps.  Snapped all the way down makes them small, snapped to the middle set is medium, and unsnapped is large.  Here are some pictures: 

The top row of snaps will snap down to either of the bottom two rows to shorten the diaper.

Smallest setting (snapped all the way down)

Medium setting (snapped to the middle row)

Large setting (all the way unsnapped)

 Here is the fold down rise:  There are two sets of snaps.  The outside snaps are for the largest setting.  Just snap your diaper and go.  If this makes the diaper too high up on baby, you fold the front panel down and out, exposing the inner row of snaps.  This is called the "fold down rise" - pictures below!

You can see the outside snaps and the back of the inside snaps.

Here is the inside of the same diaper.

This is the diaper with the highest rise (so snapped to the outside snaps)

This is what it looks like with the rise folded down.