Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Best Bottom Heavy Wetter AIO Diaper Review

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The introduction of Best Bottom Diapers’ Heavy Wetter All-in-One is big news this spring for fans of what has been limited so far to a simple All-in-Two system. The new Heavy Wetter AIO looks a lot like a regular Best Bottom diaper on the outside but is distinctly different when opened up.

Nicki’s Diapers sent a complimentary All-in-One for Katie and me to review with our children, ages 5 months, 19 months and 2. With a name like “Heavy Wetter All-in-One,” we were expecting a lot in terms of absorbency. What we didn’t foresee was the trim profile of this highly absorbent diaper!

The Best Bottom Heavy Wetter AIO has a waterproof outer and is lined with two layers of bamboo viscose. There’s a detachable 6-layer bamboo insert with a fleece topper. That gives you 8 absorbent layers plus a stay dry effect. The insert measures 4.25 x 13.5 inches.

Size range is 10 to 40 pounds and you can adjust the rise 4 different ways.

The snaps inside of the shell serve different functions. The two which are side-by-side at the very back secure the insert to the shell. You can fasten the other end of the to the front snap, if you like. And then there’s a “hidden snap” sewn onto the white bamboo inner, which you can use with existing Best Bottom inserts.

The Best Bottom Heavy Wetter AIO Diaper has a lot of other attractive features:

  • Doublet gussets at the legs
  • Waterproof PUL strips at front and back of diaper to guard against leaks
  • Waterproof PUL at the leg openings to guard against leaks
  • Made in the USA
  • Available in all currently sold Best Bottom prints/colors (11 right now)

Here is the new AIO next to an original Best Bottom diaper, to give you an idea of the size difference. The AIO is slightly bigger overall and has longer wings.

Fit: The Heavy Wetter size range is 10 to 40 pounds. As mentioned above, it’s a bit larger than the original shells; in size it’s closer to the new Bigger Best Bottom shells. Notwithstanding its larger size and great absorbency, however, it gets high marks on trimness from both Katie and me. We both like the longer wings, too! There’s room to grow for both of our toddlers, but it does get small enough for 5-month-old Mary Kate, too.

Mary Kate is 5 months and almost 14 pounds. You can easily see from the way it fits on her now that it should easily work on a younger/smaller baby because of the crossover snaps and the fact that the rise is not snapped up to its very smallest setting.

Roderick is 19 months old.

Ingrid is 2.5 years old. She can wear it either completely unsnapped, or snapped up just once. I prefer the latter, because it looks trimmer and there’s no extra fabric sagging down, but it does make the diaper sit much lower on her.

Performance: We were both really happy with the absorbency of this diaper. Both of our toddlers wore it through a nap, and Katie tested it successfully overnight on 19-month-old Roderick with 1 extra insert (she used the hidden snap inside to attach the 2nd insert). Baby Mary Kate gets 5+ hours out of this diaper as is (no extra inserts). And since this is a diaper your baby will likely be wearing for longer periods of time, the “stay dry” fleece topper on the insert is a great feature.

Care: Because of its design, this AIO can be washed and dried with everything attached (if you like). The insert stayed fastened in the wash every time. I really like this feature because it saves me from having to hunt for inserts and match them up with their respective diapers on laundry day. Another plus? Let’s say the insert needs a deep cleaning or stripping. Because it can be detached and cleaned separately, that saves unnecessary wash wear on the shell. Dry time for both Kate and me was average/fair after washing in an HE machine.

Prior to first use, wash your Best Bottom Heavy Wetter AIO with detergent at least 3 times.

There was only one drawbacks that Katie and I noted for this diaper. The $29 price tag might be hard for some to absorb, especially if they needed to buy a few. However, if you need just 1 or 2 reliable diapers for a heavy wetter (day or night), then this price is comparable to other super-absorbent AIO’s and fitteds on the market. Additionally, if you think about the cost of one original Best Bottoms shell ($18.95), plus a pair of inserts, you may actually save a few dollars with the Heavy Wetter AIO. Plus, your baby will get to wear it longer since the size range is extended. Whatever you decide, it’s nice to have several options now with the Best Bottom system (AIO, AI2 or just covers).

Where to Buy: You can find the new Best Bottom Heavy Wetter AIO with free shipping over $10 at Nicki’s.

I’d love to know your thoughts on the new Best Bottom AIO diaper! If you have questions, please post those, too.

