A Family Blog
As you probably know already, Gerber Childrenswear has just released a reusable All-in-One cloth diaper. You can read my full review of the Gerber AIO diaper here.
PLUS, you can enter to win one and try for yourself. Gerber Childrenswear is giving away 20 DIAPERS and you can enter to win below!
This giveaway is open to US residents only, as the new diaper has not yet been released to Canada. It will end on June 22 at midnight. Good luck!
It’s exciting to see the iconic Gerber logo on a cloth diaper, isn’t it? Their recent unveiling of an All-in-One (AIO) on social media, sporting the popular #makeclothmainstream hashtag, caused quite a stir. I purchased one for Ingrid to try out so you can see how the AIO looks, fits and functions. Ingrid is 10 months old and about 17 pounds so I chose medium.
Gerber Childrenswear (referred to as Gerber hereafter, for the sake of brevity) also sent a complimentary (yellow) tester diaper in size large for my toddler, Erik, who is about 27 pounds.
Here are the size ranges. Each diaper retails for $12.99, the 4 colors available right now are Blue, Orange, Pink and Sage (Light Green).
Small (8 to 18 lbs)
Medium (16 to 28 lbs)
Large (22 to 37 lbs)
A quick look at the outside front and back:
Each AIO is made up of a waterproof outer shell with a sewn-in absorbent core. One extra insert is also included. The insert can be laid in the diaper or tucked under the sewn-in liner.
Comparing it to other AIO diapers we have tried, there is more exposed PUL on the inside of the Gerber diaper, which you can see from the picture below. This may or may not bother you (or your baby’s skin).
The inner lining is open at the front and the back. The absorbent layers inside are sewn into an elasticized channel which basically functions as a second or “double” gusset.
The Gerber AIO is made in El Salvador. Here are the fabric components:
Outer waterproof shell: 100% poly interlock with PUL backing
Inner core: 65% poly/35% rayon with a 100% cotton TransDRY top
Extra insert: 100% cotton with a TransDRY (cotton) top layer
What is TRANSDry? This is a cotton fabric which is specially treated to make it water-repellent. It is often used in athletic wear and is designed to pull moisture away from the body and thus keep the cotton fibers from becoming saturated.
One side of the cotton insert is beige-colored and is very smooth; this is the side which goes up against your baby’s skin. The underside is white and feels a bit rough and fleecy.
Fit: One of the greatest things the Gerber AIO has going for it is the cute and trim fit. Sized diapers definitely have the edge in that regard because there is no snap-down rise to add bulk. If you were planning to use AIO diapers from birth until potty training, you’d spend a lot going from size to size. However, if you just want a few for certain ages or stages, $12.99 is a very reasonable price. For instance, you might purchase just mediums or larges for an older baby and be able to use just that size until you’re at or near the potty training stage.
To keep costs down for their debut diaper, Gerber opted to begin with a sized system.
The medium fits great on Ingrid, but with just a little room to spare in the rise, which tells me it runs small (Ingrid is 17 pounds and short and is supposed to be able to wear this until about 28 pounds). So I would recommend sizing up if you’re uncertain. I think Gerber will probably need to add an extra-large diaper at some point.
Here is the Gerber size medium next to a one-size diaper on the medium setting. They are close, with the one-size being slightly larger overall. The Gerber AIO is narrower through the crotch.
Here are the medium and large side by side. The extra inserts are the same size but the inner lining is longer as you go up in sizes and the crotch is slightly wider.
This side view helps to illustrate the slim profile of the diaper:
Performance: This is a true AIO diaper that can be worn as is. I tested it with the extra soaker pad in place. Ingrid wore it during a 3 hour nap the first day. It was completely soaked, but no leaks escaped, so it passed the absorbency test. The double gussets are good at keeping the wetness inside the elasticized channels; after Ingrid had worn the diaper for several hours the outer gussets were completely dry to the touch.
The hook and loop closure at the waist holds but is not strong enough. The tabs at the waistband curl back at the ends, so the entire area doesn’t stay closed. Oddly enough, the laundry tabs are very sticky and stayed fastened while washing and drying.
