(Notes from me, Kim, in grey.  I just can’t let someone write on my blog without interjecting…)

I met Kim of DDL back before there was a DDL. I knew right away she had to be cool when she mentioned something about loving the Smashing Pumpkins. (Yes.  I am so ridiculously cool.  Didn’t you guys know this?!  Katie said so.)  Then when we were pregnant (we both have babies born in November of 2008) she kept talking about this whole cloth diapering thing and I thought…that sounds pretty cool. I think I’ll check that out. I mean I breastfeed, I co-sleep, I babywear… So it would make sense that I would cloth diaper too, right? But then I came to three realizations:

1) I am not interested in dealing with poop
2) I HATE laundry
3) I am lazy

So, when I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl, I slapped a Pampers on her booty and went on with being my lazy self. (Yes, I said Pampers. I wonder if that word is even allowed on this blog?) Note from Kim- Yeah… I guess I’ll let it slide…

Fast forward to me being pregnant with number two. At this point DDL had been around for a while (Katie you are making me feel OLD) and I had learned so many cool things about cloth diapering. Like how easy it can be and how diaper laundry is really nothing like regular laundry and that diaper laundry is even….FUN! Kim had inspired so many of our friends to cloth, that I began to really consider it.  (It’s true…. there is a small community of moms that use cloth in part to my wonderful self.  You’re welome Earth.)  

And there is the cute factor. Cloth diapers are SO damn cute!

So when my son Everett was around 5 months old, I took the plunge and went cloth. (You see how she stole my son’s name?!  The NERVE!)

I got the diapers and excitedly washed them and went into it full time. There was a learning curve: What detergent to use? How much? How long can he wear one? How often do I need to do diaper laundry? How will we handle being out and about? Can I handle the poop? What about the extra laundry?

I won’t lie. We had some leaks (pee only) as I figured out how to really use the diapers correctly and get the best fit. But soon it was like second nature. And it was true: diaper laundry really isn’t like regular laundry!

My daughter who was two at the time and not yet potty trained, was NOT interested in wearing cloth, so we continued to use our disposables on her until she was. We figured that it wouldn’t be long. Of course, kids always keep you on your toes and she didn’t end up potty training until right before her third birthday. Which meant we always had disposables in the house.

In fact, my daughter and my son were wearing the same size disposable diapers. So I would find myself using them on Ev occasionally when we were out and about because I always hated the idea of carrying around a soiled (poop) diaper in my diaper bag. Soon I found that we were out an about quite a bit, especially because of my daughter’s doctor’s appointments and therapies. Which meant that he was in disposables quite often. At this point, I would say we were about 65/35 cloth to disposables.

Then recently our cleaning lady put a dryer sheet in with a HUGE load of diapers because she didn’t know any better. (Cleaning lady?  You just made me jealous!) You know what that does to a cloth diaper right? I almost cried. And my lazy self took like two weeks to strip them. Which meant my lazy self slipped into super lazy mode with the disposables.

Sigh.

Honestly, disposables are easier (well, in my opinion anyway). You just chuck them in the garbage. I am aware that technically even with disposables you are supposed to dispose of the poop but let’s be honest here: no one does this. People are lazy, like me, and prefer to chuck it in the pail and go back to Facebooking playing with their children.

But I want better for my kids. I don’t really want all those disgusting chemicals against my babies’ skin. I don’t want to clog up the Earth with piles of my kid’s waste that won’t decompose. I want to be responsible and well, not be lazy.

And I want my kids’ bum’s to be adorable.

So I am currently trying to get back to full(ish) time cloth. I think it’s important to know that even going cloth part time is AWESOME. (Absolutely!  I’m so not an “all or nothing” kinda gal either.  Do what you can!) You can reap so many benefits from doing cloth even just part time. You will be saving the planet from unnecessary waste, keeping unwanted chemicals away from your babies skin, reducing your child’s rick of getting diaper rashes, and saving money.

