What are some REALLY durable diaper covers?

[Lina W]

So we've been doing pocket diapers for our son and it's been great. Until now that is... We started using them when he was around 18 months and he's now 27 months, so we got 9 months of use out of them, and now they're falling apart completely. It's incredibly annoying. I'm thinking it's maybe time to start potty training anyway, so maybe we're ok as far as our son goes, but I was really planning on using these pretty expensive diapers for baby #2 too. Gaaah!! The seams started coming undone very early and I could live with that, but now the PUL is completely coming apart into two layers and the plastic looking layer is ripping. So they leak like crazy. We're talking Happy Heiny's, Mommy's Touch and Fuzzi Bunz. The Fuzzi Bunz ones are actually still ok, but I think that could be because we haven't used those much due to fit issues. (There's no right size of the FB for our son, which by the way is also an issue with the HH. The Mommy's Touch ones have been great fit wise and in every other way until now when they're coming apart. HH are also coming apart like crazy, especially in the seams.)

SO, I've decided to get prefolds instead, for this next kiddo. They seem like they'll last a little longer and they're inexpensive. I'm not paying for expensive diapers ever again! But with that comes the question of what kind of covers to get. Which ones would be the most durable? I'm looking for covers where the seams will hold and where the PUL won't come apart into two layers. I'm kind of suspicious about anything PUL after this actually. Maybe there's a more durable material? Is it fleece, wool or plastic that are the other options, or are there other materials for covers? I don't want to do plastic, so I'm guessing the options are fleece or wool then? Or if anyone knows of a PUL cover that will absolutely not come apart?

[MommaShark]

Wool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ShwarmaQueen]

No experience, just lurking. :

[Michigan Mama]

I've had great luck with both Bummis and Thirsties for my covers, very durable, besides some trouble with my Bummis velcro, but I just replaced that - the cover is fine. Wool probably would be a good option for you, and would likely be durable - but they are pricey, too.

Makes me wonder what your washing routine is??? I've heard that certain things like bleach and vinegar or bac-out can wear your diapers faster. I would expect them to last you a little longer than you did, unless you don't have many diapers in your stash and they were just used very heavily. Then it's not quite as bad, but still - 9 months isn't very long! I would be frustrated, too.

I did have one pocket diaper (mine was a Haute Pocket) where the PUL peeled away and it started leaking, but it was only that certain diaper, perhaps from a bad batch or something...

[Gabes Mommy]

I agree with wool. I personally am a fan of recycled wool from the thrift shop =)

I like of Bummis covers too. I've used PUL dipes for the most part (BGs) and we haven't had any problems. If you go wth PUL again, I would make sure to line dry when you can and avoid vinegar, bleach, etc.

[Lina W]

Originally Posted by Michigan Mama

Makes me wonder what your washing routine is??? I've heard that certain things like bleach and vinegar or bac-out can wear your diapers faster. I would expect them to last you a little longer than you did, unless you don't have many diapers in your stash and they were just used very heavily. Then it's not quite as bad, but still - 9 months isn't very long! I would be frustrated, too.

I don't use any vinegar or bleach, only Country Save detergent. But I do wash in hot and I do tumble dry. I'm guessing that I shouldn't have tumble dried them as much as I did, but none of the care instructions for the diapers say to avoid the dryer. We have 12 diapers and we wash them every other day. (We didn't start until our son was 18 months so we didn't have the 10 diapers a day newborn stage in cloth.) Probably having more diapers and washing them every third day, and line drying, would have avoided the problem. But basically that's not what I thought I was buying. I thought washing every other day and drying in the dryer would be fine. Otherwise I would have bought different diapers.

Thank you everyone for all your input!

[bezark]

Since you like the fit of Mommy's touch, you may want to try their covers. They're two layers of PUL (with the laminate sides together) and mine have held up really well so far, but I also don't machine dry my covers unless I need them ASAP.

ETA: You can get them for $13 from Clothdiaperclearance.com

[battymama]

Wool!

I had the same experience with bg, never again!

[roseselene]

I agree with wool.

If you are looking for PUL -- bummis covers are very durable. Thirsties are good too.
Amy

[yamilee21]

Our Bummis covers are on baby #2 with about 30 months usage in total so far, with no significant problems. Same for our wool covers (Aristocrats and Llamajamas) and our Mother-Ease Air-Flow covers.

[Katie T]

I have a mommys touch that the pull separated it wasnt long after i got it & they replaced it happened to a gad as well & she said she tried using a more evironmentally friendly pull. I have a blueberry one size i love & i love my homeade fleese covers

[aihcalappa]

Another vote for Bummis. Used them through 3 kids, and a few are now starting to fall apart. 6 years of continuous use and I think I got my moneys worth. I do air dry them, and wash them seperate from the prefolds to cut down on wear and tear.

[Juliacat]

Covers are going to last longer than pocket diapers because they don't have to be washed after every single use, and it's pretty easy to hang them to dry. Snap covers will be a bit more durable than Velcro.

[lifeguard]

Originally Posted by bezark

Since you like the fit of Mommy's touch, you may want to try their covers. They're two layers of PUL (with the laminate sides together) and mine have held up really well so far, but I also don't machine dry my covers unless I need them ASAP.

ETA: You can get them for $13 from Clothdiaperclearance.com

:

[tinyblackdot]

Bumkin covers are not PUL, im not sure what they are, but its not PUL. They would probably last quite a while since you dont have to wash them in a washing machine. You can litterally just put them in the sink and rinse them with soap and water.

Or you could make some fleece soakers, i made 3 and they are really easy to do, and really cheap. And now i use them over dd's training panites to make sure there is no teetee on the floor I used Katrina's Fleece Soaker Pattern (its free)

[tbone_kneegrabber]

i like thristies covers. we used the cheapest of the cheap, dappis, until ds was in large sized covers, so maybe 9-12 months, and they did fine.

[prescottchels]

I'm planning to use Nikky's cotton diaper covers-waterproofed in how they're made or woven, no pul. And long lasting from what I hear
http://babyworks.com/catalog/Default.asp has the best price I've seen so far in my searches.

[Lina W]

Thank you SO much for all your suggestions! I will look into all of them. Right now I'm knitting a wool soaker... it will be very interesting to see how it turns out since I haven't knitted in five years or so. I pretty much had to relearn how to do it. But it's really fun!

Oh, and Bumkins... does anyone know what the material is? From what I understand it's not PUL, but I just don't get from their website what it is instead. Some kind of waterproof material, but what?

[mumkimum]

Bumkins is like a nylon material. They're ok. I think they're more durable than some PUL covers, but the fit doesn't always work great and can lead to leaks. (Great for tall or skinny babes though, and they wash/rinse easy - even by hand).

My most durable covers though were polar babies happy pants. They're fleece with metal snaps, I even had a used one and it didn't gain any wear from when I got it.

[girlzmommy00]

I really loved Motherease Airflows & Bumpy covers. Bummi's & proraps leaked. Wool & fleece were also a big leaky mess. I had heavy wetters & those just couldn't hold up. With ME & Bumpy, no leaks, no problems.

I really liked Bumkin AIO's (with a fleece topped joey bunz, they are great) & their bibs but never tried their covers.