Cloth Diaper Reviews

Sweet Pea Diapers One-Size Bamboo Fitted

July 29, 2015 by Anne Marie 1 Comment

Earlier this year, Sweet Pea added a new color choice – Teal Green. And just a few weeks ago, a brand new diaper was released – the one size bamboo fitted! As a #sweetpeachampion I received this new diaper in exchange for a review, plus a Teal Green one-size cover to go along with it.

The Sweet Pea bamboo fitted is a white diaper with several different thread and snap color choices. We received the colorful rainbow-serged diaper with coordinating pink snaps for Ingrid.

Here are the basic features of the diaper:

One-size diaper adjusts to fit from 8 to 35 pounds
Two sets of crossover snaps at the waist to fit tiny babies
Extra hip snaps at the waist to prevent sagging
Diaper is 70% rayon from bamboo and 30% cotton
Attached velour soaker pad is bamboo velour (56% rayon from bamboo, 24% cotton and 20% polyester)
Extra snap-in soaker is the same bamboo/cotton blend as the diaper, but with a hidden layer of microfleece
Two-year warranty on snaps and a one-year warranty on elastics, sewing and manufacturer defects
Retail price is $24.95

The pure white bamboo/cotton material is very soft and has a tiny bit of stretch to it. The weave looks like a very fine “rib knit,” as opposed to the terry loop fabric you might be familiar with in other bamboo diapers or inserts.

This fitted can be used with just the sewn-in soaker, or with the extra soaker snapped in. If you are snapping down the rise to fit the diaper on a smaller baby, the soakers can be folded under inside to shorten their length.

Fit: The wings are very soft and stretch to fit easily over Ingrid’s chubby tummy and Erik’s slim waist. I like that they don’t curl back, but stay good and flat. There are four snaps on each side to fasten, which is a lot. However, when in a hurry, I did find the diaper stays put with three fastened on each side. Leg gussets are nice and gentle. If using both inserts, your baby is going to have a puffy little bottom, which I think is rather cute. Be sure that you have a roomy diaper cover (like the Sweet Pea!) to accommodate this fitted.

Looks great on a toddler, too!

Absorbency: With both inserts inside, this is a super absorbent diaper. Definitely put it on your list for a potential night-time diaper! Both Ingrid and Erik (my toddler) can wear it for 12+ hours. With just one insert, it can hold Ingrid through a long nap.

Care: Wash the Sweet Pea bamboo fitted a few times before using; it’s mainly the cotton fibers that need prepping. It will increase in absorbency with every wash after that. No special care is required. Just launder with your other diapers, and don’t use fabric softeners or bleach. Since bamboo and cotton stain more easily than microfleece, I suggest doing a pre-rinse in cold or warm before washing to keep stains from setting in. Natural products like Buncha Farmers can also be used to spot treat.

Drying time for this diaper after washing in an HE machine is one full cycle, plus about 5 or 10 more minutes. To save energy, I just let it air dry after the full cycle.

Overall, I am delighted with Sweet Pea’s new bamboo fitted! It’s adorable, soft, customizable, super absorbent and has proven to be highly adjustable. The only drawbacks I note at this point are minor – lots of snaps to fasten, and a slightly longer drying time than other diapers in my stash. All things considered, for the quality of construction, outstanding absorbency, cuteness AND warranty to back the diaper up, $24.95 is a reasonable price for this luxury fitted.

Share your thoughts and questions about the new Sweet Pea fitted here!

Little Bear Bums Fleece Cover Review

July 15, 2015 by Anne Marie 2 Comments

Ever tried a fleece diaper cover? The ones you find at Little Bear Bums are a little bit different. You can choose from two different kinds of covers – microfleece (which start at $10) and Windpro (which start at $16). They are sized for a more custom fit and are available in preemie, newborn, small, medium and large. Besides white, like we reviewed, there is also a limited selection of colors like chocolate, red, periwinkle and baby blue.

What makes Little Bear Bums different from other fleece covers? First of all, they are made with 2 layers of microfleece, instead of the typical 1 layer of polar fleece. This gives you good wetness protection but with a slightly more trim fit. Microfleece is a bit finer and softer, plus easier to rinse out and clean than thick polar fleece.

As a bonus, Little Bear Bums covers close with snaps and wrap around your baby; this is SO much more practical to me than the typical “fleece soaker” style that you have to pull up and down like underwear.

Because this is a sized cover, there is only 1 row of snaps, and those are for fastening the waste. There are crossover snaps for very skinny babies.

The Little Bear Bums cover has enough “give” to that you can use it over many types of diapers, including fitteds and flats and prefolds. Fully opened, the size medium stretches to about 16 inches long, which is perfect for medium to large trifolded diapers and padfolded flats. I’ve used also used the cover with bamboo pocket diaper inserts.

