Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

*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!

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!

Kinzd Cosmetic Bags Review & Giveaway (3 Winners)

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If you’ve never heard of Kinzd, then I have a quick little story to share about a dog who loved to tear up leather wallets. Five years ago, his owner decided to start making durable, slim wallets at an affordable price, and from socially conscious materials in Hong Kong. That’s how Kinzd (the puppy’s name!) was born.
Kinzd, which distributes its bags and wallets to 95 countries now, sent us two complimentary items to review:

 

  • Travel cosmetic pouch: Made of waterproof, durable Oxford nylon, it measures 8×3.5×4 inches. Available in 6 colors for $13.99
  • Large make-up bag: Made of waterproof, durable Oxford nylon, it measures 13×7.5×4 inches. Available in 4 colors for $16.99

Our Kinzd bags are sturdy and durable and hold their shape well. The nylon outer is easy to wipe clean.

The travel pouch is a nice little make-up bag that is perfect for short trips, or for keeping a small amount of cosmetics in. The larger case can serve as your everyday make-up bag, or as a travel case for bigger items like shampoo, lotion, hairspray, etc.

One of my favorite features is the heavy duty zipper, which operates smoothly and flawlessly. These bags aren’t loud or flashy; the sleek design is classic and understated.

Besides bags and accessory cases, Kinzd is best known for affordable men’s and women’s genuine leather wallets. Slim, practical and stylish, they feature RFID blocking technology and a 6-month warranty.

You can shop Kinzd directly at their website or on Amazon.

Giveaway: Three of my readers in the US/Canada will receive their choice of product from Kinzd (wallet or one of cosmetic bags I reviewed). Enter using the form below. Good luck!

Primm n Proper Baby Cloth Diapers Review & Giveaway

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Primm n Proper Baby cloth diapers are handcrafted in Greenaces, Washington by the talented Meaghan Primm. Her online shop features a distinct array of fitted and All-in-Two diapers in so many prints and colors that every cloth diapering family is sure to find something that calls to them.

Meaghan offered to send Mary Kate some of her diapers to try out. We choose her popular one-size bamboo fitted in “Cherry Toss” (retail $39.99) and a convenient AI2 in “Delilah Floral” (retail $31.99). I nearly spent an hour browsing her shop, trying to settle on the fabrics. They are THAT hard to choose from.

What makes Primm n Proper stand out from other WAHM businesses? On average, each diaper is comprised of materials from five other small businesses. When you purchase Primm n Proper, you’re supporting more than just one cottage industry. 

Besides being supportive of the local community, Meaghan puts comfort high on the priority list, using breathable fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo velour and hemp.

And now here’s a look at the two diapers we received.

One-Size Bamboo Fitted (11 to 35 lbs)

  • Cotton lycra knit outer
  • Hidden layer of heavy organic cotton/bamboo fleece
  • Inner lining of heavy organic cotton/bamboo velour
  • Snap-in “snake style” soaker is two layers of bamboo fleece topped with bamboo velour
  • Includes a small bamboo fleece booster with a poly fleece topper, which is ideal for placement in the wet zone

To get a good fit on smaller babies, you fold the waistband under, which reveals another row of snaps. For smaller babies, it’s also easy to fold the long soaker under to shorten it.

Although the Primm n Proper bamboo fitted is super absorbent, it does need a waterproof cover on top if your baby will be wearing for an extended period of time. But you can easily go coverless around the house for a good hour or two.

Mary Kate is 6 months old and about 15 pounds. She can wear the diaper either way, although I prefer the rise folded down because it’s easier to fit a cover on top. (We found that roomy covers like Imagine and Flip worked well with this diaper).

The leg and waist elastics are very gentle and soft, and I love the plush bamboo velour lining inside that goes against Mary Kate’s skin.

This is such a soft and cozy diaper, and it fits very comfortably around Mary Kate’s waist and legs.

One-Size AI2 (10 to 35 lbs)

  • Waterproof PUL outer layer
  • White microfleece inner lining
  • Snap-in “snake style” soaker is two layers of bamboo fleece topped with bamboo velour
  • Includes a small bamboo fleece booster with a poly fleece topper, which is ideal for placement in the wet zone

Like the fitted diaper, Meaghan’s AI2 can be folded down at the front for smaller babies to reveal another set of snaps.

When the waistband is folded under to fit a smaller baby like Mary Kate, the white fleece lining is exposed (below left). I wondered if this might cause moisture to wick out onto her clothes when she was on her tummy (crawling, naps, etc.), and it did. The simplest way around this was to simply not fold the waistband down, and just let Mary Kate wear it as is (on the large setting). The rise is high, but it works.

I do like the fleece lining of the AI2 because it’s soft and lessens the feeling of wetness, if your baby is sensitive to that. The flip side is that it’s not a “wipe clean” type of material like plain PUL.

Meaghan’s AI2 diaper is a more trim option than the fitted with a cover. The soaker and the extra booster together are so absorbent, that we can usually swap it out when wet and replace with another snap-in insert. That way, the shell is not just single-use-only. (If the shell does get soiled in any way, I do go ahead and wash it, though.)

Meaghan sent an extra snap-in insert for this very purpose, and also provided samples of her Petite (small) and Stud (large) boosters. These contoured boosters are very trim and provided enough additional absorbency to possible get a heavy wetter through the night (Mary Kate did!).

Everything we received from Primm n Proper baby was beautifully and evenly sewn out of high-quality, durable materials. One thing that really stands out to me is the way Meaghan offers a variety of choices to her customers, not just with the diaper styles and fabric choices, but with extra absorbency options.