This week's Giveaway

This week you will get the chance to “FEED YOUR STASH” with (1) one Bummis Swim Diaper, (1) one Small Bummis Fabulous Wet Bag and (1) one UV Moby Wrap

That's a really great package!

Coming Soon!

Don't worry! I have plenty more reviews, tips and random bits of information coming soon! I have been making a list of things that I feel are important, as well as contributing to other blogs. As soon as I can, I'll have links here of my other blog contributions, mainly for Diaper Junction (my favorite online store).

I love putting the word out there about products I truly stand by. So, in all fairness, I want to be sure to give each diaper I review a good shake before writing about them. I will not give a product poor reviews if I haven't tried it for AT LEAST 30 days, depending on what it is. On the same note, I will not rave about a product unless I've given it at least days of trial as well! If I say something is good, and I stand by it, then I want to make sure I mean it!

That said, some reviews to look forward to are (in no particular order):

GroBaby (now GroVia)
FuzziBunz
Thirsties
Planet Wise
Rumparooz
Rockin Green Detergent (really excited about this one!)
Bum Essentials
and much more, plus whatever my brain thinks up to write about that's cloth diaper related! So please check back often or subscribe so that you can stay in touch! If you have specific questions about a product, or have something to say, be sure to leave me a comment.

While your waiting for reviews of all these items, and more, why not take a test drive? Not ready to commit to cloth diapers yet? Then don't!! Give it a try first at no risk to your wallet! Go here:

Flip Diapers Review

After trying, and not really liking gDiapers, I went on the hunt for a different hybrid system that I might like better. I found it! Flip Diapers are just as easy to use, maybe even easier. They are equally as cheap gDiapers, but much more durable. In the category of hybrids, this is my top pick. I've used these for about 2 months in heavy rotation so we have a great deal of experience with them. I feel like I've put them through the paces, and they are awesome! They were recommended to me by my cousin in-law, who said she loved them. So I thought I'd try them out, and I am grateful to her for suggesting them to me! This is a two part system, just like gDiapers, but with a little less fuss. They also have a cloth or disposable option, just like gDiapers. They are made by Cotton Babies, who also make BumGenius!, so you know they are a quality product.

I gave them a 4 out of 4 stars. Here's the break down:

1.) Quality/Durability. This is a very durable product. It's comprised of a waterproof outer shell, that's lined with PUL for water resistance. This is a one size diaper, so it has three rows of snaps that adjust the rise, and two rows of several snaps to adjust the waist. The snaps are of decent quality, but not the best I've ever seen. They seem to be holding up just fine though. Since there's no velcro to worry about, this product washes up beautifully with no problems. It's awesome for the fact that the fabric is water proof, and takes maybe a half hour to line dry. You don't want to throw this in the dryer because of the PUL, but you don't even need to. After two months of use, I see no noticeable wear and tear. They still look like brand new. There's no snap in liner to worry about, as opposed to the gDiaper, so you don't have to worry about replacing anything. I use prefolds with mine, something you can't do very easily with gDiapers. I can't attest to the quality of the stay dry inserts, or the disposable inserts, as I don't use them. But the outer shell is awesome on many levels. It's a quality diaper cover that my baby will be able to wear until potty training. I like that they adjust as she grows so I don't have to worry about buying new sizes in the future.

2.) How well do they work? They work GREAT! We had to wait about a month after she was born to start using these because of the fact that they are one size, meaning they adjust from small to large. Once she fit the small setting, we were off and running. I use them in a few ways. I use them as cover when I fold a prefold and put them on my little one in the traditional way with a snappi. The Flip cover fits perfectly this way, no leaks. Something you can't do with gDiapers. My hubby really likes to just take a prefold, fold it in thirds, and lay it flat inside the Flip cover. This works awesome too! No leaks this way either. Lastly, we have tried our gDiapers disposable inserts in the Flip cover. Works great, they fit perfectly and are the same size as Flips' own version of disposable insert, so you don't have to order them online if you don't want to. You can just run to your local Babies R Us and grab your self some g inserts, and be fine. I'm not sure how gDiapers cloth inserts work in the Flips because I have never tried them. They look to be too small though. The Flip diaper fits well, is made well, and that makes it work well. The ease of use is a big factor for me. If your diaper change just involved urine, you can wipe the shell with a wipe, and let it air dry until the next change. If you only got a liiiiiiiiiiiitle tiny spot of poopy on the shell, you could do the same, wipe it and let it air dry. The PUL coating makes this possible. The gDiaper, being cloth means, if you get poopy on it, you wash it. And if a little bit of urine gets on it, you have to wash it because you can't wipe it. Even if you hand washed it to use it again before wash day, your still talking a couple of hours of hang drying time.

