Something ELSE is new at Diaper Safari! Not only have the one-size pocket diapers been redesigned, but their line of one-size waterproof covers has also been improved. Check out my previous review of the old style, and then continue on below for full details (and a giveaway) about the new design!

As a long-time fan of this budget-friendly brand, I was more than happy to review the new covers and share some pictures and feedback with you. Diaper Safari sent me three complimentary covers to test on 3-month-old Ingrid and 22-month-old Erik: aqua lions with hook & loop closure, red lions with snaps and blue hippos with snaps.

Features include:

• One size design which fits from 10 pounds to 35 pounds (3 rows of snaps on the rise)
• Crossover snaps on the waistband for small/slim babies
• Waterproof, wipeable PUL construction
• Front and back flaps to keep diapers and inserts in place
• Choice of snaps or hook & loop closure
• Retail price of $9.95

If you opt for hook & loop closure, there are laundry tabs inside the cover; you fold the wing back on itself to secure so nothing gets snagged in the washer or dryer. In my testing, the tabs stayed securely in place during the entire laundry cycle.

What are the new changes? The overall style and snap placement looks about the same. Here’s what has changed:

• The new covers are slightly wider in the crotch.
• The new wings are narrower and stretchier.
• There’s a new hook & loop closure option.
• Choose from various prints, rather than solid colors.
• Leg gussets are trimmed in white.

The Diaper Safari one-size cover runs large in the waist and the rear. At 3 months old, Ingrid needs the crossover snaps at the waist. Diaper Safari estimates the size range to be 10 pounds and up, and I think that’s spot on. The rise (front) of the diaper runs very true to size.

The hook and loop cover is more generously sized at the waist compared to the snap cover. Ingrid can’t wear the hook and loop yet because I can’t get a eight enough fit around her belly. She’s about 13 pounds now. Just something you might want to keep in mind if you’re on the fence about closure options; if using for a small baby, the snap version will likely give you a better fit.

As mentioned before, these are roomy covers, especially at the back. So you may see some extra fabric/sagging with a trim insert inside. The cover really shines when used with prefolds, flats and fitteds; it easily accommodates doublers and extra inserts.

I have used it overnight with both my baby and my toddler and everything stays in the cover. It does not have double gussets, but that hasn’t stopped this cover from performing well.

As with the old style of covers, I like the elasticized flap in the back, which helps to keep inserts securely in place. And while I’m definitely going to miss the old assortment of solid colors, the new safari prints are adorable. I love the hippos and lions, and I love the bright color choices!

The PUL on this cover is very lightweight, and not stiff at all, which I also like a lot. Inside it feels nice and smooth, not sticky, which I like since part of it will touch your child’s skin.

You can buy the new Diaper Safari covers for the everyday low price of $9.95 with FREE shipping. Right now there is a promotional offer to buy 3 and get 1 free!

My friends at Diaper Safari have offered to give one lucky reader TWO covers! Open to US and Canada. Enter the giveaway below, and good luck!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Diaper Safari recently launched a newly redesigned pocket diaper. I’ll help navigate you through the changes and updates, and also share an opportunity for you to win one! If you like, check out my review of the previous style from 2 years ago.

Diaper Safari sent me two complimentary pocket diapers to test on 3-month-old Ingrid and 22-month-old Erik. One is the green lion print and the other is a black hippo print. Also included were two inserts, one microfiber and one hemp. Additionally, an old style pocket shell was included in the package for comparison purposes.

Features include:

• One size design which fits from 10 pounds to 35 pounds
• Crossover snaps on the waistband for small/slim babies
• Waterproof PUL outer and a microsuede inner lining/pocket
• Front and back pocket opening
• Retail price of $9.95 includes the pocket shell only

In the photo below, the hemp insert is on the left and the microfiber on the right. They are similar in size, with the hemp just being slightly wider and shorter. It measures 5.5″x 13″ after prepping, and the microfiber insert is about 5″x13.5″. Both are very easy to stuff into the diaper, individually or both together.

For a small baby, you can fold the insert down in the front (boy) or back (girl) before stuffing.

Here you can see the diaper opened up to its largest setting (top) and smallest setting using the crossover snaps on the waist (bottom).

Here’s the cover opened up (at left). On the right, the diaper is opened to its largest setting, which roughly corresponds to the length of the insert.

By comparing an old style Diaper Safari pocket with the new, here are the main changes I noticed:

• New design includes prints (lions or hippos) instead of solid colors
• New design includes a snap or aplix (hook & loop) closure option
• Every day low price of $9.95 includes the shell only. Purchasing a microfiber ($2), hemp ($4) or bamboo trifold ($5) insert is optional.
• Back and leg elastics are more snug
• Brand tag has moved to the opposite wing
• Wings are narrower, so this makes the leg openings slightly larger (however, the new leg elastics are more snug as mentioned above)
• Microsuede lining is slightly less soft than that in the previous version
• PUL “tummy panel” across the inside front is slightly larger

I would say that Diaper Safari’s size estimations are right on the money. Ingrid is about 12 pounds now and the diaper fits her perfectly at the smallest setting (on the rise and with the crossover snaps on the waist), so 1o pounds and up seems very accurate. Unless you have a large or chunky newborn, this one-size diaper would likely not fit snugly enough.

