BumGenius 3.0 / 4.0 One-Size Cloth Diapers Review

These are pocket diapers, and each one has a wide pocket opening to put in your inserts. The pocket has a fold-over top, so it forms a sort of envelope that keeps the moisture on the inserts away from baby's skin.

The outside of the diaper shell is made of polyester with a waterproof lining. The interior is suedecloth. BumGenius one-size pocket diapers are available with cross-over hook and loop tape fasteners or with a snap closure. The hook and loop tape closure models have fold-back laundry tabs. Two inserts come with each diaper. One is a full-size microfiber insert with snaps so you can size it to fit perfectly, and to add some absorbency in the front or back where you need it. when you snap down the diaper size. The other insert is also microfiber and is a newborn size. This smaller insert can be used as a diaper doubler.

These cloth diapers are made to fit babies from 7 to 35 lbs. You adjust the size in the front via three rows of snaps that can be closed or opened to create small, medium and large shell sizes. The top of the diaper can be adjusted to fit baby's waist by the hook and loop tape closure or snaps, depending on which version you purchased.

The BumGenius 3.0 and 4.0 One-Size Diapers are very similar, which is why I'm reviewing them together. Upgrades to the 4.0 version include a roomier fit for larger babies, the cloth laundry tabs are replaced with loop tape, and it's easier to replace the leg elastics.

These diapers mostly come in solid colors, both pastels and bolder colors, but the new 4.0 version is available in some cool prints.

If you want to make cloth-diapering incredibly easy, BumGenius One-Size pocket diapers are a fantastic way to do that. Sure, you have to wash them, and you need to stuff the inserts into the pockets before you use them, but aside from those steps, using these cloth diapers isn't any harder than using disposables.

These diapers are well-known for being super-absorbent. I haven't had any trouble with leaks when using BumGenius pocket diapers. I like that there are two inserts that you can fold, snap or double up to create the absorbency system that works best for your baby. There's an insert stopper at the top above the loop tape strip that helps keep the insert from bunching at the top next to the seam, and therefore helps keep baby's clothes dry.

It's very easy to get a good fit on most babies thanks to the combination of the front snaps and the hook and loop cross-over closure. Of course, not every cloth diaper fits perfectly on every baby, but the BumGenius One-Size pocket diapers do tend to fit a wide variety of babies. You can fold down the insert stopper to get an extra-small size for a newborn. The size options make it easy to use these diapers for more than one child at a time, since you can switch sizes instantly.

I love the wide pocket opening. This is the easiest of my pocket diapers to stuff the way I want to. Once you're done adding inserts, you just fold over the top of the pocket like an envelope and the wetness stays inside, away from baby.

All of the fabrics used on these diapers are very soft. Even the polyester exterior feels soft and durable. The only part of my diapers that looks worn after many washings is the hook and loop tape. Hanging the diaper shells to dry instead of using the dryer can save some wear and tear on them. I have never needed to replace elastics in mine, but if necessary, you can get replacement kits for elastics, closure tabs, laundry tabs and snaps from the manufacturer. It's nice that you can refresh your diapers after years of use instead of needing to replace them.

If you're buying new, a full stash of BumGenius One-Size pocket diaper will not come cheap. They usually run $18-$20 per diaper, and significant discounts on the new diapers are rare. You can use these diapers for very young babies through toddlerhood, so you'll get a nice, long life for your diapers at this cost, plus there's a possibility of resale if they're in good condition later. It's significant investment at the beginning, though. Since this is a very popular diaper, you can often find them used on diaper sales sites. This can save you a good amount of money, but buying used cloth diapers does mean you'll have more wear and tear right from the start, and probably a shorter life span for the diapers.

With the higher cost comes better customer service versus some of the discount diaper brands. You also get a one-year diaper warranty, but you'll need to make sure you wash the diapers appropriately and steer clear of diaper rash creams that could cause the diapers to repel moisture.

The diaper inserts are microfiber, which is very absorbent, but also prone to picking up smells. The manufacturer recommends adding bleach to your wash routine once a month, which should help you avoid the stink. You can also add inserts in other materials that are less likely to get stinky, but buying new inserts adds to your costs.

The fold-back laundry tabs are nice because they help keep the hook and loop tape from picking up lint, and save some wear on the diapers. However, on the 3.0 diapers, the laundry tabs are just cloth and don't always hold perfectly. On the 4.0 diapers, the laundry tabs are loop tape, which holds much better but is rougher against baby's skin. You can avoid this problem altogether by purchasing the snap-only version of the diapers if you like that kind of closure.