What Sets Judes Apart from Other Cloth Diapers? A User Experience Report.

 

What makes Judes different from other cloth diapers? I asked myself the same thing! Because it seems that the startup "Judes Family" is doing something different (and right). I read through the customer feedback: The interesting thing is that many customers apparently previously used disposable diapers. So Nele and Leon, the founders, seem to be able to reach parents outside the cloth diaper community with their product.

Let's be honest: Most cloth diapers are meant for cloth diaper enthusiasts, for whom nothing other than cloth diapers is an option. This is exactly what has frustrated me about cloth diapers so far. Many of the existing systems are simply too complicated to use! I know people who find it appalling to put plastic diapers on their children but are so frustrated with complicated cloth diapers that they are simply not an option for them anymore. This really makes me sad. Because using cloth diapers is not only much more environmentally friendly but also healthier for the baby.

I think I can claim to be an expert in the world of cloth diapers. Not only have I used cloth diapers for my own children, but I have also been intensely involved with sustainable diapering solutions for years. I have closely examined just about every cloth diaper in the world.

So, I was even more excited when Nele and Leon approached me and asked if I would like to compare their Judes with other systems. That's what I did… And one thing upfront: I think the startup can rightfully claim to have developed "the simplest washable diaper in the world".

I am enthusiastic.

But let's start from the beginning! In this article, you will read:

• Why Judes are comparatively easy to handle
• Why washing with Judes is so quick
• Why Judes hold up so well in comparison
• Why Judes are thinner than other cloth diapers
• Why Judes work very well as night diapers (12 hours!)
• Why Judes are particularly healthy and sustainable
• Conclusion: A brief summary of my findings

Or to put it differently: You will read how you can diaper your child gently on the skin and plastic-free so that it develops healthily and happily. You will also learn how you can achieve this easily and without any additional effort.

Why Judes are comparatively easy to handle

A Judes diaper consists of two combinable parts: the absorbent material (inner diaper) and a moisture protection cover (outer cover). In developing the diaper, it was particularly important to Nele and Leon to make cloth diapering as easy as possible for parents. Let's be honest, the current cloth diaper market offers a lot, but mostly many different diaper systems with cryptic names, numerous accessories, and endless insert and folding options. Confusion when putting it on is inevitable. High five to anyone who can make sense of it all. For many parents, this is more of a reason to stick with the familiar route to the diaper aisle of the nearest drugstore.

But here comes the good news. You won't see parents standing in the drugstore with sad faces, dreaming of simple cloth diapers, anymore. Because Leon and Nele have come up with something brilliant for all expectant parents (and those who already are): A cloth diaper that is just as easy to put on as a disposable one. It's exactly the same handling. No extra inserts, no folding. Because with Judes, the absorbent inserts are already sewn in. You open and close the diaper seamlessly at the waist with Velcro, just like one knows from disposable diapers.

So, what does Judes have that others don't?

You might think now that such simple cloth diaper systems already exist – the all-in-one diaper systems, right? I see you know your stuff well. But let me quickly explain the differences between an All-in-one (AIO), pocket diaper, and Judes. Wait, AIO? Pocket diaper? What is that?

• AIO is a complete diaper where absorbent material and moisture protection are sewn together.
• Pocket diapers have a – attention! Pocket 😉 – i.e., pocket, into which the absorbent material must be inserted before use.

An AIO has the advantage that you can put it on relatively quickly. However, it also has significant disadvantages, which is why Judes Family decided against this variant:

1. They leak easily because they do not adapt as individually to the child's body shape. Especially at the typical leak points, there is a lack of absorbent material.
2. They are bulky and thick at the bottom because they contain more layers.
3. They take longer to dry because they have a waterproof layer on the outside.
4. They are not as sustainable because polyester and fabric are sewn together.

Pocket diapers have the advantage that their absorbency can be more easily varied by placing a booster insert in their pocket. But this model also has major disadvantages:

1. The absorbency advantage is negligible, as more absorbency can also be added with boosters in Judes. And even faster and easier.
2. Pocket diapers also leak quickly because the absorbent material is not close enough to the typical leak points.
3. Like AIOs, pocket diapers are bulky and thick at the bottom, as the boosters lie on top of each other in their pocket.
4. Inserting and removing the boosters complicates handling.
5. Knowledge of different types of materials, inserts, and folding techniques is required.
6. They are also not as sustainable because polyester and fabric are sewn together.

A Judes, on the other hand, consists of an extremely absorbent inner diaper and a particularly tight outer cover. The process of putting on and changing is exactly the same for both the inner diaper and the outer cover – as with disposable diapers. No additional folding is necessary, as Judes already have their inserts sewn in. Thus, no preparation is necessary.

