Rumparooz Pocket Review
Pros: Highly absorbent, soft fabric, no leakage
Cons: Bulky, requires stuffing
Manufacturer: KangaCare
The Skinny
Our Analysis and Test Results
In 2016, a frustrated mom named Julie Ekstrom found that her second daughter was sensitive to the contents of disposable diapers and was looking for a viable alternative. Cloth diapering immediately came to mind, but Julie struggled to find a cloth diaper that would fit her daughter correctly without leaking. The pursuit of a leak-free cloth diaper led Julie to start sewing her own (a simple choice for Julie who had been sewing for 30 years), and Kangacare was the result. She developed an innovative double-gusset that solved the leak problem with her daughter, and that design later became a patented feature of Rumparooz diapers. Kanga Care has been manufacturing Rumparooz diapers and keeping babies cozy and dry ever since.
Performance Comparison
Absorbency
The Rumparooz Pocket has two different sized inserts made from a blend of polyester, polyamide, creating a highly absorbent microfiber 6r soaker duo. These inserts have snaps that allow you to use them together, separate, or folded according to your absorbency needs. Whether that need be for a light or heavy wetter, daytime or nighttime use, or wetness in either the front, middle, or back.
The newborn sized insert has an hour-glass shape which reduces the amount of material in the center and is more comfortable for young infants. The larger one is a simple rectangular shape that provides the bulk necessary for older babies.
This pocket diaper was an excellent and leading competitor in our absorbency testing, showing next to no green on the test filter paper. It absorbed the mock urine very quickly, and the microfleece lining did a great job of locking away the moisture inside the diaper. When used with a baby tester, both the liner and baby's bum were dry to the touch after changes.
If you are interested in using natural fibers, Kanga Care provides two alternative insert options for the Pocket. There is the Hemp 6r Soaker Insert (55% hemp, 45% certified organic cotton) and the Kanga Care Bamboo 6r Soaker Insert (50% bamboo, 20% organic cotton, 30% poly fleece). While we did not evaluate these inserts in our tests, both of these options are made specifically for the Rumparooz Pocket and should perform well in combination with this diaper.
Fit/Leakage
This one-size diaper fits babies from 6 - 40 lbs. It has more adjustment settings than average, with four rise snaps and five snaps on each side for the waist. The elastic band around the backside of the diaper fits snug against the baby's skin. We especially appreciate the double row of waist snaps, which are not present on every diaper. We felt they allowed for a much more secure feeling and less gapping around the belly area.
When it comes to leakage, the double gusset is a must. While it is not the only diaper with this feature, Rumparooz diapers are the only ones with the second gusset in this location. Placed further in from the edge, rather than acting as an extension, helps keep messes more central and prevents the likelihood of blowouts and leaks. In our testing, we did not have any issues with leakage.
Comfort
Much thought went into the comfort of this diaper. Oh-so-soft microfleece fabric lines the entire inner side of the diaper. Soft, stretchy elastics keep the leg gussets snug, and multiple snaps allow you to adjust with precision. The Rumparooz Pocket is one of our favorites in terms of comfort. As a pocket diaper, it is bulkier than some, but we like to think of it as a little extra cushion for when baby starts to walk. Not to mention the adorable, poofy cloth diaper bubble butt it creates. The outer material is waterproof but still is silky smooth to the touch and does not irritate the baby's skin.
Ease of Use
As a pocket diaper, the Rumparooz is inevitably a bit more difficult to work with than other styles. When compared to the other pocket diapers in this review, the Rumparooz has a smaller than average opening, making it a bit harder to stuff. The pocket opening is just large enough to accommodate for both the insert and your hand without much fuss. We also found that the large number of snaps found on the Rumparooz made it easier to achieve a good, comfortable fit for baby.
Washing pocket diapers can be more involved than, say, an all-in-one, which you can toss straight into the wash after disposing of any solids. With the Rumparooz, you must remove the insert from the pocket before washing, which is not always the pleasant mess-free experience you may anticipate. Additionally, in the interest of longevity, we generally recommend line drying covers as it extends the life of elastics and preserves the integrity of the waterproof lining. However, if you are in a rush or do not have the space to string out a bunch of diapers to dry, the entire Rumparooz can be machine dried on low. This feature is uncommon, as many manufacturers specify that the shell must be line-dried, and so this adds one more step of convenience to this diaper.
Value
The Rumparooz Pocket is a little on the pricey side compared to other diapers we included in this review. However, we believe that top-notch performance and superb quality are well worth it. These one-size diapers are made to fit babies from 8 to 40 lbs and will take you from infancy to potty training with the correct size stash. So, although it may seem like a big commitment right from the get-go, we think that the initial investment will pay off. Considering that no matter which cloth system you choose, you will spend less than if you went with disposables, so it's a win-win situation all around.
Conclusion
After countless hours of hands-on testing, in-lab testing, and in-depth research, we feel that we can confidently recommend the Rumparooz Pocket diaper as a go-to product. It was the top performer in our absorbency tests, beating out over 15 other diapers, which alone is enough to make it stand out. When in conjunction with its various ease of use features and cute cover designs, we can't think of a good reason not to go with this diaper. Hence our Editors' Choice award and #1 recommendation. The Rumparooz is a winner in our book.
— Abriah Wofford & Juliet Spurrier, MD