gDiapers Review

We bought some gDiapers a while back out of curiosity. I saw them at Babies 'R Us and thought it might be nice to have an option to pick up some cloth diapers at a local location. I also was tempted by the fact that these are a hybrid diaper, meaning the pads can be either disposable, or reusable. We've been using them for about three months now, and I have to say I'm not impressed by these diapers. I feel they pale in comparison to other diaper options out there. These are a two part system, also known as an AI2 (all in two). This means they have an outer reusable shell, with an inner separate liner that can be washed or thrown out. There's several brands that fall into this category.

Overall these diapers get a 1 out of 4 stars. Here's why:

1.) Quality/Durability. I don't feel this is a high quality product after putting it through the paces. I have two of these diapers in my stash and they get as much use as the rest of my diapers. They are already starting to break down after just a few months of use!! My little one hasn't even outgrown the size small yet, and I would already have to replace them. There is a wide elastic waist band at the top of the diaper that is warped from what I feel is minimal use. Since they won't stay snug on her waste without putting them on ridiculously tight, I have pretty much stopped using them. However, the rest of the outer shell is still ok after washing, all though the color has faded somewhat. Then there is the snap in liner. Those just don't hold up. If I were to use nothing else but these diapers, I would have to replace the snap in liners on a regular basis. I would say I've washed these about 20 times now (which isn't much) and they have already deteriorated. I always follow manufacturer directions, and theirs says to machine wash and air dry. So that's what I do. There is a thin elastic strip that goes all the way around the edge, and the casing for it is starting to peel off, leaving the elastic exposed where it would hit my baby's skin. This can cause major irritation, especially if your baby has sensitive skin. I haven't tried their washable inserts, so I can't weigh in on how they hold up. With two layers of microfiber and two layers of hemp, they SOUND like they will hold quite a bit of baby's pee, but again, I haven't tried them. I have tried the "flushable" insert, and I found these to be a disappointment as well. They DO hold a lot of baby's pee. They DON'T flush so easily!! I found I had to flush them 3 times to get them completely down the toilet and once they got stuck and I had to plunge. I quit flushing them after that. I really don't use the flushable inserts at all anymore. I want to make it clear also, that these ARE biodegradable, and they ARE compostable. They are NOT chemical free!! They contain a chemical called SAP for absorbency. This is also one of the main chemicals in disposables. I just wanted to add that for people who are looking to be chemical free, these are not. My alternative to what gDiapers offer as inserts is a good old fashioned, washable, chemical free prefold! I won't go into which prefold you should buy here, but if you would like advice on prefolds, let me know.

2.) But do they work? Yes, and no. MOST Of the time, I don't have to change the whole outer shell when baby poops. The liner will usually contain the mess and I can snap the whole thing out and replace with a new liner. Just like they advertise. However, it took some trial and error to get the fit right. But that's to be expected. Now that the waist band has worn out though, I am finding she gets poops up her back. A problem I don't have with other diapers. I truly feel this speaks to the quality of the product as well. If in a few months time, they are going to stop working, why bother? That's my opinion. I do like the fact that they velcro towards the back, but that's not really important until baby starts getting curious enough to undo the diaper. And mine isn't at that stage yet!

3.) The one thing these diapers have going for them is the cute factor. They come in some really adorable prints and colors. They have something for everyone. Even black!! I love a black diaper :) They don't look all that cute once they are on though......they seem to bulge up and get an odd shape to them after they have been on for a few minutes. They look kinda funny :/

4.) Overall value: Lets add this up. A pack of two gPants and 3 snap in liners averages $26.99 through most major retailers. A pack of 40 (small) or 32 (med/lg) flushable inserts averages $14.99, and a pack of 6 cloth inserts is $29.99. So to get started, you'd need about 3 packs of gPants and at least one pack of inserts, two if you are going cloth. This will get you through one day. Total for flushable option: $95.96. Total for cloth: 140.95. Not really a great value in my opinion. There are way better options in the Hybrid category for a little bit less of an investment. When you factor in having to replace them before baby grows out of them, and factor in replacing liners on a regular basis, you aren't getting much bang for your buck.

If you have had a better experience with gDiapers, please leave a comment and let us Know how they worked for you!

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