3.) Are they cute? Yes! Because they don't bulk up like a gDiaper does, they look cute while they are on. They come in a variety of colors, and the maker will be releasing even more colors and prints within the next few months! Exciting!

4.) Overall value. I feel these are a tremendous value! They are a one size system that lasts from birth to potty training, meaning you won't have to buy different sizes as your babe grows. SO you COULD buy say, 6 of these, and never have to buy another. And they WILL last for multiple children, they are very durable. If you get the stay dry inserts, you may have to replace them at some point because they are a synthetic fabric, but they aren't expensive at all. Prefolds last a long time, and work well in this system. Prefolds are cheap! So lets add this up and compare to gDiapers.

Flip offers a "day pack", so lets start there. One day pack actually WILL last you for one day, more if you use prefolds. So you can get 3 day packs , which include 2 shells and 6 stay dry inserts for 49.95 each, Grand total of 149.85. A few bucks more in the cloth category than gDiapers, but remember, you won't have to replace these as they wear out (cuz they won't for a very long time) or as your baby grows.

Or you can buy 6 Shells at 13.95 each for $83.70 and get a pack of gDiapers inserts for 14.99. Total of 98.69 and you only have to buy more inserts in the future.

ORRRRrrrrr you can get the 6 shells, and add on say 12 Diaper Rite prefolds for $24 bucks (size small) and not have to continue to buy the inserts. You may want 24 prefolds if you plan on using this system full time, but 12 is a great starting point and will get you through 2 days before wash time.

I can go on and on with the combos, but I bet you get my point. They are cheaper, easier, work better and are a better value. I highly recommend this system over gDiapers for anyone looking for a hybrid diaper. I didn't even touch on the fact that there's organic cotton versions of their inserts as well! If you choose to try Flips, let us all know how you liked them!

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gDiapers Review

We bought some gDiapers a while back out of curiosity. I saw them at Babies 'R Us and thought it might be nice to have an option to pick up some cloth diapers at a local location. I also was tempted by the fact that these are a hybrid diaper, meaning the pads can be either disposable, or reusable. We've been using them for about three months now, and I have to say I'm not impressed by these diapers. I feel they pale in comparison to other diaper options out there. These are a two part system, also known as an AI2 (all in two). This means they have an outer reusable shell, with an inner separate liner that can be washed or thrown out. There's several brands that fall into this category.

Overall these diapers get a 1 out of 4 stars. Here's why:

1.) Quality/Durability. I don't feel this is a high quality product after putting it through the paces. I have two of these diapers in my stash and they get as much use as the rest of my diapers. They are already starting to break down after just a few months of use!! My little one hasn't even outgrown the size small yet, and I would already have to replace them. There is a wide elastic waist band at the top of the diaper that is warped from what I feel is minimal use. Since they won't stay snug on her waste without putting them on ridiculously tight, I have pretty much stopped using them. However, the rest of the outer shell is still ok after washing, all though the color has faded somewhat. Then there is the snap in liner. Those just don't hold up. If I were to use nothing else but these diapers, I would have to replace the snap in liners on a regular basis. I would say I've washed these about 20 times now (which isn't much) and they have already deteriorated. I always follow manufacturer directions, and theirs says to machine wash and air dry. So that's what I do. There is a thin elastic strip that goes all the way around the edge, and the casing for it is starting to peel off, leaving the elastic exposed where it would hit my baby's skin. This can cause major irritation, especially if your baby has sensitive skin. I haven't tried their washable inserts, so I can't weigh in on how they hold up. With two layers of microfiber and two layers of hemp, they SOUND like they will hold quite a bit of baby's pee, but again, I haven't tried them. I have tried the "flushable" insert, and I found these to be a disappointment as well. They DO hold a lot of baby's pee. They DON'T flush so easily!! I found I had to flush them 3 times to get them completely down the toilet and once they got stuck and I had to plunge. I quit flushing them after that. I really don't use the flushable inserts at all anymore. I want to make it clear also, that these ARE biodegradable, and they ARE compostable. They are NOT chemical free!! They contain a chemical called SAP for absorbency. This is also one of the main chemicals in disposables. I just wanted to add that for people who are looking to be chemical free, these are not. My alternative to what gDiapers offer as inserts is a good old fashioned, washable, chemical free prefold! I won't go into which prefold you should buy here, but if you would like advice on prefolds, let me know.

