When Susanna was a young baby I had two cute little Swaddlebees ABC Wrap covers in size small that were definite favorites. I hated when they were tied up in the laundry and couldn’t wait to get them back on her again. The fit and durability got 5 stars from me and ever since then I’ve been a big Swaddlebees fan.
So I’m really thrilled to be reviewing the Capri diaper cover and insert for you thanks to the generous folks at Swaddlebees.
We received a cover and Capri inserts:
Both covers and inserts come in two different sizes: one fits 6 to 16 pounds and two fits 12 to 35 pounds. Here’s what the cover and inserts look like opened up:
See how great the fit is?
Susanna, at 18 pounds, can wear the size two also:
What I like about our Swaddlebees Capri Cover:
- As with my other Swaddlebees diapers, the fit is so cute and trim with our Capri cover.
- The PUL is thick and sturdy but very soft. Time has proven for me the durability of these covers.
- The dino print we got is adorable and I can’t wait to try some of the other cute prints and colors; with the exception of maybe Bummis, I think Swaddlebees has the most print choices out there.
- I like the flaps on the front and back of the cover which help hold inserts in.
- Because the covers come in two different sizes, the range of fit is better than other “one size” covers on the market. With all our other PUL covers, Samuel is using the largest setting and there’s no room to grow. With our Capri Size 2, we still have one more row of snaps to use! I am thinking the size 1 I have stashed away is going to be a great newborn cover.
Anything I would change to make the Swaddlebees Capri Cover better?
- At $16.95 for size 1 covers and $19.95 for size 2 covers, the Capri is definitely at the higher end of the price spectrum. They are very high quality and the print/color options are numerous, so it’s worth it if you can afford, but I would like to see them a bit lower. However, Swaddlebees frequently has clearance sales and you can also find them in great condition at diaper swap sites.
What I like about the insert:
- It’s made primarily of birdseye cotton, which is a tried-and-true and very absorbent (and trim) diapering material. It’s what most “old fashioned” flat diapers are made of.
- The stay-dry layer is a nice option to have when baby is going to be in the diaper for a few hours or more.
- They clean up easily and dry faster than other cotton diapers and inserts since the layers are not all sewn together.
What I would change about the Capri insert:
- At $12.95 for a 2-pack of size one inserts and $15.95 for a 2-pack of the size two inserts, the price is not as high as a fitted, but is still much more than a prefold or flat diaper. It would be great if the price was a little lower, especially if a mother wanted her stash to consist mainly of these inserts.
* GIVEAWAY *
Best Bottom AI2 Diaper System
Note: This review was updated in 2016
This post contains affiliate links.
When Nicki (the owner of Nicki’s Diapers) created Best Bottom Diapers, she strived to combine all the best features of different diapers into one great system.
Best Bottoms are an All-in-Two system which fit from birth to 35+ pounds. They consist of reusable waterproof shells and coordinating inserts that snap inside.
With 3 snap settings on the rise, you get 4 different sizes with Best Bottoms, which I would describe as newborn, small, medium and large.
I’ve been using Best Bottom covers for years. Here are the reasons this system might appeal to you:
- It’s simple. If cloth diapering seems complicated to you, then give Best Bottom a try. There’s nothing to fold. Nothing to pin. Nothing to stuff.
- It’s economical. Because the inside of a Best Bottom cover is wipeable PUL, you can re-use shells several times before laundering, so you don’t have to buy such a large stash. To save even more money, you can buy just the shells (like I do) and use with cheaper diapers like flats and prefolds. Each Best Bottoms cover is $16.95 each (limited editions are $19.95).
- It’s durable. Our Best Bottom diapers have lasted for a really long time and continue to perform well. The PUL is very thick and sturdy and the elastics have remained good and snug. Update: Still using our Best Bottoms in 2016; beyond typical wear and tear and some loosening of elastics, they are still quite usable. We’ve also added lots of new prints and colors. 🙂
- It’s cute: Best Bottom Diapers has a HUGE selection of colors and prints, and they are constantly adding more to make things fun.
