Grovia Hybrid Diaper Review

I’m kicking myself for not trying Grovia cloth diapers sooner. I’ve been cloth diapering babies over a period of five years and I tried my first Grovia cover after winning one at The Great Cloth Diaper Change 2014. I remember being dubious about the mesh interior at first (I can’t wipe it down between uses?), but it quickly became a staple overnight cover in our stash. Since that time, I’ve tried the both the snap and hook and loop covers and No-Prep Soakers. I’m excited to bring you a Grovia Hybrid Diaper Review!

We are diapering our 4th baby, so my priorities are easy, budget friendly, quality, reusable, and easy. Did I say easy? With this in mind, I use my Grovia Hybrid Shells with Grovia soaker pads and fitted diapers. I donated my prefolds during a diaper downsizing and we have tried the disposable liners just a few times. We prefer All-in-one and All-in-Two diapers for day time use and fitteds with a cover at night. This means that the Grovia Hybrid Shell is part of our 24-7 cloth diapering routine.

Grovia Hybrid Shell Design

1. Fabric. That mesh interior that confused me at first actually has a great purpose. It allows airflow around baby’s skin for more breathability and comfort. The inner mesh is combines with a thermal-laminated outer, making the cover waterproof. I was concerned that the mesh might retain smell more than simple PUL covers, but this has not been an issue and we have easily used each shell two to three times before washing.
2. Sizing and Fit. Grovia Shells are also one-size, which means they can comfortably fit most babies from 8 to 30 lbs. To adjust the sizing, you simply use the front snaps to select one of three sizing options. My son is 7 months old and long and slender. He wears his Grovia shells on the smallest setting when wearing a Grovia Soaker. We often switch to the second size setting when he wears a bulkier fitted, such as Tots Bots, at night. We get our very best fit with the hook and loop cover, simply because you are not dependent on snap placement, but we haven’t experienced any leaks or issues with either style.
3. Features. The shell also includes back elastic, one of my favorite features. This allows the diaper to stretch comfortably to give baby the right fit at the waist. It is also a great additional barrier against blowouts.
4. Soaker Snaps. Two snaps are included in the front and back of the shell to snap in Soaker Pads. This keeps the soakers from shifting and helps you quickly fit the diaper on baby. I was confused about the front snap placement at first because it appeared low. After watching the Grovia Hybrid video, however, I understood how it ensures that the soaker is placed where baby needs it most.
5. Snaps vs Hook and Loop. Grovia has the some of the stickiest hook and loop on the market. This was one of the first features that sold me on their shells. I love how the top of the shell is a wide strip of super soft “loop” fabric, making diaper changes a cinch. The hook tabs stay closed in the wash and don’t snag diapers like other brands. As mentioned above, I prefer the hook and loop simply because it gives the very best fit and makes for such quick changes. The snap shells are also an excellent investment, however, and our snap shell is second in line after we’ve used our hook and loop Grovia Shell two to three times.
6. Patterns and Colors. The new Funfair and Adventure shell patterns make me want to buy all of the diapers! The retro feel of these prints is right up my alley. I also like that these new prints are available in both closure styles (they were not yet available when I did my review). I was a bit disappointed when I discovered that not all prints and colors are available in both closures on the Grovia website. So, even though I loved the Sweetgrass print, it wasn’t offered in the snap version. We decided to try the Pudge instead and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the little pandas. I would happily put most of the Grovia prints and colors on my baby, boy or girl.

No-Prep Soaker Pads

1. Convenience. While I love natural fabrics, I am not a fan of multiple prep washes. The Grovia No-Prep Soaker Pads appealed to me because they require one wash to prep. This meant that I simply tossed my new soaker pads in with the day’s dirty diaper laundry and used them the next day. No hassle and very little waiting. Plus, I didn’t need to worry if I’d washed them enough to be absorbent or put my regular laundry on hold to prep soakers.
2. Fabric. The No-Prep Soaker Pads are so convenient because they are made of microfiber terry and topped with a layer of microfleece. The other secret to these soaker pads is the layer of PUL on the under side. This gives you double leak protection, combined with the shell, and means that we’ve never experienced a leak with Grovia. The soaker comparison chart says that microfiber can hold onto smells more than natural fibers, but this has not been an issue for us (thanks, Molly’s Suds). 
3. Design. This soaker’s clever design makes it one of a kind in the industry, combining some of my favorite cloth cover and insert features into one. The insert itself has super soft leg gussets that help keep the shell dry and ready to reuse a second and third time. It has a unique two-layer, curved design, so no folding is necessary. The two layers are sewn together at the ends, but divided in the middle. This means that this soaker dries rather quickly, but is still highly absorbent.
4. Fit. Using a Grovia Soaker is comparable to adding in a fitted diaper to a cover, in my experience. This means that the soaker is more than a flat insert to absorb moisture. The soaker itself curves comfortably to fit baby’s body and offers extra leak protection with both leg gussets and a layer of PUL. Smaller babies don’t have to wear a bulky folded insert in front and larger babies don’t need a new sized insert. Plus, the snap-in system is designed to help you get the right fit every time. If you focus on placing the soaker comfortably on baby first, you can then easily adjust the cover.

Overall 

A new diaper discovery  hasn’t excited me this much in a long time. If I could afford it, I would switch my stash over to Grovias. They will definitely be my go-to recommendation for families who are new to cloth because they are well-made, easy to use, and versatile.

Curious about how the Grovia Hybrid compares to the Grovia O.N.E.? I’ll share my thoughts this week with a O.N.E. review!