Review: GroBaby (a.k.a. The Diaper I Wanted Desperately to Love)

Diaper:  GroBaby - $24.95 (This gives you 1 shell, one soaker pad, and 1 booster)

Materials:  Outer layer PUL, is a mesh with snaps for attaching the inserts, Velcro closure, one size adjustment on the outside of the diaper, Organic Cotton 6-layer elasticized snap in soaker and booster.

Fit:  8 - 35 lbs.

How it works:  GroBaby diapers are a hybrid, or AI2, diaper.  This differs from most of the diapers that we have reviewed because each diaper is a shell that has a front and back snap on the inside.  An insert snaps into the shell.  This allows you to remove an insert from the shell, and to replace it with a new insert thus reusing the same shell multiple times throughout the day.  No stuffing of pockets with this diaper, and the inserts supposedly dry faster than an AIO diaper system.  GroBaby diapers are a OS diaper with snaps on the outside of the shell.  The insert is elastic so it stretches as you "up-size" the diaper.  It closes with a hook and loop closure, but unlike other diapers the velcro on the tabs attaches to a soft loop fabric rather than your traditional strip of female velcro on the outside of the diaper.

Thoughts from Amanda:

Aesthetics -  The colors are very bold (well, aside from vanilla of course and they have a few prints.  However, color selection and print selection is VERY limited.  In the end this shouldn't really matter though because you will be reusing shells throughout the day.  You may only need 3-4 shells in the beginning (newborn) and fewer possibly as your child grows.  So, if you want to look at a variety of cute diapers in your stash this type of system may not be for you.  I also found them to be nice and soft.

Functionality - These diapers are HIGHLY functional.  The system itself is very user friendly.  Prep your shells by snapping in inserts.  When it's time to change a diaper simply remove the insert (or shake/rinse off poops first if necessary) throw it into your diaper pail or wet bag and do one of the following:

1) If only a poopy diaper and the poops didn't get on the shell, snap in a new insert and voila...re-diaper the baby and you're done!

2) If the diaper is wet, and it got wet enough that the shell is a smidge damp on the inside, no worries, just remove the insert and toss it in a wet bag or pail.  Lay the shell out to dry and it will be ready to use again at the next diaper change.  Simply use a new diaper.

I cheated when I was out and about.  I reused the shell, and simply wiped it out with a wet wipe. Yeah, sue me.  lol  But, it sure made being out a lot easier.  Just carry a little ziploc of inserts and use the shell your kiddo is wearing.  If you're in a runny poop stage though...I'd carry along an extra shell as well though.  :)

Now...why this is "The Diaper I Wanted Desperately to Love."  I LOVED the GroBaby!  Truly I did. I promise.  Are you convinced now?  Okay...here's where it went wrong for me.  It did bother me that the insert got damp and that was touching my kiddo's little bum and private area.  Easy enough...toss on a fleece liner.  But, for me...it was the fit.  There was NO way this was going to make it to 35 lbs. for my kid.  And knowing what a big wetter he is, I must say in the end it wouldn't have held up well to his high volume of tinkle either.  It appears as though on their website that have added some more heavy duty soakers, but I still think they could have even more absorbency in their soakers.  Now, you could add in your own, but that would potentially mess with the snapping system.  

Please, please, please keep in mind that my son is a ridiculously heavy peer.  I have only met a couple of moms who are dealing with the same wetting issues I am.  So, most likely your kiddo is of average wetting and this shouldn't be an issue for you.  But, size was the biggie for me.  So, I sold them.  Part of me regrets it because I could have toyed with it more, but I was desperate at the time.  I plan on trying this brand out, plus some newer versions on the market with the same concept with the baby on the way.

Durability -  I have read some complaints that the velcro on these wears out, or that the wings start to curl.  I never had this problem and the velcro was very sticky.  I did have issues with diaper chain in the washer with these.  But, they held up very well.  The stitching on one of my soakers was pulling away a smidge, but that would have been an easy fix.  All in all I highly recommend GroBaby diapers to average size kids and average wetters.  :)

Trials of a Dum Dum: Overnight Part 2

Well, we tried our indian prefolds in the diapers overnight (and during the day).  Remember, my son is 8 months old, about 21 lbs..  We've only used it at night twice because we only have one and I do laundry every other day.  So here is a run down of our last 2 nights:

Night 1:  bumGenius 3.0 on highest rise setting.  The pocket was so full with the premium indian prefold and the microfiber insert that it was really difficult to even get it on my son.  I find that the BGs seem to have a lower rise compared to some other pocket diapers.  But, after some work I got it on.  My son had the biggest bum I'd ever seen.

We made it through the night without any leaks on the highest rise setting (which is what he is on normally anyway)!  Woo!!!  The prefold did a great job of absorbing all of the way down.  Microfiber always seems to just absorb in one spot.  He woke up as dry as could be.

Lesson learned:  The bumGenius is a good way to go because the PUL layer overlaps on the top locking in moisture.  You'll see why that is important in a second.

