Update: This diaper is no longer being made, bumGenius has a new version called the bumGenius 4.0.
Boy was this a long time coming or what? I have used the Bum Genius 3.0 One Size Pocket since my son was a newborn. I bought these initially because they had the best reviews on Diaperpin.com. I also saw them in a store and thought they looked easy enough for my husband to figure out. It is rare that I review a diaper I have used since the newborn stage. Hopefully this review will give those looking for advice on these diapers some useful insight into the BG 3.0. These are perfect starter diapers. The beauty of them really is in the simplicity.
Ease of Use ✰✰✰✰✰ The BG 3.0 uses a velcro closure. Bum Genius has plainly stated that they will never make a snap version of this diaper. It is intended to be the easiest and most user friendly cloth diaper on the market. You can have the BG converted to snaps if you want, of you can buy a BG Organic with snaps or the new Flip. Before putting it on the baby you will need to stuff it with the microfiber insert. The pocket opening does require that you lift the flap, then insert the soaker, then fold the flap back over. I am always extremely careful when I stuff my diapers because if you don’t lay things down correctly you can get leaks. When you are done you need to either remove the inerst all the way or pull it out slightly to let the washer do the rest of the work.
Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰✰ In my mind when I do these reviews I always compare pocket diapers (and others) to the BG 3.0. The pricing is 17.95 and you get the shell, a one size microfiber insert, and a newborn insert/doubler. I have found plenty of other diapers that cost less than the 3.0, however they are usually not made with the same quality of materials. The BG also has widespread availability. If a pocket diaper costs more than this I look for materials like hemp, bamboo, and more options. It seems expensive but it is still on the lower end of diaper costs.
Performance ✰✰✰✰ As of now I have zero leak issues with my Bum Genius 3.0. However, it hasn’t always been like that. I started using the diaper on my son when he hit 8 pounds. Leaks out of the back! As a new mom I thought my baby was sweating from being swaddled and I asked my pediatrician. She asked if I had his penis pointed down. Whoops. So we started pointing it down and still got leaks but not as many. Usually these leaks were up the back or through the leg openings. It really wasn’t tight enough on his legs. Online the majority of users said the BG fit their babies between 11-13 pounds. This was true for us as well. I stopped using them until that point and stuck with prefolds and some disposables, mostly at night. I used the newborn insert only for quite a while, then moved to the one size insert for more absorbency. We use them at nights on occasions now too and I don’t have leaks. I haven’t had any leaks at all for quite some time. I attribute this to getting a better wash routine. I was using Tide but now only use cloth diaper specific detergents.
Fit ✰✰✰✰ I am not saying this diaper will not fit an 8 pound baby, because every single baby is shaped differently. I do know that as a member of online communities for cloth diapering that most moms say they don’t. Personal experience tells me that it didn’t work for my baby until 11-13 pounds. Once it fit him we still had some user error leaks cause by how we put it on or how we washed it. (When I say “we” I really me “I”) The velcro tabs overlap and the 3 step rise worked well for his younger days and now. He is 21 pounds and on the middle rise snap. We are on the verge of needing to move up. Babies change shapes so he may move back down too.
Overall– The majority of my stash is still made up of my original set of Bum Genius 3.0’s. Many of them have been converted to snaps. Those that haven’t have had issues with the velcro tabs getting full of lint and the laundry tabs have lost all stickiness. I will not go to the trouble of replacing them but you can have that done or do it yourself. The tabs also curl up. There are some fuzzies on the outside around the tabs where jeans rub. Yet, they still function well and I grab them because they are easy to use. My husband grabs for these the most because he is most comfortable with them. I think the BG is a great starter diaper. I have suggested them to many moms looking for something their husbands might be able to use. Hubbies so forget to attach laundry tabs and pull inserts out. Be warned! i had a sheet with instructions for him.
I am currently reviewing the newest diapers from Bum Genius, the Flip and Econobum. I have already reviewed the BG Organic AIO. Tomorrow look for a video showing how to clean the velcro of your Bum Genius.