cloth diapers, Review

Review: Fitted Diaper from Diapers by Chris

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When I came across Diapers by Chris, I was excited to see how comfy Chris’s diapers look and the cute prints she has available. She has quite a few diaper prints and designs that I haven’t seen before. After checking out her Facebook page and Web site, an “Avengers” fitted diaper caught my eye. One of my son’s middle names is Thor, so I asked Chris if she could make him a “Thor” diaper. She said she would look for fabric, and she found some!

Click on the photos to enlarge

 

Chris began sewing cloth diapers after her daughter was born. Like many of us, she was concerned about the negative impact disposables have on our environment.

All of her diapers are sewed with fabrics like natural bamboo, hemp, cotton, and fleece. Although she can make perfect-size or newborn-size diapers, many of her premade diapers are one-size, fitting approximately 12-35 lbs. Chris also offers several styles: fitteds, hybrid fitted, all-in-one, and all-in-two.

The Thor diaper is a fleece one-size fitted diaper with layers of fleece on the outside and inside. Also included were two soakers: large and small. Chris sent a handwritten note with the diaper. In it, she explained some laundering instructions as well as information about the diaper specifically. She also thanked me for my purchase. I thought this was a very nice, personal touch.

The diaper is about 6″ wide at the narrowest part. The size is very customizable, since there are three rows of snap adjustment for the rise and ten snaps at the waist/hip.

 To give you an idea on size, the back of this fitted diaper measures 15″ from wing to wing, fully stretched. The front measures about 10 1/2″ from wing to wing.

A BumGenius pocket diaper measures 15 1/2″ from wing to wing (fully stretched) at the back. The front measures just over 11″ from wing to wing.

A TotsBots Bamboozle fitted diaper measures 16″ at the back with the wings full stretched and 9 3/4″ at the front.

(Note: Measurements are approximate. I’m not an expert measurement taker person.)

The small soaker is 12″ long and 3 3/4″ wide. It’s made with bamboo fleece and topped with bamboo velour. The large soaker is about 14 1/4″ long and 4 3/4″ wide. The large soaker is also made with bamboo fleece but topped with crushed panne. Both soakers are very soft, but the bamboo velour feels silkier than the panne.

My experiences with the diaper:

My son wears this diaper on the lowest rise setting. He’s 4 months and 17 lbs. in the photo below. He still has a lot of room to grow in this diaper. I’ve been able to get a good, snug fit around the legs with this diaper.

I was skeptical at first of how well fleece would work, since it’s the first fleece diaper in our stash. I thought the fleece would get soaked quickly, and I’d have to change him for sure after a couple hours in the diaper.

Yeah, I was really wrong about that! I now absolutely love fleece as a diaper fabric! After about 3 hours in the diaper without a cover, the outer fleece wasn’t even feeling damp. I took my son to the change table anyway. When I opened up his diaper, the soakers were wet, but the fleece diaper was still completely dry. The larger soaker wasn’t completely soaked yet, either, and could’ve held more pee. I tossed the soakers in our diaper pail, and stuck a doubler inside…snapped the diaper back up, and good to go for another 3 hours! After that (we were approaching 6 hours total with the diaper at this point), the fleece was starting to feel just a little tiny bit damp.

The next time I tried this diaper on my son, the plan was to use it without the soakers, so I could have a genuine idea of how long it would be before this diaper would start to feel really wet. Unfortunately, my son thwarted my plans by pooping in it several minutes after putting the diaper on him. No matter. Now I can attest that the diaper holds poo in!

I tried this diaper again on my son without the soakers, but I did put a diaper cover over top. The front of this diaper started to feel wet after an hour, but the back still felt dry. It feels like the diaper has more layers of fleece in the back, due to the “Thor” print, so that is probably why.

Fast forward a few times. I’ve used this diaper with the soakers and without a cover on my son every couple of days for the last two weeks. The soakers take longer to dry than the diaper, but that’s to be expected, since they’re made with bamboo.

This diaper and the soakers are holding up, they appear to be well-constructed. They are soft and definitely do the job.

Want a Diaper by Chris of your own? You could win one! Chris will be sponsoring a prize for the Hoppin’ Halloween Giveaway Hop Oct. 25-31 right here on My Life: A Work in Progress. Stay tuned for the giveaway in just a few short weeks! Can’t wait? Buy your own! =) Check out Diapers by Chris on Facebook and her store!

Note: I purchased the item reviewed above. I was not compensated for this review. The opinions are my own.

 

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cloth diapers, Review

Review: Cloth Wipes and Ruby Moon Wipe Bits

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*Updated Dec. 27, 2012

When I decided to cloth diaper, it seemed a no-brainer to use cloth wipes as well. In fact, I’m surprised when I occasionally hear of cloth diapering parents still using disposable wipes. After using, cloth wipes can be dropped straight into the diaper pail or wet bag along with the diapers, and then washed and dried together. Simple and inexpensive, no?