Night 2:  This time we tried the same setup, premium indian prefold topped with microfiber insert.  We attempted a different diaper this time though and used a Haute Pocket.  Normally my son is on the medium rise setting in this diaper during the day so I used the same setting for the night.  MAJOR LEAKAGE!  He was soaked down to his feet in the a.m.  (Yeah, my son doesn't wake up when he pees in his bed.)

I have a couple of theories:
1)  The Haute Pocket does not have the protective PUL at the top of the diaper like the BG and that's where his diaper was wet in the morning.  So, I believe compression caused the diaper to leak out of the top (my son is a tummy sleeper of his own accord).  This got his pajama pants wet and then caused the pants to wick the moisture all of the way down to his toes.

I will attempt this diaper again as it was much easier to get it on him being a slightly larger diaper compared to the BG.  Next time I will open the snaps to the largest setting to see if that gives the top a more snug fit so as to trap any moisture.

I know that this can work since it happened once so I just have to figure out what diaper it is going to work best in.  Also, I guess it will depend on how much he pees each night.

The trials continue...

Daytime:  The regular indian prefold alone did help my son to last to the 2 hour mark each time it was used.  Woo!

Trials of a Dum Dum: Overnight

I thought I'd do some posts for all of the newbies like me out there.  Or shall I say Dum Dums?  Yep, I'm the first to admit that I am one of those people.  Although CDing off and on since Gabriel was born there is still much I have to learn.  Isn't that the case with anything you take on though?  Such as being a mom?  And look how many of us are jumping on that band wagon?  :)  For good reason!  So, no fear....  Right?

Not much about cloth diapering scares me.  But, there is that one itty bitty part of our day called nighttime.  Yep.  Nighttime.  Sure, all day long you're moseying along.  Maybe you have a leak to deal with, but nothing like you will experience in the middle of the night or the next morning.  Finding the right nighttime diaper is like looking for a needle in a haystack from some.  Others get lucky on the first go 'round.

I have a super soaker.  My son can soak through 2 microfiber inserts in 30 min. - 1 hour during the day.  We tried 2 microfibers at night, and we tried adding the wrong kind of hemp doubler at night.  I use all pockets, and I stuffed it with a Hemp Night Stay Dry Doubler from Green Mountain Diapers.  The problem was they had fleece on top...good for a fitted diaper, but not for a pocket.  As the fleece and the inner of the pocket diaper work against each other somewhat slowing absorption.  I even tried lying that on top of the pocket and yet, still didn't work.

So, I got in touch with Stephanie at Abby's Lane and explained my nighttime situation.  I told her that my son was 20ish lbs., 8 months old, and what I had already tried.  She informed me that many people have kids who outgrow the absorbency of microfiber by 6 months old.  (Some even 2-4 months old.  So, if you're having daytime leaking problems regularly this could be why.)  I told her that on his bumGenius 3.0s he was on the large setting, and a medium on his Haute Pockets.  I also told her that after buying a large number of diapers I was on a tighter budget and wanted to be economic about my purchases.  I LOVE that she completely respected that.  Thanks, Stephanie!

She suggested getting some indian cotton twill prefolds.  One in regular size for the daytime and one in premium (topped with a microfiber insert) for the nighttime.  These apparently have a lot more absorbency than the microfiber inserts or towels.  They showed up today and I can't wait to try them out.  They're going through a few wash and dry cycles as we speak so they're prepped for tomorrow!  :)  I will definitely keep all of you posted on the nighttime trials.  (And the daytime...we'll see if he can go longer than 1 hour in a CD.)

My goal (and Stephanie whole heartedly agrees) is to try everything I can to make my normal pocket diapers work for him at night.  To only buy a different diaper if nothing else works.  Fingers crossed that this will do the trick.  If not it's on to the next step.  Keep your fingers crossed for us!  I'll update you soon on our progress.  Maybe we'll find that elusive needle in the proverbial haystack.

How to Get Started

What kind of diaper is for you? 
Some stores offer sample packages in which you can try varying types of diapers so you can find what type works for you and return what doesn't.  Jillian's Drawers has two packages to try for at the most $10 if you don't like cloth diapering.  One trial package is for infants and one is for newborns.
There are many kinds of diapers out there to try.  The most commonly used are:

