This is a follow up to the fellow poster who asked about cloth diapers. We have been used cloth since my now-6month old was born. We use a diaper service, that delivers pre-folds. I LOVE cloth diapers, but am growing sick of the prefolds. She just leaks here and there all the time and it seems like there is a better solution. We are moving soon and seems like a good time to switch.
A fellow mom recommended Mother Ease. Anyone ever use those. We got one bum genius as a gift but, this is sad to admit, i don't really know how to use that. And I am wondering if that is really going to prevent leaks -- seems pretty similar to a prefold in that manner. (Mother ease, i see, has the cloth diaper part snap all around the baby like a cover, and then is covered, of course, with a cover). Any advice would be appreciated! And, if you don't mind, even though I use cloth I am not down with the cloth lingo so if you could describe the terms you use, I would be so grateful! THANKS!
I used the bumgenius with my oldest and found that it was a great diaper. It never leaked and the pocket in the back of the diaper is big enough to stuff liners. ( they sell hemp ones that are extra adsorbant). I also enjoyed the 3 snaps in the front for sizing. I haven't heard much about the mother ease. I hope this helps :)
Have you read www.diaperswappers.com?
Their Q&A section is fantastic to read through and if you don't find your answer (doubtful, I think just about every question has been asked), you can still post your question. I learned everything I needed to know there, plus bought a few used covers and inserts to try out.
Good luck!
Hi S., I haven't used MEs but I use BG all-in-ones and one-size pockets and I've found them very easy to use/clean and had very few leak issues (usually only when I lose track of time). I don't know where you're moving to, but there is a great store in Somerville,MA Diaper Lab (they have a website too) that set me up w/ everything. They will teach you how to use/care for what ever you want.
I agree with Rachel H. Bum Genius are great and very easy. As she said just put the white liner into the pocket. You can even double up the liners if you are concerned about leaks and we do that at night. They are so easy to use and last a long time (my son just turned 10 months and we just adjusted the diaper to the largest size. Definitely buy some paper poop liners for easy clean up. Good luck!
I use both MotherEase and BumGenius. I inherited the MEs from my cousin and picked the BGs because of the reviews I read about them. Both have worked well for me -- I've never had problems with leaks unless I just left the diaper on too long or it was a particularly long nap. For the most part, however, I've found that both of these perform very well in terms of wearing and washing. The BumGenius are easier with changing because they only require the velcro, whereas you have from 6-8 snaps with the MEs to remove and the same to put back on. One advantage of the MEs is that they can go longer for bigger kids. My son is 2 and 35 lbs, and while we're still using the BGs (they supposedly go up to 35 lbs), they're getting pretty snug; the MEs still have room. A disadvantage is that you do have to keep buying the different sized covers for the MEs, whereas the BGs will carry you through with the one diaper.
OH, and about how to use the BGs -- I'm assuming you have a one size pocket style -- that just means that the diaper has a pocket at the inside back and a liner that you remove. The liner is the absorbent part, the fabric on the inside of the cover part just allows liquids to flow through. For washing, you remove the liner and wash the liner and cover separately.
Final analysis, the MEs work well, but my personal preference for ease of use is the BGs. I haven't done a cost comparison but my guess would be they will run you pretty much the same.
Hi S.,
We have had very few leaks w/ the bum genius and the fuzzibunz they are very very easy to use. We are actually using them right now w/o stufing them during our potty training and our son is doing great w/ it we are just stuffing them at night. The pocket and all in ones I think are easier for people that aren't familiar w/ cloth like babysitters, daycare, etc because you just stuff them and put them on like a regular diaper w/ either the velcro or snap closures. We used prefolds when he was small but switched to the all in ones and pockets after made changing a baby on the move much easier.
BumGenius is my favorite. Slide the white insert into the pocket of the bumgenius diaper. Use the snaps to make the entire diaper smaller if you need to (I'm assuming you have the One-size bumgenius). If you snap it down to a smaller size then you will also need to snap the liner down to a smaller size so it will fit inside the pocket. You don't need a diaper cover with this one. It's very absorbant and if you get a good fit around the legs you shouldn't have leaks. take the diaper apart before laundering. I always used those poop liners so that I never got poop stains on the actual diaper. Never used Mother Ease but if you don't mind using separate diapers and covers then give it a shot. Personally I prefer the all-in-one (AIO) :) Good luck!
R.
We have been using Bum Genius diapers for nearly a year now. I LOVE them. I chose them since they should last until potty training. They are so simple to use. Just stuff according to day or night. My son is a HEAVY wetter at night so I got special absorbant inserts (superdo's} for nights. Otherwise I just use the basic insert for daytime. If you're running errands use the smaller insert too for added absorbancy. My son is 13 months old and we are on the middle set of snaps. The issue with leaks is either fit or waiting too long to change a diaper. You just have to make sure you change the diaps every 3 hours or so and of course be careful to follow the laundry directions. Lastly get special diaper creams that are for cloth diapers so you don't ruin the diapers absorbancy (I use northern essence products they smell great and work great!) All of these things may seem like a lot but it really is simple. I use cloth wipes too and use soap solution I make from purchased nuggets. My fav web site for cloth diapering necessities is twolittlewhales.com. Hope it helps.
If you want a chance to try lots of different kinds and not be out much money, go to www.jilliansdrawers.com and sign up for their 3 week cloth diaper trial - they send you one dipe each of about 12 different kinds and you try them, wash and return them (or keep if you like) - you only pay shipping. Neat idea!
Hi S.
I have used Mother Ease with both of my children ( & at the same time with just 18 mth age difference). They are very easy to use, the 'outers' can be used more than once provided there is no real mess so less washing than the Fuzzi bunz. They were great for day and night time. Looking like a regular disposable meant that even carers and friends weren't too fazed either!
Good luck and good for you for using cloth diapers!
I used a lot of different types. I had a couple Bum Genius pocket diapers which worked well, also fuzzi bunz were good when DD was little but she had a long torso so I didn't like them so much when she got bigger. Pocket diapers are really simple to use. I found a couple other brands of pocket diapers that worked well too. They are really simple too if anyone else ever cares for your baby. I usually just stuffed them when I put them away and they were ready when needed.
I had a couple AIO (all in ones) which are one-piece. I see that Bum Genius has those as well. I didn't like those as well because they took longer to dry. The pockets, you take out the absorbant stuffing (and can add as much as you need-that's a plus too) so they dried more quickly and still were very simple.
I also liked kissaluvs which were fitteds (and so cute and soft), they had snaps and just needed a cover. Kissaluvs also has contours that I discovered later and really liked too. They needed a snappy and a cover.
With the pocket diapers and with diaper covers I preferred velcro to snaps, just seemed to be more flexible for me. But velcro doesn't last forever. I had one fast growing kid and don't plan to reuse and resuse them with later kids, so that may be something to look into when you do decide on a brand.
The danger of buying cloth vs using a service is there are SO MANY choices! And shopping for diapers can become addictive, they are so cute!! :) You may want to try a sampler with a few different kinds to see what you like. Many of the online diaper vendors have them.
