Fluffy Stuff: Bambino Mio

The MMH Great Cloth Diapering Event, brought to you by New Baby Products

Brand: Bambino Mio (http://bambinomio.com/)

Product Reviewed: Mio Trial (includes a cover, prefold, and biodegradable liner)

Type: prefold & covers system

Closure: velcro

Cost: about $20 for the Mio Trial (MioSoft cover + Nappy + biodegradable liner)

Adjustability: just the Velcro waist closure

Size Range: Newborn, Small, Medium, Large

Materials: cotton-blend laminated cover; prefolds are 100% cotton

Quality: These prefolds are extremely high quality. The weave is tight and they're super absorbent. Cover quality is average.

Laundry Tabs: No. Having laundry tabs on Velcro and Velcro-style closures is basically an industry standard for cloth diapers, so I think it's a real disadvantage that these covers don't have them.

Laundering: The prefolds are super easy to care for! And since they're not a synthetic fabric, they wash well. As for the covers: I put them in the washer with the velcro attached at the waist. That's fine, but they sometimes come undone and "grab" other diaper covers and inserts. I'd also like to be able to put them in flat, as opposed to closed. Other than that, the covers dry extremely fast and the prefolds are great!

Inserts: Not inserts, per se; this is a prefold system. Prefolds are flat rectangles of absorbent material (often cotton) that have to be folded into various shapes, depending on how you prefer to use them. Bambino Mio includes great instructions on how to fold a few different ways, diagrams included.

Fit: These are sized generously, so keep that in mind if you're ordering. I wish the Velcro tabs overlapped, that would help in adjusting the fit even further. Other than that, they get the job done over the prefolds.

Trim Factor: Prefolds are notorious in the world of cloth diapers for being one of the least trim options. So, these are quite a bit more bulky than some of the other diaper styles you could use (pockets, for instance).

Performance: The prefolds are ultra-absorbent! No extra stuffing needed. The covers perform fine, too. This is a work-horse system and these prefolds will almost certainly last through multiple babies. :)

Dad-Factor: Prefolds are intimidating even for some experienced cloth diaperers. They're really not hard to use, though, once you get the hang of it (just like most other cloth diapers, in that respect). That said, though: if the dad in your life is pro-fluff and open to it, give it a try - but you may have to ease him in with an easier system before you get to the prefolds.

Overall: Bambino Mio is one of the most budget-friendly diapering options out there, by far. So, if that's your primary concern, they're definitely worth trying out! I think there are definitely superior covers out there, though (which is too bad, because the Bambino Mio ones come in cute patterns!). The prefolds equal or surpass any of the DSQ (Diaper Service Quality) prefolds I've tried from other makers. If you're new to using prefolds, the instructions/diagrams these come with are really user-friendly. At around $20 for a Mio Trial, this is a great way to ease into using prefolds with covers.