• Prefolds -  These are probably what you visualize when you think of "old-fashioned" cloth diapering.  They come in several different materials and sizes, but have a thicker portion in the center for good absorption.  They do require a cover or wrap over them.  Prefolds also need to be fastened with a diaper pin or a Snappi.  To keep moisture away from baby's bottom I use a piece of fleece to wick moisture away.
• AIO/AI2s  (All In Ones/All In Twos) - These are the most similar cloth diaper to a disposable diaper.  In AIOs there is an inner absorbent layer that is attached to an outer waterproof layer, and on top of the inside is a layer of fabric which wicks moisture away from the baby's bottom.  In the AI2s (also referred to as Hybrids in some places) the inner portion of the diaper can be removed (usually via snaps) for easier cleaning.  Both AIOs and AI2s close with velcro or snaps, and can be purchased in varying sizes or as a One-Size diaper.
• Fitteds - Similar to an AIO diaper the fitted allows you to control the tightness of the diaper via velcro or snaps, and some WAHM made diapers with a Snappi or pins.  Fitted diapers will also need a waterproof cover over them.  These diapers can be purchased in varying sizes or as a One-Size diaper.  (These are very popular with the WAHMs.)
• Contours - Contours are a cross between a prefold and a fitted diaper.  They go under a waterproof cover and come with a sewn in doubler which can be a plus for a big wetter.  They come in fewer sizes as they can be folded somewhat to accommodate a growing baby (OS), but they may need to be fastened with a diaper pin or Snappi if you can not get a decent fit by just overlapping the wings under a cover.
• Pockets - These are a two part diapering system.  They have an outer waterproof layer, and an inner layer that wicks moisture away from the baby's skin leaving it dry.  There is an opening or pocket built into the diaper in which you "stuff" inserts in to absorb the moisture.  These are convenient as you can easily adjust the amount of absorption you get by adding more inserts, often referred to as doublers.  Pocket diapers are also usually One-Size Diapers.
• One-Size - Allow you to adjust the rise through a series of snaps on the front outside of the diaper or sizable elastic in the legs.  This creates a diaper system that will grow with your baby over a large period of time.  

Amount of diapers:

• Every day use - For newborns you will need at least 10-12 diaper changes per 24 hour period.  So if you only want to do laundry every other day you'll need around 18-24 diapers.  As babies get older they will begin to need fewer; however, it's always good to be prepared for more than what you will need so we suggest having 18-24 diapers on hand in general.  Make sure to do laundry every 2-3 days.  You can get enough diapers to last you just one day/night and then doing laundry every day if you prefer.
• Just the evenings and weekends -  You will need at least enough diapers to get yourself through a full day on the weekend.  So at least 12 - 14 diapers which will allow you to make it through the night, to change in the morning, and then wash the rest of dirty diapers.

(Other trial diaper programs to check out:  Nicki's Diapers, Diaper Daisy, Cute Caboose)

Other supplies you will need:

• Doublers - If you have a big wetter than doublers are a must.  Many pocket diapers will come with a regular insert and a doubler.  But, for making it overnight most babies will need some extra absorption.  Microfiber is good for moderate wetters, but for heavy ones I recommend a hemp doubler.
• Liners - You can get liners for diapers so that wetness won't come in contact with your baby's skin (if you're not using a pocket diaper) and also for easy clean up of those early soft baby poos.  There are flushable liners and then there are fleece, flannel, or silk liners that need to be washed. These lay on top of the inside of the diaper. 
• Storing dirty diapers - There are many schools of thought on how to store your dirty diapers.  You can invest in a bag that keeps moisture in or use a trash bag.  You will just have to replace the trash bag each time.  A dry diaper pail is what is recommended and you can even use a Diaper Champ.  A pail with a lid on it will trap odors in more.  Some people feel that is a con.  It works for us.  A diaper pail liner will help you tote diapers back and forth to the laundry.  A wet diaper pail (a pail filled with water) is NOT recommended as it can be a drowning hazard for babies and young children.
• Using diapers on the run - Cloth diapering on the run can be very easy if you have the right kind of diaper and something to keep them in when they're dirty.  A ziploc will do but investing in a traveling wet bag is a great way to save money...and look super cute on the go.  :)  
• Wipes - You can use throw away wipes, but part of the fun of CDing is helping the environment.  Reusable wipes are a great way to do this.  You can use baby washcloths, flannel wash cloths that are purchased online, there are all different kinds to look at.
• Wipe Solutions - You can also make your own wipe solution that can be poured over wipes in an old wipe container, or that can be stored in spray bottle and spritzed on your child's bottom or directly onto the wipe itself.  Here is a great place to find recipes for your own wipe solutions.

Detergents:
Be very careful of which detergents you use on your cloth diapers as additives such as perfumes, brighteners, enzymes, and dyes are not good for your dipes. This website provides a fantastic overview of many types of detergents out there and rates them based on their friendliness to CDing.  
Amanda uses: Planet 2X
Natalie uses: Mrs. Meyers Baby Blossom 

Cost:  


This really depends on what type of diapers you plan to buy.  But, for a general idea see the information below from Diaper Daisy:
Cloth diapers are affordable. On average, you will spend $2000 on disposable diapers per child during the diapering years. Compare that to an average of $700 for your first child's cloth diapering system. A second and third child will cost much less, as many of the diapers can be re-used. Plan on spending a little more or less, depending on the type of cloth diapering system you choose.

Did you know that In 2.5 years of diapering...


Cost of disposables: $2000
Cost of disposable wipes: $800
Total cost disposables: $2800


Cost of cloth diapers: $840
Cost of cloth wipes (24): $42
Total cost of cloth: $882


Savings: $2000!*


Figure washing time as 15 minutes every other day. That adds up to just over 60 hours a year. With a savings of $800 a year, the time you spend laundering diapers equates to an earnings of $17.50 an hour. If you hang dry your diapers, you are spending more time...but saving more $$ in utility costs.
*The savings will go up even more if a family chooses a more affordable cloth diapering option such as prefolds.*

You can also re-sell many of your cloth diapering items and get half or more of your money back!