Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Cotton Babies’ Elemental Joy Diaper Review & Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

Cotton Babies (maker of bumGenius and Flip) has just unveiled a brand new and highly affordable pocket diaper. At less than $9 apiece, Elemental Joy diapers rival budget imports that often lack a warranty and reliable customer service. Many families who are eager to get started with cloth are lured in by the super low prices of cheap knock-offs, but may come up seriously short on help when something goes wrong with their diapers.

The US-made Elemental Joy pocket diaper is backed by a reputable name in the industry and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s a microsuede-lined waterproof shell paired with a cotton flat diaper. It melds America’s favorite style (pocket) with a cheap and easy-to-clean insert (cotton flat instead of microfiber pads). The flat cotton insert is made in Pakistan. You simply pad fold the insert, stuff it in the pocket and then put the diaper on your child.

One question you might have is “how does this pocket diaper compare to the bumGenius 5.0?” – since they are made by the same company.

Both have a back pocket, but Elemental Joy does not have a back flap which covers the opening. Both have back elastics, but Elemental Joy’s is a bit tighter. Elemental Joy is sized bigger overall, especially across the crotch (width). Elemental Joy does not have the waterproof PUL strip on the front waistband that bumGenius 5.0 does.

Both have double snaps on the waistband, but bumGenius 5.0 features the signature “stretchy tabs.” The new Elemental Joy includes one flat cotton insert, which must be folded for use; bumGenius 5.0 comes with two microfiber inserts.

The edges are also different: bumGenius elastics are encased in white microsuede, and Elemental Joy is polyester. I actually prefer the latter because microsuede is more likely to wick moisture out of the diaper.

Here are a few more photo comparisons, including Elemental Joy in a line-up with other Cotton Babies diapers.

Performance: Absorbency for the Elemental Joy was about what I expected, since I’ve used pocket diapers stuffed with a cotton flat before. We usually get about 2 hours on average with this combo. Because the Elemental Joy pocket is wide and easy to stuff, I had no problem doubling up with 2 inserts.

For Katie’s toddler, Roderick, the experience was similar. After an hour, it wasn’t saturated, so she feels like he could get two hours out of it, and then at nap time stuff an additional insert into the pocket.

Fit: Since it was billed as a budget diaper, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I really like the way this diaper looks on Mary Kate. With just the one insert pad folded inside the pocket, it’s very sleek and trim. I definitely prefer the double snaps on the wings to the one-snap configuration of bumGenius’ budget cover (the Econobum).

I find that Elemental Joy runs big, especially compared to my other Cotton Babies diapers (see infographic above). It has both a higher rise and a wider crotch. Mary Kate wears most of her “one size” diapers snapped up once, but Elemental Joy fits her best snapped up all the way (on small). She’s 9 months and about 15 pounds.

Although the back elastics are quite snug, they don’t leave red marks on her back. The soft elastic trim around the gussets also fits her chubby legs comfortably. It bothers me a little (aesthetically-speaking) that the trim on the wing tabs doesn’t lie flat; it always curls backwards, so what’s the point? I think the Elemental Joy would look sharper if the edges were just stitched, without trim. And it would be nice if the wings were a bit longer.

Mary Kate is wearing the Clementine color:

Roderick is wearing the Stop print (cars with red trim) with the rise snapped up once. He’s 24 months and 28 pounds. There is lot of room for him to grow in this diaper; Katie uses the largest setting on many of her other one-size diapers.

Care: When it comes to care, nothing really beats a cotton flat diaper. Being just one layer, they wash and rinse thoroughly, and dry in a snap. Cotton flats can certainly take a beating and have many practical uses beyond the diaper years. Even better, cotton doesn’t come with the headaches associated with a typical microfiber insert; many new pocket diaper users battle odor and build-up and give up cloth altogether.

The absorbent flat insert can be folded in different ways to customize absorbency for your baby. I’ve found over the years that most flat diapers aren’t really square; the Elemental Joy insert is no exception. After prepping, it’s more of a rectangle that measures about 26.5×24 inches.

We both found that the microsuede doesn’t hold onto stains, and that both insert and shell dry very quickly.