 

Conclusion on "Handling":

With many manufacturers of classic "outer cover + absorbent insert" systems, the absorbent material lies loosely in the outer cover and special care must be taken when putting the diaper on to ensure nothing shifts and everything stays in place.

This can lead to hectic and less loving situations when diapering, especially with very mobile children – or during phases when the child does not enjoy being diapered. It also requires a certain level of skill and dexterity to apply these two-part diaper systems. Something not every diapering person possesses.

The advantages of Judes are:

• Time-saving: No preparation required by folding and filling the diaper!
• Stability: No shifting of the absorbent material!
• Simple: Easier to apply, even with mobile children!

Secret tip: Judes diapers are also excellent for diapering your child while standing. Eventually, every child reaches a moment when it's too boring to lie calmly on their back for a diaper change. Running around or crawling, climbing trees, or finishing the picture is simply more exciting!

Why is washing with Judes particularly easy and fast?

In particular, I couldn't imagine that Judes are really better than other cloth diapers here. More on that shortly…

But to clarify one thing upfront (for those new to this field): No, solid stool does not go into the washing machine! To protect the diaper during bowel movements, Judes has developed its own Poo Paper. With its specially developed two sizes, it fits perfectly into the inner diaper sizes 1 and 2.

You simply place it between the inner diaper and baby’s bottom. It then catches the stool, while the inner diaper only absorbs the pee. Advantage: The stool can be easily disposed of with the paper, without you (or the inner diaper) coming into contact with it. And this greatly simplifies washing.

But that's not all. Judes Family has really put some thought into this.

Judes has developed its own wet bag, in which the diapers can not only be stored for washing but also be washed! This has two advantages:

1. You don't have to touch the used Judes again before washing because you simply place the entire wet bag in the washing machine and open the zipper at the bottom.
2. Putting it "in the washing machine" is incredibly fast because you just put the entire wet bag inside.

In addition, no further inserts, etc., accumulate during washing with Judes Family. Therefore, there are overall fewer parts to be washed and dried.

I wanted to know exactly and did a test. I washed Judes, hung them to dry, and took them down again – and timed it! The result surprised me!

It takes…

• 30 seconds to put the wet bag in the machine and turn the machine on,
• 30 seconds to take the wet bag out again and open the laundry rack,
• 7 minutes to hang up the laundry (21 inner diapers, 6 outer covers, 5 boosters, 40 washcloths),
• it takes 1 minute to take the laundry down.

So it takes a total of 9 minutes to wash Judes. Wow!

With 1.5 washes per week, that's about 15 minutes you spend washing Judes cloth diapers. I would have never thought that! That's probably less time than it would take me to take the daily trash from disposable diapers to the garbage can — let alone buy new diapers. I call that a worthwhile time investment for a healthy baby bottom.

Here are some more tips, on how to wash your Judes:

• Store your used diapers in the Judes wet bag.
• Every 2–4 days, simply place it open in your washing machine; the diapers will tumble out on their own as soon as the machine starts.
• 60 degrees, Judes Family Care cloth diaper detergent, 1000 revolutions when spinning. This is important because otherwise the elastics will be too stressed.
• To dry, simply hang them on the line, or dry them in the dryer
• Little tip: If the diaper has gotten a bit of breast milk stool, hang it in the sun after washing and watch the magic – the stain will disappear.

Another advantage of the Judes concept of outer cover and inner diaper: After use, you only need to wash the inner diaper, the outer cover can (except, of course, if it came into contact with stool or large amounts of urine) be used again (Judes Family recommends using and airing them out 4-5 times, then washing). Simply air it out a bit and it's ready for the next round.

Nothing gets through – maximum leak protection: Judes are extremely leak-proof

Anyone who has looked at the customer feedback for Judes notices not only that the application is very easy but also that they apparently hold up very well against leaks. Interestingly, both experienced cloth diaper users and disposable diaper parents describe that Judes hold up much better against leaks in comparison!

This is likely for these three reasons:

1. According to their own statement, Judes use an innovative fabric that is extremely absorbent and used by no other cloth diaper brand in Europe.
2. Another advantage of Judes Family diapers compared to others is the leg and back elastics. Due to the combination of inner diaper and outer cover, these exist in double form! This is truly helpful if there is a complete breast milk or milk stool explosion in the diaper. What easily travels up the back or down the leg with simple elastics is held back by the additional barrier of the outer cover!
3. As mentioned above: The advantage of the diaper pant principle (compared to AIO and pocket diapers).

Why Judes are thinner than other cloth diapers – much thinner!

Of course, Judes didn't invent the principle of an inner diaper with an outer cover. So-called diaper pants have been around for decades. Like Judes, they are completely made of fabric and are complemented by an external moisture barrier that holds the liquid inside.

