Giveaways — Page 15

Preventing SIDS with Safer Sleep + a HALO Giveaway

October 5, 2016 by Anne Marie 38 Comments

When I first became a mother, SIDS was at the top of my worry list. And part of that was because it seemed like something that just randomly happened, and therefore completely beyond my control as a parent. But did you know that more than half of all sudden unexpected infant deaths are preventable when proper safe sleep practices are followed? That’s more than 50%! October happens to be SIDS Awareness Month, and HALO is once again helping to educate parents about safe sleep for babies.

This year, HALO is encouraging parents to “Decorate the Nursery, Not the Crib.” As a participant in the awareness campaign, I received a complimentary HALO 100% cotton SleepSack wearable blanket for Ingrid to try out. This is the Gray Elephant print:

Ingrid sleeps in a crib with snug sheets and nothing else (besides her SleepSack to stay warm at night). When buying a Swaddle or SleepSack from HALO, you can choose from many different fabrics, depending on the season and your personal preference – 100% cotton, organic cotton, microfleece, Luxe Sherpa, Winter Weight and muslin. You can find comfortable, safe sleep solutions for newborns up to toddlers like Ingrid, and big kids, too!

My favorite features of Ingrid’s toddler-size SleepSack are the zipper that goes both ways, and the thick, smooth cotton fabric that’s both comfortable and breathable.

Here’s a quick rundown of a what a safe environment looks like:

A firm mattress that fits snuggly with no gaps
A tightly fitted crib sheet
No soft bedding at all (no bumpers, pillows, positioners, loose blankets, toys or stuffed animals)
No baby monitors or other items that have cords
A wearable blanket instead of a loose blanket

You can read more about HALO’s Safe Sleep Tips here.

Here’s a message about SIUD that HALO wanted me to share with you as part of their October campaign: “Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SIUD) still claims more than 3,500 infants each year in North America. More than half of these deaths are preventable when proper safe sleep practices are followed. To help keep all babies sleeping safely and avoid these unnecessary tragedies, HALO is dedicated to putting the health, safety and well-being of babies first. In fact, over 1,400 hospitals use HALO® SleepSack® wearable blankets through the HALO Safer Way to Sleep Hospital Initiative. Through this program HALO has helped Hospitals and Birth Centers throughout North America create their own safe sleep programs, which utilize the HALO SleepSack Swaddle to demonstrate to parents and caregivers how to keep their babies sleeping safely. To date, HALO has donated more than $4.3 million in its efforts to promote safe sleep education.”

HALO is also offering 2 giveaways! You can win a HALO Safe Sleep Starter Kit here at my blog (see below), and enter to win the sought-after HALO Bassinest by visiting their Facebook page.

Giveaway: One lucky reader in the US or Canada will win a HALO Safe Sleep Starter Kit, which includes a HALO SleepSack Swaddle and SleepSack, a pacifier, bodysuit and fitted crib sheet! Winner may choose between boy or girl colors.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Diaper Rite Bamboo Flat Diapers Review & Giveaway

August 5, 2016 by Anne Marie 93 Comments

bambooflat1

After using flat diapers for many years, I decided it was time to try something a little bit different – bamboo/cotton flat diapers! My main question was, “are they worth the extra money?” While bamboo flat diapers are not even close to being expensive when compared to fitteds and AIO’s that cost $20 or more, for someone on a very strict budget, the difference between $2 for cotton and $3 for bamboo could be an issue.

I decided to buy my bamboo flats from Diaper Junction. They are the “Diaper Rite” brand and prices are as follows: 1 dozen in size small is $33.95 ($2.83 per diaper) and 1 dozen in size large is $39.95 ($3.33 per diaper).

We’ve had these for over a year now, and they are the same diapers I used in this year’s Flats and Handwashing Challenge. Diaper Rite bamboo flats are made from 55% rayon from bamboo and 45% organic cotton birdseye. Smalls measure roughly 27″ x 27″ before washing, and larges are 32″ X 32.” Because of the natural birdseye fabric, these flats are not going to be perfect squares after you prep them.

My measurements of the large after shrinkage: 25×30.

bambooflats2

One of the easiest ways to use a flat diaper is with the pad fold. Here’s an easy photo tutorial for you to follow. Once you’ve folded it, just lay in a cover and put on your baby. Here is a master table of additional flat diaper folds.

