If you are considering making the switch to cloth diapers, there are a few things to consider… First, check out our list of Top 5 Must-Haves for Successfully Cloth Diapering Your Baby because you need more than just diapers!
Secondly, remember that you will save LOADS of money by cloth diapering and don’t let anyone tell you anything different. The numbers have been thoroughly crunched, the math is done and the results are in. Of course some brands will save you more than others, so be sure to research carefully before investing in two dozen diapers of any brand.
If you are going to cloth diaper one child and you aren’t planning on having more children that will have a big affect on which cloth diapers you should go with. If you aren’t going to cloth diaper full time or aren’t going to cloth diapering for a long time (a year or less) then you might consider affordable pocket diapers like Alva, Sunbaby and Kawaii.
Personally, I plan on having a large family so I need cloth diapers that are going to stand the test of time which is a lot to ask for in a product that gets washed and dried several times a week for 2+ years! After cloth diapering 2.5 kids so far, (I only partially cloth diapered my first born) I know which features work well for us and what to look for in a cloth diaper and that’s why it comes down to Charlie Banana and GroVia.
GroVia
If you are looking for a hybrid diaper that fits perfect, is versatile, cost effective, absorbent and will meet all your needs, then go with GroVia.
Choose from snap closure shells or ‘hook and loop’ closure shells. Hook and loop closure is definitely the most convenient option, esp for dads, babysitters and caregivers, but they will wear out faster and some kids figure it out how to remove them. Luckily GroVia has snap conversion program that allows you to simply send in any GroVia® Shell and they will remove the hook & loop and apply matching closure snaps to the shell. I have a few with snaps and a few with hook and loop. I love them both but I have noticed that after 6 months the hook and loop closure shells do look more worn out than the snap ones.
Cute prints and colors are of course a factor when purchasing cloth diapers for most moms. I, for one, love to have adorable prints and unique colors in my cloth diaper stash. If you have to look at them everyday, why not have a cute print than just plain white, right?! At least that’s where my head goes… That’s one reason why I absolutely ADORE the Limited Edition prints from Grovia featuring designs from Wee Gallery. So freaking cute…
I also really like the various insert options including the unbelievably absorbent soaker pads, prefolds and disposable biosoaker inserts that are perfect for when you are away from home or traveling. The disposable inserts are approximately $0.40 each making them about the same or cheaper than most disposable diapers like Huggies Supreme.
If you want a super absorbent diaper without a lot of fuss that even your husband can handle putting on the baby, check out GroVia All In One Diapers.
Personally, I find myself primarily picking my soaker pads in a snap shell over everything else. The snap in liners have “poop guards” on the edge of the pads (like wings on a maxi pad!) except they have elastic in them which keeps them sealed up against those chubby baby thighs. This is a brilliant feature that I have not seen in any other diaper (gDiapers sort of have this but the construction is quite different.) I love having the two barriers between me and the mess. I have never had a blowout because of this!!
I had a lot of trouble finding a cloth diaper than my first son could wear overnight without leaking. Wish I had known about GroVia back then! My second son (now 6 months old) is a heavy wetter and luckily we haven’t had any issues with nighttime leaks using GroVia. We just throw one stay dry booster on top of the organic cotton soaker pads and we’re good for 6-8 hours.
You probably won’t be able to fully appreciate how expertly designed all of GroVia’s products are unless you’ve tried a lot of other cloth diapers. I’ve tried A LOT of cloth diapers (at least 75% of the cloth diaper brands on the market today) and you might notice there aren’t a huge array of cloth diaper reviews on this blog. Why? Because, I only write about items I LOVE and I LOVE GroVia.
Charlie Banana
The mother of all pocket diapers, Charlie Banana cloth diapers boast less snaps and a bra-strap style adjustments in the leg gussets making them even more size-customizable than the pockets diapers with rows and rows of snaps. The lack of extra snaps also make them less intimidating for dads, grandparents, caregivers and whoever else will change your baby’s diaper. The bra-style elastic adjustments are easy to adjust from newborn size all the way up to toddler so there’s no need to buy different sizes of diapers.
The inserts slide in a front pocket that is really wide, allowing the inserts to “wash out” in the washing machine so you don’t have to handle them (ya know, just in case you are squeemish!).
These are my favorite pocket diapers because the inserts are more absorbent than any other microfiber inserts I’ve tried. Plus they are narrower than most cloth diapers which gives them a slim profile and sleek fit, without compromising on absorbency.
The un-bulky design of these diapers are especially handy if you are already using disposables and suddenly switch to cloth since cloth diapers generally require you to size up with baby’s clothes. My son is not quite 6 months old and is already wearing size 12 mos in most clothes, partly due to accommodating his cloth diapers.
Charlie Banana diapers are not the cheapest cloth diapers on the market but when it comes to diapers, you absolutely get what you pay for. A pack of 3 diapers costs under $60 and comes with 6 inserts (3 small and 3 med/large). The design shown below is called Fish Sticks.
What’s nice is that Charlie Banana also offer disposable inserts for their diapers too. They are approx $0.50 each insert making them about the same price as most disposable diapers like Huggies Supreme.
Charlie Banana also has the highest rated reusable swim diapers and training pants. They also carry other indispensable items like reusable Feminine Pads and Liners, nursing pads, legwarmers and more.
Shop online at CharlieBanana.com
And last but not least…
Don’t buy used diapers on eBay!! I have purchased about a dozen used diapers on eBay and all but one of them were definitely at the end of their life, misrepresented by the seller, delaminated and/or washed inappropriately and were no longer absorbent. It’s just NOT worth saving a few bucks buying a used diaper in my experience.
I also would personally advise you to be extremely cautious buying a used/second hand diaper in a consignment store, thrift store or even from a friend. Diapers only last so long and you don’t want to end up with an unusable diaper that is delaminated, has broken snaps or worn out elastic. Washing cloth diapers can be tricky too and you (usually) don’t know for sure how a used diaper has been washed and treated. Cloth diapers can be “stripped”, fixed and repaired but in my experience, it’s better to buy cheap brand new diapers than old, worn out ones that need repair. Just my personal experience there! (More on that later!)
My daughter is considering using cloth diapers with her first baby due in April and these are definitely good tips. I had heard of the Charlie Banana brand but not the GrowVia.
The GroVia are definitely worth trying out!