I am in a constant search for the perfect cloth diaper. When I was a baby in the Ukraine, cloth was the only type of barrier that existed between the baby bum and the rest of the world. And by the way, I am not talking about the pre-folded layered cloth. Parents used cut-up sheets, pillowcases, or large squares of gauze to create their unique and leak-proof barriers. So, one would think that having more choices would make this an easy item to add to your wish list or baby registry, but is not so simple.
I just wanted to share my experience with the following 2 brands of cloth diapers: G-Diapers and BumGenius, both of which I have been using on and off for about 10 months now. Keep in mind that every 2-3 days these diapers went through a rinse, wash, and dry cycle (about 100 times total)
-Can use either an cloth or biodegradable insert
-Less bulky and lighter material
-Material touching skin is cotton if you use a cotton insert
-Baby is less likely to take it off since the velcro fastens in the back
-Soft edges around thighs that don't cut off any circulation
CONS
-Had to repair/mend the insert once
-Had to re-attach velcro once
-Velcro is not holding on any more
-Always soaks through the entire cloth
-Can't seem to get it on snug enough so that the insert doesnt' slide around with movement.
PROS
-One size fits all, 3 levels of adjustible buttons
-Velcro super sturdy, sticks to everything.
-Never leaked through the main lining when using the thick insert.
-The insert goes inside a pocket so it does not slide
CONS
-The inserts it comes with are very thick making the diaper bulky and the baby hot.
-The material is not breathable
-The material that comes in contact with the skin is Polyester.
Since I have both kinds, 3 of the G-Diaper and 5 of BumGenius, I decided to get the most use out of each one. The BumGenius I use during the colder months, and the G-Diapers I use during warmer days and will be using more as we continue onto the next step of Potty Training.