Bottombumpers One Size All-In-One Photo Review

Have you seen the Limited Edition Winter Bottombumpers?! Oh. my. goodness. Just when I think I've figured out which is my favorite (penguin), I do one last pass over all four and change my mind yet again (pink owl, wait, blue owl, nope, penguin).

Preorders for these amazing All-in-Ones (and matching tees!) go up Monday morning here. Ok, once and for all must decide....penguins? No, pink owl. Wait..... 

Rather not wait until the preorders ship in December to try a Bottombumpers for yourself? Buy two or more in-stock One-Size Bottombumpers (colors or limited edition fall prints) between now and Thursday October 27th and get a bonus Bottombumpers surprise or two with your purchase.*  

Wondering if this is a diaper that will fit your needs well? Check out this review from our guest blogger Anna......


Compromise - penguins *and* pink owls - yup.


*Limit two Bottombumpers surprise packs per household. Not good on prior or pending purchases. 

 

I love Bottombumpers!  I especially love the attention to detail that makes them one of the best looking diapers on the market.  I know it's silly, but one of the things that bugs me about most one-size diapers is the smattering of snaps scattered across the front of the diaper.  It doesn't irritate me  enough to keep me from buying or using those diapers, but it does make me wish they weren't there :)

When I found out about Bottombumpers innovative hidden snap-down rise on the inside back of their new one-size version of their fabulous side-snapping AIO's,  I couldn't wait to get my hands on them!  I already knew I loved the design and construction of the sized Bottombumpers AIO's, so I was pretty excited that the OS version didn't mar the aesthetics of the diaper with front snaps.  It's been over nine months now since I started using our new OS Bottombumpers, and I'd like to show you all of it's nifty features!

OVERVIEW
Brand: Bottombumpers
Style:   Side-snapping, one-size, All in One cloth diaper.
Material:  Outer:  PUL, Inner:  100% organic cotton, Insert:  100% organic cotton topped with bamboo velour.
Size range:  Bottombumpers OS AIO's fit most babies 8-28lbs, with a rise of  13.5"-18" and waist size of 12"-22"
Price:  $22.95 for solid colors, $24.95 for prints.

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

 Front,  From the front, the Bottombumpers OS has the same smooth & sleek profile of the sized version.    The waist panel curves ever so slightly upward with the snap tabs wrapping gently around the side.  In my opinion, you will not find a better looking front on a One-sized diaper!

Side.  One thing I've noticed about about other one-size, side-snapping diapers is that once the baby passes the newborn stage, the front panel snaps in the front at the hips--not at the side of the waist.  I really appreciate that both the front snap tabs, and the back wing snaps really extend far enough so that the diaper can truly be snapped at the side.  This ensures that the same clean side-snapping look you loved on your infant will continue as your babe grows into toddlerhood!

Crotch.  You can see from looking at the diaper from this angle that it truly is a trim OS diaper!  The other thing I really like about it is that it is not cut nearly as wide as other OS diapers.  It is however, cut slightly wider through the crotch than the small & medium sized Bottombumpers.

Back.  Ahh!  I love the polished look of Bottombumpers!  You'll notice a refreshing lack of visible snaps!  Although the insert snaps in the back inside of the diaper, you won't find any of the snap caps on the outside.  The only thing you might notice, is the little bump formed by the snap-down rise inside the diaper.  This little bump really doesn't become apparent until it is on the baby...

In the back, you'll alsofind the gentle gathers of the elastic at the waist, which not only helps ensure a good fit on your little one, but also provides an extra barrier for messies that might try to escape. 

 

INSIDE

Open the diaper up and you will find where the true brilliance of this diaper lies...the hidden, color coded snap down rise & snap-in soaker.

Color coded snap-down rise!  

BLUE:   1  week- 6months, Rise 13.5-15", Weight 8-15lbs  Simply snap the BLUE snaps into the GREEN snap socket, attach insert to the white snaps & you have a Newborn-small sized diaper!

ORANGE:  3-12 months, Rise up to 16", weight 12-20lbs.  For Small-Medium, snap ORANGE snaps into GREEN socket and attach insert. 