The backbone of the system is a waterproof PUL diaper cover made of two sturdy layers of fabric. There is a second (inner) gusset around each leg opening and front and back snaps which hold the inserts in place.
Here’s a quick diagram which shows how the Best Bottom system works. There is a snap at the front and back for you to fasten the inserts onto. However, you can use the covers with many other types of diapers and inserts as well.
Best Bottom Inserts
There are four sizes of inserts available – S, M, L, XL – in three different fabrics – Microfiber, Hemp/Organic Cotton and Bamboo. They start at just $3.95 each, and several of the inserts are available in a stay-dry version with a fleece top layer. Overnight inserts are also available in each fabric.
Ingrid is wearing the medium size right now. As you can see when the inserts are lined up side by side, they are pretty much identical in terms of shape. They also have two snaps on the back side, which you use to attach to the Best Bottoms shell (you can fasten one snap or both).
Here are the inserts snapped inside the Best Bottom cover. These are the mediums again and the cover is on the largest setting (completely open). You might wonder if the large inserts stick out of the front, because they are pretty long at 13.75 inches. They don’t. When you stretch the cover up to fit on your baby, it just covers the large insert.
In the picture you can see how the hemp insert shrinks a little unevenly around the edges.
A quick rundown of the inserts, and their pros/cons:
Stay Dry is 4 layers of microfiber with a white microfleece topper. The fleece is soft and cuddly and is the easiest of the 3 types to keep stain-free. This is insert is thicker than the other 2 types. Microfiber is great for babies who flood their diaper very quickly because it sucks up moisture so fast. However, microfiber can hold onto odor more readily than bamboo or hemp; you can generally avoid this with a thorough wash routine. These inserts start at $3.95 each.
Bamboo is 6 layers of rayon from bamboo viscose fiber. It’s super silky and my favorite of all the inserts because of how nice it feels and the fact that it’s also very absorbent. It’s also very trim, comparable to the hemp insert. I washed mine 2 times before first use. These inserts start at $5.95 each.
Hemp/Cotton is a blend of 5 layers of hemp and organic cotton. This fabric is not as soft as the fleece or bamboo but it seems to be the most absorbent of all 3. It’s also very trim, about the same as the bamboo insert. If you have a baby that wets super fast (floods the diaper all at once), hemp may not be the best option as it absorbs very slowly. I washed mine 4 times on hot with detergent before first use. These inserts start at $5.95 each.
All 3 types of inserts should hold an average wetter 2 or 3 hours.
The overnight inserts are thicker. Microfiber has 6 layers and hemp has 8. Plus, there is another set of snaps on the top so you can attach a second insert if you like.
Speaking of attaching inserts, one combo that works really well is to put a Best Bottom stay dry insert on top of the hemp insert. You get the benefits of both that way.
The medium inserts are a very versatile/universal size and may save you from having to buy all 3 sizes as your baby grows.
Best Bottom inserts are limited in that you can’t fold them like you would a prefold or flat to get more absorbency up front or in the back. However, the contoured shape the inserts does help to give you more coverage inside the shell, both at the front and back.
Here are the measurements of the inserts, and the stitching color at the edge. You will notice some fraying at the edges over time, but that’s normal, and they are serged very well for durability.
| Small | 11.00″ | Birth – 14 lbs. | Green |
| Medium | 12.75″ | 11 – 22 lbs. | White |
| Large | 13.75″ | 16 – 35 lbs. | Blue |
| XLarge | 15.25″ | 26 – 45 lbs. | Yellow |
If you are still unsure which insert you’ll like best, buy 1 of each and see what you think.
Here are some other diapers we’ve used with Best Bottom covers:
The Best Bottom system can work on a toddler because of the extra set of snaps on the rise. Erik is a slender 3-year-old and I can still squeeze one on him, though the rise is pretty low. You might not be able to make it work on a chunky toddler, though. I use a toddler prefold in the cover on its largest setting.
Any other drawbacks? You may or may not like the thick PUL material. Yes, it’s sturdy and durable and great for leak protection and overnight, but it’s not as soft, pliable or lightweight as other covers.
