Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Smart Bottoms 3.1 All-in-One Review and Giveaway

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The Smart Bottoms 3.1 all-in-one diaper is designed to be a trim-fitting option for natural-minded families. It features a waterproof outer and 100% certified organic cotton inside.

Mary Kate was given the chance to review a complimentary Smart Bottoms 3.1 in the vibrant new “Highland” print from our friends at The Green Nursery.

Basic Features:

  • Waterproof PUL outer, a 100% organic cotton lining and a 100% organic cotton attached insert
  • Ten absorbent layers in all
  • Four different size settings via the snap-down rise (approx. 10 to 35 pounds)
  • Attached insert is extra long so you can fold it to customize absorbency
  • Made in the USA, retail price $29.00

Fit: It took some time to get the right fit on Mary Kate. I had to double check that the cotton fabric was completely rolled in not just at the legs, but also where the legs meet the wings (see picture below). Any exposed fabric can allow moisture to sneak out.

So I found myself doing a lot of tucking and tightening, around the legs, with the wings and under the rise snaps. But once I got it all down pat, I think it looks great on 18-month-old Mary Kate and I love how trim it is.

We also tried the diaper on Katie’s Evangeline, who is about 6 months old and very chubby. One of the best things about this diaper is the snug but gentle fit around the legs.

This diaper has a generous size range, because my toddler still has one rise snap to grow into.

Performance: After prepping our diaper about 8 times, Mary Kate leaked right through the legs before she had finished a 1.5 hour nap. She’s not what I would call a heavy wetter, so after feedback from other mothers who’ve tried this diaper, I did 2 more washes. This time, she made it 2 hours in the diaper before it started to leak a little bit from the legs. The inside was not saturated. After 10 washes, we now get somewhere between 2 and 3 hours of absorbency, but that’s all. I think what’s happening with Mary Kate is she’s flooding the diaper all at once, and organic cotton is just not as quick to absorb as other fabrics like bamboo and microfiber. Adding a small bamboo insert from my collection on top of the organic cotton stopped the leaks.

So the prep time for this diaper is a drawback. I’ve been so spoiled by diapers that require only a wash or two for maximum performance. I would definitely recommend 8 washes for the 3.1, but be aware that you may need a few more beyond that.

Care: Since it’s just one piece, the Smart Bottoms 3.1 comes out of the laundry ready to wear. You don’t have to hunt for inserts or snap in soaker pads. I did find that the super long insert can be a bit clumsy to dunk and swish in the toilet when soiled; if you have a diaper sprayer, this task will be easier. Also, be aware that organic cotton stains very easily. In my testing, this diaper dried in one cycle on medium/low, which is great for a cotton all-in-one.

As mentioned above, you may have to prep this diaper many many times before it reaches a good absorbency level for your baby. (Note: The Smart Bottoms Dream Diaper is a less-prep option).

Summary – Pros:

  • Trim fit
  • Vibrant and imaginative prints and colors
  • Made in the USA
  • Certified organic cotton
  • Gentle leg gussets
  • Limited 12-month warranty

Summary – Cons:

  • A lot of prepping
  • Higher price range
  • Tricky to dunk and swish
  • Heavy wetters will need an additional insert/booster

 

Why you should shop at The Green Nursery:

Save on cloth diaper bundles
Get FREE shipping on orders over $35
Free gifts on qualifying purchases
Baby Bucks rewards program (earn 300 points just for signing up

I’m a Green Nursery affiliate! Shopping through my link helps my blog,
and that means more reviews and more giveaways!

Giveaway: The Green Nursery is generously giving away a 3.1 diaper to one lucky reader! Choose from in stock colors and prints. US only. Good luck!

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TotsBots EasyFit Star All-in-One Review & Giveaway

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What makes the TotsBots EasyFit Star such a highly-rated all-in-one diaper? Today’s review and giveaway, sponsored by Green Team Distribution, will answer that question AND give you the chance to win an EasyFit diaper for your little one!

Green Team sent a TotsBots for Roderick (2.5 years), Evangeline (4 months) and Mary Kate (18 months) to try out.

The TotsBots EasyFit Star is made with a soft, stretchy PUL outer material, an absorbent bamboo core and a stay-dry tummy panel. All TotsBots diapers are made in Scotland and are Oekotex certified to be chemical free.

It’s adjustable from 8 to 35 pounds and fastens with hook and loop. There are 3 different size settings via the snap-down rise:

The EasyFit has been updated over the years and it’s latest manifestation is trimmer, more absorbent, and cut slightly bigger overall. Retail price is $26.95. Here are the basic features of this all-in-one diaper. Underneath the insert is a wide pocket opening.

