Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Bumkins AIO Diaper Review & Giveaway

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It’s not often I get to try an AIO (All-in-One) diaper, but they truly are one of the most convenient styles you can use. Why? The AIO diaper is designed to be as close to a disposable as possible – in terms of convenience. It’s the kind of cloth diaper you simply put on and go. There’s nothing to fold or pin. Inserts are already attached to the diaper for you.

Thanks Mama was kind enough to send me the Bumkins All-In-One diaper. It’s a newer design which features snap closure; previously there was a hook & loop option as well. Moderately priced at $16.95, the Bumkins AIO comes in lots of fun colors and prints – the most notable being the zany Dr. Seuss-inspired fabrics!

I picked out the Turtle print because it’s very cute and gender-neutral:

True to the philosophy behind All-in-One’s, our Bumkins diaper is super easy to use. Half of the bamboo/cotton soaker is sewn into the middle of diaper; the other half can be folded down once to lay on top, or stuffed into the (optional) pocket. There are also two snaps on the soaker which allow you to snap it to the shell after it’s stuffed.

Around the edges of the sewn-in soaker, the lining is white stay-dry microfleece and the outer is waterproof TPU, which I find is a bit softer and smoother than PUL. There are two rows of snaps for fastening at the rise which translate to three size settings (small, medium and large).

Here’s what I really like about this AIO. The sewn-in soaker is made of natural fibers, so that’s right against my baby’s skin. Also, because only half of the soaker is attached, the drying time is a little quicker than a typical All-in-One. Plus, with the insert completely attached to the diaper I never have to hunt for or match up inserts on laundry day. I also like the trim fit, square tabs and hip snaps on the waist band.

The first time Erik wore the Bumkins AIO I stuffed the soaker into the pocket. He completely saturated the diaper and because the pocket opening is at the front of the diaper where all the wetness was I wondered “Am I going to have to reach my hand in there to pull out the drenched soaker?” It wasn’t a pleasant thought, so I left it in there….and washed all my diapers. Fortunately, the soaker agitated out of the pocket opening on its own.

If I could change just one thing, it would be to boost the absorbency of this diaper a bit. At best, Erik can go 2 hours in it. Susanna, my toddler, is really pushing it at 2 hours. Admittedly, the fit is super trim, but this isn’t a diaper I would use for naps or any other time they will wear it more than a couple of hours.

Still, it gets HUGE points for cuteness and a super trim fit!

And now….here’s how it fits! Erik is on the medium setting, at 17 pounds and 11 months old:

 

Susanna is 2 and wearing it at the largest setting. As you can see, at this age/weight, you might get a low-rise kind of fit. My 3 year old (Samuel) is over 30 pounds and it’s too small for him. My children are small to average, so I would estimate the weight range for the Bumkins AIO of newborn to 25 or 30 pounds. So the range doesn’t appear to be quite as generous as other “one size” diapers which accommodate 35 pounds or more.

And now, let me share with you a little about today’s diaper review sponsor!

If you haven’t shopped at Thanks Mama yet, they are a family-owned and operated natural baby and cloth diapering store. Their extensive selection includes diapers, trainers, natural baby care products, baby carriers, bibs and toys, nursery furniture and bedding, strollers and lots more! Thanks Mama is always looking for the latest and greatest products that are beneficial for babies and the Earth. And they know that many families are on a budget so you won’t have to look far to find great sales, discounts and free shipping (over $60).

One of the neatest things I’ve found at Thanks Mama is their package deals; many diaper brands are sold in bundles with excellent bulk discounts built in. Some of these packages even include freebies like extra inserts or cloth diapering accessories! 

At Thanks Mama you also get easy 90-day returns and their Buy Safe and Price Guarantees. Thanks Mama ships worldwide!

You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, their blog, Pinterest or Google +. There are weekly giveaways, occasional Twitter parties and lots of natural parenting and green living resources.

And now…the great folks at Thanks Mama are giving one of my readers a Bumkins AIO in choice of color or print! This giveaway is open to both US and Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Kawaii GoodNight Heavy Wetter Review