Value: Separately, the pocket shells costs $7.99 and the flat cotton inserts are $1.95; both can be purchased individually from select retailers (some of my favorites are listed below). You can save even more money by getting a 6-pack (inserts are included), and that’s just $35.94.

WHERE TO BUY

Improvements?  Initially, I found the name of this diaper (Elemental Joy) confusing, since there’s already a bumGenius Elemental AIO diaper. But the two are completely different. Also, the first prints and colors being offered are more boy-oriented, but I’m hopeful that Elemental Joy will add some additional options in the future that would appeal to mothers of girls.

I imagine that for some families who are completely new to cloth, folding a big flat insert might seem daunting compared to traditional pockets with soaker pads. But this small hurdle could easily be addressed with a quick picture or video tutorial on the website.

The other drawback is that if you want to cloth diaper very cheaply, pocket diapers are single use only, so you have to buy more of them. If using 100% PUL covers, you can usually get a few uses out of each cover and swap out whatever insert you happen to be using.

Giveaway: Two lucky readers will win an Elemental Joy pocket diaper with insert. Winners may indicate preference for print/color shown above (Pepper, Ribbit, Faster or Go), but choices are not guaranteed. This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents. Good luck!

 

*New* Buttons Bamboo Prefold Diapers Review & Giveaway

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Buttons Diapers was always an AI2 system, with reusable shells and snap-in pads. But since the shells also make great little diaper covers, it makes complete sense that Buttons would add prefold diapers to its product line-up. We received a complimentary review pack of Size 2 Buttons prefolds, which are made of 55% bamboo and 45% unbleached cotton.

If you’ve only used cotton prefolds before, the bamboo/cotton version is softer and silkier in comparison. You’ll notice this right off the bat.

Buttons recommends a minimum of two washes before first use, but they achieve maximum absorbency after four or more wash/dry cycles. Our Size 2 prefolds measured 13×5 by 14.5 out of the package and about 12×12.5 inches after prepping. Buttons prefolds are 4x8x4 ply, which translates to 4 layers on either side and 8 layers down the middle. They are durable “diaper service quality” prefolds, meant to withstand years of washing and drying.

Before first use, prefolds are dense and smooth (below), but after washing they fluff up.

We chose Size 2 because Mary Kate is 9 months old and about 15 pounds. She wears her Buttons Diapers on the medium setting right now, and the Size 2 prefold is a perfect fit inside (photo below).

If you are using Buttons covers on the largest setting, fully opened up, the Size 2 prefold fits but with some room to spare. It’s very possible that with an average sized baby you could make the Size 2’s work and not have to go up to a 3. However, if you’re already diapering a bigger or older toddler, definitely go with the Buttons Super Covers and Size 3 prefolds.

If you are diapering a newborn, or using Buttons covers on the very smallest setting right now, you might opt for Size 1. Or, you can make a Size 2 work by folding the front or back under, or by folding and pinning.

If you don’t pin your prefolds, but just like to trifold and lay in a cover like I do, try fanning out the wings in the back, like a newspaper (below). This little tip helps to give you some extra coverage in the rear. Speaking of pinning, Buttons bamboo prefolds have worked just fine with both of our diaper fasteners (Snappi’s and Boingo’s). And it goes without saying that you can use Buttons prefolds with other brands of covers in your rotation.

Pricewise, Buttons bamboo prefolds are comparable to others on the market, at roughly $2.58 and up per diaper. This is higher than 100% cotton, but with bamboo you get extra softness and absorbency. As evidence of this, Mary Kate can’t always wear a plain cotton prefold through a nap, but with bamboo it’s always a win. At night, you can pair a Buttons insert of your choice on top of or underneath the prefold.

Having tried bamboo blend prefolds, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to plain cotton! <—–SPOILED  Over time, bamboo prefolds do lose a little of their initial softness, but it’s nothing dramatic.

I don’t want to wrap up this post without mentioning one of Button’s newest prints – PINE! The warm, mossy green, accented with white pine boughs, is beautiful at any time of year.