The tongue-style insert measures about 22 inches from where it’s sewn in at the back to the opposite edge. It’s made to be folded over and tucked inside the pocket opening, although you can also keep it on the outside, if you prefer. However, leaving the insert out makes it much trickier to spray and/or dunk and swish, so my personal recommendation is to keep it stuffed in the pocket.

Performance: First of all, the hook and look on TotsBots diapers is top quality, and one of my favorites. The closure on our TotsBots fitteds, used for several years, still looks good and functions well. Hook and look makes diaper changes so fast, and getting a good fit easy, so it’s perfect for busy mothers and for caregivers that may not be as familiar with cloth.

Katie and I both like the large pocket opening in this all-in-one that allows you to tuck in additional absorbency. The EasyFit Star held Katie’s 4-month-old not only through a nap, but overnight as well – as is! Her toddler, Roderick (2.5 years) and Mary Kate (18 months) both needed a booster added for overnight.

The diaper’s leg elastics are softly rolled inside the waterproof PUL fabric – no seams on the outside – so there’s no risk of wicking through the tiny little holes left by sewing. That, plus the “buffer zone” between the legs and the inner core, have resulted in zero leg leaks for our little ones.

Care: I mentioned TotsBots’ durable hook and loop closure above, and this applies in the wash as well. The laundry tabs are very durable and always stay fastened. You might seem some staining on the bamboo core, so I would recommend a good stain stick and/or sun for that.

The fold-over insert design helps to shorten dry time somewhat compared to other bamboo all-in-ones we’ve tested. And NO, you do not have to pull the soiled insert out of the pocket when washing; it will agitate out on its own.

Fit: Katie and I both rated the EasyFit Star a “fairly trim” diaper, which is great news, since it doesn’t end up being terribly bulky even if you stick an additional insert inside.  The rolled elastics don’t just help keep leaks at bay; they are also snug yet gentle around all sizes of baby thighs. 🙂 The cut across the crotch is wide; you can choose to have it fit your baby that way, or tuck the leg openings deeper into the thighs for a trimmer look.

Here’s the EasyFit Star on our little ones!

Mary Kate (18 months and about 21 pounds):

Roderick (2.5 years and 31 pounds) and his little siter, Evangeline (4 months and 18 pounds):

Value: As far as the $26.95 price tag goes, Katie commented “It’s a little on the expensive side for me but it’s not an unreasonable price,” and I would concur. It’s made out of really high-quality materials, is manufactured in Scotland, comes in a lot of cool designer prints, and is a consistent award-winner (most recently the Mother & Baby Gold Award for 2015 and an Ethical Consumer Magazine “Best Buy”). With an extra insert inside, you could have a night-worthy diaper on your hands, and many families will happily pay over $20 for that.

Where to Buy TotsBots

Does your favorite cloth diaper shop carry TotsBots diapers?
If not, be sure to request them! You can find TotsBots right now at these retailers, and many more:

Fluff & Familia
Sterling & Me Shop
My Blossom Bottom
The Baby Store Alaska
The Crunchy Bean
South Coast Baby
Ecorganic Boutique (Puerto Rico)

Giveaway:  Winner gets a TotsBots EasyFit Star diaper in choice of color/print from Green Team Distribution. This promotion is open to both US and Canadian residents. Good luck!

 

 

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Econobum Diaper Cover and Prefolds Review

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Cotton Babies has a large line-up of cloth diapering products, including a very economical one-size system called Econobum. Econobum covers can be purchased separately or as part of a set with three cotton prefold diapers.

I purchased one last year to review and today’s post features both my experience with a toddler and Katie’s, with a 6-month-old.

THE ECONOBUM COVER

  • Exposed PUL cover (poly knit outside and shiny laminate inside)
  • Adjustable to fit from approximately 8 to 35 pounds
  • White with contrasting foldover elastic trim
  • Made in the USA
  • Retails for $11.95

To keep this system very affordable, all Econobum covers are made with white PUL. You can choose from a variety of color choices for the trim, however. Many people think that Econobum PUL is thinner or cheaper than the material that Cotton Babies uses for Flip and bumGenius, but that’s not true. It’s the same 1 mil PUL, but white has an opaque quality that makes it appear to be thinner when visually compared to a colored diaper. Cotton Babies’ PUL is lightweight and pliable, which I like a lot. One drawback of the aforementioned opaque quality becomes apparent when your baby wears a colored flat or fitted underneath; you can see it through the Econobum cover. This is only an aesthetic issue, though.

Econobum covers also feature the same snaps and elastic used in other Cotton Babies diapers.