The elastics at the back and around the legs are so soft and gentle, one of my favorite things about these covers.

I think this soft little diaper cover looks so sweet and cozy on Ingrid. As you might already know, fleece performs similarly to wool in some ways, but it’s extremely easy to care for. Launder along with your other cloth diapers, and to improve the water-repelling ability, throw in the dryer with a dryer sheet every once in a while.

Here’s a picture of the Little Bear Bums microfleece diaper cover in the newborn size, which I used when my babies first arrived:

You might be curious about fleece as a diaper cover material. As with anything, there are pros and cons. It’s soft, fairly breathable and water repellent. However, it is not water resistant like PUL. Fleece does not feel wet and cold like a PUL cover does when the diaper inside is saturated. For chunky legs and sensitive skin, fleece is very gentle. Fleece is a great alternative if you have a baby who is allergic or hyper-sensitive to natural wool or PUL. It also dries super fast.

With a fleece cover you’ll need to be careful about compression leaks; that’s when the wet diaper underneath begins to wick moisture onto the fleece. What happens when moisture hits the fleece? It goes right through! That’s what fleece is designed to do. So make sure you have a very absorbent diaper under your fleece cover. Also, it may not be the best choice if you have a tummy sleeper that puts a lot of pressure on the front of the diaper while sleeping. Another thing to be mindful of: fleece is synthetic and may start to hold onto odors over time. A good stripping can help with that, as can a “splash” of bleach in the hot wash cycle every couple of months.

You can read more about the advantages and disadvantages of fleece diaper covers in this post.

Shop for Little Bear Bums fleece diaper covers at the Hyena Cart shop, and follow on Facebook for news and stocking updates.

I don’t want to wrap this up without mentioning another product I love at Little Bear Bums – her washable mama cloth! I have tried many MANY different brands and styles of pads over the years, and these are hands-down some of my favorites. They are even nighttime and postpartum worthy. They may not be flashy, but they work. Little Bear Bums pads feature a synthetic core and a stay-dry microfleece top with channels sewn in to help lock away moisture. The backing is waterproof PUL in a variety of colors. There are two snaps on the wings to help you get the best fit.

Granted, cotton would be my top pick for the fabric, but experience has taught me it does not whisk away liquid quickly enough. My first few cycle days are heavy and fast; this is honestly one of the few pads that has fully protected me from overflow and leaks. This is the only brand of pad I’ve come back for a second and third time to buy. Did I mention they are easy to clean and rarely, if ever, stain?

Interested in adding some of these reusable (and money-saving) pads to your routine? Send Little Bear Bums a message on Facebook. Price varies according to size, but they are super reasonable. My nighttime/postpartum pads were only $8.00 each! Most of the bigger pads on the market are at least ten apiece.

What do you think about fleece diaper covers? If you have any questions or comments, please use the reply form below!

Smart Bottoms Lil Trainer Review

July 14, 2015 by Anne Marie 3 Comments

Somebody has just started potty training at Zephyr Hill! Erik received a complimentary Smart Bottoms Lil Trainer in the guitar print, size small, to test out. He’s 2 years old, slim and short, and about 27 pounds. Here are the approximate weight ranges for the two sizes that Smart Bottoms offers:

Small – 20 lbs – 30 lbs
Large – 30 lbs – 45 lbs.

The trainer consists of a cotton print outer and 6 layers of organic cotton inside. There is a hidden layer of waterproof PUL in the wet zone to help catch a small accident. A snap-in pad is included. When there’s just a tiny leak, the pad can be washed and the trainer re-used. The pad can be removed as your child advances in his learning.

The Smart Bottoms Lil Trainer is available in four prints right now: Guitar, Polka Dot, Rainbow and Jungle Jane; the latter will be retired soon.

Since it’s made of cotton, you need to wash this trainer at least once before using; it will increase in absorbency after that. Keep in mind that The Lil Trainer is not a highly absorbent trainer. It’s only meant to contain a small accident. My favorite things about this trainer are the adorable style and the softness of the cotton. The elastics are very gentle and Erik is able to pull these pants up and down with a little bit of assistance. Because it snaps into the trainer at both the front and the back, the soaker stays in place at all times. It’s also a very well made trainer, with high-quality materials and durable construction. The retail price is $17.95 and you can buy at many online cloth diaper retailers. Inserts can also be purchased separately.

The only improvement I would suggest would be snaps at one side of the trainer, or both. Because it’s difficult to pull down when there’s a #2 mess, I put this trainer on Erik after he’s already done his “business” for the day. Most toddlers are pretty regular, so this is not difficult.