2.) But do they work? Yes, and no. MOST Of the time, I don't have to change the whole outer shell when baby poops. The liner will usually contain the mess and I can snap the whole thing out and replace with a new liner. Just like they advertise. However, it took some trial and error to get the fit right. But that's to be expected. Now that the waist band has worn out though, I am finding she gets poops up her back. A problem I don't have with other diapers. I truly feel this speaks to the quality of the product as well. If in a few months time, they are going to stop working, why bother? That's my opinion. I do like the fact that they velcro towards the back, but that's not really important until baby starts getting curious enough to undo the diaper. And mine isn't at that stage yet!

3.) The one thing these diapers have going for them is the cute factor. They come in some really adorable prints and colors. They have something for everyone. Even black!! I love a black diaper :) They don't look all that cute once they are on though......they seem to bulge up and get an odd shape to them after they have been on for a few minutes. They look kinda funny :/

4.) Overall value: Lets add this up. A pack of two gPants and 3 snap in liners averages $26.99 through most major retailers. A pack of 40 (small) or 32 (med/lg) flushable inserts averages $14.99, and a pack of 6 cloth inserts is $29.99. So to get started, you'd need about 3 packs of gPants and at least one pack of inserts, two if you are going cloth. This will get you through one day. Total for flushable option: $95.96. Total for cloth: 140.95. Not really a great value in my opinion. There are way better options in the Hybrid category for a little bit less of an investment. When you factor in having to replace them before baby grows out of them, and factor in replacing liners on a regular basis, you aren't getting much bang for your buck.

If you have had a better experience with gDiapers, please leave a comment and let us Know how they worked for you!

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Our Laundry Cycle

So, one thing that probably bums most people out, and makes them think they can't handle cloth diapering is the laundry. So I thought I'd share some tips, and tell you about our laundering cycle to help you readers out. It's REALLY not as bad as you think! Remember, you made an investment in your diapers. Protect that investment with proper washing care.

Here's my laundry/storage routine:

1.) Get a pail. If you aren't going to have a diaper service, I highly recommend a good quality pail like the diaper service quality pail diaper junction sells. This is one area that I say not to skimp in. The pail is made of a very thick, durable plastic, that helps keep odors in. Laundry hampers that most stores sell just aren't up to the task of stinky diapers. You can try a "diaper genie" type product, but they didn't look as high quality to me when I checked them out. And besides, the DSQ pails at diaper junction are cheaper than the diaper genies.

2.) Line that pail! For our diapers, we use a DSQ diaper pail like I mentioned above. We line it with a GroVia pail liner. They are very durable bags that you can wash with the diapers, which is what I like best.

