Cloth Diaper Reviews

Nicki’s One Size Diaper Cover Review & Giveaway

November 17, 2015 by Anne Marie 53 Comments

This post contains affiliate links

As promised, here’s my review of the Nicki’s Diapers one-size cover. In case you missed it, check out my recent review of the sized pull-on cover.

You probably already know that besides carrying most of the popular cloth brands on the market, my affiliate Nicki’s Diapers has its own branded products. Their exclusive one-size diaper cover is a cute and very affordable choice if you like the wrap-style PUL covers.

The Nicki’s Diaper one-size cover is:

Found exclusively at Nicki’s Diapers for $9.95 (solid colors) and $10.95 (prints), with FREE shipping
Made of one layer of waterproof PUL with coordinating trim around the waist and leg openings
Designed to be worn over flats, prefolds, fitteds, or any style that needs a waterproof outer layer
Wipe and reuse on the inside
Made with double leg gussets, two flaps on the inside to hold inserts, and crossover snaps at the waist for small/skinny babies
Designed to fit from 8 to 35+ pounds
Available in 18+ prints and 8 solid colors
Covered by a 60 day warranty on workmanship and defects
Made ethically in China

Once again, thanks is due to you all for doing your cloth diapering shopping using my affiliate link at Nicki’s Diapers. I purchased my review tester AND today’s prize (it’s a new print!) with your help.

Here is the cover opened up. The front flap is bigger than the back one.

This picture shows the double (second) gusset around each leg, which guards against blowouts.

Sizing: In our experience, this cover generally starts to fit best from about 10 to 12 pounds (Note: Nicki’s does have a separate newborn cover). I get a great fit both on Ingrid with her chubby legs and Erik with his very skinny ones. Overall, they run larger than some of my other one-size covers, including Best Bottoms (a sister company of Nicki’s). At 20 pounds, Ingrid wears it on the medium rise setting. Erik is about 27 pounds and wears it on large, with the rise completely unsnapped.

The size settings on this cover coordinate well with both sized and adjustable diapers like prefolds, flats and fitteds.

Here are the rise measurements, that is, the cover laid flat and measured from the top of the waistband, down the crotch and up to the back of the waistband.

Small – 14.5″
Medium – 16″
Large – 17″

Fit: Although roomy in the rear, overall this is a trim cover that won’t add much bulk. There’s lots of stretch around the waist and the PUL fabric is very soft and pliable. I’m really happy that the Nicki’s cover fits well on both of their body types (chubby and thin). If you’ll notice from the pictures below, the cover on Ingrid will sag a bit when she starts to get active. Her round, chubby tummy pushes it down. 🙂 On Erik, who’s very slim, this doesn’t happen at all.

Performance: Our Nicki’s covers are very well made with strong snaps and even stitches. We’ve used over 5 months in a regular rotation. The colors are still bright and I haven’t noticed any wear in terms of elastic, snaps or seams. There haven’t been any leaks, day or night. Because it’s one layer of waterproof PUL, this cover is quick to wash and dry. If it’s barely damp at a change, wipe it and hang up to freshen for an hour or so. Then you can re-use it again before washing.

Tip from the trenches: Be careful to check under the front and back flaps when dunking/rinsing a #2 diaper. Sometimes, stuff will be stuck under there!

Here are Ingrid and Erik in the “Nautical Nessie” print:

Based on our experience, I highly recommend the Nicki’s one-size diaper cover. You get a lot of useful features, reliable performance AND a huge variety of prints and colors to choose from, for less than $11.00 each.

Giveaway! CLOSED

If you’d like to win a Nicki’s cover for your baby, please enter my giveaway below. Winner gets to choose either “Tie Guy” or “Little Lady,” two prints that were released this fall from Nicki’s! Open to US and Canada.

Nicki’s Pull-On Diaper Cover Review & Giveaway

November 2, 2015 by Anne Marie 52 Comments

This post contains affiliate links

Besides being a retail cloth diaper shop, Nicki’s Diapers also has its own exclusive line of products, including some very budget-friendly waterproof diaper covers. Next month, I’ll be featuring the one-size diaper cover, but today my review focuses on the pull-on cover, which comes in multiple sizes.