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It might look like just another Kawaii one-size diaper, but there are a few differences that make it a great option for families who want to use pockets even at night. The Kawaii Goodnight Heavy Wetter is made with three layers of heavy-duty PUL. It’s triple-coated, so it gives you extra protection against nighttime leakage. The pocket opening is roomier than other diapers so that it can easily accommodate the two large super-absorbent microfiber inserts which are included with your purchase. There’s a strip of PUL, called a tummy panel, on the inside front flap which helps if your baby or toddler is a tummy sleeper. The fleece lining is soft and thick, with a nice stay-dry effect, and there are hip snaps which keep the diaper from sagging. 003 The manufacturer indicates you can use it from 8 pounds onward, but I would say it doesn’t start fitting well until 12 or even 15 pounds (it leaked on 11 pound Erik because I couldn’t get a snug enough fit around his little legs). But for my toddlers it has been stellar. Twelve dollars for an overnight diapers? YES PLEASE! You all know how much I like flats and fitteds under Flips, Sweet Peas and wool, but we do have 5 of these Kawaii Heavy Wetters in our stash for convenience sake. Once stuffed they are so quick to get on (bedtime is a very busy time around here since we have six children). I have no problem stuffing just a few pockets when they perform SO well and save me hassle at bedtime. Susanna (2) and Samuel (3 and now potty trained!!) have consistently gone 10-12 hours in the Kawaii Heavy Wetters with no leaks, so I enthusiastically recommend this diaper to any mama who loves pockets but hasn’t found a night time solution.   The Kawaii Goodnight diaper comes in several different cute animal prints, as well as the new “Aloha” designs, and you can find them for around $12 each at retailers like Diaper Junction, Kelly’s Closet and Sweet Bottoms Baby (aff). 001 002 THE AUCTION (*CLOSED*) From now until December 11, 2013 we’re all going to have some fun while helping to raise money for one of the worthiest causes I know of – helping a family to welcome a child through adoption! The Ohm family has suffered many heartbreaking losses, and has now prayerfully decided to proceed with domestic adoption, which is being chronicled on their blog. My friend Kate (from  The Joyful Giraffe cloth diaper store) told me their story and invited me to join her in raising funds for this wonderful family. How are we going to raise money? With a BIG cloth diaper auction! The auction is HERE. It begins at 10 am CST on Monday, Dec. 9th and will close at 10 pm CST on Wednesday, Dec. 11th. There are three easy things YOU can do to help out: 1. Enter my giveaway below – the prize is a Kawaii Goodnight Heavy Wetter pocket diaper in the Blue Dotty print, plus a tube of CJ’s Butter in the Blueberry Crumble scent. There is only one required entry – to give me your email address so I can remind you the day the auction starts! And don’t forget to join our Ohm Family Auction Facebook group (where the auction will take place). 2. Can you donate a diaper? Know someone who could? We would love to add even more things for everyone to bid on – that means more funds raised for the family! The more the merrier!!100% of auction proceeds will be given to the Ohm’s. 3. Join us for the auction which will run from December 9 to December 11 through the Facebook group. Yes, it’s open to US and CANADIAN bidders! I can almost guarantee there’s going to be something there you will want to bid on (prefolds, covers, pockets, baby carrier, natural skin care, teething jewelry and more). Plus, the most active bidder (i.e. most bids placed) will receive a $10 gift card from The Joyful Giraffe cloth diaper store as a special thank you! Thank you for joining the Facebook group and for sharing with your friends! This is going to be a really exciting auction, and what better time to celebrate the amazing gift of a child than during the Christmas season?

The NEW Bummis Simply Lite Cover (and a Giveaway)!

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The first cloth diaper covers I ever used were sized. Bummis was tops on my list because of all the high reviews. When Erik was born, I found the newborn Bummis covers to be some of my favorites. This year Bummis has released a long-awaited one size cover – the Simply Lite!

I received a Simply Lite cover in the Denim Dot print plus a Bummis unbleached prefold (infant size) and a flushable liner to review.

There are two rows of snaps on the rise of the Simply Lite which means you essentially get three sizes: – small, medium and large. If you’ll notice, there’s not a center snap on the medium row of snaps. I’m not sure why it’s designed this way, and didn’t get an answer from Bummis, but it doesn’t affect function.

This wrap-style cover retails for $16.95, which is a little higher than other Bummis styles, and includes:

  • Soft and smooth PUL fabric can be wiped clean inside for re-use
  • Stretchy wings and elasticized back and waist
  • A style that’s compatible with all types of diapers – fitteds, prefolds, flats, bamboo and hemp inserts, etc.
  • White mesh inner fabric for front snap reinforcement
  • Front flap to help secure inserts
  • Generous size range of approximately 8 to 35 pounds
  • 3 colors and 2 prints to choose from

 

The Bummis prefold I received is unbleached, so the fabric is softer than the bleached white ones (unbleached flats are also softer than their white counterparts, too). It’s nice and “quilty” and can be easily folded in thirds and laid in this cover without any pins or fasteners required. The infant size prefold fits perfectly into the cover at its largest setting (all the snaps opened up); however, the drawback is that if your baby is wearing size medium, you have to fold down the front of the Bummis prefold to fit. This makes it very bulky.

