REVIEW: Cloth diapering with GroVia and Bum Genius |GaijinDaddy

Cloth diapering is really easy, and isn't as messy as most people seem to think it is. Plus, it is alot cheaper than using disposables, even if you use a diaper delivery service. Whether for environmental or economic reasons, cloth diapering is the best option in my opinion.

My sister is 11 years younger than me. She had cloth diapers that were delivered to our door, and I changed her diapers from time to time.

I remember using pins, folding in a certain way, and worst of all, a wet diaper leading to not only a change of pants for her, but a change of clothes for the people holding her, or cleaning up a damp couch.

Now, there are waterproof diaper covers that you can use, and there is no need for pins, no special folding tricks, and best of all, a wet diaper means you change just the diaper, and not the entire outfit!

We chose cloth diapers for the environmental reasons, as well as the economic ones. Disposable plastic diapers will be around for hundreds if not thousands of years. Plus, you will spend about $40 a week for 100 or more diapers, versus about $20 a week for cloth diapers delivered to your door. (And you will be using about 100 diapers a week, easily)

We use a phenomenal service called Luludew, that serves the Los Angeles and surrounding area. (I get no commission for recommending them, they are just that good)

The only other decision to make is if you want to use reusable wipes, or go with disposable ones. There are reusable diaper wipes that are available, but we chose to go with a biodegradable disposable wipe ourselves.

Additionally, there are 100% cotton inserts that are available for on the go, that contain no chemicals or plastics, so you can even use them when you go out, without having to store the wet and dirty diapers for when you return home.

So, what do these two brands have to offer?

GroVia
Pros: velcro-type fasteners that are quick and easy to secure if you have a wiggle worm, completely waterproof, machine washable, elastic legs, adjustable from newborn to toddler.

Cons: mesh liner inside can lead to a dirty cleanup if your little one wiggles themselves or the cloth diaper to the side.

Review: This diaper is very easy to use and as far as I can tell, comfortable for the baby. I personally prefer to use this diaper simply because the velcro-type fastener is so easy to use, and has never come loose, no matter how much she wiggles and squirms. Like almost all diaper covers, it is completely waterproof. It will actually hold water like a bowl, without a hint of leakage. Another similar quality is that the diapers are adjustable by a snap system, and can be used from infancy to toddler, which means that you can use this diaper for a long time, stretching your value out for years.

The one downside to this diaper is it's cloth mesh interior. This may allow for more breathing, but it also leads to an easy way for poopie to get inside in the event of a slippage of the cloth diaper, or a really big load that leaks over the edges.

In the event of this, cleanup is simple. Hot water in a sink, and rubbing the affected area should eliminate most of the mess, followed by a trip to the washing machine.

Bum Genius
Pros: Completely waterproof, elastic legs, adjustable from newborn to toddler, machine washable, fabric inside that is extremely easy to clean, pocket inside that allows a small cloth to be inserted for extra absorbency.

Cons: Snaps can be difficult to secure if you have a wiggle worm, or a baby that fusses and kicks while being changed

Review: Much of the same can be said about this diaper cover as the GroVia, it is seemingly comfortable for the baby, completely waterproof, adjustable by using a snap system from newborn to toddler, and machine washable.

The differences are in the fastener choice. Bum Genius offers the snap system (but does offer a hook and loop, or velcro-type fastener), which can be difficult to secure if you kid wiggles and squirms during diaper changes. This means you have to either pull the diaper cover and push down the legs to get the snaps into place, then get your fingers under the diaper cover to secure the snaps. Furthermore, you can't seem to get a perfect fit, just an adequate fit, because you have to go into the predetermined snaps.

The other major difference is the solid fabric inside, with the pocket that allows the insertion of a cloth for extra absorbency. This solid cloth makes for an easy cleanup in the event of anything not being caught by the cloth diaper itself.

Conclusion: The hook and loop velcro-type fasteners are easier to use, but the mesh interior is harder to clean. Overall, either one is a good choice, but perhaps the best choice is a combination of the two, which is offered by bumGenius (and I have yet to purchase and use myself) which gives the ease of cleanup of a solid interior and the quick and easy fastening of a velcro-type fabric.

Whichever option you chose, you will end up saving money in the long run, and help the environment because of less waste being sent to landfills.