THE ECONOBUM PREFOLD

The Econobum prefold is made of 100% unbleached cotton and measures about 11×15 once it’s fully prepped.

It’s designed to be folded in thirds, so you have two options – long and narrow for older babies OR short and wide for small babies.

Performance: As a simple diapering system for an older infant or toddler, Econobum one-size performs fairly well. Absorbency with the cotton prefold inside was good for my toddler, and very good for Katie’s infant. Both of our children can wear it through a nap.

With the way the prefold measures, there are two drawbacks. With all three sections being the same thickness (instead of extra padding just in the middle), this is a bulkier prefold. Secondly, it’s not the right size for fastening with a Boingo or Snappi. So if you have a younger baby and are worried about #2 messes going from the diaper to the cover, then Econobum prefolds may not be a good choice. You could use your Econobum cover instead with a “pin friendly” brand of prefolds like Diaper Rite or Nicki’s for better poo containment.

Fit: Econobums run larger overall, and are wider across the middle, than many of my other one-size diapers. Katie likes that the lightweight material and lack of inner leg gussets make this an extra trim and lightweight cover. The elastics are gentle and neither child had problems with redness or discomfort.

Here’s 6-month-old Evangeline. She can still wear it on the smallest rise setting.

With Mary Kate, who is a petite toddler, and doesn’t have fat baby thighs anymore, I did have a little trouble getting a good snug fit around the legs. To get the legs tight enough, I actually snapped the Econobum up to its smallest setting (same that Evangeline wears!), which resulted in a low rise fit, that sagged even lower as she ran around and played.

I would prefer that this cover not be so wide across the middle. It does offer full coverage over really bulky fitteds and such, but I still like something narrower through the crotch.

And here’s Katie’s 3-year-old, Roderick:

There are no crossover snaps at the waist, so the adjustability is somewhat limited. However, Econobum does have a newborn version priced at $8.98, which you can see briefly reviewed here.

Value: With a price tag of $11.95, the Econobum cover is very budget-friendly. Only a few competitors can boast of being $10 and under, but they aren’t made in the USA, nor do they have a 12 month warranty. It’s also a versatile cover which can be used with pretty much any type of diaper or insert.

Where to Buy Econobum covers and prefolds:

Cotton Babies (free shipping plus discounts on seconds)
Amazon (free shipping with Prime)

 

 

Geffen Baby Jersey Prefold Diapers: Hemp vs Fleece

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I often get asked about cloth diapers for heavy wetters, and Geffen Baby is one of the first brands I recommend. Their inserts and prefolds are made of a thirsty, durable hemp/cotton blend, yet manage to remain fairly trim.

This month, I received two prefolds from Geffen Baby to compare and review: a medium fleece and a medium jersey prefold. Both are made in the USA of four layers of knitted 60%/40% hemp/cotton.

Geffen Baby prefolds are available in the following sizes.

  • XS: (Orange Stitching) for use in XS/S diapers & on newborn babies
  • S: (Green Stitching) for use in small diapers and young infants
  • M/L: (Lavender Blue Stitching) for use in M/L diapers and on crawlers/walkers
  • XL: (Navy Blue Stitching) for use in XL/toddler diapers, or folded for smaller babies

Because these are natural fibers, and because one batch may vary slightly from the next, the before and after prepping measurements on the website are estimates only. . After prepping, my jersey prefold is more of a rectangle shape (12.5″ x 18.75″); the fleece is closer to a square (17″ x 15″).

When folded into thirds, the size medium prefolds measure:

  • Fleece – 14.5″ x 5″
  • Jersey – 13″ x 6.25″

Jersey is smooth and fleece is textured.

When folded in thirds, Geffens are wider across than a traditional prefold. The jersey prefold (at 6.25″ across) actually works best for me when I fold into fourths, especially when using a cover that’s narrow in the crotch.

Besides the different sizing, there are a few more things that set them apart. Geffen’s fleece prefold has a bit more stretch to it, is slightly softer, and also more absorbent. The jersey prefolds start at $8.91 each and fleece goes up from $9.82.

Care: Cotton and hemp don’t hold onto odors, making Geffen prefolds easier to keep clean. They do stain easily, though, and take a long time to dry. And you do have to prep multiple times to reach full absorbency potential. They are well made with durable stitching. Ours have held up well after years of use and washing (we have used our newborn prefolds with 3 babies now).

I prepped my Geffen prefolds 3 times before first use, but they will reach maximum absorbency after about 8 washes.

Performance: Geffen prefolds can be used inside pocket diapers (providing they aren’t a really narrow style) or most any cover or AI2 shell. My toddler, Mary Kate, wears the size medium through a long nap with no leaking. Some babies can use them all night, but if your heavy wetter needs a little extra boost of absorbency, I strongly suggest adding one Geffen Absorber because they are so amazingly trim compared to most other hemp inserts on the market.

