Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Lalabye Baby Diaper Cover vs. Lalabye AI2 + Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

We first tried Lalabye Baby diapers in 2013 and have kept a few in our rotation ever since. They fit great and are highly absorbent, and the added bonus is a new color or print release that you can look forward to every now and then! The classic Lalabye Baby diaper is an All-in-Two with a pair of absorbent bamboo inserts that snap in.

In August 2017, Lalabye Baby announced a brand new option, their waterproof diaper cover. Today’s post compares the new cover to the AI2 diaper, and also gives you the chance to win a Lalabye Baby diaper!

In some ways, the cover and AI2 are very similar. They both have four size settings via the snap-down rise. The estimated size range for Lalabye Baby is 8 to 35 pounds. Color-coded snaps on the waistband help you easily find your baby’s current size setting. And hip and crossover snaps give a secure, customized fit at the waist without any sagging as the diaper gets wet.

Here’s the cover opened up. The front and back flaps have hidden snaps underneath if you want to use Lalabye inserts (or other brands that snap in like Buttons and Best Bottom). The flaps are also perfect for tucking prefolds and flats under.

The original AI2 is a complete diaper system that comes with a pair of 4-layer bamboo inserts. This diaper can also be used as a pocket, with openings conveniently located at both ends.

I’ve tested our Lalabye covers successfully with several different inserts – prefolds, bamboo padfolded flats and Lalabye inserts doubled up. The trim Luludew fitted also pairs well with it, but I haven’t tried any bulkier fitteds than that. This cover has single leg gussets and with Mary Kate being very “regular,” we haven’t had issues with blowouts. Containment might be a concern with a much younger baby, but I can report back on that aspect of performance when our newborn comes this November!

Sizing and Fit: The cover and the AI2 are very similar to each other in terms of overall size, with the cover being just a tad bit shorter in length overall. The cover is also more trim when your baby is wearing it, since it doesn’t have the microsuede fabric lining. Since the cover is slightly shorter, I’m eager to see how it fits on our new arrival this fall (will update this review).

One thing I would change on both cover and AI2 is to add a third column of rise snaps down the front. Sometimes the middle of the rise starts to pucker out, which is annoying aesthetically speaking. If you tuck the excess rise fabric upwards (towards the waistband) instead of downwards, it helps a little, but with an active, wiggly toddler, it doesn’t always stay flat.

Compared to some of our other one-size diapers, Lalabye accommodates a wider range of ages and stages. When Ingrid was a small toddler (age 2), she could still wear her Lalabye AI2.

Here’s the Lalabye Baby cover on Mary Kate, who is about 12 months old and 16 pounds in these photos. Since the cover is a newer product, it’s not available in quite so many colors and prints, but most of the newest releases since 2017 have included the covers, so the choices are growing. Mary Kate is wearing “Merrily Merrily.”

In this post, you can see the cover on Bailey’s one-year-old, who’s a bit chunkier than Mary Kate.

And here’s the AI2. The print featured here is “World of Hope.” Below right is one of my favorites, deep blue “Starlight.”

See why I love the fit of these diapers so much? 🙂

Care: Both diapers are easy to care for but the cover has an edge since you can potentially wipe and refresh it to use again.

Value: Covers cost $16.50 for solids and $19.00 for prints. The AI2 is $20.00 and $23.00 for prints. There are some covers on the market for $10 to $15, so the price may be cost-prohibitive for some. You might also reason that for $20 you can go ahead and get the AI2, which includes inserts.  It might just come down to preference. If you are a fan of Lalabye diapers and how they fit, but want something that works better with prefolds, fitteds and flats, you will really like this cover (I fall into this category).

Both cover and AI2 are made of the same soft, thick TPU that I really love. Over the years, our Lalabye Diapers have worn well and proven to be very durable, and a good investment.

Where to Buy Lalabye Baby diapers, covers and inserts:

Nicki’s Diapers
Greenpath Baby
Diaper Junction
Kelly’s Closet
Dearest Diapers
Fluff & Familia

In CANADA at Lagoon Baby

Giveaway: My readers in the US and Canada can enter to win their CHOICE of: an instock Lalabye Baby cover (value $16.50 to $19.00) OR the beautiful Lalabye Baby World of Hope AI2 diaper (value $25). Winner has 48 hours to respond to prize notification email; if no reply is received, an alternate winner is chosen.

Use the entry form below and good luck!

 

TotsBots Swim Diaper Review and Giveaway

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Looking for a different kind of swim diaper? Read about our experience with TotsBots and see if these fashionable swimmies might be a good choice for your little ones this summer.

Today’s review and giveaway, sponsored by Green Team Distribution, gives you the chance to win a swim diaper in your choice of size and print!

The TotsBots swim diaper is made of a lightweight PUL outer material with a soft white fleece inner lining. You can choose between Size 1 (10-20 pounds) and Size 2 (20-35 pounds).