How do I handle the yucky dipes? Like you, I don't want to be touching poop after a diaper change, or worse, three day old poop before I put it in the washer. But the poop has to go somewhere! So, if you are using a prefold, give it a quick dunk in the toilet, and flush it all away. Then toss the diaper in the pail, and forget about that yucky thing. If you are at the solid food stage, or not breast feeding, then you might be lucky enough to just give it a shake. Same thing goes for any other types of diapers you have. An AIO like bumgenius!, a Pocket diaper like FuzziBunz, whatever the case may be. If you have a cover, like Thirsties with a blow out, either wipe it out after the diaper change to get the poop off, or rinse it with a hose, or diaper sprayer if you are lucky enough to have one, or bath tub. Wherever you choose to do your hand diaper rinsing. After it's rinsed, throw it in the pail. If you have a diaper that has an insert, then take it out before you throw the whole thing in the pail. Before throwing anything in the pail, make sure all laundry tabs are secured, then you wont have to mess with it come laundry day. If you followed all of the above, then on laundry day, all you have to do is take that stinky bag to the wash machine and dump. No touching of smelly yucky diapers! Save yourself the trouble, and prepare ahead of time and you won't be miserable later! I promise, it's that easy!

3.) Get a wash routine. How often? I wash my diapers two to three times a week. I go every 3-4 days. Sometimes 5 if I'm busy. The GroVia pail liner that I use, acts as a barrier to keep the diapers from drying out. This prevents major stains from setting in. I have read about other women saying they can't go more than two days or else their diapers stink after washing. I am not sure what their systems are like, but I am telling you, we have no issues with our system. And trust me, we don't have the ideal situation for washing cloth diapers!

4.) Get the right soap. Soap is important!!! VERY important, you'll notice. The good news, you don't need much of it. First off, stay away from any soap that says "brightners, bright whites, color safe bleach, etc...." You do NOT want any type of chlorine bleaching agent on your diapers. It will eat away a the fabric, and drastically shorten the life of any type of diaper. Especially any diaper cover with PUL lining. It will eat it right off, so don't do it. No borax either ladies. No scented detergents either! That's bad for babies skin, and only covers up a problem. The best smelling diaper smells like......well......nothing!! Also, stay away from soaps that are geared towards babies, like Dreft for example. These detergents have added fabric softeners in them, and will only make your diapers start repelling, not absorbing. There's a lengthy and thorough list of good and bad detergents here. That said, I use Purex right now. It does have brighteners in it, so I am on the hunt for something better. However, I have yet to see a problem with it, and have yet to hear anyone reporting a problem with it. The reason I'm switching is because I fear that long term use of Purex will cause premature break down of my diapers because of the brightner in the detergent. I have heard rave reviews about Rockin Green, so I have some samples on the way! I'll update once I've used it several times.

5.) Now wash those diapers! So you probably heard all these long drawn out stories of washing diapers 6 different times, and then maybe washing them some more. Well, forget about that. I live in an apartment complex with a shared laundry room. I have to pay to use the machines, and I have NO control over the wash cycles. These are the options on my machine: Small/large load, Cold/Cold wash and rinse, or Hot/Cold wash and rinse. The speed is High or Low. That's it folks. That's what I have to work with. So here's what I do: I put my soap in, and start the water on the high speed, cold/cold setting. Let it fill up a bit so the soap has a minute to dissolve. Then I toss in the diapers, and let them go for one cycle. Then I run one more Hot/Cold cycle. That's it. No extended pre-soak because I can't do that. I have no problems with smell so far. It's been three months. I'll update you in 3 more months to let you know how this is working, but I bet you it's fine. You don't need to be a slave to your washing machine to cloth diaper your babes!

6.)Drying. I dry my diapers on medium heat, and let them air out to finish drying if they still need it. I line dry all of my diaper covers so the PUL lining doesn't get ruined. They dry fast anyways, so there's no need for them to go into the dryer. End of story. Don't use fabric softeners in the wash, or in the dryer. This will add an oily coating that will make your diapers and inserts less absorbent, and might actually make them start to repel if there's enough build up. The oily coating also makes a nice place for yucky odors to hang out on!

7.) Always follow manufacturers' recommended wash routines. What I mentioned above pretty much covers all types of diapers that I have seen so far, but if you come across one that instructs you to do something different, then by all means, follow the instructions.