Mary Kate (9 months and 15 pounds) is wearing the Pine cover with her new, trim bamboo prefolds:
If new to Buttons Diapers, you might be wondering, “Which should I choose? The prefolds or the snap-in pads?” Good question! Although it certainly doesn’t take a long time to fold a prefold in thirds and lay in a cover, many people still like the convenience of an insert that snaps in and stays put. You can snap your Buttons inserts in ahead of time and have the diapers all ready to go. In terms of absorbency, it’s difficult to compare the two since Buttons has so many options (Stay Dry, Hemp, Bamboo, etc.) and they can be used in different combinations (two inserts snapped together, one insert with one prefold, etc.). One area you may notice a difference in will be drying times; our Buttons bamboo prefolds definitely dry more quickly than the multi-layered bamboo and hemp inserts.

Where to buy: You can shop for Buttons Diapers directly at their website; the new prefolds are covered under a 90-day no questions asked warranty when purchased through their site. Sizes and styles available are:

  • Cotton Prefolds, Pack of 6 starting at $10.50 in sizes 1, 2 and 3
  • Bamboo Prefolds, Pack of 6 starting at $15.50 in sizes 1, 2 and 3

Weight estimates are: Size 1 (7-12 lbs), Size 2 (12-25lbs) and Size 3 (25-40 lbs).

You can also shop Buttons at retailers like Amazon and Diaper Junction.

Giveaway: One lucky reader will win a 6-pack of Buttons prefold diapers in choice of size. Open to US and Canadian residents. Use the entry form below, and good luck!

Borrowed Planet AI2 Diaper Review

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All-in-Two diapers have surged in popularity over the past few years. Borrowed Planet is a Canadian brand that I’ll be featuring today. Borrowed Planet has carved out a niche in the market by staying affordable, offering many unique prints, and being very social online.

For the review, I purchased a Rainy Daze cover for Mary Kate and a Love Bite (shark) cover for my nephew, Roderick. We also tested the bamboo snap-in inserts and the bamboo/cotton trifold.

Borrowed Planet diapers and accessories are manufactured ethically overseas and then safety-tested in compliance with Health Canada standards.

At a price of just $15.49 Canadian ($12.07 US dollars), the Borrowed Planet AI2 shell or cover has many practical features, including two layers of sturdy waterproof PUL, double gussets at the legs, and flaps in the front and back. There are also crossover snaps at the waistband for a snug fit on smaller babies. It’s designed to fit from 8 to 35 pounds.

Bamboo snap-in boosters are $5.49 (or $4.28 US dollars). Composed of multiple layers of 70% bamboo and 30% cotton, the inserts have a sty-dry fleece topper and serged edges that really hold their shape well after washing. Measurements are 5.5 x 12.5 inches. You can use individually or doubled up. Borrowed Planet inserts snap at the front of the shell.

The organic bamboo/30% cotton fleece trifold ($8.79 CAN) has a soft, fleecy feel to it and measures about 11×11 after washing. It’s definitely on the small side and so I only use it paired up with the bamboo snap-in. For a newborn, it would function perfectly on its own as a small little “prefold.”

Use the Borrowed Planet inserts to suit your needs. The two bamboo inserts together make a great nap-time option, or possibly overnight for a young baby. The fleece trifold can be folded in halves or thirds and used alone for smaller infants, or as a booster with the bamboo inserts.

Fit: Our Borrowed Planet diapers seem to run large, except for the leg openings, which Katie found were a bit snug on Roderick’s chunky legs. We both got a really comfortable fit around the waist on our little ones, and like that the trim is very soft. The crotch area is wide, at 7 inches across. For Mary Kate, who is small and has chubby little thighs, my preference is for a trimmer cut.

These covers are versatile and can be used with any type of diaper, including prefolds and flats and fitteds. The generous cut offers great coverage over even the bulkiest diapers.

Roderick is 22 months and just over 27 pounds:

Mary Kate is 8 months and about 15 pounds in this picture:

Performance: One thing Katie and I really like is how the fleece-topped Borrowed Planet inserts do a great job of drawing moisture to the back of the diaper. This is a problem I often encounter Mary Kate, who is not only a tummy sleeper, but on her tummy crawling throughout the day. Many of her diapers stay wet only up front, and this can lead to leaks if I go too long between a change.

