Now that Autumn is a year old, she is incredibly mobile and more curious than ever. She wants to do everything her big sister does, and is determined to keep up. Any hint of inequality or unfairness is cause for a howl of indignation, and she pushes herself every day. I wonder how much of this is her personality, how much correlates to her relationship with her sister, and how much she will retain as she grows older. Do you notice similar traits in your younger children? How do you help them to feel that where they are now developmentally is okay and they don’t have to keep pace with older siblings?
Today I’m excited to share the Too Smart cover from Smart Bottoms. When I’m approached by families interested in learning to use cloth diapers, I always encourage them to include a few quality covers for a strong starter stash, since they are so versatile and affordable.
Ease of Use ✩✩✩✩ This cover has generously sized flaps in the front and back of the diaper with PUL binding to help keep your insert of choice in place with a water tight bond. The cover itself is very simple to use, with the great fit and rise spacing Smart Bottoms fans know and love. You can choose the Too Smart inserts, which are very similar to the sewn in soaker in the all in one version of this diaper, and fold it in the manner you prefer (a simple tri-fold or with additional absorbency at the back or front), or you can choose your own insert. The beauty of a strong cover like this one is that anything absorbent will work, from old cotton tee shirts to flour sack towels to your favorite soaker of choice. Just remember if you are going to use something with microfiber it is important to wrap it with cotton, fleece, or some other material so the microfiber never touches your baby’s skin. I found the Too Smart insert to be an excellent soaker, it is organic cotton, it washes easily and dries quickly, and doesn’t wrinkle up or pucker the way I’ve noticed some long inserts can.
Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩✩ You can bring home one of these eye catching covers for twenty two dollars, and if you need soakers a three pack of inserts is just fifteen dollars. While it is possible to find cheaper covers and inserts, the quality and longevity of this set is very hard to beat. It is apparent when you run your hands over the material, when you pull on the snaps to test their strength, and when you tug on the elastic to ensure a snug fit around your little one’s thighs. Smart Bottoms is made in the USA and the cost is minimal when you consider you can reuse the cover without needing to wash until it becomes soiled or once a day. My water bill is always appreciative when I reuse covers and reduce my laundry load.
Performance ✩✩✩✩✩ This cover is exceptionally strong, and while it is important to consider the level of absorbency you require and plan accordingly, I do find that the generously sized double walled gussets to offer a great deal of forgiveness when it comes to keeping your little one’s clothes dry. The extra wide elastic at the back also keeps messes away and prevents the dreaded blow out, combined with the aforementioned PUL flaps.
Fit ✩✩✩✩ If you’re lucky enough to have tried the Smart Bottoms all in one style, you’ll be excited to know that these covers offer the same exceedingly popular footprint. The snaps cinch down to a snug fit cozy enough for a new baby, combined with tightly gathered elastic. When your little one grows the elastic will stretch to accommodate and the strong snaps will stand up to even the most determined toddler hands (so if you’re struggling with an overeager “helper” who likes to remove their diaper at inopportune times, this cover may be your golden ticket!) making this one size diaper very flexible.
Overall: Smart Bottoms is known for exceptional diapers in stylish choices and their versatile new cover is the perfect addition to their collection. I adore the color choices with the contrasting snaps which are playful but never too juvenile. The Too Smart has all the features I look for in a good cover, and makes an excellent choice for a stash whether you’re on a budget, you love the diverse options a cover can allow in regards to absorbency, or you would just like something lovely and well made. I’ll even let you know I’ve suggested this cover to some friends of mine who choose to use disposable diapers, as the cover is so good at containing messes and preventing blowouts it can offer a trim and yet durable layer of protection for families who are looking for a neater solution.
Where to Buy: Kelly’s Closet or any Smart Bottoms retailer will have them now!