My experiences thus far.
Why the switch?
So, we just started cloth diapering Griffin about three weeks ago. Griffin is ten, almost eleven months old. We decided to start using cloth diapers because we moved to an apartment where we have our own washer and dryer. Cloth diapers are much more cost effective as well as way better for my baby. He will be exposed to less harmful chemicals on a daily basis which is always my goal.
We had no idea where to start.
Where to start?
I had read everything about cloth diapering. (Well, I thought everything.) I was still very confused about how it all worked. I could not wrap my head around the concept. Not that difficult now but for some reason I just had no idea how it was all supposed to work.
I decided to just jump right in. I went to the Rearz warehouse which happens to be down the street from my house. They also happened to have a great sale on when I wanted to get started with cloth diapering.
When I got there I talked with the person working and said I had no idea what I was doing. That I wanted to start cloth diapering and from what I had read I was most interested in pocket diapers. They got me set up with 6 pocket diapers, 4 Rearz French Velour fitted diapers and 2 Smitten by Rearz diapers, some diaper inserts (prefolds), 4 diaper covers and disposable liners. All came to less than $95! Great deal.
How The Rearz Diapers Worked For Me
Pocket Diapers
I really like the pocket diapers that I got. They are imported diapers and are much like Alva Baby cloth diapers. I found out from using these diapers that I am not a big fan of snaps on cloth diapers. Griffin is a squirmy baby and it is extremely hard to get the snaps all done up with him moving around. Other than that they work extremely well and I am very satisfied!
Rearz French Velour Fitted Diapers
I think the french velour diapers are extremely durable, absorbent and soft! I am definitely a fan of all of that! They hold in the mess exceptionally well. I am so not a fan of fitted diapers though. having to put on two layers every time I change my son's bum is much too difficult for me! He doesn't even stay still long enough for me to put one layer on, let alone two! I ended up selling these as they work really well - just not for us.
Smitten by Rearz
These are very cute as they are very vibrant colors. They are VERY absorbent and would make an excellent night time diaper! Very soft and I think they would be perfect if they had a waterproof cover on them, or that somehow attached so again, I wouldn't have to put two layers on my squirmy, impatient baby. I ended up selling these too.
You Live And You Learn, What We Figured Out Works For Us
So we ended up getting rid of all of the Rearz brand diapers just because they were not a good fit for our family. That left us with 6 pocket diapers.
Pocket Diapers Likes and Dislikes
LIKES
- Ease of use (only one thing to put on baby)
- Quick dry times because of two separate parts of the diaper
- Waterproof outer shell
- One size diaper (snaps to different rise heights)
- LOTS of buttons
- Can't re-use outer shell all goes in wash at diaper change (makes lots of laundry)
What We Need From A Cloth Diaper
- Easy to use (only one thing to put on baby)
- Quick dry time (two separate parts of diaper)
- Waterproof outer layer
- One size diaper
- Hook & loop closure
- Re-use of outer shell waterproof layer
- Soft
- Absorbent
- Good price!
GroVia
The GroVia AI2 system is a hybrid system meaning you can use cloth or disposable inserts with the outer waterproof shell. It is a one size diaper with snaps to adjust the rise of the diaper. They sell it with hook and loop closure or snaps. I think it is great for people to have the option! (The hook and loop closure is also very strong. Little ones would have to work VERY hard to undo it!) With it being an AI2 system the outside and the inside come apart and snap together making it very easy to put it onto a squirmy baby. All the putting it together can be done pre-diaper change and the diaper keeps itself together while you are trying to put it on your baby. The inside of the PLU waterproof cover also has a (I think cotton) mesh on the inside so the PLU isn't directly on your child's skin leaving some room to breathe! Which I really like. They say to change the outer cover twice daily and just change the inserts which is very great for saving on laundry!
The cloth inserts for the GroVia are my favorite (from research only). They have a water proof backing on them so that your covers don't get covered in pee. They also have two almost separate layers to them which makes them great for stuffing a booster in for naps and night time!
They are also reasonably priced diapers! If you find a sale - even better!
(We ended up purchasing GroVia AI2 diapers so I know much more about them than the others!)
gDiapers
gDiapers are also a hybrid diapering system. They have cloth and disposable inserts. They are very cute looking diapers and have many different colors and prints! The awesome thing about these diapers is that they have a hook and loop closure system that does up in the back! Safe and away from little, curious hands. These diapers are not a one size diaper. They come in different sizes to fit your growing baby perfectly without the bulk.
The inserts that are pushed for you to buy on their website are the disposables. They have cloth ones too. Both kinds of inserts fit into a little gPouch that snaps into the gPants (outer layer). The gPouch is waterproof and looks as though it would catch messes well. I have not used these diapers though and cannot say anything other than what I found in my research.
These are the most pricy of the three. Both the inserts and gPants are more expensive than the GroVia and Flip versions.
Flip
Flip AI2 Diapers are, again, also a hybrid diapering system. They have cloth inserts (no waterproof backing) and disposable inserts that just sit in the diaper under the flaps inside the diaper cover (they are not held in by anything). The cover is just a PLU shell with snaps for a one size diaper as well as snap closure. See how to use section of their website. They are a very basic diaper but look like they too would work well. They come in nice colors!
Flip are the least expensive of the bunch. Economical and functional.
The Brand We Decided To Buy and How Many We Bought
We decided to buy GroVia AI2 hook and loop closure covers with both stay dry and cotton inserts. We also purchased a few stay dry and cotton boosters. We use these diapers day and night. We love them and have not had any problems with leaks! At night we use the stay dry inserts with cotton boosters in between the two layers of the regular insert or a cotton insert with a stay dry booster on top of the regular insert. Either way we get extra absorbancy and our baby stays nice and dry with no leaks. He is starting to sleep through the night (finally) and we have still had no issues!All in all I would tell anyone to get these diapers. I love them. GroVia offered everything we were looking for in a cloth diaper. We have been using them for 2 weeks and are very pleasedeaVv VERY PLEASEDvery very very pleasedVERwith them!VERYvvVVeryare
We bought 8 covers, 18 inserts and 4 boosters in total. I would not recommend getting more covers as you don't need them. The most I have used in one day is three but you are supposed to wash the soiled diapers every other day so I have never run out. They also dry super fast after they are out of the wash. I would however purchase more inserts and boosters. I need to use a booster for naps and night time. Luckily I have a bunch of prefolds laying around from my first attempt at cloth diapering and those work well between the two layers in the insert as well! The inserts take a while to dry if you line dry them. In the dryer I feel like they take a while too. On the flip side I know they absorb a lot of liquid hence why they take so long to dry.
We love our GroVia diapers!