Absorbency with one microfiber insert inside is standard for a pocket diaper. With just the hemp insert, it’s much thirstier. Ingrid can sleep 3+ hours in it. With BOTH inserts inside (microfiber on top and hemp on bottom) it makes a fantastic night time diaper for my toddler, Erik, which I’m really thrilled about because the cost comes out to just $15.95 (that’s $9.95 for the shell, $2 for the microfiber insert and $4 for the hemp).

Since Ingrid is a smaller baby, I don’t ever double up the inserts with this diaper or it gets too bulky for her.

The fit is great, just like all previous Diaper Safari diapers we’ve tried. These pockets are snug, soft and very cute. Wings are trim and stretchy and while the new elastics are tighter, they don’t dig into the skin. I really like the safari-inspired animal prints that tie in with the company’s branding.

Oh, and the inserts do agitate out of the pocket openings on their own in my HE washing machine. There’s no need for me to reach inside and pull them out.

As far as the redesign goes, I’m happy with the changes. A wider PUL panel inside is great for my tummy sleepers. Trimmer wings have improved the fit. Paying only for the shell (which is less than $10) and getting to choose your insert fabric (or no insert at all if you already have plenty in your stash) is a smart and economical idea. Plus, if you opt for hemp inserts, technically they don’t even have to be stuffed and can simply be laid right up against your baby.

The overall quality looks good, with snap placement and stitching both very even and no loose threads or seams.

Offering hook & loop (aplix) closure will appeal to a wider audience. For a more detailed look at my experienced with Diaper Safari’s hook and loop closure, check out my 2016 review.

The only drawbacks I have observed in testing? As mentioned before, the inner microsuede liner doesn’t feel quite as soft and smooth as the previous version. Another drawback is that if you like both prints and solid colors, then you might feel limited by the new options.

Speaking of options……look at what you get to pick from now. Nine bright colors and two animal motifs! I’d love to hear YOUR two favorites in a comment below.

You can shop for the new pocket diapers at Diaper Safari (aff) with FREE shipping every day! Enter to win a pocket diaper in your choice of print/color below.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

After 5 years of “making do” with dunking, swishing, scraping and diaper liners, I’ve been given the chance to use a diaper sprayer, and this one is not JUST for diapers (more on that later). Melissa at qdSpray invited me to give her sink-mounted sprayer a test drive this fall. She was extremely helpful through the whole process since I was a complete amateur in the diapering spraying department.

After measuring the distance from my sink to the toilet, I received the qdSpray with an 8-foot hose. Melissa also included some handy extras: a small aerator wrench to make installation easier, and an extra adapter so I could use the sprayer with other types of sinks.

Basic features of the qdSpray:

• Product bundle includes the spray head and hose, faucet adapter, rubber washers and a mesh carry bag
• Available in three lengths: 4 feet ($39.99), 8 feet ($44.99) and 12 feet ($49.99)
• Hose and fittings are food grade and conform to potable water standards
• Backed by a 1 year limited warranty which protects against material defects and workmanship. The sprayer, or defective parts, will be repaired or replaced at no cost to the customer.

There are a few styles of sinks that aren’t compatible with the qdSpray; one is the “fountain” style and that happened to be what we had in our master bath. So I chose to install the qdSpray in our main bathroom. Installation was very straightforward and simple. It took me about 5 minutes using the easy-to-follow instruction manual.

• First, I removed the aerator and old washer from the sink head.
• Second, I popped the faucet adapter out of the sprayer connector.
• Third, I screwed said faucet adapter onto the sink head.
• Fourth, I pulled back the green slip collar to connect the spray hose to the sink head.

I was in business!

With steps 1-3 under my belt, I only have to complete step 4 when it’s time to spray a dirty diaper. The adapter is already in place on the faucet head. I pop the hose on and the qdSpray is ready to roll.

With the aerator taken out and the qdSpray adapter permanently in place, this is what the water flow looks like (below) when our children use the sink for daily activities like hand washing, tooth brushing, etc. You don’t have to leave the adapter on all the time; I chose to because it makes using the sprayer faster and easier.

With the spray hose in place, I can adjust the water pressure and temperature using the taps. When I’m done spraying the diaper, I turn off the water and then press the trigger to release pressure. Pressing down the green spray collar releases the sprayer from the sink head. At this point, it’s a good idea to hold the spray head up in the air while letting water drain from the tube down into the sink. Then it’s time to put the sprayer away until another dirty diaper arrives on the scene.