Borrowed Planet inserts snap at the front of the diaper, but because there are flaps at both ends, you can also opt to just tuck them inside.

Care: Borrowed Planet is a very easy to care for system, with covers that you can easily get more than once use out before laundering, and inserts that don’t take terribly long to dry.

Value: With covers that are just over $12 in US dollars, and inserts under $5, Borrowed Planet is a very affordable system. There’s also a one year warranty on the snaps and training pants. PUL and other components are covered under a limited 3 month warranty. I’ve been using our Borrowed Planet diapers in a regular rotation for several months now and everything has functioned perfectly.

Where to buy: You can shop Borrowed Planet, and view all their fun prints and color options, directly at their website. Remember to use Google’s currency converter if you’re in the US!

You can follow Borrowed Planet on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Diaper Junction Heavy Wetter AIO Review and Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

If you have been searching for an affordable nap or night-time diaper, Diaper Junction introduced something this year that should pique your curiosity: the Heavy Wetter All-in-One! Diaper Junction provided us with a Parrot (red) diaper to review; there will also be a diaper giveaway, courtesy of yours truly.

Let’s take a look at the diaper’s basic features:

  • Waterproof thermally-bonded PUL outer
  • One snap-in soaker, and one sewn in, plus 2 layers of the same organic bamboo/cotton fleece fabric sewn into the shell (11 total layers)
  • Inner flaps at the back and front to hold inserts in place and help guard against leaks
  • Designed to fit 10-40 pounds
  • Available for $18.95 in 8 solid colors and 8 prints (on sale until October 12th for only $14.21!!)

The sewn-in soaker is attached at the back; the snap-in soaker fastens at the front and is an optional addition.

The “snake style” soaker measures 26 inches long and 5 inches wide. It’s long for a good reason: you can fold it to fit instead of having layers sewn one on top of the other (which would increase the dry time significantly).

The extra snap-in booster is 12.5 inches long and also 5 inches across.

This diaper is designed to be very customizable. Fold to fit, and use one or both inserts, depending on your baby’s size, and whether it’s day or night time:

I thought this diaper would be really bulky on Mary Kate, because she’s 8 months and kind of small at just under 15 pounds, but the fit is fine and not too puffy. It is wide in the crotch, which I don’t care for so much. We haven’t had any gaps around the legs, or red marks.

For such an absorbent diapers, it doesn’t look terribly bulky on Roderick, either. We’ve both reviewed “night time” diapers that can get really big.

One minor thing I noticed in terms of design is that it bunches just a little bit at the inside front of the diaper, where the waterproof tummy panel is attached to the sewn-in pad. You can see how it pinches down at the front waistband in the picture- below right.

Performance: I was really curious to see how this diaper would work overnight for Katie’s toddler, Roderick. He’s almost 2 years old and close to 28 pounds. Her results: “I don’t think it was fully saturated when he woke up. He actually wore it for about 45 minutes in the morning before I changed him, and there were still no leaks.” It held him all night, as is, with no extra inserts.

Not surprisingly, 8-month-old Mary Kate also wears it all night long with no leaks. And the bamboo/cotton fabric inside is very soft and smooth. I love the way it feels and I bet my little girl does, too.

Care: Bamboo and cotton stain more easily than microfiber and fleece, so I had to treat the fabric right after Mary Kate’s first big mess. I’m really pleased with the dry time, which is about 1 full cycle. If it’s part of a huge load of diapers, it will sometimes need to be hung up after coming from the dryer, but only for a little while. I also like that there was barely any uneven shrinking of the fibers around the edges, which often happens with inserts that contain cotton.

Value: $18.95 for a bamboo/cotton night-worthy diaper is very competitively priced. Many other fitteds and “heavy duty” all-in-one diapers are well over twenty dollars.

Did you know Diaper Junction is having a huge moving sale right now? Lots of things are on sale, including all Diaper Junction brand diapers, such as the Heavy Wetter All-in-One I reviewed today! You can try it out for only $14.21! Plus, shipping is free over $25. There are also three coupon codes that allow you to claim 50, 75 or even 100 rewards points with your purchase.

