It’s no secret that we are a cloth diapering family. Formerly-iBaby-now-iToddler is wrapped every day in a colorful, happy, absorbent piece of fabric—usually a bumGenius 3.0 one-size.
under that fleece cover is a bumgenius, double-stuffed for overnight. i just love her bubble butt!
Our entire stash came from Happy Baby Company, a retailer here in Pittsburgh who also services nationwide via their awesome website. Lilli and Adam, owners of Happy Baby Company, impressed us immediately with how much time and energy they invested in us before we were even diaper-buying customers. And boy did we ever become diaper-buying customers.
We now have a few dozen bumGenius 3.0 one-size diapers, the ones with the hook and loop (i.e.: Velcro-esque) closures, and snaps that you can adjust to fit your bambino right up until potty training. These diapers have been a sort of evangelism tool for us when it comes to cloth diapering. We’ve found that people are nervous to offer to watch our little girl sometimes, out of fear of the cloth. But once I show them that her diapers look and operate just like disposables, fear quickly gives way to curiosity and excitement. To date, I think we’ve convinced at least a dozen people to at least consider cloth, and most of them are now converts.
Anyway, the bumGenius 3.0s, while incredibly easy to use and the hubs’ first choice, is not without its flaws. The hook and loop closure got worn extremely quickly, perhaps within just a dozen wash cycles. And the microfiber inserts are subject to skunking after a few months (problem solved with Rockin’ Green). We also were not able to fit our little girl into a bumGenius 3.0 until she hit about 2 months old because the sizing really didn’t work for us as expected.
So I was ridiculously excited when Cotton Babies introduced bumGenius 4.0. In the cloth diapering world, people are bonkers. I’ll admit it. I was one of thousands (THOUSANDS) of people who anxiously awaited the YouTube announcement of the new design earlier this summer. And for weeks prior, I stalking their Facebook page, adding my two cents on countless discussions about what I thought the new features might be.
Waiting for this announcement made me feel like a 13 year old being given Silly Bandz by Edward Cullen.
Yes, I went there.
Like I said, bonkers.
The announcement didn’t disappoint with new features, but out of all of them, I was stoked mostly about the new hook and loop and also the option of snaps. In fact, I disliked the old hook and loop so much, I had considered hiring someone to convert all of our current dipes to snaps.
However, when the time came for me to pick a bumGenius 4.0 diaper from Happy Baby Company to review for the blog, I ended up choosing hook and loop. Why? Because I wanted to compare apples to apples.
Since then, I’ve been using the new diaper for a few weeks, trying to favor it so it gets washed more often. So far, I’ve been impressed at the lack of wear on the hook and loop. It really is different. I don’t know how Jenn, the creator of bumGenius, went about her R&D, but it seems like she did hit on a winner. I would probably still prefer snaps, to be perfectly honest, but this is still an enormous improvement. The repair kits that Cotton Babies sends out use the same new closures, and if you’re so inclined, you could get a pretty big bang for your buck simply by replacing the closures on your 3.0s with the new stuff. I have about a dozen repair kits, but let’s face it, there are barely enough hours in the day to eat properly, so I doubt I’ll be hacking diapers anytime soon.
So what about you? Have you tried the new 4.0s yet? Want to try, but haven’t had the chance to get one yet?
Well here’s your chance.
Because Happy Baby Company rocks, they not only let me try one out for myself, but they also gave me one to give away to one very lucky imanimama reader. Will it be you?
yep, that's a 4.0 and one of you are going to win it, courtesy of the fine folks over at Happy Baby Company.
I’ve got a bumGenius 4.0 one-size in Butternut (pale yellow–I originally listed Noodle but was incorrect!) with hook and loop closure and I want to give it to you. Yes, you!
Here’s what you need to do to get a chance (or 4!) to win:
- Required: Leave me a comment here, telling me why you can’t wait to try the new bG 4.0.
- Extra entry: Sign up to receive Happy Baby Company’s email newsletter (bottom of the left column), and leave a separate comment here telling me you did it.
- Extra entry: Stop by imanimama.com’s Facebook page and post a shout-out to your favorite happy baby. Leave a separate comment here telling me you did it.
- Extra entry: Subscribe to imanimama.com via RSS or email, and leave a separate comment here telling me you did it.
The fine print:
Open to US residents only. Military APO addresses are okay. Entries must be received by Tuesday, August 31 at 8 p.m. Winner has 24 hours to respond to email announcing their winnings before a backup winner is drawn.This giveaway is now closed.
