TushMate Cloth Diapers Review!

The TushMate diaper (shell) is available in three colors (orange, blue, and brown) and in two closures, hook & loop or snaps. The diaper is made from very soft PUL and there are flaps in the front and back to tuck inserts in if needed. There is a liner included with each diaper that's made from 100% polyester for a stay dry, moisture wicking effect. The liner snaps right into the shell so it's easily removable if you prefer to use all natural fibers with your baby. There are two sets of female snaps in the front and back of the diaper (for use with the inserts and the liners; more details on this later). You can see in the photo below that the flaps on this cover are very generous to prevent shifting of your insert(s).

Here is the diaper on each of the four rise settings:

Now, let's take a look at the TushMate Inserts. There are two different inserts available, Regular or Long. The Regular Insert comes with two in each package. They're made of 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton. Male snaps are in place so they can be attached to your TushMate diaper shell, or they can be simply laid inside and tucked under the flaps.

The Long Insert is sort of like having two regular inserts sewn together to form a mirror image of one another. It's available in either 100% organic cotton or the 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton blend.

In the photos above, the inserts are brand new, right out of the package. I washed and dried them 3 times before use to prep the cloth diapers (because I'm impatient), although 6 times is recommended. I really wanted to see if there would be significant shrinkage of the inserts and whether or not the snaps would still align with the cover once they were prepped. I'm happy to report that although they did shrink a bit in length, the snaps still aligned with the cover perfectly. If you're wondering about drying time, the inserts were still slightly damp after one cycle in my front loading dryer, but this is pretty standard with most of my heavier items like towels and jeans. I often have to add a little extra time to the cycle (or hang them to finish drying) so this didn't really bother me at all.

Now let's talk about the different configurations you can use with the TushMate cloth diapering system. Per TushMate, this diaper can be used as an All in Two (AI2), All in Three (AI3), a hybrid, a pocket or as a universal cover. Not up to speed on the different types of cloth diapers? Just check out the linked post.

To use this diaper as an AI2, just snap the insert(s) into the cover. You could use just one insert (probably for smaller babies that don't wet as much) or you could use both inserts. If you have a super soaker, you could even use both regular inserts and a long insert (all sold separately). The photos below were taken before the two regular inserts were prepped. After prepping, they're about an inch shorter and don't hang over the cover at all. They fit well when two are snapped in on opposite ends (as pictured below). If you're using the diaper on the largest rise setting you'd definitely have to use both inserts in this configuration to ensure you have full insert coverage. If you had both inserts just snapped into just the front or back of the diaper you'd likely have a bit of a gap (although the flaps are very generous and you likely wouldn't have any shiny PUL touching your little one's skin).

To use the TushMate as an AI3, simply snap the insert(s) into the lower snap openings, then snap the liner into the upper snap openings (on top of the inserts).

If you'd like to use the TushMate diaper as a universal cover, just tuck your insert (either the TushMate inserts or the brand of your choice) under the flaps and you're set to go. Just remember if you're using microfiber inserts that those can't go against baby's skin - you'd have to use the liner in that case (see the next example below).

To use the diaper as a pocket, simply lay your insert(s) into the shell and tuck them under the flaps. Then snap the liner onto the TushMate shell. This creates a modified pocket diaper. I say modified because the liner isn't fully attached to the shell creating a channel (or tunnel) to stuff. It's more like using a stay dry liner that's secured to the cover. This would be perfect if you prefer using microfiber inserts.

To use the diaper as a hybrid with a disposable insert (without adhesive backing), just tuck it into the flaps of the shell. If you're using a disposable insert with adhesive, snap the TushMate liner into the sell, then tape the disposable insert to the liner. I don't have photos of this since I didn't have any disposable inserts on hand.

How did the TushMate work for us? Great! We were able to get a great fit with the TushMate on my eleven month old, 23 pound little guy. I snapped the diaper onto the 3rd rise setting (if they were S, M, L, and XL, it would be the large setting) and found this to be just right. The waist elastic is a bit tighter than other brands (like bumGenius) but not so tight that it left deep marks on my little guy's back. It's a bit wider in the crotch area also, but it definitely gives you full coverage.

I found the absorbency to be very adequate. For normal daytime use, we used both regular inserts. For nap time, I increased the absorbency by adding the long insert into the mix. This is a powerhouse combination!

Overall, I really like what TushMate has done with this cloth diapering system! The configurations are easy to figure out and really give you a lot of options. The absorbency is great and I love the natural fibers!