Here are the advantages you get with a qdSpray, as opposed to the typical toilet-mounted sprayer:

• You can choose from 3 different hose lengths.
• Because you detach it after use and put it away, there are no worries about other children fooling with the sprayer when you’re not looking!
• Because it’s sink-mounted, you can adjust water pressure and temperature.
• For about $40 you are getting more than just a diaper sprayer.  You can wash your children’s hair in the tub, wash your hair in the sink, give your pets a bath, spray out the tub and sink after cleaning, hose down muddy boots and dirty yard toys, etc. You can probably think of even more uses! To make a sink-mounted sprayer comparable to this, you’d spend $20 to $30 on materials; with a range of $39 to $49 and a free carry bag and 1-year-warranty tacked on, I would say the qdSpray is very moderately priced.
• It is lightweight and portable. The qdSpray can be easily taken on a camping trip or to Grandma’s house. The mesh bag is handy for carrying. If you plan to travel with the qdSpray, I would suggest getting the 2 adapters they sell, just in case the taps are different somewhere else.
• It might work where other sprayers don’t; some apartments do not allow you to install toilet-mounted sprayers. Additionally some toilets do not have a flexible supply line or other components necessary to hook up a traditional sprayer.

And since no product is right for every situation, here are some of the drawbacks to the qdSpray:

• Although popping the qdSpray onto the faucet is easy and fast, it’s another thing to do. A traditional sprayer is immediately ready to go.
• If you want the aerator to stay on your faucet head, then you’ll need to detach it and the washers and gaskets each time you want to attach the qdSpray.
• A few styles of sinks do not work with the qdSpray

Since I had some questions when first starting out with the qdSpray, I thought you might as well. So I’ve included a few of them here with my answers.

Do you need a lot of plumbing knowledge to set it up? Not at all. I know very little about plumbing and managed just fine with the owners manual, which is a very small booklet – brief and to the point. There are photos and diagrams just in case you need visual reassurance. There are also videos on the website. Setting the whole thing up took 5 minutes. Now that the adapter is in place, it takes about 10 seconds.

Where do you store the sprayer? I coil it up, drop it in the mesh bag and hang on a hook in the bathroom. You can hang it anywhere you want, or store in a vanity drawer or closet.

Do you spray diapers in the sink? I guess you can if you want (toilet water and sink water all drain to the same place), but ideally diapers should be sprayed into the toilet. That’s why the qdSpray is offered in different lengths – so it can easily stretch to reach the potty. If you do want to spray diapers in the sink, a deep laundry sink would be the best way to go, and you’d want to clean it well after the job is done.

Do you or the toilet seat get wet? As long as I’m careful about diaper placement and water pressure, there’s rarely any “sprayback.”

What do you do with the dirty diaper while hooking up the sprayer? This isn’t really an issue since the qdSpray hooks up in about 10 seconds. I roll up the dirty diaper on the toilet seat for that brief time period. If you’re worried about a smooth operator (think: curious toddler) getting into the diaper while your back is turned for 10 seconds, I would suggest hooking up the sprayer first and then bringing the dirty diaper into the bathroom.

Does the hose stay coiled up? Right out of the box, a new qdSpray hose is kind of stiff. It doesn’t affect function, but I did ask Melissa if there was a way to “soften” it up and make it more pliable. She suggested stretching it out as straight as I could while letting hot water run through for a minute or so. This worked very well.

Do I really need a diaper sprayer? That’s a question only you can answer. I got by without one for years, and for several reasons. I didn’t want something permanently hooked to my toilet. I didn’t want to shell out $40 or more for what was just “a cloth diaper accessory.” I also assumed it would be tricky to install. The qdSpray has shot all 3 of my reasons out of the water. While I could still get along ok without it, I love not experiencing DIAPER DREAD anymore. That’s when you’re faced with a mess so bad that, despite your love for your progeny, the thought of scraping, dunking and swishing their diapers is utterly repugnant. I’m talking about #2 diapers that even a liner can’t begin to contain or minimize. As fate would have it, throughout the qdSpray testing phase, Erik was dealing alternately with a really bad cold AND a food sensitivity, both of which produced some of the most abominable toddler output you could imagine. I wasn’t just spraying diapers; I was spraying clothes and sheets multiple times a day. The qdSpray is worth every penny of that $45. Over the years, I’ve easily spent $100 on flushable liners and disposable diapers as a means of minimizing the “ick factor” when dealing with messier-than-usual cloth diapers.

You can purchase a qdSpray directly from their website, or from these retailers:

• Find the qdSpray at Kelly’s Closet with free shipping!
• Find the qdSpray at Amazon with free Prime shipping!

If you have questions or comments, please leave them below! I’ll be glad to help as best I can. You can also enter to a win a qdSpray of your own! The giveaway is limited to US residents only.

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