I was curious to see if the TransDRY cotton fabric would wick moisture away and have a “stay dry” effect similar to microfleece, but it didn’t. The cotton top was wet to the touch, and Ingrid’s skin was a bit damp. This is not a concern for me personally since we use a lot of cotton flats and prefolds which aren’t “stay dry”, but if your baby needs that feature or a fabric that quickly wicks away moisture, the TransDRY may not function as effectively as a true stay-dry synthetic fabric.
I did not test the diaper overnight since it’s an AIO, but since it’s easy to add absorbency under the sewn-in liner, that’s certainly something you could try.
At this point, I can’t comment on durability. However, because of the weak hook and loop closure at the waistband, I’m concerned about how long that particular feature will perform.
Something else I would change is the placement of the laundry tabs. When fastening the diaper onto her, the receiver rubbed up against Ingrid’s hip.
Care: You really do only need to wash this diaper once before using, as recommended by Gerber, even though it does contain cotton and rayon. It took a full cycle to dry after washing with our HE machine.
Here are a couple of pictures to show how the medium fits on 10-month-old Ingrid, who has a short and chubby build:
Here is the large on both Erik and Ingrid. He is a very skinny and short toddler, and the large fits him fine. However, Ingrid can wear it, too, and she’s short for her age as well (which illustrates once again how the diaper runs small). The leg openings of the size larger are looser on her, however.
Quality: Overall, the quality of Gerber’s new AIO is ok, but could be much better. The hook and loop is already starting to weaken and curl back. I’ve also noticed pilling on the “fleecy” side of the insert. There were some loose threads at the back opening, but nothing has come apart. Also, in the photo above you can see the uneven sewing on the wings of the yellow diaper. These are all signs that improvements in quality and consistency are needed. Thankfully, Gerber appears to be listening to customers and taking all comments and feedback into consideration to help improve their AIO.
Final Thoughts: I think it’s great to have an easy-to-use, absorbent and affordable cloth diaper available at mainstream stores like Wal-Mart, Target and BabiesRUs. While I’m a huge supporter of small businesses (and regularly shop online at my favorite boutiques) there is nothing local to me and I know a lot of cloth diapering mothers are in the same boat. It’s nice to be able to actually see and feel the diapers at the store where you shop; offering the Gerber AIO (and other brands) at “big box” stores allows more families to be exposed to cloth diapering. That’s a win-win for everyone, because most mothers don’t limit themselves to just one brand or style.
You can also buy the new Gerber AIO online now on Amazon (aff).
In summary, Gerber has done a fair job with its starter diaper. I am looking forward to more features and improvements, namely:
I’m glad that Gerber has something else besides their prefolds for those interested in cloth diapering. I personally would love to see Gerber release an affordable snapping diaper cover and some cotton, bamboo or hemp flats to replace their cotton/poly prefolds.
Gerber is such a household name that this new diaper will help bring some greatly-needed attention to the money-saving and waste-reducing benefits of cloth diapering. Families who may not be interested in other cloth brands they’ve seen at big box stores may try this AIO simply because Gerber is a name they love and trust.
When the new AIO arrives at your local store is largely up to the store. The Gerber AIO is not available in Canada at this time, but that may change.
What are your impressions of Gerber’s newest cloth diaper? Have you tried this style yet?
If you are interested in some budget-friendly pocket diapers for newborns, today I’m comparing two of Kawaii’s smaller diapers – the Pure & Natural (light blue in the photo) and the Little Green Baby (dark blue in the photo). Both are marketed to fit from birth and are sized a bit smaller than other Kawaii pockets. I found mine at Sweetbottoms Baby (my affiliate), which always has a good selection of Kawaii diapers and covers with FREE shipping as well.
First, the similarities:
And now, the basic differences:
In the photos above, the two diapers are opened up next to their respective inserts. The diapers are on the smallest/newborn setting, to illustrate how the Pure & Natural inserts are longer in length. What this means is, if you are going try the Pure & Natural on a newborn, you will have to fold down the insert in the front or back to fit. This will add bulk, especially if you use both inserts, so I just want to point that out.
Although the inserts on the Pure & Natural diaper are longer, the pocket opening and the crotch area are narrower than the Little Green Baby. My hands are average size and it’s hard for me to stuff the Pure & Natural, and even worse if I’m putting both inserts in there.