Found exclusively at Nicki’s Diapers for $6.95 each, plus free shipping
Made of one layer of waterproof PUL with white poly-knit trim around the waist and leg openings
Designed to be worn over fitted diapers or pinned/fastened flats and prefolds
Wipeable interior
Minimal seams for less leak potential
Made ethically in China

Using some of the affiliate dollars I’ve earned because so many of you shop for cloth diapers using my Nicki’s Diapers link (thank you, as always!), I purchased the different sizes to give you an idea of how they might fit at different ages. Here is Nicki’s suggested weight range:

Newborn (5 to 10 lbs)
Small (7 to 18 lbs)
Medium (15 to 26 lbs)
Large (21 to 32+ lbs)

The pictures below give the rise measurements for all, plus the range of stretch for the leg openings. Since there aren’t any snaps or fasteners on this diaper, the rise and the leg are basically the two things you’ll take into consideration when sizing for your baby. My measurements are approximate, so if you have any sizing questions, feel free to comment or use my Contact Me link at the top of the blog.

To determine how the leg openings measure unstretched, take roughly half of the measurements in the graphic above. In other words:

Newborn stretches from 4.5 to 9 inches
Small stretches from 5 to 10 inches
Medium stretches from 6 to 12 inches
Large stretches from 6.5 to 13 inches

This pull-on cover has a puffier fit than a typical wrap-style cover. I think it’s super cute, although it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. My little brother wore pull-on covers like this as a baby, and so they have a simple, old-fashioned look I like. My mother didn’t have 30 prints and colors to choose from, so I appreciate that Nicki’s makes this simple, affordable little cover so much fun to buy!

Take a look at how lightweight and trim this cover is. It’s actually trimmer underneath clothes than other covers because the PUL is thin, and because there are no snaps or aplix.

We tried the newborn and small covers on my little godson and nephew, Tobias. In these pictures, he’s almost 4 weeks old and is about 8.5 pounds. My sister liked the fit of the small around his legs at this point. Although he can still wear the newborn cover and the rise is just right, the leg openings are starting to get really snug. Tobias’ birth weight was 8 pounds, 2 ounces, so that tells me the cover runs a bit small in the legs.

Ingrid is 15 months and 20 pounds. Like Tobias, Ingrid is just moving up to the next size. Although she can wear a medium (the blue and white striped cover pictured below), it is pretty snug on her legs. The large cover (yellow chevron, shown below) is gentler around her chubby little thighs, which measure about 10.5 inches around.

What’s nice about this cover is that the rise isn’t that big of an issue, since you can “scooch” it lower or higher on your child’s tummy. The leg size is more crucial. Again, both the medium and large covers fit Ingrid’s body size, but I think she’s more comfortable in the size large because her thighs are chubby.

Erik is 2.5 and thin. He can wear the large, too, but the leg openings are getting tight. His thighs are 12 inches around compared to Ingrid’s 10.5. As previously mentioned, the large leg openings stretch to about 13 inches.

I think this cover is ideal for older babies who are standing, precisely because of the pull-on style. Although the fit on newborn Tobias is great, and it’s lightweight and breathable, when he has that runny poo that is so common to young babies, it’s a messy proposition to pull the cover off of him and down his legs. For older babies and toddlers who tend to be more “regular,” this is not so much of an issue.

However, if you are using newborn fitteds instead of pinned prefolds, this cover should work quite well, since the elastic in the diaper underneath will help with poo containment.

The Nicki’s pull-on cover gives excellent coverage over bulky diapers. The generous cut outperforms even the roomiest “wrap style “cover in our collection. We haven’t experienced any leakage, and Ingrid has worn this cover over a fitted on three different occasions overnight, and stayed dry during long naps and car trips.

I think this cover would GREAT over big kid underwear for extra protection during potty training. However, the size large is not going to fit a lot of toddlers age 3 or older. I would love for Nicki’s to add a size XL in this cover.

GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

My readers in the US can enter to win TWO Nicki’s pull-on diaper covers! Choose your colors and prints, too. You can claim an extra entry in the giveaway by visiting my affiliate, Nicki’s, and leaving a comment below. Good luck!