YELLOW:  12 months to potty training, Rise up to 17", 16-28lbs.  For Medium to Large setting, snap YELLOW snaps into GREEN and attach the insert.

WHITE:  15 months to potty training, up to 18" rise, weight 25+ lbs.  Simply leave unsnapped & attach the soaker!

FIT/ ACTION SHOTS!

These pictures were taken this week.  My daughter is 13.5 months, 18lbs and is wearing the diaper set at the Small-Medium (ORANGE) size.

PERFORMANCE

I am happy to report that Bottombumpers OS diapers excel in the performance department!  Not only are they trim for an OS, they are absorbent as well.  We can use this diaper anytime during the day--at home, for naps, for outings, even road trips!  Up until J was about 10 months, we were even able to use this diaper overnight without wicking or leakage.  Never have we had poo escape, even when it was still the runny breastmilk poop.  The diaper in the pictures above was purchased in November 2010 and has been a consistent part of our rotation since that time.  As you can see, it still looks great!  (To prevent your Bottombumper from getting holes in the lining, be sure to unsnap the insert before washing).There is no question about whether or not this is a good diaper--it is.  If you value having a natural fiber diaper that is good looking, trim and can grow with your baby, this is a great option for you!  

However, if you value appearance over economy, definitely check out the sized Bottombumpers  as they do not have the little bump in the back :)  

If you are a Bum Genius Elementals or GroVia AIO user, you probably would like the Bottombumpers AIO.  But don't take my word for it--try one for yourself!

Growing | GroVia

Very excited to welcome Anna as a guest blogger on Bitsy Buzz. A lovely mother to two equally lovely girls, she also has a secret project up her sleeve for the store. Stay tuned for more details on that. ♥

And a quick editor's preface to this review - GroBaby rebranded to GroVia in 2010. With the switch in name, they also shifted their AIO focus from a sized diaper sold under the name 'Dreameze' to a one-size diaper 'GroVia All-in-One.' If you like the look of the Dreameze - know that you can still find them on various resale sites. Please note that GroBaby sold both Dreameze All-in-Ones and Fitteds, so make sure your seller notes what type of Dreameze is listed. 

A GroVia Comparison
by Anna Johnson

My sweet, tiny baby Jocelyn is now six months old!  Already I’ve packed away her newborn clothes and XS Bum Genius all-in-ones (AIO’s).  Last month I packed away her 3 month clothes.  Then, last week as I was putting her small Dream-Eze  AIO’s on her, I realized that they too were in fact too small.  Once again, it was time to grieve the passing of a size.

Putting away outgrown baby clothes and diapers makes me a bit sad.  I think it is because it forces me to come to terms with the fact that a precious time of life has passed—never to be revisited again—at least for this baby.  Fortunately, the silver lining of this cloud is that the passing of the old means there is room for new!  Every day Jocie figures out something new—how to do “raspberries,” how to sit up by herself, trying new foods, etc.  I get to unpack the next size of clothes and viola! She has a whole new wardrobe of cute clothes.  It also means it’s time for new diapers!!

As I started to put the small sized diapers away, I started to wonder how the small Dream-Eze AIO’s compared to the smallest size setting of my new GroVia AIO since they are both made by the same company.  My thought was that if the GroVia AIO on the smallest setting was as small as the small Dream-Eze, it might be worth “de-stashing” my 6 Dream-Eze and replacing them with the one-size GroVia.

One-Size (OS) diapers are a brilliant idea:  one diaper that will grow with your baby from the newborn stage all the way through to potty training so you can save money and only buy one set of diapers!  Sounds too good to be true, eh?  Well, I decided to put the GroVia OS AIO to the test.  Out came the small Dream-Eze from the bin along with the GroVia and my trusty camera.

So, here it goes!  The cute owl diaper is the GroVia AIO and the fabulous chartreuse green in a small Dream-Eze.  I have the GroVia snapped up to the smallest setting.  Side by side, you’ll notice that the Dream-Eze looks a bit more compact—and indeed, it is a little bit smaller.  From a tactile sense, the Dream-Eze is quite dense and the PUL is heavy and thick feeling.  The GroVia is feels substantial, but “fluffier” than the Dream-Eze and it feels almost silky! 