That's pretty much it. This is just one example of what works, but this will give you a place to start. You may find you like to wash your diapers more often or less often. You might like to just throw them in the washer as you use them, instead of worrying about a diaper pail. The variations can go on forever, but the point is, it isn't that difficult to deal with. One last thing to help make your cloth diapering venture something that everyone in your house can be on board with, is to prepare all your diapers after they come out of the dryer. Get them all adjusted, snapped, all pockets stuffed, maybe even prefold your prefolds! When I am done with diaper laundry, I sit down on the couch while my little one sits in her swing, and we chat while I get the diapers all ready for use. This makes it easier for your hubbys to get on board because they won't have to mess with anything. I truly feel this simple step that takes roughly 15 minutes of your time will make your cloth diapering experience more enjoyable.

That's it! Really, it's not hard at all. It's basically just adding another load or two of laundry per week to the routine!

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LiteWraps Review

We got these wraps as part of a package from our diaper service. Thankfully, I got Thirsties as gifts as well!! I got three of these LiteWraps in the newborn size.

They are made of polyester and PU waterproofed. The tag says they fit up to 10Lbs, though for us they worked up until just recently at about 12-13 lbs. They have a nice scoop in the front for the umbilical cord. The two snaps near the thigh area are nice for when the baby is a bit smaller, it helps to keep them in place. There some sort of pocket where the velcro strip is in the front, not really sure what that is there for.

Over all this diaper gets 2.5 out of 4 stars. Here's my reasoning:

1.) Quality/Durability. These seem to be a fairly durable product. The picture below is after 11 weeks of using, washing and hang drying (the only way to go for diaper covers in my humble opinion). There's only a minimal amount of pilling around the leg openings and gussets, but it's hardly noticeable. Overall, I have had no breakdown in the actual functionality of this product. I am not a fan of the Velcro laundry tabs on these. They do not stay closed and they wind up getting stuck to everything else, especially since I've added my new set of three GroBaby diapers to the mix. There's a soft lining on the inside of the shells that these Velcro tabs seem to LOVE. I find that quite frustrating when doing the laundry. I am glad that I won't have these in the mix anymore, since my little girl has out grown them. However, I will be glad to have them when baby number two decides to join the party, since they do fit an average sized newborn quite well. Another thing to note, they air dry VERY quickly, which is nice for saving money on dryer usage. I can wash these, and be using them again in an hour. These definitely have more life left in them! I'll probably be able to give them to friends as well.

2.) But Do they Work? I have never had any leaks with these and I breast feed, so we are talking runny poops here! Not one leak ever. That's the best part :) There's elastic up around the top of the back of the cover, which makes for a nice snug fit around the back, again that helps prevent leaks. The fit: They fit fairly well. They were a touch big in the beginning, but that only lasted for about two weeks. Then they fit perfectly, and continued to fit perfectly until recently. My little girl was 7lbs12oz when she was born, and now at 11 weeks, she's roughly 13lbs. Since they fit past their estimated sizing for a bit, I'm very pleased. The snaps near the thighs helped to secure them in place when she was so little in the beginning, so that was a nice feature. The fact that these are Velcro all the way across the top front makes them very adjustable for every shape newborn.

3.) How cute......well, not really. They only come in this plain white. But it's alright. When I use these, I usually put on cute little clothes over them, so it doesn't matter much what they look like!

4.) Overall Value: At $7.99 a piece they are a great value. You get a lot of bang for you buck. They help to make the early days of cloth diapering your newborn simple, which makes them even more valuable. The fact that I was able to use them a bit passed the size that they are meant for was also a bonus in value. They stay dry through a lot of changes, so as long as you don't have any poop leaks, you can continue to use the same cover through the whole day, which means you don't need a ton of these.

They aren't cute, but the wash up nicely and dry quickly making them very easy to use. These are what I consider a "work horse" diaper cover. I won't buy more of these, and I wouldn't give them as a gift, but if you wind up with a few of these in your stash, or want to save money in the beginning weeks, these will do the trick. Over all, not a great cover, but not a bad one either!

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Can't wait!

Some diapers that I can't WAIT to review:

*Rumparooz G2 one sized diaper

*GroBaby

*Bummis Whisper wrap (not a diaper, but a diaper cover)

*Blueberry (these are super pricey IMO, so I am only getting these if I can find them used!)

Some of these are on their way, and some of them I'll be ordering soon!