11 Best Bottom Swim Diaper Review

Best Bottom Swim Diaper Review in 2023

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Everything They Don't Tell You About Cloth Diapers

Beyond the basics, but helpful information for all your cloth diapering questions!

Washing: While you don't have to go by "the list", certain detergents are better than others. Liquid detergents have suspenders in them, and usually other additives, which can leave a buildup. This isn't to say ALL liquid detergents are bad, there are several CD safe liquid detergents, but be cautious. Just because something is Free amp; Clear doesn't automatically make it safe, or guarantee that you can't have an allergic reaction. It just means it is free of perfumes and clear of dyes. But it can still have enzymes, brighteners, softeners and other additives that can cause problems. Detergent is pretty much trial and error. Some kids are more sensitive than others, and certain detergents and water types (hard water/soft water) don't mix well. Use your best judgment, try samples first if possible, it may take a few times but you'll find one that works for you.
Same with wash routines. General wash routine is cold rinse, hot wash, extra rinse. Initial rinse to get the pee/poo out so you aren't washing in pee water, cold to help prevent staining. Hot wash to help sanitize and dissolve the detergent. Some people can get away with cold washes, but hot water helps the detergent break down and rinse cleaner. Final rinse to ensure no buildup. Again, hot works better but many people do just fine with cold rinse- so don't panic if you don't have a hot rinse setting.
People with top loaders (non-HE) will likely need more detergent. Front loaders don't always use enough water, so you can try adding wet towels to trick it into adding more water. Or you can add more water once the wash has started. This isn't always necessary, but if you find the soap isn't getting rinsed well enough, more water may be just what you need!

Drying: Don't be afraid of the dryer. Constant drying on high heat can wear down the elastic, and cause damage to some lower quality PUL. Line drying will save energy and extend the life of your diapers, but can cause natural fibers to feel crunchy. Shaking them well before and after line drying, or a quick toss in the dryer on "fluff/no heat" will fix that. Drying on low-med heat is probably best, high occasionally to seal the PUL. But again, you do what works for you. You may dry on high every day and never have any issues.

Choosing a system: This is probably the most daunting task to newbies. There are several things to consider.
1. What is your budget? If you have only $100 to spend on your entire stash, prefolds/flats or cheap pockets will be your best options. If you are able to spread out the buying (for example, you're recently pregnant and have 9 months to buy), check sales, stock up on coupon codes/free diapers with purchase of XYZ, check used diaper swaps, etc.
2. Who will be doing most of the diaper changes? If you will be staying home with baby all day, you may be comfortable with prefolds/flats. If baby will be in daycare, they may prefer a pocket or All-In-One style. If baby will be home half the time/daycare half the time, and you want to maximize your budget, you may opt for a few covers and prefolds or other Ai2 system for at home, and the more expensive All-in-ones for daycare.
3. Why are you cloth diapering? If you are doing this to save money, an Ai2 system (few covers, multiple inserts) may be your best bet. If you are doing it to avoid chemicals, you may choose to splurge on all organic diapers. If you are doing this just for the cute prints, you may prefer the cute fitteds, WAHM Ai2s, or printed pockets.

If you are so confused by all the different styles, your head is spinning, and you're ready to give up on the idea of cloth- opt for a rental. If you are unable to go to a store and see hands-on what each type is, a rental is the perfect solution! You pay a deposit, they send you 10-20 diapers to try out, and then you return the ones you don't like! It's a great way to try several different brands, styles, and sizes. Then you get your deposit back and can stock up on your favorites.

Prepping: Some diapers require prepping, washing several times to become absorbent. In general- synthetic fabrics need one wash to remove anything left from the manufacturing/shipping process. Natural fabrics- such as cotton, hemp, bamboo- need multiple washes to remove the natural oils and allow the materials to be absorbent. Don't stress it. Wash a few times, use it, and know it will be more absorbent over time and more washes. Things like covers, wipes, microfiber inserts, etc only need to be washed once, and can be tossed in the washer with other clothing (using whatever CD safe detergent you chose).

Sizing: Most "one size" diapers will not fit a newborn's skinny little legs. We'll cover the newborn stage in a minute. If you opt for One Size diapers, which can save you money, know that they can be a bit bulky on younger babies, but as baby grows they will be trimmer. Sized options (xs, s, m, l) will be trimmer, but you will have to buy enough in each size, which can cost more.