I promise, you can cloth diaper EVEN if you are lazy. I’m proof of that. Just keep the disposables out of the house and you’re good.

Katie is a licensed speech language pathologist, mother, cloth diaperer, and blogger. She lives in California with her husband and two children E (3) and Ev (13 months). Check out her blog,Playing With Words 365, where she provides information for parents, educators, and other professionals on how to expand children’s speech and language skills through play, reading, music, crafts and other daily activities.

Last night I was watching 19 Kids and Counting and unexpectantly caught the conversation between Anna Duggar, Josh Duggar, and the camera about their use of cloth diapers.  We’ve seen her use cloth on both babies before, and she has even mentioned it in previous episodes, but in this episode they had a whole mini segment on the topic.  To those who aren’t familiar with the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting Anna Duggar is the wife of Josh Duggar and Josh is the first son of Michelle Duggar- mom of 19 children.   Anna and Josh now have two children of their own and both children have been cloth diapered part time.

According to Anna she wants to cloth diaper but has run into some issues.  She admitted to feeling guilt that she uses disposable diapers in conjunction with cloth.  She uses cloth more on her son Michael and is trying to potty train her first daughter.  Josh- ever supportive, told her not to feel bad because washing cloth diapers is hard work.

I got the vibe that Anna was having issues not with having to wash diapers but with the actual wash routine.  After I excitedly posted this photo and announced that modern cloth diapers made a spot on the show onto DDL’s facebook Page a few readers informed me that Arkansas, where the Duggars live, has notoriously hard water. They also declared the diaper on Michael to be a Sunbaby and Julie from Rumparooz let us know that Anna has some RaR’s as well!

Hard water can cause all kinds of washing troubles including repelling (where the diapers have buildup of soap and/or minerals from the water that prevent urine from soaking through and will cause major leaks), Barnyard Stink (usually caused by the diapers not getting clean enough, possibly also due to hard water), or ammonia.  Ammonia is the biggest beast of all that is the hardest to kill.  Ammonia produces an intense odor in the diapers that can burn off your nose hairs.  It can also be worse than just an odor- high levels on ammonia in diapers can cause ammonia burns on the baby, usually these appear in bright red, flat rashes or even some blistering, especially on the tip of the penis.

No one ever said washing diapers is super easy.  I’ve had my own troubles more than once and battled them.  I’m hoping Anna will get the hang of cloth diapers and be sure to have those camera men film her adorable babies in their cloth diapers!  Modern cloth diapers have come a long way but society still thinks of the old school flats, pins, and rubber pants.  The more we see the easy to use, modern cloth diapers in the media, the more moms will see them and think “hmm… that’s not so bad…”  Some of you may recall my push to get cloth diapers on The Ellen Show (#OperationFluffy) that wasn’t successful.

More reasons to love Anna Duggar- She uses an Ergobaby Carrier and wears her children, she breastfeeds (even in public with a cover), she has had two successful homebirths and both were shown in part on the show, she practices baby sign language with her babies, and she seems to be a genuinely nice person and a great mom.

Anna Duggar, if you see this and you want some cloth diaper help you just let me know!  

I’ll be the first to say I take issues with the Duggar’s beliefs but this isn’t a religious discussion, or a discussion on their family size. Please keep comments related to cloth diapers on the show or related issues- not about the family or religion.  Thank you.  

Recently I’ve seen numerous requests for a review of the EcoPosh One Size Fitted. The EcoPosh line was released months ago with the selling point of being made from recycled plastic bottles. This isn’t the first cloth diaper to be made in the fashion (see Lollidoo) but it is still a neat concept. The whole line has a premium price point but the good news is they look to be well made an this One Size Fitted is extremely absorbent.