The snaps on this cover are very strong, and might look a little different than those on other covers in your stash.

There is a just a single row of snaps at the waist, so that’s thankfully less to fasten. However, it does mean the wings curl back when the diaper is on my babies. Our Simply Lite cover is also very roomy in the rear. Because of this it has turned out to perform just as well at night as it does in daylight hours. I can pack in a bulky fitted plus an extra doubler with no problems.

One feature that didn’t seem to make much of a difference in function (i.e. fit or leak prevention) was the front elastic. In fact, because it makes the cover “roll in” at the waistband, I would actually prefer the Simply Lite did not have the elasticized front.

If you don’t already know, all Bummis wraps are made in their Montreal factory to ensure top quality and ethical labor practices. The diaper cover components themselves are also manufactured here in North America. Organic cotton prefolds are made in Pakistan (Bummis is working with their supplier right now to get SA 8000 certification in social accountability).

Here’s a size range chart that shows the prefold measurements before washing (they shrink about 20% in size) as well as the thickness of the fabric layers:

Weight range Measurements* Thickness
Preemie 4 – 9 lbs (2 – 4 kg) 9.5 x 13″ (24 x 33 cm) 2 x 6 x 2 ply
Infant 7 – 20 lbs (3 – 9 kg) 12 x 16″ (30 x 40 cm) 4 x 8 x 4 ply
Baby 15 – 40 lbs (7 – 18 kg) 14 x 21″ (35 x 53 cm) 4 x 8 x 4 ply

Now let’s see what the new Simply Lite looks like on my baby and toddler!

Erik is 17 pounds and almost 11 months old:

Susanna is 2 years old and about 27 pounds:

Here are the colors and prints you can choose from (so far):

If you were hoping there was going to be a giveaway…you’re in luck! Bummis is going to give one of my readers the chance to win a new Simply Lite cover! Enter to win below.

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Glow Bug Pocket Diapers Review and Giveaway

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Glow Bugs came into being when two mothers designed a diaper that would be affordable, high-quality and easy to use. “Glow Bug” was one of their daughter’s nicknames; it also captures the image of a cloth diapered baby with a round, padded bottom. Cute as a bug!

Glow Bugs sent me two samples, an argyle pocket diaper from their boy collection and the pink and black cassette tapes print from the girl collection. I think the prints are fantastic and the squared off wings give these diapers a nice trim appearance:

These aren’t your typical pocket diapers; Sarah and Neta introduced an interesting feature this year – the 360 gusset. Instead of just an inner gusset that follows the inside edges of the diaper, Glow Bug’s 360 gusset is actually a closed oval shape that is designed to work even harder to keep messes and explosions inside the diaper. The inner “SlimDry” fleece lining is very purposely chosen because it is thin and smooth, which keeps the diaper as trim as possible. Here’s a photo comparison of the new gusset vs. the original:

If you compare an older style Glow Bug to the newer versions, you’ll also see there’s an added hip snap and the wings are cut a bit trimmer:

Glow Bug diapers are sold in bulk packages of 12 for $150; a free wet bag plus 18 snap-in inserts are also included. The cost breakdown equates to about $12.50 per diaper. Every season, Glow Fans anticipate the coming of new boy, girl and gender-neutral prints. These are one-size pockets with 3 different rise settings, hip snaps and cross-over snaps for very small babies; the suggested size range is from 7 to 35 pounds. Here’s a look at the largest and smallest settings:

The microfiber inserts can be snapped in after you stuff them into the pocket….or simply stuffed in.

One of the first questions I had for Glow Bugs (and one that you might have, too!) was “Why can’t I buy just one diaper?”

Offering bulk packages and significant price savings is at the heart of the Glow Bug business model. Sarah explained it to me this way: “We believe that it is much easier for the average consumer who is expecting a baby and who would like to start their newborn in cloth diapers to purchase everything they will need together in a bundle. We also took a page from our disposable diaper competitors who only sell in large packages.” And the Glow Bug concept has been nothing but successful; these two talented mothers have seen nothing but growth and this year reached over 14,000 Facebook fans!

Customers do have the chance to pick up individual Glow Bugs in the Facebook Co-Op group.

I had a chance to experience their service personally. All Glow Bugs are guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship for 180 days after purchase; the snaps carry a lifetime warranty. One of the hip snaps on my argyle diaper broke shortly after we started testing. I mailed the diaper back and was reimbursed fully for shipping costs. Glow Bugs promptly repaired and sent it back. Everything was done very quickly and very professionally, and all my questions were thoroughly answered. Our repaired diaper has been working great with no additional problems. Sarah and Neta explained that the isolated snap problem was due to an incorrect pressure setting on their press, which has now been resolved.

Glow Bug diapers are very well made. The fabric is of excellent quality, the prints are bright and clear, snap placement is even and the stitching is good and tight:

And now, let’s see how these diapers fit!

Here’s 18 pound/11 month old Erik:

And Susanna who is 2 years old:

How did the 360 gusset perform? Erik was a good candidate for testing because he’s trying a lot of new foods right now and so diaper changes are definitely more interesting these days. The back curve of the 360 gusset  has proved to be especially helpful in keeping messes from escaping out of the back of the diaper, however since that’s about the only place his messes tend to be, having the gusset run along the side and front hasn’t seemed to make a difference. It can be tricky getting #2 out of the leg seams, so Glow Bug has posted a video tutorial of how to spray or rinse the new gussets before laundering.

I’m completely happy with the fit as well. It looks equally cute and trim on all my children. Our Glow Bugs never sag or shift around. Five stars for ease of use, too! They are easy to wash and dry very quickly. I have very few pocket diapers in my stash because I don’t like stuffing and generally prefer natural fabrics to microfiber, but if you are a fan of this style, I can recommend Glow Bugs without hesitation.

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Thirsties Duo Wrap Diaper Cover Review

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One of the first brands I discovered when cloth diapering was Thirsties. It’s consistently one of the most popular on the market and no wonder. After factoring in the reliable fit, premium features, and huge selection of colors and prints, you’ll still find Thirsties to be quite affordable. Plus, their diapers are manufactured in the USA. I loved the Thirsties Fab Fitteds on newborn Erik, but today my review focuses on the Duo Wraps. Although mine was a bit too bulky when Erik was firstborn, it’s now become one of my favorites.

Thirsties Duo Wraps come in size 1 and size 2, which means the size range is very broad. Instead of the 3 or 4 rows of rise snaps that you generally find on a one-size cover, the Duo Wrap line offers SIX rise snap settings because of the two sizes. I think the two-part system really helps when you’ve got a toddler still in diapers; it’s tough sometimes to find larger diapers and covers.

Opened up, you can see that the Thirsties Duo Wrap is a wipe-clean, waterproof, 100% PUL cover; you can use it a few times before laundering as long as no poo gets on it. Just freshen with a wipe and re-use. There’s a flap on the front which serves as facing to cover the stitching and snap holes; I think it’s perfect for holding a diaper/insert in place. There are also double (inner) gussets on the leg bands for extra leak control. The Duo Wrap in these photos also features the new and improved hook and loop (i.e. “velcro”) closure, but is also available with snaps.

Thirsties Duo Wraps work great with any type of diaper underneath. I use them with padfolded flats, hemp prefolds and fitteds. The Duo Wrap holds everything in place so securely that I never have to fool with pinning my flats or prefolds.

Duo Wraps are very trim-fitting. If you like to “double stuff” your pockets at night, or double up on prefolds, then you might try the sized Thirsties covers instead of the Duo Wraps which are not quite as roomy.

Here’s the Duo Wrap Size 1 on Erik as a newborn….and now at 9 months:

There’s one thing I don’t like about my Thirsties hook and loop covers. When Erik starts crawling or moving around, the waistband curls inward, causing the scratchy “Velcro” to touch his tummy (if you are using the snap wraps then this would obviously be a non-issue). Sometimes the hook and loop scratches enough to cause redness, but it doesn’t happen every time he wears the Duo Wrap. The only reason I have a few hook and loop covers is that they are easy for my daughter to use, and also faster for me to deal with at night. For those reasons, I have been putting up with the waistband problem because it’s only a minor annoyance at this point.

Before I show you some pictures of the Duo Wrap in action, here’s a close-up of the double gussets. You can see how the extra set of gathers helps keep the bad stuff from escaping:

Like all Thirsties products, the Duo Wraps come in LOTS of wonderful colors and prints (find them at Diaper Safari -aff link with free shipping!), and they are manufactured in the USA. The size 1 cover fits (approximately) from 6 to 18 pounds and the size 2 fits (approximately) from 18 to 40 pounds. Erik is 9 months old and only 17 pounds and he still has one more snap setting to go on his size 1 cover, so he’ll get to wear it a bit longer.

If you’ve tried the Duo Wrap, or the sized Thirsties covers, I’d love for you to share your thoughts. Got questions about my review? Post those as well!