 

Put on top of the GroVia, you’ll notice that while the Dream-Eze is a bit smaller, the difference is quite minimal.  Unsnapped and placed side by side, you can see that the difference in length is maybe ½ cm.  The biggest “difference” is the width of the crotch.  The Dream-Eze is narrower through the crotch and the front panel.  You can see this best in the photo with the Dream-Eze placed on top of the GroVia.

 

 

The question is, does this make a noticeable difference on a small baby?  I’ll let you be the judge!  Although I think Jocie is unbearably cute, she no longer falls under the “small” baby category anymore, so I borrowed my 3 year old’s life-like dolly.

For reference, the doll is 18” which is somewhere between preemie & newborn length.

 

 

 

Pretty impressive huh!?!  Now, I don’t think that the GroVia AIO will replace XS/newborn size diapers, but in my opinion it definitely can take the place of the Dream-Eze AIO!  So, long story short?  I sold my Dream-Eze!   Should we ever have another little one, I might just be tempted to try some of the new GroVia newborn size. ;)

So now the question is, are my One Size Bottombumpers really One-Size? 

No More Microfiber!

I'm always thrilled to host guest bloggers. Their varied perspectives and experiences offer further insight into the world of cloth diapering!

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Rachel. Loyal readers will remember her DIY post from last fall. 
Enjoy! 

No More Microfiber!

Folding a Flat Diaper to Stuff a Pocket Diaper

I purchased high-quality yet inexpensive flat diapers from Itsy Bitsy Bums in the fall. As much as I tried to channel my grandmother by using flat diapers and pins on my daughter, it just didn't work out for us. I hated to waste the diapers, and I loved how easily and quickly the flats could be washed and dried, so I decided to stuff my pocket diapers with flats. I love it! 

The flats and pocket shells can both air-dry in just a few hours. Not to mention hanging your diapers on the line instead of using the dryer saves even more energy (and therefore saves you more money). Cotton is a natural fabric that doesn't hold on to smells and laundry detergent as easily as microfiber, meaning you are less likely to need to strip your diapers. 

Here is a quick tutorial on how to get that big square of fabric in to your pocket diaper. 

Begin with a clean flat diaper (clearly it doesn't need to be ironed). 

Fold it in half. 

Fold it in half the same way (horizontally) again. 

Fold it in half the other way, tugging a bit to make it nice and taut. 

Slide the folded flat inside your pocket diaper. 

That's it, you're done! You can adjust your last fold if you have the rise set higher on your one-size diapers. I recommend putting the thickest part at the front of the diaper for most babies. 

You can also use a prefold to stuff your pockets. I use an infant-sized trifolded prefold inside of mine. Prefolds will take a few more hours to line-dry, but otherwise they work well as a microfiber alternate. 

Enjoy stuffing your diapers with an inexpensive, natural material!

I also find that flats are also excellent to use in the kitchen and around the house. In fact, I purchased a dozen to keep in the kitchen and we reach for them often! They are great for cleaning messy hands and faces, wiping up the pet's water that your daughter splashed on the floor, or drying the dog's paws as he comes in on a rainy day. They are very absorbent and durable, and super easy to clean. 

Editor's note - Also consider using your pocket diaper as a cover over a flat or prefold, essentially creating your own All-in-Two system!

• Fold the flat or prefold into a rectangle as Rachel described above; aim for a size that covers the majority of the inner of the pocket diaper.
• Lay the prefold or flat into the shell, and secure diaper around baby.
• At diaper change time, simply change out the prefold or flat for a new one!
• If the pocket's inner fleece is wet, hang to dry to use at the next diaper change. Rotate two pocket shells through one day, then toss both into the diaper pail that evening. 
• If poop gets on the fleece, then toss the entire diaper 

This is also a great option if you are exclusively a pocket diaper user, but want to start the potty training process. Consider - a pocket diaper's wicking layer keeps baby feeling dry, but provides very little feedback to connect the physical sensation of wetness with the physiology of urination. By putting natural fibers against the bum, it now provides that feedback. Who needs training pants when you can buy a dozen flats for $14.95! Oh, there you are.