In the picture above, you can see there’s a large tag inside the diaper. It’s very soft and smooth, and hasn’t bothered our two testers, but I guess it could potentially be annoying for some very sensitive babies.

The TotsBots swim diaper features hook and loop closure and fold-back laundry tabs. It retails for $19.95, and is now available in 5 new sea-inspired prints for summer:

Two things that Katie and I both liked right off the bat with this diaper? First, it’s a wrap style instead of a pull-on. Have you ever tried dragging a wet swim diaper off your child when it’s filled with a number two mess? It’s a HUGE pain. Granted, some older toddlers are going to see this wrap as looking too much like a “diaper” and that may be a drawback, but my opinion is that if your child is still in a swim diaper then that obviously means there’s the potential for a poo! So why not use a swimmie that’s easier to remove and clean?

Secondly, this is a super soft and stretchy swim diaper. With the gentle fleece inside, we haven’t had any issues with rubbing or red marks. The hook and loop makes it a breeze to get a good fit around the waist and legs.

Although Katie tested this on Roderick (he’s 2.5 years old and 31 pounds), she found that the Size 2 fit Roderick’s skinny younger cousin just as well. So it seems to fit a wide range of sizes.

As far as care goes, the inner part is easy to clean and the whole diaper is quick to dry. Unfortunately, the outside can easily get stained with dirt.

Katie told me “There’s nothing I would change about this swim diaper. In fact, I may buy one for [baby] Evangeline this summer!” Her son adores the fish print and wants to wear his TotsBots ALL the time.

For my daughter, who’s very petite, I tried the Size 1. She’s about 18 pounds now and it looks great on her, and will fit just fine all summer long.

And now for more fun!

Giveaway:  Winner chooses the same item we reviewed, in any available size and print. Get your entries in using the form below. This promotion is open to US residents. Good luck!  *GIVEAWAY CLOSED*

Don’t forget to visit and “LIKE” these TotsBots retailers
that are offering the NEW swim nappies right now!

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

 

 

 

Bummis Pure All-in-One Review & Giveway

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Bummis has a new All-in-One diaper called the Pure. Katie and I each received a sample to try on our girls – ages 16 months and 3 months, so you can learn about the fit and performance on two different babies.

We reviewed the original Bummis All-in-One two years ago. The new Pure has a couple of key differences:

  • More absorbency
  • An athletic wicking jersey lining
  • Rise snaps are closer together
  • A new logo and a lower price (it now retails for $27.95 CAN or $23.95 USD)

Here are old and new side by side:

The Bummis Pure is made in their Canadian factory using components manufactured in the US. It is free of lead, phthalates and BPA.

It has four basic components:

  • A waterproof PUL outer
  • A (polyester) athletic wicking jersey “stay dry” lining
  • A 100% cotton terry lining (3 layers) inside of the pocket
  • A 70% bamboo/30% organic cotton soaker (3 layers) that can be stuffed inside or laid against your baby’s skin
  • Four different size settings using the rise snaps

Performance: The new athletic wicking jersey lining is not just breathable and comfortable; it doesn’t hold onto number two messes, making dunking and/or spray much easier on you. Katie and I both give this diaper really high marks for absorbency! After previously testing the original AIO, which we had occasional leaks with, I’m happy to say there have been no issues with the Pure on Mary Kate. Katie reported that her Evangeline has worn it through long naps with no problems.

The stay-dry jersey lining has also been great for the girls’ skin – no redness or irritation from too much moisture.

You can use Bummis Pure several different ways, and each way is super simple. The attached insert can be stuffed inside the pocket, or you can opt to leave it out and against your baby’s skin. The fabric is nice and soft, which is great news for your baby if you choose not to stuff (like me). For naps or overnight, the pocket is roomy enough to add an additional insert.

Another possibility is to use it BOTH ways: stuff the insert in the pocket and then lay an insert from your own stash on top (not stuffed).

Fit: We love the colors and prints you can choose from, especially the adorable “Russian Dolls” diaper for our review. The diaper fits great on Evangeline. For smaller babies, you will find the diaper when snapped up is a little bit more bulky.

Evangeline is about 14-15 pounds now:

I also like the fit on Mary Kate, and the fact that I can angle the wing snaps if I need to tighten or loosen the legs up a bit. The only drawback is, just like the original Bummis AIO, Pure also has just two columns of snaps across the center front. While they have been spaced a little bit closer together now, the fabric still puckers out a bit sometimes, even when I try different adjustments.

Mary Kate is 16 months old now and very petite. She actually has a couple more rise snaps to go, which is great. We’ll definitely be using this diaper until potty training.

