gDiapers – people either love them or hate them. Chances are if you start out with them you might love them, but if you’ve tried other cloth diapers, then these might just drive you a little batty.

I didn’t consider using gDiaper for my newborn cloth diaper stash, but because I found some for cheap locally on my buy and sell group, I figured why not try these beloved cloth diapers.

Whats the Deal?

At one point, my mother was folding my bin of freshly laundered diapers and asked “whats with the shower cap?” I looked over and she had a gDiaper in her hand.

gDiapers are different than most other cloth diaper on the market. They are a cotton cover with a plastic ‘shower cap’ esque like inner. It is in this inner that you would lay either a disposable insert or a cloth insert. Inserts can then be traded out.

I used cloth inserts for my project, and found the Too Smart Insert from Smart Bottoms fit best in the Small sized gDiaper (fold it in thirds, it’s just perfect).

Fastening the diaper is also different in that the gDiaper concept uses hook & loop enclosures. These connect on the side/back of the diaper.

gDiaper Review

So, what do I think about the gDiaper system… well, I think I don’t like it. And as such, its up next on my newborn cloth diaper review because I want to rotate it out of my stash and keep using what I actually love.

For reference, my newborn baby girl was born 7lbs 15 oz, and by the time of these photos, she weighed 9lbs 2 oz. 

Things to Love

• I have to admit the gPant cotton is beautiful silky soft. It is a gorgeous material, and that alone could be very intriguing to the potential cloth diapering family.
• The hybrid concept of gDiapers is also a nice selling point. This flexibility of either route gives you options when you want to do laundry and when you don’t. However, my husband thinks that using disposable inserts in a reusable/washable cover is the stupidest idea on the planet. He’s kind of right. 
• Just the Right Size – a sized diaper means no fiddling with getting just the right fit. It means a trimmer cut and for many its just the right option.
  
• Strong Fasteners: the velcro on these diapers is pretty amazingly strong. I found myself fighting with it.

Things I Don’t Love

• Leaks & Explosions: The Cotton portion of the gPant isn’t sufficient for keeping in poops. The elastic would not stand up to anything. Instead, the plastic shell/pouch thing (honestly not sure what to call it) is the primary source of containing the messes of your child. I found that 90% of the time this failed, and it definitely did not contain liquid breastfed poops.
  
• Sized System: I know, I just said this was a perk… But, let’s get real, sized systems are not economical in the long run. Growing babies always need to be sized up, and while the newborn days are short lived, the long-term viability of the gDiaper system is a pain.
• Weird Fit: On my baby girl, I find that it looks like she has a bum in the front. It’s not very trim, attractive or cute.
• Backwards Fasteners: fastening this diaper on the sides/back is just awkward and terrible. It’s a struggle every time. The hook & loop is mighty strong and in such, I found myself constantly muttering trying to open the darn thing up so I could fasten (they kind of auto close on themselves when not in use).
  

gDiaper Conclusions

Skip these. Why are you even considering this hybrid system? If you really want to do cloth and disposable inserts, check out the GroVia system. Much nicer quality, containment and experience (plus the GroVia shells will fit you now and till you have a toddler, stay posted I’ll be talking about that).

In the meanwhile, I’ll be taking these out of my stash rotation because I just can’t deal with these weird shells.

You can also read a few other reviews on these diapers below.

• All About Cloth Diapers. 
• Dirty Diaper Laundry