Best Bottoms are also available with velcro closure, but after trying it for a while, I much prefer the snaps. The hook and loop is SUPER strong, so much that I get frustrated pulling it apart from the waistband and the laundry tabs. One time I pulled so hard to get it unstuck that I actually pulled a corner of the velcro tab loose.
The fit is really trim and I like how the cover “dips” just a bit in the center. There’s a little bit of front elastic in the waistband; just enough to “give” a little when your baby is sitting or bending over.
They are so cute from any angle!
We were able to use Best Bottom covers on newborn Ingrid. The rise is pretty high and covered her belly button, but we didn’t have any leaks thanks to the snug double leg gussets. You can read more of my newborn diaper reviews here.
You can find the entire line of Best Bottom diapers at Nicki’s Diapers. You get free shipping when purchasing just the covers.
Have you tried the Best Bottom system yet? If so, what do you use for the inserts?
Kawaii One-Size Diaper Cover Review
Posted updated December 2014 with more pictures and feedback.
Two years ago, I reviewed the Kawaii one-size diaper cover with hook and loop closure. Today, I’m updating this post to include the snap version, so you can get an idea of how both types look, fit and perform.
Here’s the Kawaii hook and loop cover in yellow. It’s kind of similar in style to the sized Thirsties covers. You can pick from 6 different colors. It’s a very simple, budget-friendly cover. The basic features include white trim around the edges, a wipeable interior, a flap to hold inserts in place and laundry tabs (if you opt for hook and loop).
The cover is made of waterproof TPU and is supposed to fit from 8 to 36 pounds. Here’s the same cover in light blue, but with snap closure:
Fit: This is a pretty good-looking cover, considering it’s budget price. The wings curl back a bit with the snap version, but that’s only an aesthetic issue. Additionally, the front of the waistband rolls inward sometimes, towards Ingrid’s tummy. For that reason, I definitely prefer the snap version now (so that no hook and loop scratches her skin). Other that these two minor issues, I like how the Kawaii diaper covers fit and have a few in my stash that I use regularly. The TPU fabric is medium-weight, so not too flimsy and not too stiff, and the white trim doesn’t cause any irritation around the waist or legs.
I don’t think this cover would have fit Ingrid as a newborn; at 5 months, she’s wearing it at the smallest waist and rise setting. So in our experience, it fit our babies from about 10 pounds to 35 pounds.
Quality: We’ve been using Kawaii for a few years now and I’m really pleased with the durability of the covers. The aplix is long-lasting. However, for reasons mentioned above, I’ve switched exclusively to the snap version. At just $7.95 (with free shipping), replacing one of these covers when they wear out after a lot of usage is going to be very easy.
Performance: I often use the Kawaii covers overnight. Additionally, they are roomy enough to fit over any type of diaper – prefolds, flats and fitteds. Haven’t had any leaks, however, you need to make sure your diaper is well contained in the cover or when wet it may wick onto the white elastic trim.
If you are looking for a cute cover that performs well and costs less than almost anything else on the market right now, then I would highly recommend this one. They are $7.95 and ship FREE at Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique and Nicki’s Diapers, or at Kelly’s Closet.
Boingo Diaper Fastener vs. Snappi: a Review
Update: As of 2024, Boingo has closed its doors. However, new ownership might be a possibility.
There is a product almost identical to Boingo available on Amazon.
If you tend to poke yourself with Snappi’s and pins, this post is for you. Let’s look at another cloth diaper fastener on the market: Boingo. The color below Punky Pink:
The directions for these are quick and easy to follow. I simply gave each Boingo fastener a good preliminary stretch, wrapped a prefold around Susanna and then held each wing tightly as I put the Boingos in place, one at a time.
All done!
You can use the Boingo fastener with prefolds, flats, fitteds and contours. Now, just in case you’re not familiar with its closest rival, the Snappi, here’s how the Snappi looks on Susanna using the same diaper. Note that you use ONE Snappi to fasten a diaper, but TWO Boingo’s.
Having tried both of these fasteners, I vastly prefer the Boingo. Why?