Giveaway: GIVEAWAY CLOSED. My readers in the US and Canadian can enter to win the new Diaper Junction brand Heavy Wetter AIO! You get to choose from in stock colors and prints. Use the form below, and good luck!

 

 

 

 

Nicki’s Bamboo All-in-One Diaper Review & Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

The Nicki’s Bamboo All-in-One diaper was on my wish list for a really long time. When Mary Kate left the newborn stage behind (*sniff*), I went ahead and got one for her and one for my nephew, Roderick. After testing all summer long, I’m ready to share our experiences with the Nicki’s Bamboo AIO. There’s also a giveaway for you to enter!

The bamboo AIO is an original design made exclusively for Nicki’s, and it definitely has some unique features.

  • Waterproof PUL outer and a coordinating bamboo terry lining
  • Rolled leg elastics
  • Includes a 4-layer 70% bamboo, 30% cotton blend insert which snaps out for easy cleaning and quicker drying
  • Retail price is $15.95 for colors and $16.95 for prints
  • All Nicki’s brand diapers are guaranteed against workmanship or material defects for 60 days from date of purchase.
  • Every Nicki’s diaper you buy qualifies for the Buy 1 Give 1 charity program

Depending on which print or color you buy, many of the Nicki’s bamboo AIO diapers have an inner lining and insert that are dyed to match. My blue houndstooth print has a pale blue interior.

The insert snaps into the back of the diaper, and can be folded under to fit smaller babies.

The insert measures 12×5.

You can buy extra Nicki’s Ultimate Bamboo Inserts for $4.95 if you’d like to boost the absorbency of this diaper. The boosters have a stay dry fleece layer on top.

How does the bamboo AIO compare to other Nicki’s brand diapers? First, it’s smaller overall than the Nicki’s pocket diaper. The wings are also shorter than the Nicki’s pocket and the Nicki’s covers. It’s much trimmer through the crotch, though.

It’s bulkier in terms of thickness, compared to the Nicki’s pocket, which you can see illustrated below.

Katie actually has two Nicki’s bamboo AIO diapers, and found there was a slight difference between them. One insert was a little longer and thicker. We noticed this same size inconsistency when reviewing the Nicki’s Ultimate AIO as well.

The rolled elastic around the leg openings is a feature you’ll notice right off about this AIO, because few diapers have it. I actually like this feature, and find that the gussets are extra gentle because of it. It only takes me about 1 extra minute to “roll” or pop the elastics inward after the diaper is fastened on. (It’s important not to miss this step because it’s crucial for a snug fit, and to prevent wetness from sneaking out.)

I wish the wings were a little longer on this diaper, like our Nicki’s pockets, but I still think it’s a good looking diaper and fits Mary Kate really well.

Roderick can wear this diaper with the rise snapped down once, or completely opened up when an extra insert is added. He’s 21 months and 28 pounds.

Both children have chubby legs and the soft rolled elastics fit very comfortably.

Performance: Mary Kate, at eight months, gets a good 4 to 6 hours in this diaper. Twenty-one-month-old Roderick can wear it through a nap, and overnight with an extra insert. Katie compared her Nicki’s bamboo AIO to the Imagine bamboo AIO, and feels like the Nicki’s has an edge.

Care: We prepped our diapers at least three times before first use, since there are cotton components. It does take 1.5 to 2 dryer cycles to get the insert fully dry. Also, the bamboo tends to get stiff if you air dry only; Katie fluffs hers up in the dryer for a few minutes after it comes off the line.

The insert always stays snapped to the diaper while washing and drying, which I love.

Value: The Nicki’s bamboo AIO is a very good value, starting at $15.95. It matches or exceeds many other AIO diapers in its class in terms of absorbency and comes in a huge variety of prints and colors. It also ships free at Nicki’s!

Mary Kate and her big sister, Catherine:

Giveaway: One winner gets to choose from any in stock Nicki’s bamboo AIO diaper! Enter using the form below. This promotion is open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck!