Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Stashify Bamboo Flat Diapers Review and Giveaway

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When Kristen at Stashify told me about a unique cloth diapering fabric she’d been testing out for a couple of months, I was intrigued! She sent an Extra Stretchy Bamboo Flat Diaper, plus a wipe, in exchange for a  review. Customers can choose the thread colors they’d like for the edging; I really love our dark blue and teal.

Stashify bamboo flats come in four different sizes and wipes are approximately 8.5 inches square:

Newborn – 16″x 16″ – fits from birth until 15+ pounds (retail $9)
Infant – 24″x 24″ – fits from birth until 25+ pounds (retail $11)
Toddler – 28″x 28″ – fits 20 – 40+ pounds (retail $12)
Padfold – 14″x 27″ (retail $9.75)

I received the infant size flat for 15-month-old Erik, plus a sample wipe in the same fabric:

This super stretchy fabric is composed of 70% bamboo, 25% organic cotton and 5% spandex. It has stayed incredibly soft, wash after wash, and barely shrank at all during the prepping process. Even better, unlike regular cotton or bamboo birdseye flats, my Stashify flat has held its shape beautifully and is nearly a perfect square.

Being a “flat,” this diaper is just one layer of fabric; one side is smooth and the other is like a very soft terry. It is a thin fabric and not bulky at all. Here’s a comparison photo with a standard (small) bamboo flat diaper on the left and then Kristen’s extra stretchy flat on the right. Both are padfolded:

 

Although comparable to a regular flat diaper when padfolded, the Stashify diaper is far superior in absorbency, yet it’s still just one layer so just as easy to wash and dry as other flats. Erik has worn the Stashify flat overnight several times without a doubler; it holds as long as I change him first thing and he hasn’t drunk a lot of water the night before. The one time it was over-saturated and leaked he had slept 12+ hours.

The cloth wipe I reviewed is now one of my favorites. Because it’s just one layer, it works great for getting in tight places during diaper changes. Like the diaper, it has stayed nice and soft and stretchy with lots of washing and drying. I am very seriously considering buying a whole package of these, and the price is great – just $10.50 right now for a set of 12! You can choose your thread color, just like with the diapers.

I’ve discovered that the Stashify flat diaper works equally well folded up and laid in a cover, or folded and secured with a Boingo fastener. Since the Boingo (like a Snappi) has little gripper teeth on it, you have to be careful and use a gentle hand so you don’t pull or snag the bamboo fabric (with regular cotton flats and prefolds you don’t have to worry so much about snags). Once fastened, this diaper stays securely in place. In fact, the tiny bit of spandex that’s been added to the fabric not only gives it amazing stretch, but also the ability to gently hug your baby’s body – even as they are crawling, walking and jumping all over the place! So it’s not just more trim than a cotton prefold; in my opinion, the fit is far superior.

If there is a disadvantage to Stashify flats, then it would be the price of $9 and up, which means you couldn’t build a budget stash completely out of these. However, if you want to purchase just one or two for naps or nighttime, that might be an option – and it will cost less than a high quality fitted (usually $15 to $25 each). If the thought of this silky, stretchy bamboo fabric really appeals to you and you’d like to “get your feet wet,” I urge you to try the wipes I mentioned above; they are $10.50 for a dozen right now.

SALE ON BAMBOO FLATS!! In anticipation of the handwashing diaper challenge, Kristen is offering 15% off
her bamboo flats with code HANDWASH 

Kristen has very sweetly offered to give one of my readers TWO of her beautifully stretchy bamboo flat diapers, in choice of size! Open to US and Canada. Good luck!

 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

PatsycakeBaby Fitted Diaper and Wool Soaker, plus a Giveaway!

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You all probably know by now that I love fitteds. And I love wool! Kim Castillo at PatsycakeBaby gave us the chance to try BOTH by sending her very popular organic cotton sherpa fitted and a custom wool soaker. She uses these same diapers for her own children and has made many for both customers and friends.