As far as sizing goes, the small has been almost perfect for Erik. I say almost because the rise is very low and starts to sag after he’s been wearing the trainer for any length of time. This seems to be a common issue with pull-up trainers that have elastic waists. They love to sag down just below the classicly round toddler tummy.

As mentioned before, he’s small for a two-year-old. You might size up to the large if you’re on the fence about the weight range. Because Erik’s legs are skinny, I opted for the small to make sure we got a good, snug fit in that area. Keep in mind when deciding on size that this trainer will shrink up about 10% when you first wash and dry.

It’s lower in the rise than other trainers (and diapers) so this helps it look and feel more like underwear.

In addition to the Lil Trainer, we’ve also tested out the Smart Bottoms Born Smart newborn AIO. Has your baby tried Smart Bottoms yet?

Diaper Rite Bamboo Prefolds

July 10, 2015 by Anne Marie 190 Comments

If you love prefolds, it’s hard to imagine anything better than those soft, fluffy and absorbent diapers. But add a touch of bamboo, and you just might have something nicer. In fact, I definitely prefer our bamboo/cotton Diaper Rite prefolds to regular cotton. Because many of you shop at Diaper Junction using my affiliate link (for which I am extremely thankful!), I have been able to use my commissions to purchase some Diaper Rite bamboo prefolds to test out and share with you today. My friends at Diaper Junction were also kind enough to send me one in the newborn size and the large size for comparison, since we currently don’t have those in our stash.

Diaper Rite bamboo prefolds come in packs of six, and start at $13.95 for each pack. The fabric content is 55% rayon from bamboo and 45% organic cotton.

Here are the measurements after being washed a few times:

Newborn/Extra Small (natural stitching) – 11×12 (suggested weight is 6 to 12 lbs)
Small (purple stitching) – 12×13.5 (suggested weight is 8 to 18 lbs)
Medium (green stitching) – 14×16 (suggested weight is 14 to 30 lbs)
Large (orange stitching) – 16×17.5 (suggested weight is 26 to 40 lbs)

The most noticeable jump in size is when you go from small to medium.

Here are the different sizes of bamboo prefolds trifolded inside a one-size Diaper Junction cover. When the prefolds were used this way (laid in a cover and not pinned on a baby), I found the sizes corresponded best this way:

One-size cover on smallest rise setting: use extra small prefold
One-size cover on medium rise setting: use small prefold
One-size cover on largest rise setting: use medium prefold

The large or toddler size Diaper Rite bamboo prefold extends a bit from the front of the cover, even when it’s completely opened up. At close to 18 inches, it’s pretty long. You can fold it down in the front but it will create some bulk.

Tip: If you are planning to primarily Snappi, Boingo or pin these prefolds on your baby, you might want to buy the next size up, so you’ll have extra fabric to pull up and around the waist. I primarily trifold ours in a cover, and small works fine for Ingrid, who is actually 11 months old but small for her age. In this picture, where the diaper is pinned on, she’s actually in a medium.

A diaper fastener grips the bamboo/cotton blend fabric with no problem.

Erik is 2 years, short and slender, weighing under 30 pounds; the medium is perfect for him trifolded in a cover, and I think he can wear these until he potty trains so we won’t need to buy the larges. So just keep in mind that your toddler might not necessarily need the “toddler” size. By the way, Erik is wearing his bamboo prefold under a NEW COVER from Diaper Rite – it’s a brand new print – dark blue with a colorful outer space theme! This new print is available now in several Diaper Rite products, and more stock is on the way.

Flats and AIO diapers have been working so well for us that I wasn’t using prefolds much at all….until I started testing these. Now I’m using them just as much as the flats! I know old-fashioned cotton is nice, but can’t deny the appeal of these bamboo-blend prefolds. They cost a little more than regular prefolds, but not that much. And I have found they are softer and more absorbent than standard prefolds. Really! Ingrid can nap in her small bamboo prefold, but not a regular cotton one. Erik has a medium overnight with 1 cotton Diaper Rite doubler or a large alone. So basically, that’s a night-worthy diaper for less than $5, proving you don’t have to spend a lot to find a night time solution.

Another bonus: these prefolds have no tags. Diaper Rite stamps the brand on them instead.

Care is very easy: I wash with my other diapers in our HE top loader. It does take a full cycle for these to dry completely.

If you are itching to see what bamboo prefolds are like, or want to add MORE to your baby’s arsenal, there’s a giveaway! One reader will win a 6-pack of Diaper Rite bamboo prefolds – choose your size (subject to availability). This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck! GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Planet Wise Diaper Cover Review & Giveaway

June 21, 2015 by Anne Marie 92 Comments

Although you may have seen the hashtag #wehaveabagforthat, Planet Wise doesn’t just make wet bags and pail liners. Last year, I bought a Planet Wise diaper cover in size 1 that was just too cute to resist after seeing the cute prints over and over at Nicki’s Diapers (a retailer who I love to share with you as an affiliate). I’m glad I satisfied my curiosity, because it’s become one of our favorites. This year, we purchased another in size 2.