This post contains my affiliate links.

Grandma El’s Cloth-Safe Diaper Ointment Review & Giveaway

October 22, 2015 by Anne Marie 35 Comments

Last year I won a tube and a jar of Grandma El’s Diaper Rash Remedy & Prevention from Cloth Diaper Geek. Grandma El’s is a patented, pediatrician-recommended formula that you can use to protect, prevent and heal diaper rash. It’s an opaque, yellowish salve that goes on clear and won’t stain.

Grandma El’s has no particular fragrance added to it. However, it does have a naturally-occurring scent that I like (this is subjective, of course). If I could describe the scent I would say “A hint of Strawberry Shortcake.” If you grew up in the 80’s you’ll probably remember the pleasant, fruity smell of those little dolls. That being said, the way a rash cream smells is not a priority for me. I just want something affordable that works and is cloth-safe.

After using Grandma El’s for more than a year now, on our baby and our toddler, I can report that Grandma El’s works great for common diaper rash and minor skin irritations. As a bonus, it’s one of the most affordable cloth-safe balms available on the market today. It can also work as a light barrier ointment to prevent rash because it’s not as thick and hard to rinse out as other, heavier ointments. At the first hint of redness or a rash, I put on a light coat of Grandma El’s; the irritation is generally gone after a diaper change or two.

What are the ingredients? First of all, Grandma El’s is preservative-free, paraben-free, and phlalate-free. Ingredients include Amber Petrolatum (derived from natural mineral oil), Anhydrous Lanolin, Natural Vitamin E, Balsam of Peru Extracts and Salicylic Acid.

Petrolatum and lanolin form a protective barrier against wetness; Vitamin E and Salicylic Acid help to promote healing. Grandma El’s is also a semi-occlusive ointment, which means it is vapor-permeable or “breathable.”

Is it truly cloth diaper safe? Although marketed as cloth safe, and widely used by cloth diapering families with no issues, Grandma El’s does state on its site: “Grandma El’s is not responsible for possible damages to cloth diapers or clothes.” Why the qualification? Quite simply because there’s no way to control all the variables in any given situation.

The main ingredient in Grandma El’s is yellow petrolatum. It is derived from natural mineral oil, which is sometimes categorized as a “use with caution” ingredient with cloth diapers. Situations that might lead to repelling could be: (1) Not having a good wash routine with sufficiently hot water and adequate detergent/agitation/rinsing) and (2) When using synthetic diapers lined with microfleece.

Of course, lots of families (including ours) use Grandma El’s successfully with synthetic cloth diapers. Companies like Happy Heinys, Cotton Babies and SoftBums (who sell synthetic pockets) also recommend the ointment.

In my experience over the past year, we haven’t had any repelling. I apply Grandma El’s very lightly and have a solid wash routine that gets everything out. We use mostly bamboo flats and prefolds, plus some fleece-lined pockets, and it has rinsed out fine from both our natural and synthetic fabrics.

Courtney over at Diaper Wrecker put Grandma El’s to the test in a very basic experiment. Even after smearing huge globs of the ointment on a prefold and a bumGenius 4.0 (a synthetic diaper), there was no repelling. The rate of absorption barely changed after laundering as usual.

But if you still have concerns about yellow petrolatum, I would simply suggest that if using pockets or stay-dry AIO diapers, stick a liner in there.

Does Grandma El’s have other uses? Grandma El’s has been successfully used for other skin conditions including: mild burns, scars, eczema, chapped skin and lips, cracked skin and cradle cap. It also helps to soften the skin. I like using it on my heels in the winter.

When it comes to rash cream, most parents don’t find one cream that does it all. Occasionally, you have a rash or a skin problem that your “everyday cream” can’t fix. But most of us mamas have a go-to ointment we reach for regularly. For me, that ointment is Grandma El’s.

You can find Grandma El’s at Eyla’s Imports (update: closed), who is sponsoring today’s giveaway.