NEW TO WOOL? Have questions? Click here for my Wool 101 post!

The sherpa fitted packs in a lot of nice features for just $14.95. It’s made of two layers of GOTS certified organic (unbleached) cotton sherpa with a French terry soaker sewn into the wet zone. Kim also included a matching insert for added absorbency. Comfortably encased waist and leg elastics ensure a nice, snug fit. There are two snaps on the wings and eight across the front of the diaper. The size medium that we received fits from 15 to 23 pounds, so 1 year old Erik was my main tester. However, I did get try it on Susanna (two years) as well. Kim’s sherpa fitteds are available from size newborn to large, and beyond. She can also fulfill custom requests like choosing different snap colors.

Our wool soaker is also a medium to compliment the fitted. And look what’s on the back – a sheep applique! It arrived already lanolized as a special favor so there was no prep work at all. As with her fitteds, Kim enjoys doing custom wool orders.

As far as performance goes, I’ve been completely happy with the sherpa fitted. The fabric is natural, beautiful, soft and cozy. With the doubler added, it’s a very thirsty nap time diaper.  The cotton sherpa still feels great after many washings; it has only very slightly lost some of its initial softness. The waistband and leg gussets are very gentle yet effective at holding stuff in. The wings stretch nicely across the waistband and haven’t curled back or lost their shape at all. Cotton sherpa (being the snuggly fabric that it is) will be a bit thicker compared to fabrics like regular cotton, bamboo or microfiber, but it does has the advantage of being plush, organic and free of dyes.

Speaking of soft, natural fabrics, I’ve been really pleased with the wool soaker as well! I like the pull-on style for both my toddlers since they are standing and walking. Like the fitted diaper, our PatsycakeBaby soaker is soft and of superb quality. The crochet work is unique and classic in style. Like the other wool in my stash, the soaker can actually get a little damp and still be usable for a while because the natural fiber does not hold onto odors. I also found that the characteristic stretchiness of wool means that two-year-old Susanna can actually wear this soaker, too, if she has a trim diaper on underneath. We haven’t had any leaks with the fitted/soaker combo on either toddler. I care for the cover using my trusty CJ’s Wool Wash and freshen it up every once in a while with CJ’s Wool Revitalizer.

Now here are some photos of the diaper and soaker on both Erik and Susanna!

 

One lucky person is going to win a sherpa fitted diaper and custom wool soaker, just like I reviewed! Winner chooses size. Giveaway is open to both US and Canada and ends on March 5th. Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

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TushMate System: the Diaper You Can Use 5 Ways

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The TushMate diapering system is relatively new in the world of cloth, and our family was given a complimentary set to review.

TushMate kindly sent one blue waterproof, one-size Universal shell with snap closure, a pair of 55% hemp/45% organic cotton inserts (retail $9.78), one long organic cotton insert (retail $8.58) and a snap-in, stay-dry fleece liner (retail $5.88 for a 3-pack). TushMate cloth diapers were designed by a Canadian and are ethically produced in China.

The most versatile part of this system, and the star of the show, is the one-size shell made of 100% waterproof PUL. You can choose snaps or hook & loop closure and the wings have a double row of snaps. There are three rows of adjustable snaps on the rise, which equates to four different size settings (the largest being nothing snapped up at all). Inside, there are waterproof flaps on the inside front and back as well as 8 snap holes which receive the inserts and liners. This design will be somewhat familiar to you if you’ve ever used a hybrid before.

The cover runs on the bigger side because Susanna (my 2-year-old toddler) can wear it without all the snaps open, whereas most “one size” covers fit her completely unsnapped. Snapped to its very smallest setting, the TushMate cover is still noticeably larger than a typical newborn cover (red in the photo above). So like most one-size diapers, TushMate would probably start fitting best at 10 to 12 pounds, or maybe more. Erik was on the small side and started one-size diapers at 15  pounds.

