Now that I’ve told you why I decided to cloth diaper and also why I chose gDiapers specifically, I figured I’d give you more than just a glance into the gDiapering world. This post is going to be a quick one, just showing you what makes a “g” a “g.”
The front of the gDiaper is smooth because the tabs go in the back. The signature “g” will be on your baby’s bum. Some people really prefer to close them in the front, or find that the diaper fits their child better that way – and that’s okay. The gPolice aren’t going to track you down if you decide to put them on your child backwards.
Seriously though? Give it a try with the tabs in the back first. After just a day or two, you won’t even think it’s “weird” or “backwards” to do it that way.
There are three components to a gDiaper. The gPant, the liner, and the insert. In this photo, from left to right, these are:
- gPant
- Nylon liner
- gCloth – insert option #1
- Cotton prefold – insert option #2 (folded into thirds)
- gRefill – insert option #3 (the “flushie” or disposable/compostable/flushable insert)
The gPant has 4 snap tabs, one in each corner. The liner snaps into the pant using matching snap tabs. It’s easily removable for switching out for a new liner (when runny newborn poo inevitably gets on it) and for laundering.
Even though the three insert options above look like they’re totally different sizes, they all fit into the liner perfectly. All three are slim, too. If you use a newborn size prefold in a small gDiaper it will be really “chunky” on your baby, but the premie size is perfect. (Newborn size fits great in the medium/large gDiapers though.)
The final gDiaper body part is the Velcro. But really I think it’s Aplix, not Velcro. Whatever. Hook and loop closures… you know what I mean.
Each side of the front and the back of the diaper has both a hook piece and a loop piece, so when you do laundry, you can fold over the edges like this:
Which ensures that when you do laundry, your diapers won’t all stick together, and your Aplix will stay functional for a long time.If you don’t do this, you’ll probably get “picked” parts on the gPants (from the hooked Aplix of other gPants rubbing on them) and your closures will wear out much faster, which is annoying.
So now you know the anatomy of a gDiaper! Don’t you feel smarter?
I’m really excited to share about gDiapers, so if you have any questions about them, feel free to leave them in a comment here and I’ll try to address those curiosities in further posts.
Hi! I'm Emily. I'm a Navy wife and brand new stay at home mom. I cook simple, delicious, grain-free recipes, do crafts, decorate on a budget, and keep a happy home. I breastfeed, babywear, cloth diaper, and co-sleep, but I'm not a hippie.
Having still abit of trouble W/ Bunching on my Lil Gal, Even W/ Fuzzy bunz’s inserts & using the large size,,,,she can still get away W/ meds Which is more of the Problem. Am looking forward to greeneMountain Cloths:) Hopefully this will do it for me,,as well as my Lil Las,,,,Pleas any input would Help. Fustrated Gr’ma:(
What size prefold do you use in the medium gdiapers?
Can you use prefolds with the tiny gpants? I have tried newborn prefolds and they seem way to bulky. Do newborn prefolds work in the tiny gpant for newborns?
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
yes, but use preemie size prefolds, not newborn.
I put a preemie prefold in the tiny gpant and it seemed too small. The prefold didn’t go all the way to the sides…will it be more likely to leak? Also, it seems when I put the tiny gpant on her (she is 7 lbs) with a newborn prefold in it she gets red marks on her legs like it is irritating her skin. Thanks for responding so quickly.
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
The preemie ones from GMD are the ones I used in my smalls. Tiny takes the same size insert. Maybe you used a different brand? In any case, the liner (or in tiny’s case, the whole gpant) won’t be FULL of liner… which is normal, even if you’re using gCloth designed for it.
You really need to change diapers every hour or hour and a half (while baby is awake), so they shouldn’t have TIME to leak, you know? You’re trying to change it as soon as they pee so they don’t have to sit in wetness anyway.
Where are the red marks? You may be fastening it too tightly (too tight and it will leak, too) or too low (can cause red marks on the hips).
