Bum Essentials Bumbino AI2 review.

Ease of Use ✰✰✰✰ The Bum Essentials is an AI2 that has one soaker and a booster option.  The booster can be already snapped in or you can just use the soaker.  Either way you only need to snap in the booster at the changes if you have things prepared ahead of time.  The tabs are velcro and can be closed easily on the baby.  I will say that the front elastic does make it a little harder to put on than a traditional cloth diaper with velcro.  You have to make sure the velcro strip is flat when affixing the tabs.  You can do this by stretching the diaper pver the baby while putting it on.

Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰✰ The diaper runs 19.99 for the shell and a soaker/ booster combo in the terry material.  The is slightly less than some other AI2’s but more than a typical pocket diaper.  I love the terry material used for the soaker.  You can also buy a bamboo soaker/booster combo.  For extra soakers (bamboo or terry) it is 9.50.

Performance ✰✰✰✰ The soakers are absorbent and made from a nice material.  I was sent both the terry and bamboo and I prefer the terry but the bamboo held up just as well.  I never had a leak with them and I think with the booster is a nice addition for toddlers.

Fit ✰✰✰ The tabs are very generously sized, giving even the widest waists ample room to grow.  I did have a good bit of leg gaping that I couldn’t seem to get any smaller.  If my son were a heavier wetter I imagine there would have been leaks.  His legs are on the smaller side so even an average baby or larger baby would have better luck.  The elastic on the front bunched the velcro strip so you have to be careful when you close the tabs.  (Again, stretch it over the baby first) I had an instance of the tab coming off because it wasn’t attached to all of the strip.

Overall- I like the ideas behind this diaper but would love to see a few thing tweaked.  The snaps for the soaker are only snapped in the microfleece.  This means it could rip easier than if it were attached through PUL.  I realize this is a design choice and ripping the snap can be avoided by unsnapping the soaker before washing and pulling it off close to the snap.  But, I am not always careful.  I already addressed some of the other concerns in different areas of the review.  I do like the colors the diapers come in, especially Rocket Red, and the soakers are made from good materials and very absorbent.  I also like the generous size on the tabs.  As with all diapers, there are features I love and some I don’t.

Bum Essentials Wet Bag- I was also sent a Bum Essentials wet bag to try.  The neat thing about it is that is is reversible.  When you wash if it flips inside out it doesn’t matter!  It is a good size for a longer day trip, but too big for an outing to the store.  It is a great size for swimwear or wet clothes and would be a good one to keep around just in case!

The diaper and wetbag were sent free of charge.  All opinions expressed are my own.