When I started, I wasn’t sure what kind of wipes solution I wanted to use. Some parents use plain water. Some parents buy pre-made wipes solution, and others make their own. Zany Zebra Designs has put together a great list of Cloth Wipe Solution Recipes. Reading some of the “natural” ingredients listed in wipe solution recipes, I was hesitant about choosing one. Even some natural ingredients can cause cloth diapers to repel moisture instead of absorbing. When in doubt, contact the manufacturers of your cloth diapers and ask them. Some babies can also develop a rash from the ingredients you use.

Initially, I used a simple solution of water with some witch hazel. My son never had a rash with it, but I also didn’t think I was getting him clean. After looking around online, I decided to try Ruby Moon’s Wipe Bits.

When I first opened this package, the wipe bits smelled so delicious, I wanted to rub them all over my body. No joke. I actually go into the laundry room throughout the day, just to smell them.

Hubby, on the other hand, does not like the smell of these, so it just shows that everyone has different tastes.

These wipe bits are made with goat’s milk soap and fragrance, and are easy to use. Drop 1 bit into 1 cup of hot water. I usually just pop a coffee mug filled with water into the microwave for a couple of minutes. If you do this, be warned…coffee mugs can be messy to pour. I learned this. Also be careful to not handle the solution while it’s still hot! I also learned this.

1 wipe bit to 1 cup of water

Once the wipe bit has dissolved, you’ll want to go ahead and pour the solution into your case while it’s still a little warm. If you wait too long, the soap will congeal, and you’ll have to heat the water again. If it looks like the soap is clumping together on the bottom, stick a spoon in and stir.

Some parents put their solution in spray bottles and use dry wipes with it. They can just spray the dry cloth or spray their baby’s bum. This is usually what I do for on the go (with a travel-size spritz bottle), but you can also just stick already wet wipes into a travel wipes case. I now wet wipes ahead of time and place into a travel wipes case. I found this to be easier when cleaning up messes on the go.

For at home, I place about 20 cloth wipes in our wipes warmer and pour the wipe bits solution over the wipes.

The first time I did this, I poured the solution just on top. Eventually, the solution did saturate the wipes all the way down to the bottom layers in the warmer, but they were never as wet as the top wipes. Since then, I split the wipes in half while adding solution. I pour half the solution over the bottom half of the wipes. Then I place the rest of the dry wipes on top of the wet ones and pour the rest of the solution over the top.

Every couple of days, in between adding new wipes and solution to the warmer, I flip the top of the warmer up and let it dry completely. This is to ensure I have no issues with bacteria growing in the warmer.

All the above may sound like a lot of work, but, honestly, it doesn’t take me long at all to do.

I was concerned at first that my son would be too soapy and that the wipe bits solution would leave a residue on his skin or irritate it, but this hasn’t happened. The wipe bits do a wonderful job of cleaning him; he always smells clean afterwards, even after his messiest messes! I’ve never felt residue on his skin left from these wipe bits. If you do feel that these bits are too strong, you can always add more water than 1 cup.

He’s never had irritation either, and I even use these wipes to clean his face! Now that’s not to say that your child may not experience sensitivities to these wipe bits. Unfortunately, every child is different in this aspect, but these bits are certainly gentler than disposable wipes.

Don’t use cloth wipes for diapering? You can still use wipe bits for wiping faces, washing hands, etc.

Want to give them a shot? Unfortunately, last time I checked Ruby Moon’s Web site, it looked like they were out of their wipe bits, but you can find them at the Cloth Diaper Outlet, $6.95 for a 5 oz. package.

Want to make your own solution? Visit Zany Zebra Designs’ recipe list here.

Note: This post contains affiliate link. I was not compensated for this review. The opinions are my own.

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cloth diapers, Review

Review: Glow Bug Cloth Diapers #gbgreenfam

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*Post Updated as of 1/25/13

PLEASE NOTE: The newest collection of cloth diapers have addressed and rectified the concerns I, and other reviewers, had with the diapers. For more information, click HERE after reading this review.

During the Green Family Giveaway event #gbgreenfam, I had the opportunity to review a cloth diaper from Glow Bug! I’ve heard many great things about Glow Bug and their diapers in the last few months, so I was excited to add one to our stash and try it out on my son.

A Canadian company, Glow Bug was founded by Sarah Downey and Neta Talmor, two mothers and friends. After the birth of their children, they couldn’t find what they were looking for in cloth diapers, so they created their own affordable, well-made cloth diapers.

Glow Bugs are a one-size pocket diaper, fitting most babies from birth to potty training (7-35 lbs.). Read more about pocket diapers here. The four-size setting is possible through the rows of snaps on the front rise of the diaper. This diaper has double rows of waist snaps to allow a snug fit. The cross-over snaps on the waist are designed to fit newborns.