And just in case you’re new to imanimama.com. First, WELCOME! Also, be sure to head on over to the Happy Baby Company website and use code “imanimama” for 10% off your entire order and free shipping. One-time use only.
I love HBC, they have the BEST customer service ever. I want to try the new bg 4.0s because so far we’ve stuck with prefolds and fitted.
I joined up for their mailing list
Left a shoutout to my Spencer man!
I left a shoutout on your fb page to my wild redheaded terror…er…sweethearted Kael!
subscribed via email!!
Can’t wait to get my hands on a 4.0! I’m a die hard 3.0 user but have had to replace the hook and loop on all of them. Otherwise, they have held up well!
Left a shoutout to my little man;)
signed up for YOUR mailing list
Receiving the HBC newsletter
And last but not least, Im on your mailing list now too
I’d love to try the 4.0 I used 3.0′s with my 2nd and am due with my 3rd son in October I’m sure we would love these!
I’m our local Sierra Club Group’s newsletter editor and I’ve been wanting to write an article on CDing, but I’ve used Fuzzi Bunz almost exclusively on my two kids. I need to branch out with some different brands to provide our readers with a better range of info. Everyone seems to love the BGs. I just haven’t convinced myself to buy any yet!
andi recently posted…Press 6
Subscribed to reader.
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I would like to try the new bum Genius to see what the one-size diapers are like. We have been using sized Fuzzi Bunz.
I am an email subscriber of your blog.
Love it!
I get the Happy Baby newsletter by email.
Just posted a shoutout to my little guy on your Facebook page.
I cannot wait to try the BG 4.0 because I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the bum genius diaper the 3.0 and 4.0. My son would love a new cloth diaper and yellow my favorite color
I would love to try a bG 4.0. We diapered our first child exclusively in bG 3.0s for her whole diapering life! But we had the same wear issues so weren’t sure about diapering our second (now arrived) in them . . . this would be great to try!
Signed up for happy baby company email newsletter
I subscribed to imanimama.com email
We are expecting our first in January and SUPER excited about planning to CD. We’ve heard nothing but the best about the BG 4.0 so I’d love to have one to try
I signed up for HBC’s newsletter
and of course i left a shout out to my sweet child to be!
Since we just switched to cloth, we really don’t have many yet. I’d love to win one:)
I’d like it as a bg 3.0 lover but not loving the old aplix. I like snaps too, but hubby helps w diapering and he likes aplix!
Just signed up for the newsletter:)
annnnd now i’m excited to be following imanimama’s blog!
subscribed to HBC emails
now subscribed to imanimama.com via RSS
I want to try the 4.0 to see if it will be good enough to stand up to use at daycare!
I get the Happy Baby Company email newsletter
Let a shout out on FB
I am subscribed to your RSS feed.
Ah, Bum Genius. I, like you, was not thrilled with the wear and tear on the 3.0s. It’s a large part of why all of my current cloth diapers involve snaps. But I’m willing to try again. Why do I NEED a BG4.0? That’s easy. I’m expecting Baby2 any time now and will have two children in cloth. My stash must expand!!
Kate recently posted…Ill miss the tummy tray
And, I left you some love on the Facebook page.
Kate recently posted…Ill miss the tummy tray
And I receive the HBC newsletter.
Kate recently posted…Ill miss the tummy tray
And I subscribe to your blog via email!
Kate recently posted…Ill miss the tummy tray
I’m excited to try the BG4.0s because our little girl is 11 days old and we’re already getting tired of buying disposables. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the 4.0s.
Subscribed to the HBC newsletter.
Posted a shout out to my favorite little girl, Kaida.
Subscribed to your RSS feed.
I can’t wait to try the 4.0′s because I hate the aplix on the 3.0′s!
I receive the HBC newsletter
I left a shout out to my babies on your facebook page!
I’m subscribed to your blog via email
I would love to try the 4.0 to have a second BG to add to my stash as I’m trying to gain more OS pockets and the 3.0 is soo nice. Also it may lead me back to hook and loop( our 3.0 is beyond worn out in that dept.)!
Totally get the HBC mailer. Love HBC!
I love HAPPY BABY! Even though I no longer live in PGH, I’ve purchased most of the supplies I’ve gotten from them. I have a bunch of 3.0′s that I got used for when Spud gets here, and would love to try out a 4.0!
I would love to try the new 4.0 because I am fairly new to cloth and still trying to figure out what brand I like best!