Ease of Use ✩✩✩ In terms of diapering my least favorite thing has to be a pocket fitted. I almost always forget to unstuff the pocket and then have to unstuff and rewash the whole thing when I get it out of my dryer and notice the insert is bunched up at the bottom of the pocket. The diaper itself goes on pretty easily with only 2 snaps per tab. The rise has a 4 step rise adjustment system and will only need to be adjusted every so often as your child grows.
Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩ The Eco Posh One Size fitted packs an absorbent punch and makes a fantastic overnight diaper for babies who need all the absorbency they can get! Part of the high price tag included some pretty amazing inserts (6r Soaker) for a fairly custom absorbency level. The smaller doubler will work in the fitted on the smallest snapped down rise and the whole thing can be used for heavy wetters or for overnight. The most absorbent fitteds always seem to be the most expensive. It is on the higher range of that price point but it isn’t unheard of to pay this much for a fitted diaper ($34.97).
Performance ✩✩✩✩✩ No doubt about it, the Eco Posh Fitted will stand up to some heavy wettings. Paired with a wool soaker or well fitting waterproof cover there should be no leaks at night! There was room for more when my son was through with it even after 12 hours.
Fit ✩✩✩✩ Each rise snap has a waist snap to coordinate. Your child might not fit that “mold” and the lack of more choices on the waist makes me a tad nervous for wider waisted babies. For use Everett used the rise with 2 snaps exposed, and the matching waist snap. On him is looks very, very bulky, especially when you add a cover on top. I would only use this at night. His pants wouldn’t snap when paired with an EcoPosh and cover.
Overall: Everyone should know that the EcoPosh does take significantly longer to dry than pockets and even many All-in-Ones. The way the fabric is bunched up for the internal gussets makes it take longer. The insert itself is also thick and takes longer to dry than any othes in my stash. I personally wouldn’t pay the price on this diaper unless I needed a super heavy duty overnight solution or unless I could get a good deal. It is a very nice diaper, works, I love the way it looks and the color choices, but I am not running out to buy 5, 1 or 2 will do.
Where to Buy Kelly’s Closet (affiliate link)  Pssst…  use code BLOGLOVE on your order and get $5.00 off $25.00 or more.  Not valid on bumGenius, Econobum, Flip, Hemp Babies, GroVia, or Thirsties products.  Expires 3/15/02.  2 uses per customer.  Not valid for GC’s.

I purchased this diaper to review using affiliate commissions thanks to those readers who choose to shop through my affiliate links.  Thank you!

The cloth diaper community has always stated that PUL (polyurethane laminate) cloth diapers are more breathable than their disposable counterpart.  I have always believed this to be true and the evidence in babies (less rashes) has supported this claim.  Still, it would be nice to have a real study to support this fact.  I don’t know of one but I did see a pretty convincing experiment conducted by the WAHM and mom behind Oeko Popo diapers.

This experiment uses boiling water and steam to show PUL is more breathable than the plastic lining in disposable diapers.  The more water droplets on the inside of the glass that was placed over the diaper means the more breathable the material.

You can guess which diaper won!

What a fabulous experiment courtesy of Oeko Popo diapers.  I am currently reviewing their Batumee diaper so keep an eye out!