Once pad folded, this diaper measures about 13 inches long by 5.5 inches wide, so the dimensions are very similar to a standard bamboo or microfiber insert.

bambooflats3

Fit: One of the nicest thing about flat diapers is that they can be folded in many different ways. This customizes both absorbency and fit. Because of that fact, my recommendation is that unless you will be diapering a newborn, or have a very petite baby, go ahead and get size large like I did since you can fold them to fit even a younger infant. Here’s how to fold a flat super small so it will fit in a newborn cover.

These two pictures illustrate how customizable flat diapers are:

bambooflats4

Performance: Bamboo flats are noticeably softer than cotton flats. That’s the first benefit I noticed. They also absorb more. While the difference may not be dramatic it is definitely noticeable. For us, that means using less doublers and extra inserts – sometimes none at all. With cotton flats we would have to add absorbency or double up the diapers. But Ingrid can wear one bamboo flat alone for a nap.

Unless you are pad folding, you will need a diaper fastener or pin to secure flats to your baby. Both Snappi and Boingo fasteners work great for this.

bambooflaats5

Care: Flat diapers are easy to wash and quick to dry because they are only one layer of fabric. Wash as usual with all your other diapers and either machine or line dry. However, keep in mind that bamboo is a bit more delicate than cotton. Diaper Junction recommends only very occasional bleaching, and only if needed. To spot clean your flats, try a stain stick like Buncha Farmers. For very stubborn stains, you can do an Oxiclean soak before washing. Hang dry the diapers in full sun to fade stains even more.

If you don’t have a washing machine or want to avoid the laundromat, here is how I hand wash flat diapers.

bambooflats6

Value: I think bamboo flat diapers are definitely worth the extra money, if you can swing it. As mentioned above, they are not just softer, they are also more absorbent, so they can save you money on extra inserts, or having to purchase more flats so you can double up. I think these factors justify the price of a few more dollars. I don’t know of one mother who has purchased these buttery soft and thirsty bamboo flats and regretted it!

You can purchase Diaper Rite bamboo flats at my affiliate, Diaper Junction, and get free shipping on purchases over $39. So if you pick up a dozen of the flats and a waterproof diaper cover to go along with them, you can easily qualify for the free shipping.

Giveaway: CLOSED I’m giving away 1 dozen bamboo Diaper Rite flats! Winner chooses size (small or large). This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents and ends on August 17th. Good luck!

annesignature

bumGenius Freetime AIO Diaper Review & Giveaway

July 1, 2016 by Anne Marie 113 Comments

After enjoying resounding success with its one-size bumGenius pocket diaper and Flip hybrid system, Cotton Babies introduced the bumGenius Freetime All-in-One diaper.

Here are the basic features of the Freetime:

100% waterproof PUL (polyurethane laminate) exterior shell
Sewn-in layer of microfiber
Two suedecloth topped microfiber soaker pads (80% poly and 20% nylon), which are sewn at each end of the diaper
Signature stretchy poly knit tabs at the waist
Adjusts to fit from 8 to 35 pounds via the rise snaps

On the outside, it looks a lot like the bumGenius 5.0 pocket.

On the inside, the construction is very unique. There’s an inner core of suede-topped microfiber and then two partially attached pads (one is attached at front and one at the back). It’s designed this way so the diaper not only dries more quickly, but the inserts can be folded up shorter for a smaller baby.

If you lift up the pads, you can see they are open inside, which also further helps to cut down on drying time.

Here’s what the pads look like folded under to shorten them and fit in the diaper better when you’ve got the rise snapped up for a small infant.

You can also fold the front insert in half to put more absorbency there for a boy.

Performance: I love how trim this diaper is, thanks to the shorter inserts inside. In fact, it’s one of the trimmest AIO diapers we own. Yet Ingrid can easily wear it through a long nap. It’s roomy enough to add absorbency for night time. I usually just lay an insert right on top, instead of trying to position it underneath the soaker pads. We haven’t tried the Freetime overnight, but have had zero leaks during day time use.

Care: It dries fast in the dryer; if you line dry as bumGenius recommends, it takes longer but is much better compared to other AIO diapers. This is a tricky diaper to spray or dunk, because of the two flaps that hang down. Poo can sometimes get in three different places (on the two pads and on the inner core. This is one of the main drawbacks I have observed with the diaper. I like the concept behind the soakers, but cleaning them isn’t always easy. Thankfully, though, my sister-in-law and I both found that the fabric does not hold onto stains.

Value: The Freetime costs $19.95, which is in the medium price range, however there are other synthetic AIO diapers for less. You do get one of the best warranties in the business – 1 year, covering all components.