Where to Shop for Grandma El’s

Amazon
My Sweet Pickles
Lagoon Baby (Canada)

SUMMARY

What I Love About Grandma El’s:

At $9.99 for 2 ounces, it’s one of the most affordable cloth-safe balms I’ve tested.
It has other uses
I love the cute, boutique packaging
It’s non-staining and goes on clear
Great alternative for those who are sensitive to coconut oil
It lasts a long time. My 3.75 ounce jar is still half full after 5 months.
Made in the USA

What I Would Improve:

For a stubborn or severe rash, I usually have to switch to something stronger than Grandma El’s
A different (naturally-derived) fragrance for parents who don’t care for the light strawberry scent?

ENTER TO WIN

Eyla’s Imports is sponsoring a giveaway to my readers in the US and Canada! One winner gets a 2 oz. tube and 3.75 jar of ointment. GIVEAWAY CLOSED

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What Are Your Favorite Reusable Cloth Wipes?

October 19, 2015 by Anne Marie 18 Comments

I started out 5 years ago with simple flannel wipes, made of one layer of fabric. It was the cheapest option at the time, short of making them myself for free. Although I know flannel is still a very popular option, they just haven’t worked out well for us. Flannel is smooth and doesn’t have much texture, and that means little to no scrubbing power. Also, it also takes more of them to clean up a mess as opposed to a heftier wipe, so you have to have more on hand. And is it just me or do flannel wipes like to cling to everything in the dryer?

Here are the wipes I’m using most often now – my current “favorites,” if you will. Please share your favorites with me in a comment below!

Oko Creations Organic Cotton Baby Wipes: If you are looking for a reusable wipe made with organic fibers, this is my top pick. Oko’s wipes are an eco-friendly 80% certified organic cotton and 20% polyester that’s made in Canada. The size is about 8.5″ square after washing. They have a smooth side and a nubby side, which to me is the ultimate feature in a cloth wipe because you can effectively clean a stuck-on mess, and then use the other side to “finish” the job. These wipes do not get stiff or crunchy over time like other wipes made of natural fibers (i.e. hemp and bamboo). Two of them will do the job of 4 or 5 other thinner wipes. Oko Creations sent me these wipes as a no-strings-attached gift last year, but I ended up loving them, and using them daily, so they naturally ended up in today’s feature.

They also double as lovely hand and face wipes, or bath cloths, and the natural color helps hide minor stains.

You can buy at Oko’s online shop. Oko also sells a slightly smaller, thicker wipe that’s more like a washcloth and perfect for face and hands. The organic small face cloth measures 7″ square.

GroVia Wipes: After reading rave reviews about GroVia wipes, I bought some for myself. They are plain white and made of a unique blend of 88% polyester and 12% cotton baby terry. The result is a wipe that stays really soft, holds its shape and dries quickly. The cotton terry is finer and softer than a typical baby washcloth. They are a standard 8×8 size, which fits folded in half in a wipes cases. As a bonus, this durable fabric can be safely bleached. Not too thin and not too thick. As Baby Bear says: “Just right.” The price is very nice, too; you get one dozen for $10.95. I’ve used ours daily for over a year now, and they are holding up superbly, even at the serged edges. You can find GroVia wipes with free shipping at Diaper Junction and Diaper Safari.

Terry Washcloths: You can buy packs of baby washcloths at any dollar store or superstore. They are one layer of cotton or cotton blend terry and measure 8″ square. These are nice if you want something cheap, and not bulky, but with texture (unlike flannel). The terry texture is perfect for messes, but they are thin enough to get into crevices. My pack from K Mart contained 10 and cost me $5, so that comes out to 50 cents each. Nice! They range in softness, depending on the brand and the fabric content. The colors and prints are fun, too.

So tell me your favorites! Have you tried any of the types I featured?

This post contains affiliate links.

Rumparooz One-Size Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway

October 1, 2015 by Anne Marie 104 Comments

The Rumparooz diaper cover was just featured on my blog two weeks ago. Now it’s time for another review. One of the most popular products that Rumparooz makes is a one-size pocket diaper. I won the “Perky Perennials” diaper in a Padded Tush Stats giveaway, and this gave me the opportunity to share our experiences on the blog. At the end of this post, find out how you can win a RaR pocket diaper in today’s Fall Fun giveaway hop!