The Mabu Baby Eco-Diaper System is a cloth diaper that was recntly introduced.  It has been called the “Wal-mart” diaper since it is currently carried in select locations. While big box stores have carried familiar brands online most have not carried them in the actual store. The Mabu Baby diapers come in kits with 2 Shells and 2 snap in liners, 2 washable pads, 2 disposable pads, and 5 disposable liners. These can be used as hybrid diapers or an All-in-Two. The idea of Wal-Marts carrying cloth diapers is both frightening and exciting. On one hand you are exposing cloth diapers to a new and huge audience. On the other hand you start introducing cloth diapers to the “big business” world which could pose an economic threat to the many WAHM owned retail stores and diaper brands. As always DDL is here to provide an objective review and show you how the diaper works on video.
Ease of Use ✩✩ AHH! Maybe I am just inept but the after wash assembly of the Mabu Baby had me wondering if I needed a diaper degree. The way the layers folded into themselves, the fact that you can only put the liner in one way, all of these things took a lot of time to assemble for me. For a newbie to cloth it might be a bit overwhelming. It is hard to explain here but after washing/drying everything looks like a big mess. Even with my trained eye it took me longer than most other diapers. Once the liner is snapped into the shell then you just need to take your insert, bi-fold it, and lay in with the stay dry side facing the baby. Then you are all set to place it on the baby. That part is easy!  The Mabu Baby uses hook and loop closures (like velcro) and these mimic the ease of a disposable diaper.  The hooks are plastic like and hard and the loops are soft and flat.  Those familiar with the GroVia brand will notice that this is virtually identical.  The possible problem down the line could be these wearing out or the tabs curling/scratching the baby. Another way they did simplify things is that the sizing mimics that of disposables with the NB,1,2,3/4 options.  I can’t attest to how they align though.
Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩✩ I was expecting the price to be lower since it is sold at Wal-Mart for now. It is sill going to save parents money on disposables! You can get the starter kit at participating Wal-Marts for 29.95. For informed cloth diapering families they know that there are some better known brands for sale at the various online diaper stores, but there are many families that are cloth curious who will likely purchased the kit to try after seeing it in store.
Performance ✩✩✩✩ Ya know….. this diaper actually worked really really well. I even started using it for my nighttime diaper and used it for both boys. Everett is 14 months and while it would feel heavy each morning it never leaked. Poops were also contained within the entire diaper but the liner never contained the mess without it leaking into the shell. I’m not sure when the liner would really protect the shell from a poop. And with urine you can wipe it clean if desired so the purpose of the liner is only there to be difficult to snap in.
Fit ✩✩✩ According to the Size Chart my son Everett would have been a 3/4 based on his weight. When we got our package in the mail we saw how huge the size 3/4 was. Luckily they also sent the Size 2. It fit him great around the waist and even still fit my 3 year old, though it was a close call. This is why a weight based chart is inaccurate since you can be 40 pounds and 2 years old or 4. The height and build make it fit differently. The diapers appeared bulky in between the legs, like it was saggy but it wasn’t. The butt wasn’t hugely poofy at all, and the profile looks rather slim.
Overall: The diaper is absolutely functional. It is designed for parents who are being exposed to cloth diapers in a different way than most of the current users who are doing a lot of internet research. The packaging is friendly, helpful, and eye catching. It gives you basic information and hopes you will give them a chance. The design isn’t exactly simple and the tangle of shells, liners, and inserts could discourage a cloth diaper newbie if they went in unsure in the first place. I think they were going for simple but it just isn;t working.  The only “simple” aprt is that these only come in white and are only available in hook and loop.  In terms of spraying out the diaper I have decided this is topping my list of Least Favorite Cloth Diapers to Spray.  We had an epic situation that called for a hazmat suit.  If only I had used a liner!

I did actually like the diapers and was surprised by how much (even though this review seems to say otherwise). I think it all comes down to the inserts (which I really liked) and that it fit well and looked comfortable on.

Where to Buy Find a Wal-Mart location

Inspired by this photo and knowing it was just BEGGING to be captioned I posted it to my Facebook Page and asked my readers what it should say. There were lots of funny ones, some cloth related and some not. This caption posted by Keisha Wilcox seemed to capture the image well and it was hilarious. Keisha- hit me up! I think this deserves a FREE DIAPER!
We have fun like this all the time on my Facbook Page, have you “liked” Dirty DiaperLaundry yet?!

The Cloth Diaper Industry is steadily growing, both in size, number, and value.  Just over the three years that I’ve been aware that it even existed I have seen tremendous growth.  Do you want to know one of the reasons that I love this industry?  The fact that it is primarily women.

Moms end up having a lot of ideas, usually inspired by becoming a parent and noticing a way they can make life easier by inventing a product or improving an existing one.  This was certainly the case when Tereson Dupuy invented the modern cloth diaper and founded Fuzzibunz- the first pocket diaper.