However, a common criticism of these diaper pants is their bulkiness. Due to the many layers of fabric, they are extremely bulky, resulting in the "bumble bee butt" look that constantly surprises other parents. This is neither pleasant for the child nor particularly comfortable, as the outer cover and diaper pants result in a very thick cloth diaper package.

We can do it better, thought the cloth diaper startup, and developed an inner diaper with the absorbency of a conventional diaper pant and the comfort of a slim diaper package. Incidentally, this makes it the perfect cloth diaper for nighttime.

Slim diaper package with the same absorbency? Yes, it works. Here, too, Judes' innovative fabric comes into play. With a specially designed weave of organic cotton fabric. Thus, the Judes diaper creates a slim diaper package and maximum comfort for your baby! According to customer feedback, children's clothes continued to fit in normal sizes for some:

"We have been using the cloth diapers during the day for a few months and are thrilled with the Judes:

- easy and precise to put on 
- easy to wash - just lay in the sun for stains 
- do not bulk up, normal clothing size fits over them
- hold leaks
- fewer diaper mishaps than with plastic and other tried cloth diapers!
- shorter changing intervals than with disposables, but that benefits the baby bottom too :)
- received exactly the right order quantity recommendation from the Set Finder
Absolute purchase recommendation! :)"
(Anonymous)

With Judes, you automatically also have a night diaper

That other cloth diaper providers offer a night diaper in addition to the regular diaper was normal and the standard until now. Once you know Judes, it's more like a design flaw. Judes are so absorbent that they can wonderfully be used as a night diaper.

At least, this is what many customers report in the form of feedback on Judes' website:

"I would (and I do) always recommend Judes again! We now use Judes 100%, also on the go and at night, and we have indeed never had a leak accident with them. At night, the diaper with booster lasts for about 8-10 hours for us ☺️"
(Corinna Blühm-Lloyd)

And I can well imagine it – my own absorbency test showed they are indeed super absorbent. All you need to do is place a booster for the night in the Judes. Done!

Additionally, some Judes parents even report that Judes hold better against leaks at night than disposable diapers – even for children who pee a lot at night. I wanted to explicitly mention this again because, in my experience, many parents still rely on disposable diapers at night because they believe they hold better against leaks.

Photo by Minnie Zhou on Unsplash

Why Judes are particularly healthy and sustainable

I hadn't considered this point before, but it should be mentioned, especially in combination with the aforementioned advantages of Judes: Judes are also particularly healthy and sustainable.

Unfortunately, it is not a given that only organic cotton (for the inner diaper) and recycled polyester (for the outer cover) are used. It is also not a given that the absorbent diaper contains only natural materials, so no plastics come into contact with the skin.

In my opinion, however, this is extremely important. Anyone who delves into the topic and understands what it can mean for a child's health when a plastic diaper cannot breathe knows what I mean. With Judes, natural, breathable organic cotton lies against the baby's skin, allowing the skin to regulate itself. No moisturizer is necessary, as a sore bottom (or diaper dermatitis) does not develop from the start.

Instead, the baby's bottom is healthy and happy, as it usually is. And last but not least, the child can also develop naturally (and get a sense for wetness when using the Judes).

Stylish and simple

Not only do Judes diapers lead in terms of simplicity, but they also absolutely impress with their design. Gender-neutral colors combined with minimalist patterns are a welcome contrast to the otherwise rather chaotically colorful cloth diapers of other manufacturers, which often feature infantile motifs. But, of course, that's a matter of taste.

Conclusion

We all desire nothing more than a healthy, happy child that can grow up in a peaceful, intact world. The climate crisis along with the trashing of the planet stands in opposition to this wish, which is why I have always tried to consume as sustainably as possible. Naturally, I have also used cloth diapers for my children – but to be honest, it hasn't always been easy.

It's even more wonderful that Judes Family has entered the market as a startup, making cloth diapering much easier. I've never had a cloth diaper in my hands that was so easy to use. I'm sure that thanks to Judes' solution, there will be many more children in the future who will be diapered with cloth instead of plastic diapers. That makes me really happy!

And finally, here are my Top 5 reasons why Judes is the best cloth diaper on the market:

• A slim diaper package yet with super absorbency
• Beautiful designs and gender-neutral colors
• Mega easy and intuitive, even on the go
• Organic cotton and outer cover made from recycled polyester
• The self-developed Poo Paper that catches the stool

PS: I was truly thrilled when I first held Judes (as you might have noticed while reading). Since the startup aims to continually evolve, it might be that my version is not the most current. But only small improvements have been made so far, which have not significantly changed the Judes system.

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