The Planet Wise diaper cover comes in size one and size two, which gives you a highly adjustable sizing system to take your child from birth to potty training. Here are the basic specifications

Inner material is 100% waterproof PUL
Outer fabric is a 100% cotton Planet Wise designer print
Waterproof flaps on the front and back inside, to hold diapers in place and prevent wicking of moisture
Double gussets around the legs
Double row of snaps at the waistband
Three snap settings on the rise (small, medium and large)
Size one fits 6 to 18 lbs. and size two fits 15 to 35+ pounds
Made in the USA
Retail price $17.95

Here are the size settings of each diaper, and the rise measurements. The crotch is wider on size 2 (6.5″) vs. size 1 (6″).

If you are wondering how this two-size system compares to a one-size system, the short answer is that it offers a wider range of sizes. That is, the small is smaller and the large is larger. To illustrate that, here is the Planet Wise cover compared to a one-size cover (sister company, Best Bottoms):

As far as numbers go, the rise of a Best Bottoms cover at its smallest is 6.5 inches, compared to the Planet Wise size 1, which is 6 inches. The rise of a Best Bottoms cover at its very largest is 7.5 inches, compared to the Planet Wise size 2, which is 8.5 inches.

This two-size system works well if you have really small newborns (who can’t wear a one-size cover) or large toddlers/late trainers (who are too big for one-size diapers).

Here are the Planet Wise covers with various inserts and diapers.

And here is a summary of my thoughts on different aspects of the diaper cover:

FIT: I like that the soft side of the PUL touches your baby’s skin inside the cover. The PUL is very sturdy and thick (like Best Bottoms); with the addition of a cotton outer layer, it feels more stiff than a plain PUL cover. The marvelous prints and colors make these covers really stand out!

The outer fabric is not very stretchy since it’s knit, so the wings don’t have as much “give” as a regular PUL cover. However, the two-size system negates that drawback by allowing you to get a better fit.

It’s definitely a versatile cover. Whether I’m packing it full for nighttime, or using with a trim diaper in the daytime, the Planet Wise cover fits just as well both ways. I’ve used our Planet Wise covers with nearly everything you can think of: fitted diapers, flats and prefolds, hemp inserts and even our Best Bottom and Imagine inserts (tucked under the flaps since there aren’t snaps inside this cover).

Two rows of snaps at the waist allow you to adjust both the waist and the leg openings.

Is it better on chunky babies or skinny ones? I think it looks great on both my chubby infant and slim toddler, as you can see from the pictures below. Erik is a very skinny 2-year-old and I love the way this cover looks on him. I never have a problem getting a snug fit around either his waist or his legs. Snapping the rise down a bit lower works well for getting a good fit on a skinny baby or toddler.

PERFORMANCE: I have used diaper covers before with cotton or knit outer prints and found that moisture often wicks from the legs or the top waistband and onto the absorbent outer (unlike a cover which is made of waterproof material only). Fortunately, this has not happened at all with the Planet Wise cover, and I attribute that to a few things: (a) the sturdy, high-quality PUL which is used on the inside, (b) the front and back flaps which help keep wetness inside the cover and (c) the double gussets.

I have tested the covers overnight (with fitteds and with prefold + doubler) and they keep leaks at bay, provided I change first thing in the morning.

You can “wipe and reuse” this cover, if only the insert or diaper inside is soiled/wet AND if the front and back flaps aren’t really damp (which will happen after a few hours).

DURABILITY: I’ve been testing the size 1 cover for almost 12 months, and the size 2 for about 1 month. The only change I’ve noticed is on the cover we’ve been using for almost a year: the outer cotton print has gotten a bit of fuzz on it. It’s not very noticeable, though. Other than the lint, these covers have proven to be very durable. The snaps are super strong, the elastics are still good and tight and the beautiful outer prints have not faded.

CARE: This cover is easy to wash and it dries in less than a full cycle (after being washed in our HE machine). As mentioned before, if the inside flaps are not too damp you can wipe the cover and hang dry it to freshen and reuse another time before laundry day.

With the exception of a few minor imperfections, I think Planet Wise covers are a versatile, durable and highly appealing system. Well-made and manufactured right here in the USA, they are well worth the price tag.

The prize: Win a Planet Wise Diaper Cover in your choice of size and color, plus a reusable Planet Wise snack bag! Open to US residents only. GIVEAWAY CLOSED