TotsBots Mamas looooooooooove their TotsBots, especially their EasyFit V2s, with bamboo inners and thick PUL. Why TotsBots switched to a thinner PUL and minky inners is beyond me, especially given the ongoing demand for their V2s on the second-hand diaper market.
Because V2s are no longer made, you can only acquire them used, which may mean they need repairs. The aplix and PUL on these little Bots are epic: I’ve seen a lot of these diapers in various conditions, and the thick PUL is so durable and the aplix so rugged! However, sometimes the elastics need some lovin’.
My buddy Maman Butt holds the key to replacing diaper elastics, and she didn’t even use a sewing machine!!
Here is a picture tutorial:
You will need:
- 9 inches of 1/4″ poly braided elastic (4.5″ of elastic for each side)
- 2 safety pins
- Needle & thread
- A seam ripper
- Nails painted to match diaper being repaired (optional)
Here’s the diaper pre-surgery:
1) Turn the diaper inside out:
2) Find where the seam is sewn over the elastic on one side of the leg casing, and use your seam ripper to expose the start of the elastic:
Note that Maman Butt does not remove the old elastic. Doing so would take more time, and also risks ripping the PUL because the elastic is sewn all along the seam (contrary to BumGenius elastics, which are only sewn at each end).
3) Attach a safety pin to either end of the new elastic and feed it through. Attach one safety pin to the start of the old elastic so you don’t lose that end inside the diaper, and use the other safety pin to guide the new elastic through to the other side.
4) Sew the new elastic to the old one on either end, grabbing a little bit of material along with the old elastic. Make stitches back and forth until it feels nice and secure. If you are going for function, don’t stress about how it looks, just make sure it’s secure! No one will see the inside of the diaper except you!
At this point, you’re more or less done! For cosmetic purposes you can use the same colour thread as the diaper to close up the small opening you made in the seam. If all you’re going for is function, or you’re just lazy, this isn’t really necessary.
Rebecca rose says
Hey Lindsay,
I bought a lot of used v2s from a mama and all of the elastics were shot after I prepped them… Ugh.. At the end of you post when you say “close the small opening…. Same color… This isn’t really necessary” do you mean that it isn’t necessary to close the opening, or to match the thread? I have thirteen diapers to fix ahead of me…. Thanks!!
Maman Loup says
You don’t NEED to close up the opening. Did you see my other post about fixing with a sewing machine?
Heidi Kostrey says
Hi Lindsay!
Just wondering if I can use this same method for back elastics? If so, how long should the replacement elastic be? 4 1/2 inches like the legs?
Caitlin says
Thanks so much for this! Question – I have some V2 teeny fits….any idea the size and length of elastic I would need to replace those elastics?
Lindsay Gallimore says
Sorry, I’ve not owned an Teeny so I don’t know!
Tina b says
Any ideas yet? I have the same question 🙂 Thanks!
Katelyn says
I am repairing elastics on ten V2s and your instructions are extremely helpful. Thank you! I’ve just repaired my very first elastic and have found that using just 4.5″ of elastic leaves the leg opening significantly tighter than a like new tots bots I own. Should I use more elastic or should I expect that it will loosen after washing? Or do you think my like-new v2 tots bots has looser elastic than it originally did just from being stored for a few years? Thank you for your help!
Lindsay Gallimore says
The 4.5″ is the length that Adrienne and other TotsBots users have used, but you might prefer 5″.
cassidy inman says
Your tutorial was helpful just explaining it by itself but to have pics as well was even more amazing in helping me figure it out! The only question I have that wasn’t answered was the length of the back elastic strap. Whats a good length for this? Thanks so much for your help! 🙂
Lindsay says
Heya! So I haven’t actually ever done the back elastic so I don’t know for sure, and have been meaning to find out!! Maybe see if someone with a new-ish one on hand can measure for you til I figure that out.
Meghan says
Is it the same measurements for a version 4? Is there favorite brand for quality of elastic?
Megan Kloster says
Thanks for sharing this! I bought some pre-loved totsbots and the elastics are shot. I realized the last person had replaced them but didn’t pull the elastic tight enough when she replaced them. She also made small cuts through the inside, rather than your method of turning it inside out. This made my life way easier, so thank you!