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All in Ones (aka AiOs) are a popular choice of modern cloth diapers among families. People like them because they are generally as easy to put on as a disposable diaper. It’s a great idea to have at least a few all in ones on hand for babysitters. The BumGenuis Freetime All in One is a popular option you could pick.
There are several other brands of AiOs from which to choose, but BumGenius has some accessibility perks that not all brands of diapers have (can be found online at Target and sometimes in-store, making it easy to add to baby registries. They can also be found in store and online at Buy Buy Baby).
Because that is a little more accessible than most other diaper brands, they are easier to get to go and look at in person and register for as gifts. BumGenius also has another all-in-one called the Elemental. That diaper has some key differences to the Freetime and will be reviewed at a separate time.
Style and Features
The Freetime is a OS (one size) diaper, so it has some rows of snaps that you can use to adjust the rise. It can be used for babies as small as 7-8 lbs up to 35 lbs.
It has two inserts sewn on–one on each end. You fold the inserts into the diaper, one on top of the other, to use. This may seem odd, but it is done strategically to help make the drying time faster (AiOs notoriously take forever to dry–but not the Freetimes!)
You can get both snap fasteners or hook & loop. The Freetime has a very trim fit.
If you are familiar with the BumGenius 4.0/5.0 diapers, I feel like the Freetime is a more flexible fit. The inserts are made from microfiber with a suede cover sewn on top of the inserts to protect baby’s skin. The outside of the diaper is a waterproof layer of PUL.
Quality
BumGenius Freetimes are a great diaper, especially since they made their brand improvements a few years ago. My Freetimes have held up to every other day washing for nearly FIVE YEARS and are still going strong. That’s amazing! The elastics are a little bit relaxed, but other than that, they are in good shape.
Think about your favorite article of clothing in your closet–if you put it in the washer and dryer (on low) every two days for five years straight, do you think it would hold up? I know most of the clothes in my closet would not.
These diapers been trustworthy and dependable over the years. The only issue I have had over the years is the elastics started to relax a little bit, but bumGenius has worked to improve them in their newer versions.
I was really worried about the elastics when my second baby was born–I was scared they wouldn’t fit and I’d have to buy a new stash. I was pleasantly surprised to find the relaxed elastics really didn’t impede my diapers from doing their job, especially once my son was a few months old. I’m not worried about them at all anymore.
I’ve personally invested in a lot of my favorite BumGenius prints as Freetimes! I love BumGenius prints–many of them are in honor of famous individuals. Pictured above, you can see diaper prints in honor of Albert Einstein, Louis Armstrong, and Dr. E Lee Spence. It’s kind of fun to think about your kids in light of some of these amazing people. 😉 BumGenius comes out with new prints regularly, and they are always very beautiful.
Pros and Cons
The Freetime is a decent choice for an all in one diaper. That said, there are some things to consider:
Pros:
- All in One design makes for no stuffing, wrapping, or pinning–just put it right on! It’s a time saver.
- The two flap system makes this diaper dry much faster than other brands of all in ones.
- It has a very trim fit, but still holds a solid amount of liquid.
- The price is decent as far as all in ones are concerned.
Cons:
- The inserts are microfiber, which isn’t the most absorbent possible material.
- The two flaps can be a little annoying when baby poops in the diaper and you have to remove the poop before putting it in the diaper bin–the flaps seem like they flop around and get messy.
- While the price is pretty good for an all in one diaper, it is still more expensive than other types of cloth diapers out there.
- Because of the two flap system, this isn’t my favorite diaper to leave with caregivers. It would probably be fine, but I always worry the flaps might confuse them.
- bumGenius notoriously has issues with elastics getting relaxed sooner than they should
Price
The BumGenius Freetime is about a $20 diaper. The price varies slightly based on retailer and whether or not you purchase a solid color or a print.
Would I Recommend this Diaper?
Yes, I would recommend the Freetime. It has worked well for us and our Freetimes have been a valuable part of my diaper stash.
I will be honest that I have some other all in ones that I prefer to the Freetimes due to some of the cons I listed above, but those all in ones also come with a slightly higher price tag.
These are a great option for a high-quality all in one at a reasonable price. I love the ones I have, but I probably wouldn’t invest in an entire stash as Freetimes–it’s good to have a little variety.
I hope this helps you in your diaper purchasing decisions. If you already have some Freetimes, what do you think of them?
