Before I became a mother, I knew I’d have to change diapers, obviously. I didn’t realize how many I’d have to change the first few months, day and night. As my son gets older, I keep finding products I wish I’d known about while I was pregnant or when he was a newborn. The ZIPaboo is one such product- it would have made my life so much easier! I’m very grateful I was sent one to review.
About:
Created by a mother of two very active little boys, the ZIPaboo is a patent-pending, long-sleeved footed onesie that allows parents to change diapers more easily. This is done by the unique zipper that starts at one foot, zips up and around the belly, and then down the opposite leg and foot. Made with renowned Peruvian pima cotton, the ZIPaboo is available in five different colors/patterns and five sizes: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months, and 12-18 months.
Watch this short video to see the ZIPaboo in action:
Our Experiences:
I’d never heard of pima cotton before the ZIPaboo, but I started researching it and discovered it really is considered a luxurious fabric. And, it does feel softer than my son’s other cotton sleepers.
Although I can definitely see the benefits of using a sleeper like this with a newborn, I was excited to try it on my 11 month old son. He doesn’t go #2 at night anymore, but his cloth diapers are soaked through by morning. I’ve wanted to be able to change him during one of his nightly feedings, but usually when I do, he’s awake for the next 1-2 hours! Snap sleepers take too long to get snapped after changes. Baby J is completely awake and angry by the time I finish. Regular zipper sleepers aren’t much better, because you either have to bend one leg back unnaturally (you know what I’m talking about), or you have to take one arm out of the sleeper to get one leg in and out.
Enter the ZIPaboo test- After nursing him the first time, I went ahead and changed him. He was barely awake for it, and as soon as I finished and laid him back down- he went to sleep. No question- the ZIPaboo is easier and faster for diaper changes. I’ve tried changes several times since then, and it was the same each time. I’m impressed! It’s such a simple idea, but very effective.
Baby J is around 29 or 30″ in length (I can’t get him to stay still long enough to get an accurate measurement). I weighed him a couple weeks ago, and he was 24 lbs. Most of his 9-12 month sleepers are about to bust open, so I ordered a 12-18 month ZIPaboo in the “Sam” color. You can see in the photo below, that Baby J is stepping all over the feet, so he has plenty of room to grow. There’s even room for his fat cloth diaper booty. =D
Before bed, I put the ZIPaboo on Baby J usually while he’s standing or cruising around. He squeals in outrage at the interruption of his play time, but fortunately, it’s a quick process. The legs of the ZIPaboo really are easier to get on and zip than any of his other sleepers (I keep saying it, because it’s true!). I should add, that these are marketed as footed “onesies” not “sleepers,” and I think the idea is they can be worn all the time, not just at bed. I’ve left Baby J in his all day a couple times now, because…well…it’s easier to change diapers in the ZIPaboo than his other clothes.
The ZIPaboo retails for $36 each, which is definitely pricier than your standard, mass-produced sleeper. I would guess that the cost is a reflection of the higher quality of fabric. My take on it—- if there’s something that will make my life easier night after night in those exhausting, zombifying early days of parenthood and keep me from losing my sanity—- then it’s worth it. In addition, because pima cotton is known for its durability, you can easily use the same ZIPaboo for multiple children, pass it on to a friend, or sell it on consignment.
The Scoop:
Visit ZIPaboo on the Web to read more about their story and see their styles of sleepers. For news, deals, and giveaways, “like” them on Facebook and “follow” them on Twitter!
Come back to My Life: A Work in Progress on Monday, April 8, and enter to win your own ZIPaboo in a color and size of your choice!
Note: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are mine. They may differ from yours or the opinions of others.
