Smart Bottoms has recently started retailing in Canada, and this American cloth diaper company was even featured in the March issue of Canadian Family magazine. When I was asked to be one of the first Canadian bloggers to review the Smart One 3.1, an organic, one-size AIO cloth diaper, I jumped at the chance to get my girl in this fun Wild Thing print.
Anatomy of a Smart Bottoms Smart One 3.1 AIO Diaper
The Smart One 3.1 is an organic, one-size, AIO (all in one) cloth diaper that fits most babies from 8-35 pounds. All in one means there’s no need for a cover or inserts – this type of diaper is most similar to a disposable diaper in that regard. Smart One diapers come in 6 solids and 4 prints, and only in snap closure.
The Smart One 3.1 comes with two rows of 10 waist snaps and two snaps on each wing to adjust the size at the waist and leg. This diaper doesn’t have hip snaps or crossover snaps. The size and rise is adjustable with three rows of three rise snaps.
The inside of the Smart One 3.1 is made from 100% certified organic cotton and features a snake-style insert attached at the back of the diaper. It has an elasticized back and a flat front with a strip of PUL along the inside to help stop wicking at the tummy. This PUL strip is one of my favourite features.
Here’s how the sizes compare.
It’s important to know that the oils naturally present in cotton have not been stripped out with chemicals, so you do need to wash the diaper 6-8 times before it reaches full absorbency. Smart Bottoms recommends testing your diaper’s absorbency by pouring a little bit of water on the insert. If it runs off or pools on the fabric for even a second, you’ll need to wash it again to remove the rest of the oils.
Diaper Fit and Performance
Here’s Kay in her Smart One 3.1 – look how trim this diaper is! At 21 months and 26 pounds, she still has another row of rise snaps to go, so there’s plenty of room left to grow. The waist and legs fit well, and even though Smart One diapers don’t come with hip snaps, I have never had an issue with wing droop.
I like the organic cotton snake-style insert. It washes better and dries quicker than old-style AIO’s where the absorbent pad is sewn into the body of the diaper. It might take a bit of trial and error to find the best configuration for your baby, but the benefit to this style of insert is its versatility. You can simply double it up, or you can customize the absorbency where your baby needs it most with three layers up front for boys or three layers in the middle for girls.
The extra wide and gentle elastic never gave Kay red marks. It isn’t encased, which seemed to help roll the edges of the leg holes in and kept the inside edges from wicking when wet. I would rate it as average in absorbency (a couple of hours for Kay), but you can add a booster for extra absorbency if you want. Smart Bottoms sells hourglass-shaped cotton or hemp boosters to fit these diapers. On one occasion, hubs forgot to change Kay after her nap and we did experience leaking. Considering it had been over 3.5 hours though, I wasn’t surprised.
I like this diaper for going out as it’s so trim and fits so well under Kay’s pants and even jeans. I do find the crotch to be a bit narrower than other diapers in my stash, which I think is why I discovered some “overflow” the one time she pooped in this diaper. It wasn’t that it leaked out, but it sort of spread out to the edges. (Sorry if that’s TMI, but I thought it was important to report.)
Kay is always on the go, and after she’s been racing around for a while the insert tends to bunch up in the crotch. She hasn’t complained about this, but I worry it’s not as comfortable as a smooth inside layer like you would have with a pocket diaper or an AIO with sewn in insert. Despite this, I wouldn’t trade the snake-style insert for a sewn in soaker though. As long as Kay doesn’t seem to mind the bunching, the reduced drying time makes up for it.
Final Thoughts
The Smart Bottoms Smart One 3.1 is a cute and trim diaper, ideal for babysitters and grandparents because there are no extra pieces to worry about. It’s very trim under clothes and jeans, and you can easily customize the absorbency with the snake-style insert. Depending on the build of your baby, the narrower crotch can be a benefit or a drawback. Skinnier babies will likely appreciate the trimmer fit and less bulk between their legs, but it does mean slightly less coverage than average. This is a great diaper for daytime use and naps, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it for overnight use, especially with a heavy wetter like mine.
Connect
Follow Smart Bottoms on Facebook and Twitter for promotions, giveaways, and cute pictures of babies in cloth!
Shop
Smart One 3.1 diapers retail for $25.00. Shop on the Smart Bottoms website or look for a retailer near you.
Want to Win?
Smart Bottoms is generously sponsoring a fantastic giveaway in next weekβs Eco-Friendly Summer Giveaway Hop. Come back then to enter to win a Smart One 3.1 diaper of your very own. Sign up for my emails to make sure you donβt miss this giveaway or any of my other posts.
Disclosure: I received a sample item for review. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.
These look roomy, yet trim! I like the snake style insert. The print is super cute as well π
great review! i like that you posted photos of the different sizes, with a ruler, it helps get a good sense of the options available.
I love how these grow with your baby and no need for a diaper cover.
i love the super hero print! the colors really pop i think my son would look so handsome in it!
I like the super hero color and the snake style insert.
I would love to have the ella print. its one of my favorite prints ever
I like the wild thing print.
The Ella print is adorable!
I used to have a smart bottoms diaper for my son, but this looks sooooooo improved!!!! His were sized, I believe … and the fit was awkward. The OS diaper seems to be much more handy =]
i love the grey print with yellow snaps
I like that it’s a trim fit diaper
I didn’t learn anything new since I am a HUGE SB’s fan and have a few. If I won, I would probably get a Bloom or a Finch! Thanks for the chance
I love the Tie Dye print!
It is great they grow with your baby and I love the Super Hero print. My greatgrandson would look so handsome in that
I learned that the snake style insert can be customized to provide extra absorbency for either boys or girls!
I would also get the Lil Trainers in Guitar and Large Smart Bag in Fly Away.
Awesome diaper! I’d love to have Ella or Tie Dye!
i love the wild thing and superhero prints.
I love the Wild Thing print and I love that they are made with organic cotton.
I like the Side-Snapping Swim Diaper in the Caribbean print.
I love the Wild Thing print π
I like the Mia color. (Entry for Smart Bottoms giveaway)
I love the Wild Thing print! I have just started to branch out into AIO diapers, and would love to try one of these.
I love the Ella in the newborn. It has a little dip at the front for the umbilical cord which I find is a great feature.
I like how you can fold the insert and it should clean/dry easily π
i would definitively choose tie dye!!!
i love mia and tie dye!
Wild thing is so adorable and I would totally choose that.
I love the wild thing print, and Ella too!
I love the superhero print
I just love the bloom print its so pretty.
I like the Wild Thing print. I also like the training pants – it’s great that they can be worn with and then without insert.
The tie Dye print is so adorable!
I love the colours on George!
This giraffe print is adorable! Definitely would choose that!
I like the Finch color the most! Love that these are made with organic cotton π
I LOVE the Ella! I would definitely choose that one.
Love the Finch color!
I like the tie dye and wild thing
These diapers are 100% made in the USA!
I love the Wild Thing print and the Mia color!
I like the wild things print!
I really love the Bloom print!!!!
I love the color Mia!
I like how they are natural fiber diaper and the bottom is all encased with no exposed PUL. And the Finch color combo is beautiful!
I would pick the tie dye diaper! So adorable.
I would choose the Flamingo (pink) for my new baby grand-daughter!
I learned they have newborn size diapers too now!
The Tie Dye is ADORABLE! Hard to choose, they have a lot of great color combinations!
I would pick gorilla blue
I like the Ella print.
I need the tie-dye print!