Bummis, bumGenius, Fuzzibunz, GroVia, and Happy Heiny’s are examples of million dollar companies that were started by mothers just trying to create a better product for their own babies and maybe a few more in the process.  I don’t think any of these women expected to become CEO’s of companies while being the CEO of their own family.

Bummis is the oldest company in the list.  Betsey Thomas started their company more than 30 years ago (along with a few other mothers) and had a hard time finding financial support.  She was quoted in the Montreal Gazette as saying “Nobody would give anybody making diapers money…Now the banks are trying to throw money at us.”

Jenn Labit, the inventor of bumGenius, has a more “rags to riches” story.  She started Cotton Babies, the retail store, first.  The idea for bumGenius came later. As told on their website- “Our company began very small – with $100 worth of product in a tiny green milkcrate stored in a shelf in our kitchen. It grew from there to a bookshelf, then a closet, then a bedroom, then a basement and finally, in 2005, the business expanded into a small commercial space.”  Did you know that the snap-down insert came before their snap-down One Size diaper?!

The cloth diaper industry is littered with these amazing stories of mothers taking their good idea, building it, selling it, and in the process- creating a company around it.  Women are the heart and soul of the cloth diaper industry.  I would dare say there are more women Presidents, CEO’s, and Owners in this industry than the {disposable} Feminine Hygiene Industry.  Why?  Because those companies are owned by much larger corporations.  Families are still largely in charge of even the biggest diaper brands in operation today.  In many cases, husbands work alongside their wives to help run the business, but I know who is calling the shots!

Similarly, the cloth diaper world has given me a voice.  I quit my job in 2008 to focus on my soon to be first born son.  I had just moved from North Carolina to New York and hadn’t found a job that I loved.  I had a college degree and no idea what I was going to do but for the time I decided I would be a Stay at Home Mom.  4 months into my son’s life I had the idea to help other parents “see” the cloth diapers I researched so heavily while pregnant.  I purchased a domain name, found hosting, and started “Dirty Diaper Laundry.”  While DDL is not a million dollar company by any stretch of the imagination, I have been able to sell advertising, do social media work, and even do some consulting on the side to generate income.  The pay is still small but I can do it all from my home and on my own schedule.  I still get to take my son to pre-school, join playdates, and enjoy time with my boys.  DDL gives me so much more than just income.  I get to express myself creatively; DDL is my voice and my passion.

One criticism about my website has been that my reviews are not critical enough.  That is probably true.  I look on the positive as much as possible when reviewing a diaper.  Do you know why?  Because that diaper was designed by a mom.  That mom designed the diaper for her baby; she put in hours cutting, sewing, making patterns, and testing it.  In many cases I know that this diaper works well for others, including the original test baby it was designed for.  It just didn’t work for my test baby.  There is already an excellent post about remembering this very fact.  Sometimes we forget that there is a person behind the brand.

When the new bumGenius Artist Series was unveiled I was appalled at the negative reactions posted to Facebook and message-boards.  When Fluff Bling was announced the mud was flying again.

These big brands we see now didn’t start that way.  Bummis didn’t begin as a brand developed by men in suits at a conference table tossing out ideas to make money.  bumGenius isn’t the product of market analysis.  Moms took an idea and make something amazing happen that we are all benefiting from.  I know my wallet is a little heavier thanks to the money I save using cloth diapers, my son’s bottom is exposed to cloth that is easy to use and designed well, and my trash can leaves my house a lot less stinky than it would with 20 pounds of waste inside.  I owe thanks to all of the women who made the products I love.

One day P&G might start knocking on doors trying to buy out these companies.  I hope they resist.  I love my cloth diapers, but I love even more that they represent the power, ingenuity, and down right awesomeness of women.  Think about that.  Women are pretty amazing- we make babies, we nourish them, and sometimes we do it all while running a sewing machine, typing at the keyboard, or attending a board meeting.