The laundry tabs on these two diapers are not exactly the same, but both are square and stay fastened very well in the wash. In fact, it really takes some pulling for me to unfasten the fold-back laundry tabs on the Little Green Baby after the diaper is washed and dried.
Because it’s made of bamboo, the Little Green Baby diaper takes longer to dry than the Pure & Natural, but not as much as other bamboo diapers (fitteds and AIO’s).
When Ingrid was newborn, I was eager to try the Little Green Baby on her. She was pretty average with a 7 pound birth weight and typical skinny newborn legs, and the diaper fit well and was so soft and cute. However, I couldn’t get the leg openings snug enough as you can see from the picture below. After she reached 8 pounds, the legs were snug enough for her to wear the diaper. The Pure & Natural she was able to wear right from birth, perhaps because it is a slightly narrower cut.
Kawaii suggests that you can put the diaper on your newborn and then fold everything down from the waist to try and create a snugger fit around the legs. Their photo below illustrates this concept. I didn’t not attempt this because of the potential for moisture to wick out of the top from the exposed microsuede. If any of you have tried this technique successfully, please let me know in a comment below!
Performance: These are hard-working diapers for a great price. They are soft, cute and fit very well. The inclusion of two inserts gives you some flexibility in regards to absorbency. As for leaks, we haven’t had any, and Ingrid (when less than 3 months old) was able to wear both of these overnight when double-stuffed.
Quality: Both the Pure & Natural and the Little Green Baby look great after regular use and washing over the past couple of months. The hook & loop hasn’t lost any of its sticking power and doesn’t look worn out or dingy. After a while, the bamboo inside the Little Green Baby has lost a little softness, but I’ve found this happens to all bamboo eventually. It starts to feel slightly crunchy. The elastics are just as strong and stretchy as the day we bought them.
Fit: While I almost never buy hook & loop diapers, for these I make an exception. It makes the diaper so quick to get on your baby, and allows you to get a perfect fit at the waist (no getting stuck between sizes with snaps). Quick changes are much appreciated in the early newborn days. The hook & loop is soft and not scratchy like you find on some diapers. Kawaii newborn diapers are trimmer in the crotch compared to their one-size pockets, so this helps get a better fit on smaller babies.
This is a diaper that will likely not last until toddlerhood, unless you have a petite child.
Here is Ingrid at 7 months old. She has one more rise snap to go on both. (Today, as of this post, she is 10 months and 17 pounds and can wear the diapers completely unsnapped).
Pure & Natural:
Little Green Baby:
Where can I buy Kawaii newborn diapers? You can find the Little Green Baby and the Pure & Natural at Sweetbottoms Baby (one of my affiliates) with FREE shipping. That’s where I found mine!
Have you used either of these on your baby? Which are your favorite colors or prints? Tell me in a comment below and enter for your chance to WIN a Kawaii newborn diaper – whichever one you choose! This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents and ends June 10, 2015 at midnight.
There are many different Imagine diapers already in our rotation, including flats and prefolds, AIO diapers and newborn diapers. It’s a brand that consistently performs well and fits within our budget. As a bonus, Imagine brand diaper products ship for FREE when you buy from Nicki’s and Diaper Safari.
I recently bought Erik and Ingrid the Imagine AI2 diaper with some of my affiliate earnings at Nicki’s (every time you shop there using my link I earn a small commission which allows me to keep bringing you these helpful diaper reviews, so thank you!).
Here are the basic features of the Imagine AI2 diaper:
Size one inserts measure 5.5×12 and size two inserts measure 5.5×16. They have pale blue stitching around the edges. Being 5 layers thick, they are very plush and super absorbent. Using snaps on the back side, you can attach them to the diaper cover, or simply tuck them under the flaps without snapping. For a smaller infant, fold the insert under at the front or back.
You might wonder if Best Bottoms inserts are compatible with the Imagine system. The answer is yes. Best Bottoms inserts are slightly trimmer through the crotch since they are contoured, but they were slightly less absorbent in my testing than the larger, plusher Imagine pads. So go with whatever floats your boat; for me, with being so busy with 7 children and 2 of them in cloth, absorbency wins out over a slightly trimmer fit.
If microfiber is not your thing, then rejoice! Because the Best Bottom inserts are compatible with this Imagine AI2 system, you can opt for the hemp/organic cotton inserts instead (also sold at Nicki’s).