Inserts and liners snap into the shell either in the front or the back. The unique insert snaps and flat holes inside the shell are very low-profile in the sense that when they are snapped together, there’s nothing on the other side to touch the skin like you find with standard snaps. I especially like this feature when using my TushMate shell with other things in my stash (i.e. prefolds or flats) that you don’t snap in.

You can use the inserts alone, or with the white stay-dry fleece liner on top. The long insert, pictured in the middle, is kind of like two inserts that are sewn together at one end, and then it folds over onto itself. It’s slightly longer than the regular hemp/cotton:

This infographic from the TushMate site shows how you can use the system in 5 different ways.

I haven’t used the inner front flap to hold inserts or things like prefolds or flats in place because the flaps are actually quite big and so I’m worried Erik will just wet right up against the PUL flap and not into the fabric. And while it’s normally not important to me to have a “stay dry” layer up against my babies’ skin, I’ve actually used the TushMate liner quite a bit, but for a different reason. As you can see from the photos above, the inserts are quite slim through the crotch; the lining is wider and provides more coverage/protection.

After washing, the inserts shrank as one would expect since they are natural fibers. However, I wish they were longer. The directions indicate you can use 1 or 2 inserts, but when 1 is used alone, it leaves a lot of “blank space” up front with no absorbency. If you use both inserts together, like the suggested AI2 and AI3 configs above, you can snap one at the front and one at the back. However, even the Long insert (which is a pair of inserts sewn together at one end) on its own is not quite long enough. 

My suggestions? If you want to use just 1 regular insert for a very trim fit, pair it with the liner on top (pocket style) for broader coverage. If you want to try it overnight, snap the Long insert to the back and 1 or 2 of the regular inserts up front.

If you have a much younger/smaller baby and the cover is snapped up shorter, then using 1 insert is probably going to be just right length-wise. (I’m curious to see how it will work on my next baby….due in July!)

Because of the shorter inserts, we have to double up, one in front and one in back, for night time or naps. For regular daytime use, the TushMate system with just one insert is super trim and absorbent; I love the regular hemp/cotton inserts best. And the shell is very versatile because it can be used with ANY diaper, insert or doubler in my stash. The generous sizing means it fits easily over big fitteds.

Let’s see some photos of how the TushMate system fits!

 

In summary, here are my thoughts on TushMate:

Features I Like:

  • The shell can be wiped clean and re-used
  • Trim fit
  • Inserts are super thirsty yet trim, and made of natural fibers
  • TushMate offers lots of options in one system, and the covers alone can be used with other things in your stash (prefolds, flats, fitteds, microfiber inserts, etc.)
  • If you are using the TushMate system as a pocket diaper, the liner will stay snapped in place in the wash (it connects at all 4 corners)
  • Runs big so it fits toddlers well and covers bulky diapers with no problem
  • TushMate offers a 1-year warranty on the snaps and sewing, plus 3 months on the elastics.

Suggested Improvements:

  • More colors?
  • Shorter inside flaps
  • A longer “Long” insert
  • Wider inserts for better coverage in the crotch
  • Stretchier/longer wing tabs would be helpful for bigger/chubbier babies

If you are curious about trying the TushMate system, the Starter Kit is $25.78 with free shipping and it includes 1 shell, 1 liner and 2 of the standard cotton/hemp inserts.

Have you tried the TushMate system yet, or has it gotten you curious? Do you like a versatile cloth diapering system that can be changed up to fit your needs?

Buttons Diapers Wet Bag Review & Giveaway

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Buttons Diapers has recently added wet bags in three different sizes to their online store. Smalls are $7.00, mediums are $10.50 and larges are $17.00.

I received a large wet bag in the pebble (gray) polka dot print to review. It’s made to hold about 6 diapers at a time, which I found to be a very good estimate. Buttons wet bags are designed in the USA and made in China:

Before washing, the large bag measured approximately 14×14. After laundering and drying it shrunk to about 13×13.  Because the outside layer is cotton, the bag doesn’t hold its shape as perfectly as a 100% PUL bag will.