- I haven’t accidentally scratched myself once on the sharp little gripper teeth while using my Boingo, whereas I was constantly poking myself with the Snappi. I think the difference is due to the fact that the Boingo teeth are set at a slightly downward angle, making them a little safer. I took this photo to show the two fasteners, one on top of the other, and you can see that the Snappi teeth actually angle upward a bit. Ouch! Does the difference in angle make the Boingo any less effective in securing the diaper? Not in my testing! It works just as well as the Snappi.
- The Boingo fasteners are one-size-fits-all. They don’t have to stretch all the way across the diaper like a Snappi, so they will work just as well for older babies and toddlers. With Snappi, you’ll have to choose from between two different sizes, and if cloth diapering for the long-term, you’ll need to buy both.
- Boingo fasteners only have two pressure points; there is no compression on the private area as with a Snappi.
Here are the fun colors you get to choose from:
I hope you’ll love them as much as we do!
GIVEAWAY ENDED – Don’t forget to enter below for your chance to win a set of Boingo fasteners in any color you like!
Update: As of 2024, Boingo has closed its doors. However, new ownership might be a possibility.
There is a product almost identical to Boingo available on Amazon.
Thirsties Duo Hemp Prefold Review
Have you ever seen the Thirsties Duo Hemp Prefolds advertised and wondered what they are like, and if they are worth the money? Here’s the scoop on these really neat prefolds, and some pictures to help you get an idea of what they look like and how well they can fit into any diapering system.
The drawing on the front of the package gives you a good idea of how the Duo Hemp Prefold is made. Each hemp/cotton panel is made of 2 layers and they are sewn together only at one end to allow for air flow and a quicker drying time.
This photo gives you an even better idea of how they are constructed. I’ve draped it over my arm so you can see how it’s sewn in the shape of a tube:
When I laid it out I realized it’s not really a “prefold” in the traditional sense because there aren’t any extra layers sewn into the middle. But just like a regular prefold, you still have to fold a Thirsties Duo Hemp. And, of course, you can use it in all the same ways that you would a standard cotton prefold.
Here’s a close-up to show you the folding lines which are stitched in:
One of the greatest things about the Duo Hemp Prefolds is how TRIM they are compared to a bulky cotton prefold. Even better, they are 25% more absorbent than cotton alone. Because of this fact, they’ve served us well as both daytime and nighttime diapers. For really long nights I can stick a thin microfiber insert under my Duo Hemp Prefold and Susanna and Samuel will wake up dry, guaranteed.
Other things I really love about the Duo Hemp Prefold:
- The hemp jersey material is buttery soft and smooth, kind of like an old t-shirt. I love the way the material feels and it stays soft after washing and fluffing in the dryer.
- Hemp is naturally antimicrobial
- Duo Hemp Prefolds are made in the USA
- Because the Duo Hemp Prefolds have 2 fabric panels that are separate from each other, they clean more thoroughly and dry more quickly than cotton prefolds which can have as many as 8 layers in the middle.
- You can choose from two sizes – 1 and 2
Here are the only drawbacks I’ve noticed:
- Hemp stains more easily compared to some other fabrics, but it’s nothing I haven’t been able to treat or sun out.
- The price of each Duo Hemp Prefold is $7.75 (updated 9/20/13), which many prefold moms might initially balk at. However, I think it’s worth it for the extra features. Besides, the price is actually comparable to other hemp trifold inserts on the market which generally sell for between $5.00 to $8.00 each. Hemp is, quite simply, a more expensive and higher quality fabric, so you get what you pay for. And you can always search for them used on diaper swap sites to save money.
Hemp is also supposed to be more durable than cotton, so I’m eager to see how mine hold up because I’m into cloth diapering for the long haul and have 2 in cloth right now.
Last of all, I wanted to show you the two ways I’ve used my Thirsties Duo Hemp Prefolds.
Laid inside a PUL cover (this is a Flip):
Or stuffed inside a pocket diaper (this is an Oh Katy):
Where to Buy
If you would like to try a Thirsties Duo Hemp Prefold in your stash, you can find them at my affiliates, Nicki’s Diapers, Kelly’s Closet and The Green Nursery!