Care: I love that this is a classic All-in-One diaper with everything permanently fastened onto the diaper. That makes laundry day easier. Katie and I both found the dry time to be on the longer side, though. This is because of the multiple layers of cotton in both the soaker and the pocket.
The diaper is ready to use after one wash, but it will still get more absorbent after subsequent washes. The PURE is designed to shrink slightly during the first washes and create a secure gusset for a better fit.
Value: The new lower price is a bonus, but the Bummis Pure still falls on the higher end of the spectrum for an All-in-One diaper. But it’s a very absorbent and adorable diaper made in Canada of high-quality American components, too.

Where to Buy:

Directly at Bummis OR
Cozy Bums and Lagoon Baby (in Canada)
Diaper Junction and Fluff & Familia (in the United States)

Giveaway: One lucky reader can choose a Bummis Pure diaper (in stock)! This giveaway is open to US/CAN. Good luck!

4 Newborn Cloth Diaper Reviews + a Giveaway

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There are now over 78 different newborn diaper reviews on the blog. My sister-in-law’s baby girl arrived in February, and that means a couple of newborn diaper reviews have been added and/or updated! These are the diapers that Katie tested on Evangeline:

  • The new bumGenius 2.0 Littles All-in-One
  • The new Lalabye Baby 2.0 Newborn All-in-One
  • The Imagine Newborn Bamboo All-in-One
  • The Sweet Pea Newborn Bamboo All-in-One

Click here to see all of my newborn all-in-one reviews.

Click here to see ALL of our newborn reviews, including pockets and covers and fitteds.

Giveaway: We are celebrating with a $25 gift card giveaway,
open to US and Canadian residents!
Winner chooses Abby’s Lane, Nicki’s or Diaper Junction.
Good luck!

 

 

FabuFluff Pocket Diapers: Handmade and Customizable

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Reviewing handmade items is always such a joy for me. Last month, we received an assortment of pocket diapers from FabuFluff, the creation of California mother, Lizzie Morietta. Her shop has a 5-star rating on Etsy.

Available styles include pockets, AI2’s and covers, plus organic bamboo “snake style” (extra long and thin) inserts. Regular size bamboo inserts are another choice, but the snake-style is popular because you can fold them to put more absorbency either up front or in the back, as your baby needs.

Here are the three pockets that we requested for Mary Kate to test drive: Dr. Suess, Butterfly, and an embroidered Woodland Animals diaper. I love the bright colors and the variety of themes we were able to choose from!

FabuFluff pocket diapers are made with a cotton print outer, a waterproof PUL (polyurethane laminate) inner, and a white microsuede lining. The pocket opening that you stuff with the insert of your choice is located at the back.

The wings have double snaps, so you can angle them if needed for a better fit at the waist and legs. There’s also an extra hip snap on each side to help stop “diaper droop.”

Lizzie’s handiwork is excellent! Tight, even stitching, durable fabrics and smoothly-working snaps: all the components of a well-made diaper are there. Lizzie writes “Quality is my top priority. I put my heart and soul in every diaper I make and would never sell something that I wouldn’t personally use on my daughter as well.”

One of the best thing about handmade diapers is getting to customize it to your liking! Lizzie let me choose the embroidery for one of Mary Kate’s diaper, and this adorable Woodland combo is the result. Check out FabuFluff on Facebook for more of Lizzie’s amazing custom work.

Fit: The FabuFluff pocket has trim profile, which tapers towards the front (see below). For this reason, I liked folding a prefold diaper in thirds and stuffing it in the pocket. Standard bamboo and microfiber inserts (wider across) both required more wiggling and adjusting, and they don’t fit as smoothly (also below).

Because of the narrow cut through the crotch, I really like the way this diaper fits on Mary Kate, who is small but has chubby little thighs. 🙂

What about the front elastics? Some of the diapers in our have them, and some don’t. And depending on the brand, front elastic can cause sagging or gaping. With FabuFluff, we don’t have this problem. The waistband fits snugly, and has a slightly contoured fit that looks really cute but without any sagging.

Performance: Since this is a pocket diaper with a stay-dry (non-absorbing) lining, absorbency will depend on what you stuff inside. Because of the trim cut of the crotch (mentioned above), I like a prefold inside, and the bamboo/cotton variety are the most absorbent. I also have room to tuck in a trim hemp absorber (like Geffen), if it’s naptime.  With this combo, I easily get 4 hours from this diaper.

Most pocket diapers are 100% waterproof PUL on the outside. FabuFluff uses cotton fabric as the outside layer, and this adds a touch of style and uniqueness, plus the added bonus of more print choices. You just have to be more vigilant when choosing the right inserts for your baby’s output. If the diaper becomes saturated and isn’t changed right away, there’s a greater potential for wicking of moisture from the microsuede leg openings onto the cotton outer (and your baby’s clothes).

Value: FabuFluff diapers start at $13.00 and go up from there, depending on the style and print. It’s a very fair price for handmade diapers that also include personalized service, a 1 year limited warranty on all diapers, and a 15 day money back guarantee.  Customers also get free shipping on all orders over $75.

Browse the FabuFluff online store
and see what you like best!