 

 

 

 

Funky Fluff Diapers Updated Review + Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

Last year, the Funky Fluff brand was bought by Bummis in Canada. There have been a few minor changes that I’d like to highlight today since the change. Before we look at the changes, what’s going to stay the same? Thankfully, the trim fit, bold prints and colors, and the bamboo and Athletic Wicking Jersey fabrics are here for good (there’s no longer a stay-dry microsuede). Funky Fluff diapers are still manufactured overseas as before, and the warranty still stands.

 

Now for the new stuff:

First, Funky Fluff rolled out a newborn diaper just after Mary Kate was born in January, and we quickly picked up a few. Shell and inserts are miniature versions of the one size. It’s adorable and definitely one of the most absorbent newborn diapers we tried.

Here are the newborn and one-size next to each other.

Mary Kate is on the small side and she fit into the newborn diapers well into her 4th month.

The second change involves Funky Fluff flushable liners, which have been discontinued and replaced with Bummis liners.

Thirdly, the new Funky Fluff PUL (waterproof outer) fabric feels different now. It’s not a change in quality but rather of aesthetics. Previous versions are softer, silkier and more pliable. The new diapers we’ve bought are thicker and the fabric feels more stiff. I personally prefer the old PUL, but many customers have fully embraced the new. Either way, Funky Fluff diapers are as sturdy and reliable as ever. Why the change? Basically, the old suppliers and manufacturers were not available to the new ownership.

Speaking of the outer fabric, one of the newest releases is called Kumbaya, a camping print. We lucked out on the print placement, because the cute brown bear shows up right on the front middle where I fasten at Mary Kate’s waist.

There’s only one additional change that I wish Funky Fluff would implement – a third row of rise snaps. This is something I’ve mentioned in previous reviews. The middle of the rise starts to pucker out when my babies are active (you can see this in the picture of Mary Kate, below right).

The fourth change I can see is the appearance. Shells are ever so slightly larger overall and and snaps are glossy finish, not matte. Inserts are a bit narrower. None of these minor changes has affected fit or function for us.

So, what do you think of the new changes?

 

Giveaway: CLOSED

 

 

 

Easy Peasies Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway

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Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to try many “Made in Canada” cloth diapers and accessories; now we can add Easy Peasies to the list. I purchased one of their pocket diapers for Mary Kate (4 months) and Ingrid (2.5 years) and Roderick (18 months) to try, and Easy Peasies offered to send complimentary inserts to facilitate the review. After reading this post, you can enter the giveaway at the very bottom!

Easy Peasies diapers are Canadian made and can be found at retailers like Cozy Bums, or directly from the Easy Peasies website.

  • Pocket shells are $18.99 CA ($14.19 USD)
  • Hemp terry trifold is $11.50 CA ($8.60 USD)
  • Bamboo fleece trifold is $11.50 CA ($8.60 USD)

The size range of Easy Peasies is estimated at 6 to 40 pounds; the rise can be snapped up or down at 4 different settings. The crossover snaps on the left wing can be used to get a really small fit, and the extra hip snap on both wings can be fastened to prevent sagging.

There are ruffled elastics around the leg openings and back, a plush fleece-lined interior and a pocket opening at the rear. There’s also an elasticized inner channel of the same white fleece that helps keep #2 messes contained.

We received one bamboo fleece insert and one hemp.

The bamboo insert is soft and fleecy. It’s shorter and almost square at 12.755 x 13 inches (after prepping). The 3-layer hemp terry has a nubbier texture that’s not quite as soft, and it measures 13.50 x 14 after washing.

Each insert can be folded different ways – in halves, thirds or even fourths.

Fit: The ruffled legs and back are really cute, and even with the insert folded in thirds, Katie and I found the diaper to be very trim. The crotch is also narrower than some of our other diapers, making Easy Peasies comfortable for your baby and also fairly easy for you to stuff. Katie was actually able to double up the inserts and stuff them both into the pocket and still get a good (but bulkier) fit on Roderick.

Easy Peasies wings are long and stretchy, and the double snaps allow you to independently adjust the waist and leg settings.

The size range is very generous, meaning that this diaper gets very small (could potentially work for a newborn) and also fits great on older toddlers. There’s room to grow in the waist and legs for both Roderick and Ingrid (18 months and 2.5 years).

Mary Kate is 4 months old, and just over 13 pounds.