Take some time today to thank your favorite cloth diaper maker.  Unfortunately people always come to them when they have a problem, but rarely do people com forward just to say “Thanks.”  Post it to their Facebook, Tweet at them, send a contact form or email.  You would be amazed at how a simple positive email can change the course of their entire day.  

I was able to see the Fuzzibunz Elite One Size for the first time, before it was released to the public, at the ABC Kids Expo. I was happy with many of the improvements, the biggest being that they moved the elastic sizing to the inside of the pocket, which kept it from touching the baby’s skin and prevented you from having to re-stuff it in the slot like the previous version.

What confused me was the addition of something called “Nanotechnology.” When I asked about what this was everyone seemed to have either a different answer, or no clue. Not satisfied and still confused, I emailed after the show. Since then Tereson Dupuy took to her blog to explain it and I am still confused. Here is what she wrote (orginal source here):

“Nanotechnology can mean many different things in many different industries and you likely need to be a chemist to understand it. However, our simple explanation is this:

During the waterproofing of the outer layer of fabric (PUL) on FuzziBunz cloth diapers, there is an extra finishing step which helps the fabric prevent leaks through the leg seams, as well as prevent overall wicking around the waist and legs to the outside of the diaper and clothing. Nanotechnology, which simply means smaller particles or fibers, is used in this finish to better protect the waterproofing of the fabric. Finishes have always been used, however most would wash out within 25 washes. The textile industry has been using this type of technology more and more over the last several years to add durability and performance to fabrics such as the ones used in our FuzziBunz cloth diapers.

What is most important for you to know is that FuzziBunz as a company would never use anything harmful in their products AND the diapers have all passed CPSIA testing for harmful chemicals. The finish that is applied that uses nanotechnology is OKEO-TEX 100 certified for use in baby textiles and this is the highest safety rating it can receive. We are extremely confident in the safety of this process and you should be as well.”

I was told in person that the nanotechnology was sewn in and only to the edges. I am not reviewing this aspect of the diaper because I honestly don’t see it coming into play at all. In a way it reminds me of the “Bifidus Regularis” in Activia. A fancy word for something that may or may not be doing something but that you will likely never know, but it is meant to make you think it is pretty swanky.

Now for my review:
Ease of Use ✩✩✩ I much prefer the sizing of this version of the Fuzzibunz One Size to their old sizing. I never had much of a problem with it but only having to size each leg on one end is nice, and the fact that it is in the pocket and never has to be shoved back into a slot is a plus. Adjusting the size isn’t an exact science. You can look to the guide to see where your child would fit, but might still need to go back in and change things if you notice that the fit doesn’t look right. This is not a diaper you want to use between two different sized children in cloth diapers.

Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩ An Elite Fuzibunz will cost you 19.97 at most retailers, unless you catch it on sale. You do get 2 inserts included, and it is “one size.” However, it doesn’t look like it will last my son all the way until he learns the potty. If you have a whole stash of them you might be in a similar situation and need to buy Large sized diapers which adds to your overall cloth diapering cost. You will get a warranty if you buy them new in case something happens, which is good to have.

Performance ✩✩✩ My gut feeling is that the minky inserts aren’t as absorbent as the microfiber ones. I typically never have saturated inserts or any leaks, but I did get two leaks on Everett. Unfortunately the FB is so trim in between the legs that it is hard to double stuff, and double stuffing takes away that nice trim look they have. I just learned to make sure I changed him a little sooner in the FB and used it only during the day.

Fit ✩✩✩✩ For now, the FB Elite fits great on Everett. It looks amazing and trim. He has no more slots on the rise and maybe 1 snap on each side. I feel like he will outgrow the waist unless he remains that size (width) until potty learning. Yes, it is entirely possible because he could continue to grow taller but not wider. And before you ask, I double, triple checked that I had the waist sized to the largest setting. I still heistate in saying it will fit him until potty learning unless I see it for myself. In OS diapers, they either get really small and work for newborns/babies (like the Elite) or last until potty learning and older toddlers. It is almost impossible to get both of those fits in a OS. You have to ask yourself what is more important to you when buying, and research.