Hi there…love your review, ideas and tips on gdiapers! What is the length/width of the gcloth? I noticed, in your picture, that the GM newborn prefold looks a tad smaller in length next to the gcloth so I am wondering if the SMALL size prefold would work in the M/L inserts? The small prefolds measure 12.5 x 13.5 after washing…but I cannot find a measurement for the gcloth to compare it to. Thanks!
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
the newborn/orange edge size will fit in the M/L liners just fine… some people use the next size up though.
I prefer the gCloth in mediums though – much slimmer. The prefolds get pretty bulky.
Hi there…love your reviews, ideas and suggestions on the gdiaper! What is the length/width measurements for gcloth? I am wondering if a SMALL Green Mountain Prefold would fit in a m/l insert??? From your picture, the newborn prefold looks a little smaller than the gcloth…so maybe a small size would fit okay too?
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
PS the prefold in these pictures is a PREEMIE prefold, not newborn.
[...] of all, a flash back to the anatomy of a gDiaper. Your laundry tabs are SUPER important. They make it so that the hook sides of the diaper’s [...]
Hi, what an interesting post! I just recently heard of gDiapers from this French nappy sewing tutorial:
http://crearsouille.blogspot.com/2010/08/une-sorte-de-g-diaper.html
and as she says they haven’t yet penetrated the European market. Nice streamlined design. We do wool covers but the concept would work for wool. Thanks!
Katharine in Brussels recently posted..Vegan month of food 1- pumpkin porridge roasted pumpkin seeds
Twitter: whitbjordan
Are your preemie prefolds the white or the unbleached version?
Whitney recently posted..Secret Clinical Strength-FREE sample
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
they are unbleached.
[...] other sizes of gPants have a pant and a snap-in liner, the tiny size just has one piece combining the two – essentially a fabric-covered liner with [...]
I just recently found your blog… it’s love at first sight
haha But really such great information! My husband and I are not expecting a baby yet (hopefully soon!) but know we want to cloth diaper. I’ve been SO overwhelmed with all the choices. For awhile I was hooked on BumGenius 4.0 but now reading your two reviews I’m leaning towards the gdiapers…. Just a few thoughts/questions. I really like the diapers with snaps because they seem like they might last longer. Was that important to you? Also, I didn’t see if you said these were one size or if you will have to get a new liner or gpant size? I like how you just wash the insert and not the whole diaper (every time). I just found the Best Bottom Diapers brand which have a similar procedure but with snaps. Have you heard of those?
Sorry my comment is so long! I’m anxious for more posts on this from you!
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
I haven’t heard of the Best Bottom diapers – I’ll have to take a look at those.
The gDiapers have tiny, Small, Medium, and Large. Anneliese didn’t ever fit the tiny size, and many kids are potty trained before they fit Large, spending the most time in Medium. Because of that, I’ve only gotten 7 gPants in Small, but I’ll get a bunch more for variety once she’s in Medium. They’re still very competitively priced when compared with the more expensive one-size covers, and I think they’re more attractive without the rows of snaps all over the front that most one-size diapers have.
Also, if you want to have your gDiapers converted form Aplix to snaps, there are people who provide that service for just a couple dollars per pant. I prefer Aplix though because it’s faster and easier for me to fasten (nothing to line up perfectly, touch vs. squeeze/snap).
Twitter: hernewdeal
I’m glad you’re writing about this! I’ve been on the fence about whether to register for this or for Fuzzibunz for our girl due in January. I think you’ve convinced me–these seem so simple and even greener given that there is less laundry involved.
One question though–have you had any leaking issues? I’ve been reading that some people do, but have circumvented it somehow.
Twitter: JoyfulAbode
I haven’t had leaking issues except for a couple times when I accidentally put the diaper on wrong (too-tight waist band, or halfway down her butt once when I was half-asleep).
Leaking usually means the waist was secured too tight (because it breaks the seal of the liner against your baby’s skin) or it’s time to move up to the next size.
Thanks for posting this! I was wondering what kind of cloth dipes you were using from your pics. I use a combo of Fuzzi Bunz and Bum Genius on my girl, but sometimes I wish I had gone the flats/covers route because stuffing is kind of a drag!