You might wonder if these can be fastened on like a traditional prefold. Yes, with qualifications. First of all, Snappi and Boingo fasteners don’t grip the fabric as well as they do a quilted cotton prefold. But you can make it work, and with a wrap-style cover, everything should stay in place fairly well. You might also need to go up a size to have enough fabric to serve as “wings.”

In these pictures, 18-month-old Mary Kate is wearing the medium Geffen Baby fleece prefold pinned under a Best Bottom cover.

Value: At $8.91 each (and up), you likely won’t buy these by the dozen, as with a cotton prefold, but having just a few Geffen Prefolds on hand could certainly be a game-changer for nap times or overnight.

Shop for Geffen Baby diapers and inserts at

Geffenbaby.com
Kelly’s Closet
Nicki’s Diapers
Diaper Junction

*New* Thirsties Natural Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

There’s another natural pocket diaper on the market again, this time from Thirsties! It looks a lot like the original synthetic diaper, but inside it’s lined with organic cotton instead of fleece, and both of the inserts are made of cotton and hemp.

Here are the basic features of the new natural Thirsties pocket diaper:

  • Waterproof outer and a 100% organic cotton inner lining
  • Two inserts included: the newborn insert is 3 layers of cotton and the full size insert is 5 layers of hemp/cotton
  • Inserts can be snapped together or used individually
  • Pocket openings at both the front and back
  • Made in the USA
  • Retail price $23.25

It adjusts to fit approximately 8-40 lbs (4-18 kg)

Performance: Organic cotton absorbs quickly, so when you place the cotton insert on top of the larger hemp insert and stuff both in the pocket, you have a combo that works really well together and guards against compression leaks. Add to that Thirsties signature leg gussets, and you have a diaper with a lot of built-in protection.

We’ve been using this diaper for almost 2 weeks now. The absorbency definitely increases after several washes (at least 3), but Thirsties confirmed that we could use it after the first wash. With the diaper at its full absorbing potential (fully prepped with both inserts stuffed inside) Mary Kate can wear it for 3 hours or more during the day, no problem. For overnight, there’s just enough room in the pocket to squeeze in a small hemp insert. I also add a fleece liner on top to protect against extended wetness.

The microfleece lining in Thirsties’ original pocket diaper is a little bit softer and cozier than the new cotton lining. Plus, it has a stay-dry effect, so if those two features are important to you, that would be a minor drawback to the new natural diaper.

Fit: The new natural pocket is a little bit more trim than the original (because cotton is less bulky than microfiber), but has the same great fit. I like the double snaps on the wings, so you can adjust the waist and legs separately if need be. Mary Kate is a petite toddler at 18 months and about 22 pounds. She’s slimmed down with her newfound mobility, and the chunky thighs are slowly going away. The extra snugness in the double leg gussets is a great feature. And all of the colored elastic trim which edges the diaper is nice and soft.

Like the original pocket, the new natural pocket runs on the large side, so I would estimate it starts to fit best at 10-12 pounds, depending on your baby’s side and build. At 18 months, it’s still just one snap setting shy of the very smallest setting.

Care: The organic cotton lining in this pocket diaper stains more easily than the microfleece lining of the original Thirsties pocket, so the lining of this diaper may not look as pretty over time. I tackle our diaper stains with a Buncha Farmers stain stick. Dry time is very similar to the original, since both include a large cotton/hemp blend insert. It takes a full cycle in my dryer.

Value: Pocket diapers are one of the most popular styles on the market, but at $23.25 each the Thirsties natural pocket is on the high end of the price spectrum. I think if given the choice, I’d buy the original instead of the natural next time I’m in the market for a Thirsties pocket. It comes down to personal preference and price. The original is four dollars less ($19.95), has a softer “stay dry” lining and the same wonderful Thirsties fit and reliability. Plus, one of the inserts IS made of natural fibers.

But if 100% cotton and hemp really rock your socks, then spring for the Thirsties natural pocket. It’s definitely worth the money, and I think you’ll be really happy with it!

Where to Find Thirsties Diapers:

Diaper Junction
Dearest Diapers
Kelly’s Closet
Nicki’s Diapers

Giveaway: Enter to win ANY Thirsties diaper that you want! Winner picks from any in stock Thirsties diaper OR cover at my affiliate, Nicki’s Diapers. Plus, you’ll receive a FREE Zephyr Hill mini tote bag (black or blue).

Let me know in a blog comment which Thirsties style and color you’d choose. Good luck!