bumGenius Nappies FAQ

Some frequently asked questions from bumGenius:

Who manufactures bumGenius?
bumGenius products were created by and are manufactured by Cotton Babies, Inc..

What is the warranty on bumGenius, Flip and Econobum products?
Cotton Babies will stand behind the workmanship and materials in a properly cared for product for one year from the date of purchase. The Cotton Babies Warranty covers all components of our products including the snaps, lining, hook & loop closures, elastic and waterproofing. The warranty is extended to the original purchaser of the products only. Proof of purchase from an authorized retailer is required.

To make a warranty claim, product must be sent at customer's expense to their distributor for examination of workmanship and materials. After reviewing your nappies, we may replace the nappy or provide you with simple instructions for resolving the problem you are having.

Except when caused by manufacturing or component defect, this guarantee does not cover leaking, nappy odor or normal wear/tear. Warranty is void when:

• bumGenius washing instructions have not been followed.

• The nappy has been altered.

• Any of the following has been used in conjunction with the use/care of the product:

  • Water temperatures exceeding 150F or 60C

  • A detergent containing additives (enzymes, brighteners, whiteners, dyes, perfumes, essential oils) or natural soap

  • Fabric softeners

  • Any caustic substance

  • nappy rash cream

• Product was purchased through an unauthorized retailer. Please verify your retailer prior to purchase.

How do I use my bumGenius One-Size Cloth nappies?

• Adjust the nappy sizing by choosing the right snap setting on the front of the nappy.

  • Your nappy arrives snapped down to the "small" setting, the bottom row of snaps.

  • To use the "medium" setting, unsnap the nappy and resnap on the second row of snaps.

  • To use the nappy on the "large" setting, fully unsnap the front of the nappy.
    HELPFUL HINT: For overnight use, consider stuffing with two inserts and setting the nappy to be one size larger than you would for daytime use.

• Adjust the insert sizing by choosing the right snap setting on the insert.

  • To use the insert as a "small", snap the insert down to the bottom snap socket. Little boys tend to do well with the folded part towards the front of the nappy while little girls may do better with it towards the back.

  • To use the insert as a "medium", snap the insert down to the middle snap socket.

  • To use the insert as a "large", just leave it completely unsnapped.

• Put the insert in your nappy. Hold the insert in one hand and place inside the slot (located under the protective flap). Align the front edge of the insert with the top edge of the velcro strip. Using one hand to hold the front of the insert in place, stretch the nappy and smooth the insert flat as you pull your other hand out of the nappy.
  HELPFUL HINT: Many parents prefer to pre-stuff their nappy’s at the end of their washing routine.

• Put the nappy on your baby. bumGenius Cloth nappies go on just like a disposable nappy.

How can I tell if the nappy is adjusted to fit my baby properly?
To observe fit, pick up your baby’s legs after putting the nappy on and observe how it fits around the legs and bottom. Is it snug? If you can see “air” between the nappy and their skin, then you need to refine the fit. Trying a smaller snap setting and fasten the tabs snugly. When you child stands up, notice how the insert or soaker is positioned relative to the back elastic. If the insert or soaker is higher than the back elastic, lay your child down, release the tabs, pull the nappy slightly towards the front and refasten the tabs. If you notice that the front of the nappy is positioned low over your baby's thighs or that it is difficult to fasten the nappy around your baby's waist, try using a larger snap setting. This will increase the rise of the nappy and improve overall fit. Remember, babies change shape frequently as they grow up. You may have times when your relatively young baby is using their one-size nappies on the largest setting. The same child may be on the medium setting several months later due to increased mobility.

How do I wash my new bumGenius nappies?

• If the nappy has hook & loop closures, secure the laundry tabs.

• Pre-wash cold to remove waste and fight stains.

• Wash hot (100F/40C) with bumGenius detergent to cleanse your nappies.

• Follow with a second rinse.

• Line-dry covers and nappy shells. Tumble dry inserts, fitteds and prefolds.

Do you have any other bumGenius washing tips?

• Wash dirty nappies every other day.

• If your nappies still stink, wash again.

• Remove solid waste before storing in pail. (A bumGenius nappy sprayer is wonderful!)

• Use only detergent and water. Do not use other additives like vinegar or baking soda.

• Once per month, use up to 1/4 cup bleach in the hot wash cycle (step 3) to sanitize nappies and fight odors.

• To remove stains, lay clean, wet nappies in the sun.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To preserve your hook and loop closures, we suggest washing bumGenius products separately from heavy cotton or hemp nappies (like prefolds or cotton fitteds).

