Babble Best Picks:
Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers aren't always the most convenient or cheapest option, but it's a choice that's healthy for your baby and the planet. Plus, they've come a long way! Today you can find highly absorbent, easy-to-fit cloth diapers that are used exactly like disposables - only you throw them in the wash instead of the garbage. Plus, it's not an all-or-nothing decision. You can use hybrid options (which are biodegradable but disposable), or supplement your cloth diapers with disposables.
Yet all of these advances have given cloth-using parents one problem: too many diapers to choose from! Luckily, we tested 17 of the most popular cloth diapers - from prefolds to all-in-ones - to find the best of the best. Did we forget one? Nominate your favorite here.
BEST OVERALL | Bummis Tots Bots Easy Fit Pocket Diaper
After months of testing cloth diapers, this is the first one we reach for every time. If we could pick only one type of diaper to use, this Tots Bots Easy Fit (distributed by Bummis) would be it.
The Easy Fit has everything you could ask for in a cloth diaper: It functions like an AIO because the liner is attached, yet you're able to stuff the sewn-in liner like a pocket diaper for more customizable absorbency. And then when it's time to wash, just throw the entire diaper right in the water (no unsnapping or unstuffing), and the liner shakes out on its own. (We've washed these diapers dozens of times and they've always come out clean.) And even though they wash like an AIO, they don't take days to dry. They're the easiest to wash and dry, hands down.
We're also obsessed with the super soft lining made with bamboo fibre. Not only does bamboo feel buttery soft, but it's also 70 percent more absorbent (on contact) than cotton, and it has natural antibacterial properties.
To top it off, the Easy Fit contained leaks and blowouts exceptionally well, was incredibly easy to fit both our infant and toddler testers (it grows from 8 to 35 pounds), and didn't leave any red marks. Overall we have no complaints. Love, love, love them.
BEST ALL-IN-ONE | GroVia
If you’re bummed you can’t find Gro Baby on the shelves anymore, rest assured the popular cloth diapers have transformed into the new and improved GroVia diaper system – and they’ve added even more convenience to their design. (Our toddler tester used Gro Baby as an infant, so we’ve experienced both systems.)
While you can still find GroVia shells that fit the standard Gro Baby snap-in inserts, they’ve added a one-size, All-in-One (AIO) design to their lineup, which means the super soft organic cotton insert is sewn right to the shell. No snapping, stuffing, or matching up loose inserts. So if you’re into the traditional AIOs, GroVia has a few advantages: For one, these diapers are the fastest-drying AIOs we’ve tried, which can actually make quite a difference for exclusive CD users. Plus, these are the least bulky and easiest to fit. They also performed exceptionally well in our leak tests for both infants and toddlers – even overnight – and can be used from 10 to 35 pounds.
One possible downside is that they do seem a bit smaller than other cloth diapers, so they don’t rise quite as high. Our toddler tester is a smaller-than-average 2 year old, so he doesn’t have a problem at all. But for bigger babies and toddlers, you might want to try one or two before committing to a daily supply. If you’re concerned about the fit, check out the bumGenius Elemental One-Size Artist Series – which was our second favorite AIO. And don’t forget about the Bummis Tots Bots Easy Fit (our #1 pick), which basically functions like an AIO.
11 Responses to “Babble Best: Cloth Diapers: GroVia”
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ummm… The pictured diaper in not an AIO. It is a hybrid or AI2.
This is surprising. The rise on these diapers ia terribly short. My 10 week old smaller than average baby is wearing them on the largest setting and my two year old has never been able to wear these.
Um…. CD Mama, I think you’re very confused about something. The pictured diaper is indeed the grovia AIO. You can tell by the side snaps. The Grovia hybrid has snaps along the front while the AIO has snaps only on the sides.
I think you hit the nail right on the head! I really do love the BG elemental diapers, but the GroVia AIO is my new favorite. I wish I had the GroVia AIO sooner. My son is 31 months old and a little over 30 pounds. While they are pretty small on him, they still are fantastic. I LOVE how trim they are and I think they are super cute. I have tried many cloth diapers and These are my fav, but I am also glad I have a bunch of the BG elementals.
Love the GroVia AIO diaper. Its trim and it washes so nicely. Its super absorabant and its a softer fit than the shells with the soakers snapped in. GroVia’s disposable biosoakers are the best on the market by far.
CD Mama, this is 100% the AIO. The side snaps is my only complaint (harder for me to secure with my wiggly one than front snaps). Most of the diaps in my stash are GroVia, the shells, soakers, the AIO and the biosoaker disposable inserts (LOOOOVE them!) and so, yes, this is absolutely the AIO with side snaps.
We love the Gro-Via AIO because there’e no stuffing! My husband said it’s just like using disposables because you take it off and toss it in the pail. (Can you tell who does the laundry?)
Super soft, washes and dries great, stretchy sides!!! I haven’t tested on my own little one yet but a friend said that you can’t beat the absorbency for overnight…
I love my GroVia! I diaper 2 year old twins and use the AI2s mostly during the day and the AIOs at nap, night and any other time they need extra coverage (like when we go to a class). I have been happy with the fit on my slender daughter and chunky son. I think the rise is perfect. Mine still have a front snap to go before they are on the largest setting. I have reviewed them recently at http://www.mommawords.com
I love this diaper too! My 18lb 12 month old just moved from the smallest setting (snapped all the way down) to the middle rise. I didn’t know there were issues with the rise? It seems to work great for us, although our little guy is a peanut!
The BEST cloth diaper brand ever! I’ve tried a good 20 cloth diapers, and GroVias are the best. I fell in love with the AI2s to the point where I sold off the rest of my stash, and didn’t think it could have gotten any better, until they released the AIOs, which revolutionized our routine for our heavy wetter. Best diapers, and they don’t leak!!! I’m in love!