Note: This review was updated in 2016
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When Nicki (the owner of Nicki’s Diapers) created Best Bottom Diapers, she strived to combine all the best features of different diapers into one great system.
Best Bottoms are an All-in-Two system which fit from birth to 35+ pounds. They consist of reusable waterproof shells and coordinating inserts that snap inside.
With 3 snap settings on the rise, you get 4 different sizes with Best Bottoms, which I would describe as newborn, small, medium and large.
I’ve been using Best Bottom covers for years. Here are the reasons this system might appeal to you:
- It’s simple. If cloth diapering seems complicated to you, then give Best Bottom a try. There’s nothing to fold. Nothing to pin. Nothing to stuff.
- It’s economical. Because the inside of a Best Bottom cover is wipeable PUL, you can re-use shells several times before laundering, so you don’t have to buy such a large stash. To save even more money, you can buy just the shells (like I do) and use with cheaper diapers like flats and prefolds. Each Best Bottoms cover is $16.95 each (limited editions are $19.95).
- It’s durable. Our Best Bottom diapers have lasted for a really long time and continue to perform well. The PUL is very thick and sturdy and the elastics have remained good and snug. Update: Still using our Best Bottoms in 2016; beyond typical wear and tear and some loosening of elastics, they are still quite usable. We’ve also added lots of new prints and colors. 🙂
- It’s cute: Best Bottom Diapers has a HUGE selection of colors and prints, and they are constantly adding more to make things fun.
The backbone of the system is a waterproof PUL diaper cover made of two sturdy layers of fabric. There is a second (inner) gusset around each leg opening and front and back snaps which hold the inserts in place.
Here’s a quick diagram which shows how the Best Bottom system works. There is a snap at the front and back for you to fasten the inserts onto. However, you can use the covers with many other types of diapers and inserts as well.
Best Bottom Inserts
There are four sizes of inserts available – S, M, L, XL – in three different fabrics – Microfiber, Hemp/Organic Cotton and Bamboo. They start at just $3.95 each, and several of the inserts are available in a stay-dry version with a fleece top layer. Overnight inserts are also available in each fabric.
Ingrid is wearing the medium size right now. As you can see when the inserts are lined up side by side, they are pretty much identical in terms of shape. They also have two snaps on the back side, which you use to attach to the Best Bottoms shell (you can fasten one snap or both).
Here are the inserts snapped inside the Best Bottom cover. These are the mediums again and the cover is on the largest setting (completely open). You might wonder if the large inserts stick out of the front, because they are pretty long at 13.75 inches. They don’t. When you stretch the cover up to fit on your baby, it just covers the large insert.
In the picture you can see how the hemp insert shrinks a little unevenly around the edges.
A quick rundown of the inserts, and their pros/cons:
Stay Dry is 4 layers of microfiber with a white microfleece topper. The fleece is soft and cuddly and is the easiest of the 3 types to keep stain-free. This is insert is thicker than the other 2 types. Microfiber is great for babies who flood their diaper very quickly because it sucks up moisture so fast. However, microfiber can hold onto odor more readily than bamboo or hemp; you can generally avoid this with a thorough wash routine. These inserts start at $3.95 each.
Bamboo is 6 layers of rayon from bamboo viscose fiber. It’s super silky and my favorite of all the inserts because of how nice it feels and the fact that it’s also very absorbent. It’s also very trim, comparable to the hemp insert. I washed mine 2 times before first use. These inserts start at $5.95 each.
Hemp/Cotton is a blend of 5 layers of hemp and organic cotton. This fabric is not as soft as the fleece or bamboo but it seems to be the most absorbent of all 3. It’s also very trim, about the same as the bamboo insert. If you have a baby that wets super fast (floods the diaper all at once), hemp may not be the best option as it absorbs very slowly. I washed mine 4 times on hot with detergent before first use. These inserts start at $5.95 each.
All 3 types of inserts should hold an average wetter 2 or 3 hours.
The overnight inserts are thicker. Microfiber has 6 layers and hemp has 8. Plus, there is another set of snaps on the top so you can attach a second insert if you like.
Speaking of attaching inserts, one combo that works really well is to put a Best Bottom stay dry insert on top of the hemp insert. You get the benefits of both that way.