I guess that would be one improvement for the Imagine AI2 system – for there to be cotton, bamboo or hemp inserts instead of just the microfiber.
You might have another question in mind. What about Imagine diaper covers? How are they different from this Imagine AI2 cover? The AI2 has a few extra features. To summarize:
Fit: Our Trumpet print AI2 looks so cute on both Ingrid and Erik. Double snaps at the wings are a favorite feature of mine because they keep the fabric from curling back and just look better. There are no hip snaps on this cover, but it doesn’t sag or droop. Two less snaps to fasten is fine by me.
She’s chubby and he’s slim; I can get a good, snug fit on both body types, so bonus points to Imagine for a diaper that is truly adjustable. Imagine one-size covers do tend to run big and might not fit at 8 lbs. (luckily, there is a separate line of Imagine newborn diapers!). The good news is that you can stuff this diaper with pretty much whatever you want. The coordinating microfiber inserts are great, but I’ve used lots of other diapers with our Imagine AI2 cover: toddler-sized flats and prefolds, plush fitteds and extra doublers.
Absorbency: The double layer of PUL on this cover really makes a difference, as do the microfiber inserts, which are more plush and slightly larger than typical synthetic inserts. Nothing seems to get past the two layers of waterproof fabric and the double gussets; in my testing it has been 100% bulletproof, even through the night. Just last week, Erik wore the diaper with 2 of the microfiber pads snapped inside overnight for 12+ hours! This is not one of those diapers that will leak if you don’t change it first thing in the morning.
Nicki’s Diapers has very generously offered to giveaway an Imagine AI2 set to one of my readers! It will include a cover in your choice of color/print/closure (snap or hook and loop) plus a 3-pack of inserts in size one or size two.
And there’s more! For a limited time you can get 5% off your cloth diaper order at Nicki’s with this exclusive coupon code: ZEPHYR
Are you interested in adding an embroidered Little Monsters cloth diaper to your collection? Today’s review covers all the basics and may help you decide if this brand is right for your baby. Several months ago, Little Monsters sent two complimentary diapers for us to try out: Bunny Moon for Ingrid and Robot for Erik. Embroidery is on the back and coordinating colored snaps are on the front:
Basic features include:
Fit and Appearance: I love the fit of this pocket diaper. The square tabs give it a trim and tailored look; the double snaps keep the wings from curling back. Overall, it’s a super trim pocket diaper with a soft, smooth feel. Erik is thrilled with the robot design and wants to wear it constantly. Of the two, Robot is my definite favorite so that means Ingrid is wearing it sometimes, too. Usually I buy colors and prints that call to me; in this case, both mama and baby are having fun with the design. 🙂
The size range is very generous. On the second rise setting it fits 8-month-old Ingrid and the largest setting (completely open) is perfect for 2-year-old Erik.
Performance: The 3 layer microfiber insert which came with the diaper is slightly thinner than other microfiber inserts in my collection. As is, this pocket diaper is not very absorbent. It will hold both Erik and Ingrid for about an hour. So we can’t use it as a nap diaper or overnight because it has to be changed so frequently. If you love the look of these bright and colorful embroidered pocket diapers and want one for your child, just be aware that you’ll probably want to add a booster at some point.
Luckily, it’s easy to stuff. Inserts go in and out of the pocket easily. There is plenty of room for my hands, and more than enough room for 2 inserts at once or even bulkier things like prefolds. The waterproof PUL fabric is very sturdy and we haven’t had any leaks.
Although it wasn’t very absorbent as sold, I’ve adapted the diaper and have used it a lot for Erik. Stuffed with microfiber and hemp (or microfiber and bamboo) it’s a perfect overnight diaper.
If the price wasn’t on the higher end of the spectrum ($22.99 each) I would certainly grab a couple more of these fun diapers! Little Monsters does have a rewards program that allows you to earn points towards free diapers.
Quality – Both diapers are very well made. I found one tiny little flaw on the pink embroidery, but it was hardly noticeable. On both, the embroidery is clear and bright and the waterproof outer shell with contrasting colored snaps is very eye-catching. I like that they are cute on the back and on the front.
Have you tried Little Monsters diapers? If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments!