Here are the basic features of the Rumparooz one-size pocket diaper:

Outer shell is made of waterproof thermally-bonded PUL.
Inside lining is white microchamois
The back of the waistband is elasticized.
The rise features 3 rows of snaps, which translates to 4 size settings (three snapped up and one completely open).
The wings close with double snaps.
Includes the exclusive Rumparooz 6r Soaker
Inner gusset/channel sewn into the fleece lining
Currently available in about 40 different colors and prints, in snap or hook & loop closure
Retail price starts at $23.95
Warranty: 6 months

Kanga Care/Rumparooz is located in Littleton, Colorado; products are made in different locations including the USA, Denmark and China.

This picture illustrates the 4 different size settings, which I would call newborn, small, medium and large. In the first picture below, I’ve placed it next to an actual newborn diaper for perspective.

The white microchamois lining is not only MUCH softer than your average microfleece or microsuede, it’s also hypoallergenic. The pocket opening is wide enough for easy stuffing. The patented inner gusset creates an elasticized channel for better containment of messes.

Each Rumparooz pocket comes with a unique microfiber 6r soaker. It’s a set that can be used together or separately.

In fact, there are 6 different settings, based on your baby’s size and absorbency needs. This chart from Rumparooz illustrates all the options. There are even recommended settings for boys and girls, since their “wet zones” vary.

Here’s another little thing that makes Rumparooz unique: the little kangaroo snaps.

Sizing: The Rumparooz pocket runs a bit smaller than the Rumparooz one-size cover. Compared to the Rumparooz cover, the Rumparooz pocket has a shorter rise, so keep that in mind if you’ve tried one product but not the other. Erik (my 2 year old toddler) can wear the cover just fine, but the pocket sits much lower on him (below).

Fit: I like the overall trim fit of this pocket diaper, the double snap closure and the soft microchamois inside and around the leg openings. And I like that it does not have the front elastic (so it stays more flat). Double snaps at the waist mean you can adjust around the legs and tummy separately. The thermally-bonded PUL is very soft and pliable and the wings have lots of stretch. The crotch area is a little wide compared to some of our other pockets, but the upside is it’s easier to stuff.

Here’s the Rumparooz pocket on 13-month-old Ingrid. She is short with chubby little legs.

Absorbency: The included soakers are made of 80% polyester/20% polymide. There are 3 layers in the newborn soaker and 3 layers in the adjustable soaker, giving you 6 altogether. So it’s about double what you typically get in a pocket diaper. This is a pocket diaper I was pleasantly surprised to find that Ingrid can wear all night long, and it has that comfortale stay-dry effect.

Ingrid is well past the days of runny poos and blow outs (she is almost 90 percent weaned from breastfeeding), but we do get a big mess every so often. Toddlers are adventurous eaters! The inner gussets in this diaper do help contain things better, especially when you have an active baby. However, if you don’t have a diaper sprayer, it will take some very vigorous dunking and swishing to rinse the gussets out. Flushable liners would be a good option in that instance.

If microfiber is not your thing, inserts are also available in hemp or bamboo. All Rumparooz inserts can be purchased separately.

Quality: This is a sturdy, well made and beautiful diaper with strong, evenly placed snaps. Rumparooz colors and prints are vibrant and appealing. I’m happy with the consistent quality of all the Rumparooz products we’ve tested so far.

You can shop for Rumparooz diapers at many diaper stores; here a few of my affiliates:

Kelly’s Closet
Diaper Junction
Nicki’s Diapers
Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique
Dearest Diapers
Moms Milk Boutique
Diaper Safari

Enter to win a Rumparooz pocket diaper in your choice of colors/prints (subject to availability) from Kangacare. Open to US and Canada. Also be sure to enter the grand prize giveaway (a Little Tikes Cook ‘n Store kitchen), hosted by The Anti-June Cleaver and Our Piece of Earth. And there are many other Fall Fun blog giveaways on the linky below!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Disclosure: The Anti-June Cleaver, Our Piece of Earth, and the rest of the bloggers participating in the Fall Fun giveaway hop are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.