The medium inserts are a very versatile/universal size and may save you from having to buy all 3 sizes as your baby grows.
Best Bottom inserts are limited in that you can’t fold them like you would a prefold or flat to get more absorbency up front or in the back. However, the contoured shape the inserts does help to give you more coverage inside the shell, both at the front and back.
Here are the measurements of the inserts, and the stitching color at the edge. You will notice some fraying at the edges over time, but that’s normal, and they are serged very well for durability.
| Small | 11.00″ | Birth – 14 lbs. | Green |
| Medium | 12.75″ | 11 – 22 lbs. | White |
| Large | 13.75″ | 16 – 35 lbs. | Blue |
| XLarge | 15.25″ | 26 – 45 lbs. | Yellow |
If you are still unsure which insert you’ll like best, buy 1 of each and see what you think.
Here are some other diapers we’ve used with Best Bottom covers:
The Best Bottom system can work on a toddler because of the extra set of snaps on the rise. Erik is a slender 3-year-old and I can still squeeze one on him, though the rise is pretty low. You might not be able to make it work on a chunky toddler, though. I use a toddler prefold in the cover on its largest setting.
Any other drawbacks? You may or may not like the thick PUL material. Yes, it’s sturdy and durable and great for leak protection and overnight, but it’s not as soft, pliable or lightweight as other covers.
Best Bottoms are also available with velcro closure, but after trying it for a while, I much prefer the snaps. The hook and loop is SUPER strong, so much that I get frustrated pulling it apart from the waistband and the laundry tabs. One time I pulled so hard to get it unstuck that I actually pulled a corner of the velcro tab loose.
The fit is really trim and I like how the cover “dips” just a bit in the center. There’s a little bit of front elastic in the waistband; just enough to “give” a little when your baby is sitting or bending over.
They are so cute from any angle!
We were able to use Best Bottom covers on newborn Ingrid. The rise is pretty high and covered her belly button, but we didn’t have any leaks thanks to the snug double leg gussets. You can read more of my newborn diaper reviews here.
You can find the entire line of Best Bottom diapers at Nicki’s Diapers. You get free shipping when purchasing just the covers.
Have you tried the Best Bottom system yet? If so, what do you use for the inserts?
I love everything about these diapers. They are so cute!
I just bought my first shell by them from the seconds sale they were having and I absolutely love it. I do agree on wishing the price was a little bit less. I wouldn’t mind getting two or three more of them.
Glad you found them on sale!
I know a lot of people like Best Bottoms, and I adore the green giraffe print. Since I’m still a newbie who hasn’t yet started, I’m a little confused by the label “stay dry microfiber” for the insert. I was under the impression that microfiber should never be directly against baby’s skin because it pulls too much moisture out and can cause a rash. I realize that lots of people use this system it must work just fine, I’m just confused about how to tell which microfiber is the wrong kind. Thanks!
Hi Laura, you’re right that microfiber should not be put directly against baby’s skin. The “stay dry microfiber” insert refers to the Best Bottom insert which is composed mostly of microfiber with a “stay dry” layer of fleece on top. Microfleece is perfectly safe against a baby’s skin. Hope this helps explain! ~Anne
I primarily use Best Bottoms and love them! No leaks, no worries 🙂 They wash up great. I wish the shells were a little less expensive but I am so pleased they are made in the USA with most materials from the USA too. I watch for good deals on seconds sales through Nicki’s Diapers.
I completely agree! Because of the higher price, I’ve only been able to pick up a few new. Also have 2 used ones. But they are worth the price and are so durable. ~Anne
Hi Anne! I was wondering how these compare in size and feel (the “sturdiness” you mentioned) to Buttons covers?
Thanks!
Hi Amy, they are both very sturdy. Both brands use 2 layers of waterproof PUL, and we’ve used both for many years and can attest to the durability. Sizewise, Buttons run a bit smaller (they have 1 less rise snap), but the PUL is softer and more pliable. ~Anne
Perfect! I’ve tried Buttons before (based on one of your reviews!) and now I look forward to trying Best Bottoms as well. I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s uncanny how often I start thinking about trying a new diaper, and then within a few days you post a review! Love it, and ZHB, and you! Thanks a bunch!
