Rumparooz Pocket Review

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 Kanga Care 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. The Kanga Care brand has been manufacturing Rumparooz diapers, plus other cloth diapering accessories, ever since.

Performance Comparison

Absorbency

With an impressive absorbency performance, the Rumparooz Pocket is a top-scoring contender in this metric.

This diaper has two different-sized inserts made from a blend of polyester and polyamide, creating a highly absorbent microfiber 6r soaker duo. These inserts have snaps that allow you to use them together, separately, or folded according to your absorbency needs. This means you can customize the inserts depending if your baby is a light or heavy wetter, for daytime or nighttime use, or if more wetness occurs in the front, middle, or back.

The Rumparooz Pocket's filter paper result shows nearly no green (mock urine). It absorbed the mock urine very quickly, and the microfleece lining did a great job locking away the moisture inside the diaper. When used with our little tester, both the liner and the baby's bum were dry to the touch after changes.

Kanga Care offers two alternative insert options if you want to use natural fibers. The Hemp 6r Soaker (55% hemp, 45% certified organic cotton) and the Bamboo 6r Soaker (50% bamboo, 20% organic cotton, 30% poly fleece). While we did not evaluate these inserts in our tests, both options are made specifically for the Rumparooz Pocket and should perform well in combination with this diaper.

Fit/Leakage

Competing with the Rumparooz Pocket's high score in this test metric is hard.

This one-size diaper fits babies from 6-35+ 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 snugly against the baby's skin. We especially appreciate the double row of waist snaps, which are sometimes absent on other diapers. 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 from the edge, rather than acting as an extension, it 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 Rumparooz Pocket, and it's one of our favorites in terms of comfort.

Its 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. As a pocket diaper, it is bulkier than some, but we like to think of it as a little extra cushion for when the baby starts to walk. Not to mention the adorable, poofy cloth diaper bubble butt it creates. The outer material is waterproof but still silky smooth to the touch and does not irritate the baby's skin.

The newborn-sized insert has an hourglass shape, which reduces the amount of material in the center, making it more comfortable for young infants. The larger one is a simple rectangular shape that provides the bulk necessary for older babies.

Ease of Use

As a pocket diaper, the Rumparooz inherently requires more work than other styles, scoring below average for ease of use.

Compared to other pocket diapers in this review, the Rumparooz has a smaller-than-average pocket opening, making it harder to stuff. The space is just large enough to accommodate 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 the baby.

Washing pocket diapers can be more involved than an all-in-one, which you can toss straight into the wash after disposing of any solids. With 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, which adds one more dose of convenience to this diaper.

Should You Buy the Rumparooz Pocket?

After countless hours of research and testing, we can confidently recommend the Rumparooz Pocket diaper. It's a top performer in our absorbency tests, beating several others. Although it's a little pricey compared to other diapers, we think the investment holds value, given its performance and superb quality. Plus, they fit babies from 6-35+ lbs, taking you from infancy to potty training. So, despite an upfront cost, we think the initial investment will pay off and save money over time. But, no matter which cloth system you choose, you will spend less than if you went with disposables, so it's a win-win situation.

What Other Cloth Diaper Should You Consider?

While we love this diaper, there are reasons to consider alternatives depending on your diapering goals and lifestyle. For instance, the bumGenius Freetime is one of the easiest to use and could be a great fit for parents nervous about dipping a toe into the cloth diapering world. Let's be honest; you're more likely to stick with cloth diapering if it doesn't inconvenience you or isn't hard to use. Alternatively, if you are on a budget but also want a high-functioning diaper that is easy to use, the Imagine Baby Pocket Snap could be a better fit than the Rumparooz.