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.
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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 week’s 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 don’t 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.
I love the “wild thing” print!
I learned that Smart Bottoms is all-US-made!
I love the tie dye print – I would probably choose that one!
I would pick the Smart One 3.1 in Gorilla Blue with an attached insert. I like that the insert can be folded to customize where your child needs the most absorbency. Because Smart Bottoms does not using chemicals to strip the natural oils from the fabric it will take a few extra washes before you use them but it will all be worth it. I like that you trust that The Smart One Bottoms have the best performance and fit and so will I. Loved your review and I will have to buy some. Thanks for the bottoms up!
I like the wild thing print and the george colour.
I love the tie dye print, so fun and gender neutral.
I love love love the Mia!
I would love for my 12 week old son to have the wild thing print!!!
I love this wild thing pattern~!
I like the George and Gorilla Blue colors. I also didn’t realize smart bottoms made wet bags as well.
I like wild thing
I like the George color.
I would choose the wild thing print! My 6 month old loves giraffes!!
Love the wild thing print!!! So cute 🙂
I like the wild thing print
I like George
I like the Emerson print
I love the contrasting snaps on their solid colored diapers! I think rocket is probably my favorite, although my grey and yellow obsession is making me look at Finch again:)
I would chose either Ella or Super Hero.
I absolutely love the tie dye print! It’s so cute and fun and gender neutral!
I like the trim fit 🙂 I would love a nb in bluebird for my new arrival in august- it is so nice lol. And i like gorilla blue.
I like the Ella print .
i do love the wild thing, too! or the tie dye. my kids would love that one on their new baby sister =)
I absolutely adore the Ella print, such a nice vintage floral.
I would choose the Smart One 3.1, Finch for my little guy.
I like the bright purple color!
I love the Wild Thing print! So cute!
I like the Rocket…great color!
I love the tye-dye print!!
I would pick Wild Thing! I love the prints and that they’re US made!
I would like the giraffe or tie dye print. I haven’t tried smart bottoms yet but I like that they’re trim and organic material inside.
I’d love/choose the finch color!
I love the tie dye and the Mia
I love the Gorilla Blue! And it is great that it is organic and uses wide elastic to prevent those red marks.
I love that they have free shipping in the US and sell waist extenders. The colors are all fabulous, especially tie dye and wild thing.
I love the tye dye and the elephant wet bag!
I am a sucker for animal prints. I love the giraffe.
I love the tie dye!
I would choose Finch or Gorilla Blue as colors!
I love the ‘finch’
I love the Mia and the Ella prints. I think it’s great that these are made with organic cotton
I like the Juliet
I would choose tie dye
I like Wild Thing!
I like the finch color! This looks like a great diaper. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
I learned that Smart Bottoms are made here in the USA and I LOVE the superhero diaper for the summer! The colours POP
Awesome
Don’t forget to answer the question to get these entries. Good luck!
Oh I love the tie dye print!
I love Emerson and Wild thing! I would be a hard choice!
I love the design! we have one and its totally awesome! id choose the tie dye!!!