Amy, you are so sweet, thank you!! You’ll be happy to know that I will soon be posting a comparison of the two brands (Buttons and Best Bottoms) side by side, since I often get questions about them both. ~Anne
I can’t wait! 😀
I love my best bottoms, I prefer the staydry :). I don’t like the way the other two bunch and then we have leaks. Others have no issue with that, it just must be how my little one moves. 😀 We used the smalls from birth until about 6 weeks and then moved to mediums. We are still using the mediums at almost 16 months.
I love Best Bottoms. That’s what we use but we have a very small stash since we just started cloth diapering 4months ago & we are slowly building up. 🙂
It’s 2016 and we discovered Best Bottoms from another mom friend of ours. My LO is 2 and loves them – they even have a training pant set that you can use the diaper insert with – then transition into panty liners – she’s not quite ready, but she’s interested. We did the normal prefold diapers with my oldest and I wish I had started my youngest in BB when she was a baby, rather than a one year old! She loves all the colorful covers and I love that anytime I order from Nikkis Diapers, I earn reward points!
I’m a huge fan of the A12 system, but have never tried BB diapers! They have amazing prints, though. I didn’t realize they fit from birth.
I’m so confused and would love some perspective. My entire stash is best bottoms and I loved them for the first six months. Now all of my shells are leaking through, not out the legs, out the cover itself. I’ve been reading other reviews and haven’t seen the problem anywhere else. I have been so careful to wash exactly how I was instructed and he never put them in a dryer. Have you heard of this happening? I feel like my entire stash is worthless now, after spending $400.
Courtney, I’m so sorry to hear this has happened! Have you closely examined the PUL to see if there are any defects or delamination? Where exactly are most of the leaks occurring, and when it happens, is the diaper or insert inside partially or fully soaked? ~Anne
The PULs all look fine, it’s almost as if there isn’t a thick enough plastic layer. They leak through the worst if he’s in his car seat or laying down for a nap, due to pressure. I use an overnight for nap time and only use disposables for night time because he leaks through so bad we were changing sheets every night for a week. The insert is wet, but not sopping, for example, I changed his diaper then put him into the car to go to my sister’s house (1/2 hr. away) by the time we got there his pants had soaked through, even though the insert showed he had only urinated what I would consider a normal amount. The inserts seem to be doing their job, the PUL is failing as the urine is leaking right through the fabric as soon as he urinates.
Courtney, there’s one thing I forgot to ask and that was were the covers working well the first 6 months? If so, and if the inserts are not saturated as you say, I’m thinking the leaks may be due to fit issues. There are two layers of PUL in Best Bottom covers so that should offer plenty of protection against leaks. If you don’t see any defects, then it can’t be that they have delaminated. Sometimes, a diaper will start to leak when your baby’s body changes and it just doesn’t fit quite the same way. If that’s the case, I would suggest putting away the Best Bottoms for a few months and try a different brand. Or, consider a different insert or diaper inside the shell and see if that changes anything. ~Anne
I started cloth diapering when my son was 8 months mainly because a lot of women were doing it in my breastfeeding group. He showed interest in the potty at 14 months and then didn’t. I wish I had known about best Bottom because I would have done it from the start. I did Alva covers which I didn’t like, then switched to pockets for the prints mostly. I bought 14 pairs of the training pants with the feelwet inserts but after a lot of pee accidents because at 2, he doesn’t quite understand not to pee on the puppies and stars, I wanted to purchase the medium and small bamboo inserts. And we stopped Cloth diapering because I hated stuffing and used pampers 360° because they are a lot like pull ups. I’m just tired of using sposies except at night. So I’m selling the pockets and buying 2-3 covers and large inserts so I can have multiple diapers while we are out and about. I’m hoping that the bamboo inserts will make him feel wet so he can actually learn to go in the potty.
I’ve seen YouTube vlogs and blogs like yours that say you can use medium from birth to large but then others say use small and large and forget the medium. Which ones worked for you?
Our next future baby will definitely be in best bottoms (I absolutely looooooove the prints) from newborn to potty learning
Hi Caitie, are you asking about the Best Bottom trainers? I’ve reviewed the AI2 system, but not the trainers yet, so I can’t speak to the sizing. Wish I could be of more help! ~Anne Marie