Newborn: You have several options for the newborn stage. For the diapers themselves, you can do a Newborn Rental, buy new or used diapers to keep, or simply use disposables in the early weeks. If you plan to cloth diaper from Day 1, be sure to look for diapers with a 'cord cutout' for the umbilical cord stump. These are only needed for the first week or two, depending on when the stump falls off, so you may opt to just fold down whichever diapers you use. If you are purchasing a set of newborn diapers, prefolds and covers will be the cheapest, and often give the best fit to hold in explosive newborn (especially breastfed) poop.

Fit issues and Leaking: A common concern for many moms, but usually with simple answers. The number one thing to remember is not every diaper will fit every baby. In general, the fit should be snug around the legs and waist, but not so tight it leaves red marks. If there is a gap in the legs, you will get leaks. Play around with the fit- adjust waist and rise settings for One Size diapers, and waist for sized diapers. Leak at the legs is almost always a fit issue, leaking straight out the back or front is usually an absorbency issue. If you are getting leaks out the back/front, and the insert is soaked, try adding a doubler or changing more often.

Other Causes of Leaking: If you are getting leaks and the insert is NOT soaked, you likely have repelling. Do a hot wash with no detergent and check for bubbles. If you see lots of bubbles, you have detergent buildup and need to strip. If there are no bubbles, check the diaper for other causes- such as diaper cream buildup, not fully prepped, or a bad fit.

Stripping: If you find you have detergent buildup and need to strip, you have a few options. You can do a few hot washes with no detergent (checking the rinse cycles for bubbles), you can scrub with Dawn dish soap to get out the soap and oils, or you can do a long soak followed by a hot wash (usually works best for slight buildup). For detergent buildup, try plain hot washes first. Dawn works best at getting out grease and oils, and requires several rinses. This is best for diaper cream buildup or other oils/creams/fabric softener buildup.

Stink: There are two basic types of stink- ammonia and barnyard. If your diapers stink, but only smell like pee/poop, they simply aren't getting clean enough. Play around with your wash routine to fix it. Causes of stink vary, but can be eliminated one by one. Detergent is a common cause. The wrong kind of detergent can cause stink (usually by causing buildup and holding in bacteria), or by simply not using enough. Sometimes people get so scared of using too much detergent, they actually don't use enough. If you do a plain hot wash (no detergent) and don't see bubbles, but the water isn't clear, try adding more detergent to your wash routine. For ammonia, the causes and cures are widely varied. Simple steps to take: 1. Check for buildup, 2. Strip or add detergent as needed. 3. If you've stripped, changed the amount of detergent and are still having issues, try switching detergents. Some brands simply don't work for some people. If the issues persist, try a soak in OxyyClean or baking soda. Keep in mind, if you have hard water, a water softener such as Calgon can do wonders! Hard water can leave mineral buildup, so be sure to use an appropriate detergent and/or laundry additive for your specific water type. Line drying in the sun, which naturally brightens and kills bacteria, can also help. For barnyard stink, your diapers are likely just not getting clean enough. Do a thorough hot wash, and try using more or a different detergent. If you have a front loader, you may just need to add more water. Synthetic materials such as microfiber, can hold onto smells more than natural fibers, such as cotton.

Snaps or Velcro: A common question, with a million opinions. Snaps last longer, but velcro is easier to replace if it does tear up or wear out. Snaps are harder for older babies to take off, but velcro is easier to fasten on a wiggly baby. Velcro can snag diapers in the washer, especially if the laundry tabs are worn out. Some prefer one or the other, I recommend a mix. Velcro is easiest for baby sitters and quick middle-of-the-night changes, and can give a better fit. Snaps rarely need replacing, and are ideal for diapers to be used by multiple children.

A few other notes: There are a few minor points that will make your cloth diapering journey a little easier. Microfiber inserts should not be used against baby's skin. They quickly pull the moisture out of the skin and cause redness or irritation. Certain rash creams, particularly those with zinc oxide, can cause buildup or other issues with cloth diapers. If you are unsure, use a liner. Most importantly, don't give up! If you are having leaking issues, stink issues, or just need some enabling for latest cute diaper on sale, don't be afraid to ask!