Overall: It sounds like I didn’t really like the FB Elite, but I actually did. I still prefer their Perfect Size line of diapers to their OS. I am not sold on the change over to Minky inserts, which are supposed to hold less stink and clean easier than microfiber. That is probably true but they lose some of the absorbency. I am also fine without the addition of “nanotechnology” to my cloth diapers. Regular techonology, just sewing them and making them fit well and absorb urine, is fine. Maybe it is preventing wicking, but since I don’t typically have that issue with any of my pocket diapers I wouldn’t be able to compare.  It honestly feels more like a gimmick than an improvement to cloth diapers.  I like that the FB Elite doesn’t leave snaps visible in the rise, one of the biggest benefits of a slotted leg elastic sizing diaper. The improvements to the placement of the sizing was needed and solved that curling elastic that happened to the old version. And finally- I do really love the new color, Spearmint, that I reviewed. It is beautiful in person and one of my all time favorite cloth diaper colors. It is gender neutral!  I actually think this is a top 3 in terms of how I feel the diaper looks and fits my son in the trim department too.

Where to Buy- Kelly’s Closet (affiliate) 

When bumGenius announced they would be discontinuing their Deluxe All-in-One with the exception of their XS (now called Newborn), we knew there had to be a replacement in the works. That came a few months ago with the announcement of the Freetime- the new All-in-One that is also a One Size diaper. It features a Suedecloth lining, the same 3×3 One Step Rise adjustment as the bumGenius 4.0 and bumGenius Elemental, and Microfiber soakers that are semi-attached at each end. The new design means less stink issues since the soakers can get cleaner. It is also a more affordable One Size All-in-One option than the Elemental, their Organic One Size cloth diaper.  Please note that I will be updating this review if using it longer changes things. 
Ease of Use ✩✩✩ The Freetime is “all-in-one” in that there are no seperate pieces. However, there is some assembly required before putting it on a baby after it has been washed. The soakers won’t just magically fall into the proper position.  Many options can sometimes mean more complications. No, it isn’t hard- but you do have to decide how to lay your soakers every time you change the diaper, or at least when you fold it after washing. Changing the sizing on the diaper is VERY easy, and like the Elemental, I like this to use between two babies in diapers who might be in different sizes. It is a perfect diaper bag diaper! The hardest thing about the Freetime is if/when your baby does a number 2. I’m going to have to add this diaper to my “worst diapers to spray” list. No matter how you slice it, a soaker is going to try and flop out and into your toilet. If you think your baby is going to poop and you want to use this diaper- do yourself a favor and throw in a fleece or flushable liner- TRUST ME!
Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩✩ The Freetime is more expensive than its predecessor but that is because it is more complex and also One Size fits most. I’m pretty sure the creative geniuses at bumGenius took a lot of time and research to develop this diaper too. Just like all of my Cotton Babies products the Freetime is very well made. When you buy a BG product you also get the warranty and customer service behind it. You can now even live chat on their website with qualified and knowledgeable staff to troubleshoot your problems. Yes you can find cheaper AIO‘s, but some people would rather pay more for these little things that really add up!
Performance ✩✩✩✩ I still need to use this diaper longer to really test the performance, and then update it in the future. I haven’t tested it overnight yet. For daytime we haven’t experienced any leaks at all. There are 5 layers of microfiber which is plenty for our needs and would probably even work for nights with my light wetter. My biggest fear is that, since there are basically 3 (or more if you fold the soakers) layers of suedecloth that this could slow down how fast liquid is absorbed, possible contributing to leaks. It might not do that AT ALL, and I need more time to know.
Fit ✩✩✩✩ What can I say? I LOVE the fit. It is pretty identical to the bumGenius 4.0 and we love those as well. I’m kinda a BG girl. They were my first “real” cloth diaper. Ev has plenty of room left on the waist and in the rise. The only thing I noticed was a bit of sag in the middle, maybe because of the weight of the soakers? It didn’t happen every time but I did check and the soakers were not wet when this happened so it wasn’t due to weight from that. I prefer the middle rise snap but I think switching to the largest might help.
Overall: I’m excited about the new addition to the bumGenius family. Now there is a stay dry option in the AIO/OS class. I do think I still prefer my bumGenius 4.0, but for those families who would rather not stuff diapers, the Freetime is a great new solution with the same great quality and fit as the 4.0.
Where to Buy I’d love it if you would support DDL by ordering through one of my affiliates! Kelly’s Closet, Diaper Junction, and Sweet Bottoms are all taking pre-orders for the Freetime and they should be getting them soon!