This diaper has waterproof PUL on the outside, and Glow Bug’s exclusive 100% polyester SlimDry material on the inside. SlimDry keeps moisture off baby skin without adding bulk. Each diaper comes with two inserts made with 70% polyester and 30% nylon microfiber.

This diaper also has elastic at the back and double gussets around the legs. For newborns or babies with skinny legs, double gussets are a great feature.

I can happily report that Mr. Stinky Pants did, in fact, test these double gussets. Yes, they do hold poo in the center of the diaper! Now obviously, depending on the amount of poo, the leg size of the baby, and the activities the baby is engaging in at the time…these all factor into how well a diaper holds in poo. But so far I have no complaints with Glow Bug, and we’ve been using it for several weeks now.

This diaper has two openings (front and back) to add an insert. Each insert comes with a snap, and they snap into the diaper at the front. The pocket openings allow the inserts to agitate out of the pocket in the wash, provided they’ve been unsnapped beforehand. The back pocket opening and the front both have waterproof flaps. This helps keep moisture in the diaper where it belongs.

Two things I’ve noticed about these inserts: 1. They’re narrower than most microfiber inserts. 2. They’re thicker than most microfiber inserts.

For example, my FuzziBunz insert is about 5 1/2″ wide and the Glow Bug insert measured at 4 3/4″. Interestingly, the actual pocket is wide enough that you could use a wider insert (like the FuzziBunz) inside.

I could tell both by the feel and by “eye balling” the inserts, that the Glow Bug insert is thicker. This makes the diaper more absorbent, since it can hold more liquid. On the other hand, this insert takes longer to dry than my other microfiber inserts.

In the below photo, my son is about 3 1/2 months old and 16 pounds. I’ve been snapping this diaper at the second row from the bottom (the Medium row). As you can see, he still has plenty of room to grow in this diaper. In fact, I could pull the top row of the waist snaps even tighter. What I really like about this diaper is how well it fits around the legs. He’s had no issues with “wing droop,” and I’m able to get a snug fit around his legs just by using the waist snaps.

3 1/2 month old Mr. Stinky Pants in his Glow Bug (16 lbs.)

I have two mild, completely aesthetic concerns with this diaper. After my son pooped in this diaper, I placed the diaper in our dry pail, as usual. I washed this diaper the next morning, and the diaper was still badly stained after washing. Like I do with all my stained diapers, I placed this one in full sun. Every other pocket diaper I’ve done this with, the stains came out in a couple of hours of full sun. After two hours in the sun, the diaper was dry, and the stains looked barely better. I rewet the diaper and placed it in the sun again. This time, the stains did come out completely, but it was about a 5 hour process.

But many moms may not care about stains. After all, the baby will just poop in them again, right? It’s a concern to me only because I’m one of those people that has to have a stain-free diaper, and there aren’t always going to be sunny days.

My second annoyance is that the SlimDry fabric started pilling the second time I washed this diaper. Again, it won’t affect the functionality of the diaper.

Pros

  • Great fit
  • Thick inserts
  • Double leg gussets
  • Affordable
  • Cute prints

Cons

  • Persistent stains
  • Pilling
  • Narrow insert

Conclusion: Overall, I’d give this diaper four out of five stars. For the price, the fit and features are great. Because of the staining issue and pilling, I’m not sure the SlimDry fabric is the best aesthetic choice for the inside of this diaper. I also think a wider insert may work better for older and larger babies. If the diaper came with two inserts in different sizes -narrow and wide- I think this would make the diaper more adaptable.

My conclusion is no longer relevant! My concerns have all been addressed in the newest collection of Glow Bug diapers! Read about the newest collection HERE.

***I spoke to Neta at Glow Bug Cloth Diapers, and she informed me the new collection of diapers will have a smoother version of SlimDry fabric that should reduce issues with pilling and staining. -9/19/12

 Curious

…about Glow Bug cloth diapers? You could win an entire stash! Enter the Green Family Giveaway event’s grand prize here. Glow Bug diapers can be purchased from their Web site or select retailers.

The print I reviewed is no longer available, but the new 2012 collection is available for pre-order with free shipping and will ship in October. They sell three packages: boy, girl, and spectrum (gender neutral). Each package is $150 for 12 diapers, 24 inserts, and a free wet bag. They also sell “booster” packages of 6 diapers for $70-75.

Want just one diaper? Currently, Glow Bug is offering an individual limited edition “Snowflake Sweater” print diaper for $20! There is a limited number being made, so pre-order now!

Glow Bug is also willing to work with co-op groups, so this is another great way for you to purchase one or two or however many diapers you need.




Note: I received a product sample from Glow Bug Cloth Diapers to facilitate my review as part of the Green Family Event. The opinions expressed are my own. Affiliate links present.
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