You can purchase the bumGenius Freetime with FREE shipping at:

And at:

Fit: Overall, the Freetime is a really trim and cute diaper. My SIL and I both got a good fit on our little ones, at different ages and different body types. I do wish the wing tabs were a bit longer. If you get hook and loop there’s a little more give, but I don’t care for bumGenius hook and loop.

The Freetime runs a bit smaller compared to the bumGenius 5.0 (pocket diaper). You can see the difference in size overall when they are placed side by side. And inside they are different at the back and front since the Freetime has a waterproof strip of PUL fabric.

My nephew, Roderick, is 7 months, 22 pounds and pretty chunky. He can wear the Freetime comfortably with the rise snapped up once, at the second-to-largest setting, so it has some room to grow there. The waist and leg snaps are at the second-to-last setting, which is great since my sister-in-law has found that he has to wear most “one size” diapers at the very last setting – which doesn’t leave him any room to grow and he’s not even a year old.

What I also liked about the diaper was that it washed and dried very well – no staining, and it actually air dried in the same amount of time as my microfiber BB inserts.

Interestingly, my Ingrid, although a toddler of 23 months, also wears the diaper at the same rise setting. But she’s small for her age and her legs are thinner. She’s modeling an additional limited edition print, the patriotic “Mary Pickersgill.”

Have you tried the bumGenius Freetime diaper yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Giveaway: Enter to win TWO bumGenius Freetime diapers on my Facebook page. The giveaway ends Tuesday, July 5th and is open to US and Canadian residents. GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Snappi Cloth Diaper Fastener Review & Giveaway

May 26, 2016 by Anne Marie 34 Comments

snappi1

The patented Snappi diaper fastener was created to replace diaper pins, ensuring safer and more secure performance.

Snappi sent us a 3-pack of fasteners in exchange for an honest review. Snappi just introduced some stylish new colors (Orchid, Scuba, Bamboo, Baltic and Coral).

new

The packaging has also been updated with a cute little penguin.

snappi

Snappi’s are made from a flexible, non-toxic and latex-free material which stretches to grip your diaper at three points. Each end of a Snappi diaper fastener has tiny little teeth that gently grab the fabric. There’s also a safety loop on each end which covers the sharp teeth when not in use.

snappi2

Here is a closeup:

snappi3

You’ll definitely want to keep a small assortment of Snappi’s on hand if small things to get misplaced in your house. Luckily, they come in packs of 3 (boy, girl and gender-neutral) for about $10, so it’s very easy to start a collection.

Stretch your Snappi fastener before using; this will help lengthen it a bit, and give it more flexibility. When putting a Snappi on, you shouldn’t grab the thin safety loop but instead grasp the sturdy middle portion where the word “Snappi” appears.

I usually hook the left first, then stretch over the right wing, and then finish by pulling the Snappi down and securing it to the crotch area. You have a 3-point system to secure a flat or prefold and help it stay in place better under a cover, or by itself as your baby moves around.

snappi5

Here’s a video which shows how to use a Snappi. It takes 10 seconds or less to get it on the diaper.

As you can see, there’s not a learning curve when it comes to Snappi fasteners. It’s easy as 1-2-3, literally. When we first started using Snappi’s years ago, I had to be careful about scratching myself while getting the diaper on, because I’m just a naturally clumsy person and I get distracted. But I feel more like a pro now and that doesn’t happen anymore. 🙂

snapp6

Two things you’ll want to be aware of with Snappi fasteners:

It is recommended that you replace your Snappi’s after 6 months, or as soon as you see any type of damage or weak spots
They don’t grip very smooth or tightly woven fabrics as well – (flannel, jersey and 100% bamboo)
Older babies or toddlers may be able to remove them, but this isn’t a problem if you’ve got a cover on top.

Despite the few small negatives, Snappi’s are the most popular fastener on the market right now. With over 80 million Snappi’s sold worldwide, it’s a successful and time-tested brand. I’ve used Snappi’s for many years and can attest to their performance and durability.

You can buy Snappi fasteners on their website (via Amazon) or from select cloth diaper retailers.

Giveaway: CLOSED Snappi would like to give away a 3-pack of their diaper fasteners. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

annesignature

Nicki’s Overnight Bamboo Fitted Diaper Review & Giveaway

May 13, 2016 by Anne Marie 42 Comments

Nicki’s Diapers introduced a new Bamboo Overnight Fitted this year which will make a lot of budget-conscious families very happy. That’s because the prices are just $13.95 for one-size and $9.95 for newborns. Pretty amazing for a bamboo fitted, huh? Read on!

I purchased one of each to review and share with you. Nicki’s has offered a giveaway in conjunction with my review, which you find more details about below.