Buttons wet bags include a couple of nice features:

  • A fabric hanging loop that snaps open and closed
  • Two layers of fabric for extra durability
  • Two pockets: one waterproof and one non-waterproof
I like using the non-waterproof second compartment for holding 1 or 2 clean diapers, or maybe even some wipes, a change of baby clothes or even mama cloth. I also like how smooth and easy the zippers are to operate; we’ve owned wet bags in the past that either have tiny little zippers that are hard to grab, or zippers that don’t run smoothly. The Buttons zipper has a nice little fabric tag to grab onto.
The larger main compartment is lined with white PUL. The smaller second compartment is lined with the polka dot cotton fabric:
There are only two colors available right now – pebble or apple – but as with the covers, I’m sure Buttons will be adding more in the future. I’m happy with the gray polka dot print and think it’s extremely cute and chic.If you haven’t discovered Buttons yet, I encourage you to check out this brand. I’ve bought two more of their wonderful covers (you can read the full review here) and love how soft and durable the PUL is. They are my go-to nighttime cover. At just $11, they are extremely affordable, and with lots of new colors added to the catalog, it’s now even more fun to shop there! And the family behind Buttons is one of the nicest you’ll ever meet; their service is always prompt, personal and helpful.One reader will receive a large wet bag, just like I reviewed, in the color of her choice. This giveaway is open to both U.S. and Canadian readers. Thank you so much, Buttons Diapers!!

 

 

 

 

 

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Ella Bella Bum Pocket Diaper Review and Giveaway

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Ella Bella Bum is a Canadian brand of cloth diapers which is well-known for embellished pockets featuring designer wrap-around prints and embroidery, trendy designs and bold coordinating colors.  A “work at home mom” enterprise created by the artistic and very talented Sam Campbell, Ella Bella Bum has expanded greatly over the years but still holds true to its small business roots by relying on a dedicated little team of diaper makers and assistants.

The complimentary creation that Sam sent me features an alien print on the wings and a yellow body.

Inside, the lining is a vivid orange athletic jersey fabric. I discovered this fabric doesn’t hold on to stains, is easy to rinse #2 messes off of and has a wicking effect -which means wetness is carried quickly away from your baby’s skin and down into the inserts.

Ella Bella Bum pockets are designed to fit from approximately 15 to 35 pounds and retail for $21 to $35 each, depending on the embellishments. With our diaper, Sam included an adjustable insert and extra booster. Using snaps, the insert can be shortened or lengthened before you stuff it inside the pocket.

Inserts are constructed with a top layer of soft bamboo and Zorb (a modern and highly absorbent synthetic diapering fabric) underneath. When the adjustable insert is folded over you get six total layers of bamboo fleece. The extra booster features stitching around the edges and middle to help channel wetness; you can stuff it into the pocket along with the other, or just lay it right against your baby.

Now, the first time I stuffed the insert into the pocket, I was surprised to feel something soft inside. After turning the diaper inside out, I realized that there’s a little fleece buffer between each snap and the outer shell for some extra leakage protection. These photos also show how the cut of the diaper tapers just a bit up front, which gives it that signature Ella Bella Bum super trim fit:

In my weeks of testing, I haven’t found one flaw in this diaper. Admittedly, the bamboo fabric does take time to reach peak absorbency. After five pre-washes, I wasn’t able to use it for Susanna’s nap time. Sam recommends at least ten washes, and this week we finally hit the mark! Two-year-old Susanna can now wear it for many hours and it’s become one of the most absorbent diapers in my stash.

And here’s how it fits:

 

And now…..the giveaway! Sam is going to send one lucky Zephyr Hill reader this amazing Sneaky Raccoons embellished pocket diaper (value $28) PLUS an insert/booster combo pack (value $12.75)! Enter to win below.

 

Entry form:
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