*I won the diaper from a Twitter chat from CottonBabies and of course had to review it.  

One of the diapers I was able to discover at ABC Kids Expo was the Smart One, part of the Smartbottoms line.  I had heard of this brand but previously it was only sold through home party consultants.  Now you will be seeing it available at a few retailers and online.  I really enjoyed meeting with Christy and her husband.  I also LOVE their logo and design scheme/colors and had some fun making my intro to the video demonstration.  I will admit that this diaper is not my favorite but maybe it will be yours.  Make sure to view click over if you are reading this through email to view the embedded video demonstration.

Ease of Use ✩✩✩✩ The Smart One from Smart Bottoms is a true All-in-One cloth diaper. This diaper only comes in snaps, and there are 3 snaps per tab. I will say that the hip snap was hard to get used to, the position was not where most other cloth diapers have them and I had to remind myself to snap it closed each time. It was easy to forget. Taking the diaper off is easier since there is no unstuffing or need to attach laundry tabs. You can just toss it into your wet bag or pail.
Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩✩ You can order the diaper for 20.00. The price is higher than some other true AIO‘s but less than organic AIO‘s (like the bumGenius Elemental.) It uses organic cotton for the soaker and is made in the USA. They also sell primarily through diaper consultants so if you purchase through those women you are supporting their families and Christy (the mom behind Smart Bottoms) in one swoop. Nice.
Performance ✩✩✩✩ My son is not a heavy wetter which meant the amount of absorbency was enough for us except on one occasion when I had a leak from the leg after he saturated the diaper. It is sufficient for longer car rides and naps, not nights.
Fit ✩✩ I have to say that I was not crazy about SOME of the features of this diaper and how they related to the fit. The snaps are positioned very close to the top elastic (and exposed on the inside of the diaper, a pet peeve of mine since I don’t think that is the most comfortable thing in the world for babies). Couple this with the soaker that stops before the top and you get a poof in the crotch. I also thought the width of the crotch was a bit too wide which added to the “bunchy” look. The soaker is rather stiff and I wasn’t sure if it was comfortable for Ev. The hip snap is a great idea and I like the concept but it is really better for babies with skinny legs. To avoid red marks I couldn’t snap it at all and that wasn’t great for the fit. If Ev had been a tad smaller in the legs the diaper would have fit better, it was roomy enough in the stomach area. For the review we were testing a Medium (16-24 pounds.) I remember really liking the design of the XS when I saw them though.
Overall: I really want to love the diaper. The owners are wonderful people. There is a lot of thought in the design of the diapers, it just so happens that they weren’t a good fit on Everett. I would say skinnier babies will have better luck, although I would still like the crotch to have less width. The soaker is sewn in and takes over 60 minutes in my dryer.  To take the drying time down you might want to consider wool dryer balls.  I just let it air dry after the other diapers were dry.  I am always happy to meet with diaper makers and my visit with Christy was really great.
Where to Buy Smartbottoms.com