What detergent can I use on my bumGenius and Flip Nappies?
Ingredients in certain detergents may ruin your cloth nappies or cause your baby to have a nappy rash. When washing cloth nappies, always use a detergent free of perfumes, dyes, whiteners, brighteners, softeners, enzymes, or other fabric enhancers. Using too much detergent may cause cloth nappies to leak. When using detergents not made for cloth nappies, use 1/2 the amount of detergent suggested by the detergent manufacturer for a load of 18-24 nappies. We recommend bumGenius™ Detergent. A list of alternative detergents can be found at www.cottonbabies.com/clothnappydetergents.pdf Free shipping is available on cloth nappy safe detergents here.

What should I avoid?

• Do not use extra additives in your wash (like baking soda or vinegar). These ingredients are unnecessary and will cause problems in your nappies.

• Do not use fabric softeners.

• Do not boil your nappies.

• Do not use rash creams without a barrier between your baby's bottom and the nappy.

• If your cloth nappies are made with hook and loop closures, do not wash them with natural fibers. Natural fibers produce lint that will build up in the nappy's closures. This will shorten the lifespan of your closures.

My tabs aren't as sticky as they used to be. How can I solve this problem?
First check for lint in your tabs. You can clean it out with a pin or a fine tooth comb. If it isn't lint, the hooks may have relaxed. This happens over time when you exclusively line dry. Wash your nappy and then dry it in the dryer on warm heat. Be sure to let the nappy cool completely before using. This causes the hooks to recontract and become "sticky" again.

Are nappy rash creams ok to use with bumGenius?
nappy rashes should be treated according to your physician's recommendations. If you need to use a rash cream, you should use a stay-dry liner or a piece of fleece between your baby's bottom and the nappy to prevent the cream from transferring onto the nappies.

My bumGenius or Flip nappies are leaking. What's wrong?
The number one cause of leakage is a saturated nappy that just needs to be changed. Any nappy will leak once full. If your baby is having problems with leaks, check this first. 99% of the time, additional absorbency solves leakage problems. If that doesn't work, we've included some other trouble-shooting points below.

• Did you prewash?
  First of all, make sure that you washed everything at least once before using. There can be residue left on the fabric from the production process that can cause leakage. If you have organic or hemp nappies, they must be prewashed in hot water with a small amount of detergent 3-5 times before they become absorbent. They reach their full absorbency after 10 washes.

• Is the insert flat?
  Make sure that the insert is flat when you put the nappy on your baby. If it is twisted or wadded up, this can cause leakage.

• Is the wetness at the top edge of the nappy?
  Our unique, patent pending, extra layer of waterproof material across the inside front of the nappy prevents leaking at the top edge of the nappy. bumGenius One-Size nappies are the first and only nappies with this innovative feature.

  If you are experiencing wetness at the top edge of the nappy, make sure that the insert isn’t pushed up too far in the front of the nappy. The insert should be placed approximately one inch below the top edge of the nappy. The top edge of the nappy should be flat against your baby with the soft fabric against your baby’s belly.

• Is the wetness at the legs, label or the tabs?
  If the nappy is leaking from the tabs or the legs, change the nappy and remove the insert. If it is saturated then your baby definitely needs a more absorbent insert or a more frequent nappy change. If the insert isn’t saturated, then the nappy may not be adjusted to fit your child properly or, if you are using a detergent that contains additives, your nappies may also have detergent buildup which can also cause leakage.

My bumGenius or Flip nappies are leaking and someone told me that they might be 'repelling'. What does this mean and how do I know if this is a problem with my nappies?

bumGenius nappies are made with suedecloth inside. To properly absorb, the inner fabric needs to be against your baby's skin and pressure needs to be applied. If the nappy isn't fitted properly and is hanging away from your baby's bottom, the liquid will pool and can run out.

A truly repelling nappy meets the following requirements:

• The nappy is properly fitted to your child.

• The nappy has leaked a significant volume of liquid (this isn't just damp clothing).

• The insert is nearly dry.

Remember, this type of leakage can also happen if the nappy isn't fitted properly to your child. So check for proper fit (see question above for how to do this) before deciding that your bumGenius nappies are repelling.

A WORD OF CAUTION: You cannot test for repelling by pouring water into your nappies. The only accurate way to test for repelling it to put the nappy on your baby.

I think my nappies have detergent build up. What should I do?

• Wash once in hot water with one teaspoon (for high efficiency machines) to one tablespoon (for regular washing machines) with original liquid Dawn (blue formula) and up to 1/2 cup bleach in the wash cycle.

• Do two additional hot water washes with no detergent to completely rinse the nappies clean. If you still see suds, keep rinsing until the nappies are rinsed clean.

Back