Hi! Thanks for putting this review together! Quick question about the microfiber – you mentioned that as a con. I have never used a diaper w/ microfiber – can you elaborate a bit more why this is a con? I am pretty ignorant when it comes to the best fabric for diapers! Maybe write a post about that!? Thank you!!
Hi Sarah! Microfiber is a pretty standard diaper fabric and holds a decent amount of liquid, but it’s not as absorbent as other materials, like charcoal bamboo or hemp. It’s not a huge deal, but when the diaper is an all in one as opposed to a pocket, it’s harder to customize the absorbency so you get kind of stuck with the materials that are sewn into the all in one instead of getting to choose your own inserts.
Myself and my partner have always used the Pampers brand of nappy/diaper on our kids so this is pretty new to me – the price of $20 is pretty high as well (tell me this can be used again and again!).
I’m also a little concerned about the microfiber element of the diaper. After being a stay at home dad I know how depressing it can be with the ‘mistake mess’ we often make when changing a nappy. You mention that this microfiber substance is not really that absorbent – would you say this leads to more ‘brown disasters’?
Oh yes, Chris, definitely can be used again and again! That’s what cloth diapers are all about! 🙂 I have been using my cloth diapers daily for 5 years through multiple kids and they are still going strong. As for “brown disasters”, the perk with cloth is that you virtually NEVER have a blow out like you do with disposables. Cloth diapers have elastic around the waist that seal. Disposables don’t, and it would be extremely rare to have any sort of blow out with a cloth diaper unless it wasn’t put on correctly.
I see a reference to PUL. What is this? Why is it good for the baby?
How many BumGenius Freetime All in One diapers do you think a baby should have? I would imagine that after washing a BumGenius Freetime All in One diaper, it would take a while to dry and be available for use by the baby.
Would the baby also need other types of diapers in case of emergencies?
PUL is a waterproof material (stands for Polyurethane Laminate) and it keeps the diapers from leaking. PUL doesn’t go against the baby’s skin as it’s only on the outside of the diaper, not the inside, so you don’t need to worry too much about whether or not it’s good for the baby. 🙂 The Freetime is one of the fastest drying all-in-ones I own! It can be a bit slower to dry than a pocket diaper or a regular cover, but it really doesn’t take any longer than any other article of clothing. As for your last question, no, I don’t think you would need any other diaper for emergencies. Whether or not you need something else depends on your lifestyle. If you travel a lot or have a preferred diaper cream that isn’t cloth-safe, it can be helpful to have a few disposables on hand to fall back on, but that’s definitely personal preference and not a necessity as there are plenty of rash creams that work well with cloth, and there are ways to travel with cloth, too!
Wow these look great, plus I really like your honest review of the pro’s and con’s.
I stumbled over this review by accident but will definitely be sending the link to my wife to review for the grandchildren, plus my eldest daughter.
How things have changed since I was a diaper changing dad.
Thanks Paul! They certainly have changed quite a bit, and there’s never been a more convenient time to use cloth diapers! 🙂
Thanks for writing such an informative post about Bumgenius Freetime diapers. I am looking for a good quality diaper and I think it can be the one that I can give a shot. Is there any similar product within affordable budget? It seems to be an expensive diaper for everyday use.
Yes, Sanjay! Here is a post about cloth diapering on a budget. I hope that helps–reach out if you need any more help or suggestions!
Hey Holly,
Nice review on all in one diapers. You mentioned it uses microfiber material but as you know microfiber is made from synthetic materials, typically a polyester-nylon blend. Would not be it harmful to kid’s sensitive skins?
What I like is their Bumgenius prints, really nice idea and they have some fantastic categories like genius series and gift series.
Has these diapers available on Amazon?
Hello! Microfiber can definitely be harmful to a baby’s skin, especially when wet. The microfiber in the Freetime diaper is covered with a layer of suede-like material to keep the microfiber from touching the baby’s skin. The suede does not cause irritation to baby’s skin unless it hasn’t been washed properly.
Thanks for your review of BumGenius, I love the name , unfortunately I never come a crossed it, it completely new to me, can this BumGenius be shipped to any part of the world when purchased online? What’s the maximum duration you think it can be used and still good to go? I love babies, and I don’t mind promoting this product because I know its not available where I live.
Thanks, share more!
Hello! BumGenius can be harder to find outside of Canada and the US, but it’s not impossible! Here is a list of authorized retailers—hope it helps!
https://www.bumgenius.com/apps…