Cloth Diapers & the Difference in Styles

"Cloth diapering is cheaper," that is the what we are all told.  However, they are not cheap to purchase.  Elisha's came from my mother-in-law, though when I went to purchase a few more, I figured I better really test out if I like them.  She gave 2 different styles to try out -- the pocket and the AI2 (all-in-two, the cover and separate padding option).  To be quite clear, since there are so many brands out there and upgrades to different systems, I am giving you a review of the BumGenius 4.0 (pocket-style) and the Smart Bottoms Too Smart (AI2) diapering systems.

The pocket style diaper has an outer waterproof covering and internal microfiber liner.  Between the two is the pocket where you would put the absorbent padding.  This style is interchangeable in size, by snaps in the front.  The microfiber liner is great for wicking wetness away from the baby's bottom.  In fact, I started using the cloth diapers when she had a bad rash, which went away the next day.  Then I figured this was a good time to just make the switch to the cloth.

I worried if the internal liner would stain badly and if bleach was needed often.  I will say that this material is great for wicking, not retaining.  The stain will come out, if you target it quickly and with some good hand scrubbing.

The AI2 diaper has a waterproof cover, with microfiber-lined elastic along the legs, wherein there is a hidden hook and loop system for sizing.  This is a single layer liner, with the absorbent padding (I use folds, as they call it, which are the standard cloths) folded directly atop (tucked under the top and bottom of inside of cover) and ready for use.

There are pros and cons to these diapering systems.  For the pocket ones, the pros I have are the wicking internal liner, and the pads they come with offer a better absorbency than I've seen with its ancestors.  The pros for the AI2 ones are that the covers are reusable between changes.  Since they are merely a good, waterproof liner, you just need to give it a good santizing wipe and throw a new insert pad into it, as long as the leg's liner didn't get wet.  That sort of system is very agreeable for a eco-mom like myself who hand-washes the cloth diapers.  Another pro I have for my AI2 diapers, as opposed to pockets, is the sizing system.  The snaps may seem like a huge step up from the hook and loop system, but for us that is only deceiving.  I have had more leaks from the pocket diapers than the AI2 just because the hook and loop system provides a snugger hold on the legs.  When you are dealing with petite misses, this makes a difference.

I also prefer the 3 snap tabs of the AI2, rather than the 2 snap tab enclosure of my pocket diapers.  This might not make a difference with bigger babies and toddlers, but with little ones that third snap keeps the front of the diaper in place, helping against front leaks.

The BumGenius material bunch

The snugger fit of the Smart Bottoms Too Smart diapers

As you can see, I much prefer the Smart Bottoms Too Smart.  There is a huge difference between the two.  Of course, the build of your baby makes the biggest difference.  As far as other options, namely the AIO system (all-in-one), that isn't a good choice for me seeing that I hand wash and line -- the dry time would be too long, or I'd need too many of them for use in between drying.  Finding the good match ensures you stick with it, saving money, rather than making a hefty purchase gone poopy...speaking of diapers. ;-)