If I could describe this diaper with three words they would be: soft, thirsty and adorable. The 100% bamboo fibers are pure white terry and the edges are serged with rainbow threads. The leg gussets and the back waistband are ruffled, which is pretty cute.

There are 2 sets of snaps on the rise, which equals 3 size settings (small, medium and large). There are also 2 additional crossover snaps on the wings to allow the diaper to fit thin or small infants.

The diaper is absorbent on its own, since it’s made of 3 layers of bamboo, but it also includes a 5-layer bamboo soaker which attaches with 2 snaps at the back.

The newborn size is almost exactly alike, but smaller. The waistband can be snapped down in the middle to accommodate the umbilical cord stump. However, there are less waistband snaps overall and no crossovers. Inside, you’ll find the same snap-in soaker, in miniature.

To shorten the rise of the newborn diaper for a really tiny baby you can fasten the wings to the row of colored snaps across the middle of the diaper, as seen in the top left photo below. The bottom picture shows one-size and newborn side by side.

Here’s a profile of the one-size diaper with insert included:

Performance: With or without the soaker, this fitted makes a great day time diaper. Erik and Ingrid, both average wetters, have worn it overnight (I use an extra doubler with him because he’s 3). I like to use a fleece liner with it overnight because the diaper will get saturated all over.

The soaker has stayed attached about half the time during laundering and drying, but when they get separated it’s easy to match them up out of the dryer because of the rainbow threads. Drying time averages about 1 and a quarter cycles on medium heat after being washed in an HE top loader (which gets a lot of water out). If using a traditional top loader, I would estimate drying time to be longer.

I prepped the diaper by washing it twice with our stash before first use. After prepping, you may notice some tiny fringes of thread around the edges of the diaper; this is normal.

The bamboo fabric does stain easily.

Fit: Bamboo is fairly trim, and one of the first things I noticed with this diaper is that even with the soaker folded under at the front to fit a smaller baby, it’s not that bulky. The fabric drapes nicely and is very flexible, so it fits snugly get comfortably against the body. When it’s saturated, bamboo isn’t stiff (although with long-term use and a lot of washing, bamboo will eventually lose some of its softness).

The wings on this diaper are very stretchy; Ingrid can actually wear it with the first crossover snap fastened if I really want the diaper to fit snugly. Usually, though, she wears it on the snap that comes just before the crossovers. Getting a perfect fit at the waist is not as crucial for me with a fitted diaper because the cover that you put on top holds the diaper in place. TIP: If you do find your baby in between sizes at the waist, or you can’t get it snug enough, use a Snappi or Boingo to hold it closed and leave the snaps undone.

Compared to other fitteds, I find the Nicki’s version to be very versatile when it comes to sizing and absorbency. For instance, if you’re diapering a very small baby and just need an average amount of absorbency, you can leave the soaker out altogether and use the diaper all by itself on the small setting for an extremely trim day diaper. And then at the very other end of the spectrum, the diaper on its largest setting with the soaker attached can function as a night diaper for toddlers and older infants. It’s also stretchy and roomy enough to add an additional doubler from your existing collection.

Which covers will work best? I tried 10 different one-size diaper covers over this fitted and found that Imagine, Sweet Pea, Blueberry Coveralls and Nicki’s Diapers (the one size and the pull-on pants) gave the best coverage. Flip, Buttons, Best Bottoms, Kawaii and our GroVia and Funky Fluff shells were not quite big enough for my liking. This diaper is narrow through the crotch, so where your cover really needs to fit is up and over the hips to fully contain the wings, which are wide. Here are some pictures of the diaper on 3-year-old Erik with a Nicki’s one-size cover on top.

Here’s Erik in just the diaper. You can see how the diaper is contoured in the front to make it fit better between the legs.

Ingrid at 22 months:

And my nephew, Roderick, who’s 6 months and already 20 pounds! He has very chubby legs but that’s no problem thanks to the stretchiness of the bamboo fabric.

Value: The price just can’t be beat; I don’t think there is another brand name bamboo fitted on the market for under $14. It’s a well made diaper that has lived up to its promises, fits great and looks super cute. Plus, with every Nicki’s brand diaper you buy, 1 is donated to charity via the Buy 1 Give 1 promotion.

The Nicki’s Bamboo Overnight fitted diaper is only available from Nicki’s Diapers and is not sold anywhere else. The one-size version sold quickly, but newborn is still availble; look for a restock soon.

Giveaway: CLOSED Nicki’s is giving away a bamboo fitted to one lucky Zephyr Hill reader! This promo is open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck and let me know if you have a question that wasn’t covered in the review!