Roderick is 18 months and 27 pounds. In the picture, you can see how Katie has angled the snaps to get a customized fit at both the waist and legs. We both like the double snaps a lot for this reason. As mentioned above, sometimes the waist needs to be tighter than the legs – or vice versa.

Ingrid is 2.5 years old and also about 27 pounds.

Performance: Roderick wetting up front is to be expected (since he’s a boy), but my Ingrid does as well. So both of us like that the Easy Peasies pocket opens up at the back. The inner fleece channel works great for little Mary Kate’s looser stools (she’s exclusively breastfed), but isn’t a game-changer for either of the toddlers.

Since the Easy Peasies pocket is not designed to be an overnight diaper, we did not test for that. As to daytime absorbency, I would rate it as fair to good, depending on your child’s output. Ingrid is able to wear the diaper with either a hemp or bamboo trifold and gets about 1-2 hours out of it; And since the Easy Peasies pocket is so trim, it’s very easy to stuff an extra doubler in there from my stash too boost the absorbency and make it nap-worthy for her. Roderick is a heavier wetter and it can’t hold him for quite as long. Mary Kate, at 4 months old, can get 3-4 hours out of the bamboo insert. For some reason, both Katie and I noticed leaks from the leg openings after just an hour or so when we used the hemp insert.

Care: Easy Peasies pocket shells and 3-layer inserts are an easy to care for system. The pocket helps keep inserts shielded from stains, and the white fleece itself is very forgiving. Dry time for the shells is quick, and the inserts take about one cycle, which is not always the case with hemp and bamboo.

Before using the inserts, I washed 4 times to prep. During testing, they were washed another 4 times, so the hemp was definitely at full absorbency.

Value: Easy Peasies are not just cute and trim, they are also made with quality materials in Canada. The bright and imaginative colors and prints are gorgeous. At about $23 US dollars ($30.49 Canadian) for a complete diaper and insert, they are comparable in price to other Canadian pockets in this style. Additionally, Easy Peasies’ trifold inserts are very versatile; you can use them with any of your pocket diapers, AI2’s or regular diaper covers. When your baby is potty trained, they can function as car seat pads, clean-up rags or dusters.

The Easy Peasies warranty covers snaps for 18 months, the PUL for 12 months, elastic for 60 days and inserts for 30 days (full details here).

Where to Buy Easy Peasies

You can shop directly at the Easy Peasies site or at
Canadian retailers like Cozy Bums

Giveaway: Easy Peasies has offered to give one lucky reader a $20 gift card to spend at their website. This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents. Use the entry form below for the giveaway. Good luck!

“Bigger” Best Bottom Diaper Review & Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

There are more and more options these days for bigger babies and toddlers in cloth. Best Bottom just introduced the Bigger cover, and I purchased one for Katie and me from Nicki’s Diapers to try on our toddlers. This larger size shell offers a roomier fit with 1.5 more inches in the waist and 1 more inch of rise height.

Besides the extended sizing, it’s the same design as the original Best Bottom diaper, is compatible with all the Best Bottom inserts, and is made in the USA. The new Bigger Best Bottom diapers were designed with 10 to 45+ pound babies in mind.

Size large inserts are the biggest ones you can buy right now; I wonder if Best Bottom will eventually add Extra Large, with this new Bigger cover in mind. Our large insert works ok right now, but when I stretch the cover over Ingrid and fasten it on, the insert pulls back a bit, leaving some empty space up front. For a tummy sleeper like Ingrid, I like to add more absorbency up there when using this Bigger cover.

Katie loves the way the Bigger Best Bottom fits on 18-month-old (27 pounds) Roderick. “Just how I’ve always dreamed a cover would fit!” She used it with a stay-dry large, just like I did for Ingrid, and added a microfiber doubler for nap time. Because of the longer wings, Katie said, “I can get a much better fit around the waist with this cover than I did my my original Best Bottom. Along with the improved fit, I love how trim it is on Roderick.”

She had no leaks with Roderick and is happy that there is room for him to grow both in the waist and the rise.Here’s Ingrid, 2.5 years old and 28 pounds. She wears the rise fully opened up and there’s still plenty of room to grow in the waist.

I agree with Katie completely about the fit on toddlers, and like that it’s more trim and has longer wings. Here’s Ingrid with the original on the left and the Bigger on the right, for visual comparison.

Where to Buy: You can find Bigger Best Bottom covers at Nicki’s Diapers and other US retailers like Diaper Junction and Kelly’s Closet. In Canada, I highly recommend Cozy Bums. This style is available in about 9 prints/colors right now, but going forward, all new Best Bottom releases will be made in both one-size and Bigger.

Giveaway: Winner chooses a Bigger Best Bottom or the original one-size, and from in-stock colors at Nicki’s. Open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck!

 

 

 

Bambino Mio Diaper Cover + Flats Review & Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

Bambino Mio is a household name in the UK, but the brand is also gaining popularity in the US and Canada. When I found out that you can buy them at Kelly’s Closet, Nicki’s Diapers, Walmart.com and Amazon, we picked up some Bambino Mio products to try on Mary Kate and Ingrid.

Muslin MioSquares by Bambino Mio are made of 100% cotton and come in packs of three for about $11. Although not marketed as diapers, my first thought when I spotted them was to use them as flats. Bambino Mio does sell standard cotton prefolds as well.

MioSoft diaper covers are available in size 1 and 2, with velcro closure. There are no rise snaps at all on the front.

Size 1 fits 19 pounds (9 kg) or less
Size 2 fits 19 pounds or more

Bambino Mio covers have front and back elastics, fold-back laundry tabs and a wide flap at the inside front. This a cover you can use again if not soiled (just use a baby wipe to freshen up the inside). The PUL material is very soft and has a little bit of a sheen to it. There are double gussets at the leg openings.

Bambino Mio actually makes two different kinds of MioSquares; these are the larger 27 inch versions that come in packs of three. Each one is a different print (the assortment I purchased is called Bumble). 100% cotton muslin is soft, lightweight, cool and breathable. MioSquares have a more open weave than our bamboo flat diapers. Besides working great as flats, they also function as burp cloths, blankets, nursing covers, etc.

They are smooth before washing:

And then get “quilty” and soft after prepping. The edges are hemmed and stitched.

Laid flat, they shrink from 27 inches square to 24 inches square. Padfolded, they are about 12 inches long and 4.5 inches wide, and fill the size 1 cover perfectly.

The absorbency of these flats is pretty good – better than a flour sack towel but not as thirsty as a bamboo flat. I can double them up in the size 2 cover with no problem. Having a whole stash of these might not be practical, but 3 pretty flats for $11 is something you might be able to splurge on. They also make an ideal shower gift because they are beautiful and have so many uses.

MioSoft covers have very strong velcro and stretchy wings, making it very easy to get a good fit – and fast. The laundry tabs are strong and have always stayed fastened in the wash for us. They are roomy enough to work with most any diaper, plus inserts, including prefolds and fitteds. I like to use the Size 2 MioSoft cover with 2 of the muslin MioSquares padfolded inside for my toddler Ingrid’s nap.

Thanks to the double gussets around the legs and the stretchy hook and loop wings, I get a nice, snug fit fit on 3-month-old Mary Kate with the Size 1 cover. Because she’s small, the rise is high, which may or may not bother you aesthetically (many mothers like a more low-rise look). There’s plenty of room for her to grow in this cover, both in the rise and the waist. NOTE: It was too big to fit her at birth; she was 9 pounds.

The Size 2 cover fits Ingrid, my 2-year-old toddler, very nicely right now. She’s small for her age.

The hook and loop is very strong and stays fastened in the wash.

The only issue I’ve had with the covers is that the front of the waistband, where the elastic is, sometimes will curl inward after the diaper has been on for a while. When that happens, the velcro rubs up against the girls’ tummies.

The other potential problem is with sizing, since there are no rise snaps. The size 1 cover is way too big for a newborn and Ingrid only just now fits into it at 3 months. And even so, the rise is still pretty high.

Speaking of flats, did you know that the 7th annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge just started? Sign-up here, if you haven’t already. Share your thoughts, experiences and encouragement on social media using the #flatschallenge hashtag. My hats off to Kim Rosas for creating this important event, and for Jenny who is now carrying the torch forward. For 6 years, the flats challenge has helped families to see that switching to cloth diapers is well within reach, even in difficult situations.

Where to Buy: Bambino Mio covers start at $9.16 each and can be purchased directly from their website, at Kelly’s Closet or from Walmart.com with free shipping over $35. When they aren’t in stock at Walmart, you can also check Amazon.
Giveaway:  I am giving away a 3-pack of muslin MioSquares, just like the one reviewed, plus a MioSoft diaper cover of your choice (size and color, from available stock at Walmart). This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck!