buttons diapers

New Buttons Bamboo Prefold Diapers Review & Giveaway

November 14, 2017 by Anne Marie 68 Comments

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!

Buttons Super Cover and Bamboo Inserts Review & Giveaway

April 26, 2017 by Anne Marie 66 Comments

This post contains a referral link

We first tried Buttons Diapers four years ago and they’ve been in our rotation ever since. Buttons is a simple AI2 system that consists of waterproof covers and snap-in soaker pads. Buttons is constantly innovating and updating to meet customer needs, and 2017 brought two VERY exciting additions: a newborn cover and a Super cover for older/bigger babies and toddlers. Buttons sent a complimentary Super cover for 2-year-old Ingrid and 17 month old Roderick (my nephew). We also received the new bamboo/cotton inserts to try out. The Super cover is designed to fit babies from 12 to 40+ pounds.

Here’s a photo comparison to show the 3 sizes of covers that Buttons now offers. The newborn and Super covers have double snaps on the wings:

Buttons covers are made of two layers of very soft but sturdy waterproof PUL fabric, and have a wipeable interior, double leg gussets and inside flaps (a new feature not found on the one-size version). There are 3 size settings on the rise, giving older babies and toddlers more than enough room to grow. This cute print is called Bloom:

The new style of inserts are 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton. Unlike other Buttons inserts, they do not have the stay-dry fleece layer on top. Choose from among small, large and XL sizes. The night inserts are made to snap onto the back of the day inserts, and then snap into the cover as well (i.e. they have snaps on both sides).

Daytime inserts are made of 5 layers of absorbent 70% bamboo & 30% organic cotton. Nighttime doublers are also 5 layers of fabric. They come in packs of 2 starting at $12.50.

– Small inserts fit babies from 7-15 lbs (inserts are 11″ in length)
– Large inserts fit babies from 20-25 lbs (inserts are 13″ in length)
– X-Large inserts fit babies from 25-40 lbs (inserts are 15″ in length)

While there are many options in the Buttons system now (3 sizes of covers, multiple sizes and fabrics for inserts), using them is really easy because you snap an insert (or two) in, and then snap the diaper onto your baby.

In my prior reviews, I mentioned that Buttons one-size covers run small overall. It’s great to see this larger cover for big babies and toddlers!

Here’s 17-month-old Roderick. Katie liked that with just 1 insert in, she can use at the next-to-largest setting, meaning Roderick still has growing room, even with his chunky legs.

And 2.5 old Ingrid, who is a small toddler. She’s wearing the diaper with day+night inserts snapped together:

Fit: With one insert snapped inside, Katie got a good, snug fit on Roderick around the waist and legs. With two inserts, the cover was not as snug but still performed well in terms of absorbency. On Ingrid, it fits equally well and I didn’t have any issues with it not fitting snugly enough when both inserts were used together. When utilizing both, the diaper will obviously be much bulkier, but absorbency is steller! Ingrid goes all night with the 2 insert combo, which is great because she’s potty training in the day time but not staying dry at night. The pads are very thick and I asked if wearing both together bothered her and she had no complaints at all.

Performance: Neither Katie nor I had any leaks with the new Super cover and bamboo inserts. The inserts are very thick, sturdy and soft. The serged edges do curl up in places and shrink a little after prepping (you can see this in the photo above). They are stiff if you line or flat dry, so Katie and I both preferred drying on low. At that setting, they took about 2 full dryer cycles, so the long time is a drawback. That being said, they are super absorbent and neither Katie nor I had to deal with any leaks while testing on our toddlers.

Value: The new Super cover starts at $13.50, a very affordable price tag for a versatile and reliable cover (that also happens to be available in some adorable prints and colors!). You can shop Buttons at their online store, and at various cloth diaper retailers.

Giveaway: One Zephyr Hill reader will win a $25 store credit to Buttons Diapers! This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. Good luck and thanks for reading about our experiences!

New Buttons Diapers Review & Giveaway

December 2, 2014 by Anne Marie 127 Comments

Buttons Diapers recently added a few new products to their lineup and sent some complimentary samples for a review. I received a cover in the Critters print (which was introduced this Fall), a small daytime and small nighttime hemp insert, a diaper pail liner in the Thicket (leaves) print and a package of 6 velour wipes.

The Cover

Since my previous review, an embroidered button has been added to the back of each cover, giving it a cute signature look. This is still one of my favorite covers; we use Buttons Diapers daily for both 4-month-old Ingrid and almost-two Erik. Features include a wipeable interior, super soft and durable 2-layer PUL, front and back elastics, double gussets around the leg openings, snap closure and a suggested size range of 9 to 35 pounds (I actually used Buttons covers on newborn Ingrid at 7 pounds). There are snaps inside of each cover so you can use with coordinating Buttons inserts, but the cover can also be used with anything in your diaper system (fitteds, prefolds, flats, etc.).

Solid colors are $11.00 and prints are $12.50.

Here’s the cover opened up so you can see how it looks like on its own, or with a Buttons insert snapped inside.

I want to note that compared to most of my other one-size diapers, Buttons run small in the rise. Erik is 26 pounds or so and I’m estimating he’ll be too tall for the covers by 30 pounds. By that time, I’m hoping he’ll be ready to potty train and out of diapers for the most part anyway.

Buttons covers are a favorite for us not just because of the features mentioned above, but also because the fit is fantastic and we NEVER have leaks. Not one in a year and a half of use. And while I usually prefer a diaper with double snaps on the wings, I don’t miss that feature at all with Buttons.

I love the fit, the price, the colors and prints and the great service. Enough said!

The Wipes

The new Buttons wipes are made of super soft poly velour with a microfleece backing and are 8×8 inches square. One side is smooth and the other is textured, so they work better than a regular flannel wipe for scrubbing stubborn messes. Because they are so soft and velvety, I’ve found the wipes also work well to gently wipe dirty hands, noses and faces. They make perfect little wash cloths for baby Ingrid. And the apple green color helps hide stains. I have noticed that because the two layers are sewn together only at the edges, that you can feel the fabric layers moving back and forth against each other during use. At $8.50 for a package of six, they are very economically priced.

The Pail Liner / Wet Bag

Buttons’ new wet bag/pail liner is huge! It easily holds 3 days worth of dirty diapers from two children, with room to spare. It’s larger than its competitors and yet still only costs $16.00. I’ve been testing the bag for almost two months now and have had no leaks or moisture seeping through the PUL. It’s thick and durable, but silky smooth to the touch, just like the Buttons diaper covers. The unique toggle closure lets you adjust the opening around the top of the pail, and also allows you to use it free-standing without a pail (other elasticized liners don’t multi-task like this). The toggle closure is a bit stubborn sometimes, but works fine otherwise. Buttons new wet bag is available in two prints (Thicket and Charming) and three colors (Blueberry, Strawberry and Pebble).

Inserts

Previously, all Buttons snap-in inserts were made of microfiber/microfleece. Now there’s a new hemp option!

Daytime inserts are four layers of 55% hemp/45% cotton with one layer of microfleece on top. They measure approximately 4.5×12 after prepping. Nighttime inserts are five layers of 55% hemp/45% cotton and measure 4.5×13 after prepping. The night insert is designed to be used with a day insert snapped on top; that way your baby gets the benefit of a stay-dry layer.

There are two sizes to choose from: small (orange stitching) fits 9 to 20 pounds and large (blue stitching) fits 20 to 35 pounds. Inserts can be snapped into the front or the back, or both.

Two things I really like about these inserts: (1) they stay snapped in the shell when you wash and dry them, making this almost seem like an AIO diaper, and (2) you don’t have to snap them in if you don’t want to. One alone is super trim; two inserts snapped together isn’t that bulky. Compared to other nighttime diapers, Buttons definitely has an edge in terms of trimness.

The only drawback of the new inserts is that hemp takes longer to dry than microfiber.

Absorbency is excellent. Ingrid wears both hemp inserts together overnight without leaks. One insert by itself gets her through a long nap of 3 hours or more.

And now, one of the most fun parts of cloth diapering: let’s see how it fits! In these photos, both Ingrid (4 months) and Erik (23 months) are wearing both inserts in the cover. (Ideally, Erik would be wearing the large inserts, but I wanted to show how the covers fit on a 26-pound toddler).

You can shop for Buttons at their online store, or at select diaper retailers.

Buttons is offering a giveaway to my readers! The prize includes: 1 cover in your choice of in stock print/color, 1 daytime hemp insert and 1 pail liner in your choice of in stock print/color. Open to both US and Canadian residents. Good luck!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Buttons Diapers Wet Bag Review & Giveaway

January 21, 2014 by Anne Marie 79 Comments

Buttons Diapers has recently added wet bags in three different sizes to their online store. Smalls are $7.00, mediums are $10.50 and larges are $17.00.

I received a large wet bag in the pebble (gray) polka dot print to review. It’s made to hold about 6 diapers at a time, which I found to be a very good estimate. Buttons wet bags are designed in the USA and made in China:

Before washing, the large bag measured approximately 14×14. After laundering and drying it shrunk to about 13×13. Because the outside layer is cotton, the bag doesn’t hold its shape as perfectly as a 100% PUL bag will.

Buttons wet bags include a couple of nice features:

A fabric hanging loop that snaps open and closed
Two layers of fabric for extra durability
Two pockets: one waterproof and one non-waterproof

I like using the non-waterproof second compartment for holding 1 or 2 clean diapers, or maybe even some wipes, a change of baby clothes or even mama cloth. I also like how smooth and easy the zippers are to operate; we’ve owned wet bags in the past that either have tiny little zippers that are hard to grab, or zippers that don’t run smoothly. The Buttons zipper has a nice little fabric tag to grab onto.

The larger main compartment is lined with white PUL. The smaller second compartment is lined with the polka dot cotton fabric:

There are only two colors available right now – pebble or apple – but as with the covers, I’m sure Buttons will be adding more in the future. I’m happy with the gray polka dot print and think it’s extremely cute and chic.If you haven’t discovered Buttons yet, I encourage you to check out this brand. I’ve bought two more of their wonderful covers (you can read the full review here) and love how soft and durable the PUL is. They are my go-to nighttime cover. At just $11, they are extremely affordable, and with lots of new colors added to the catalog, it’s now even more fun to shop there! And the family behind Buttons is one of the nicest you’ll ever meet; their service is always prompt, personal and helpful.One reader will receive a large wet bag, just like I reviewed, in the color of her choice. This giveaway is open to both U.S. and Canadian readers. Thank you so much, Buttons Diapers!!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Buttons Diapers Review & Giveaway

June 29, 2013 by Anne Marie 88 Comments

Thanks to Amy at Buttons Diapers, I was given the opportunity to try
a diaper in exchange for my honest opinion!

The Buttons diaper “hybrid” system was designed by a husband and wife team who value simple, healthy living. Buttons Diapers consist of one-size waterproof covers (just $11.00!) in 5 different colors, plus inserts that snap in. Amy sent us two day time ($3.50) and two night time ($5.00) inserts to try out with our “Blueberry” cover.

The covers feature a rise with 3 size settings, front and back elastics, double gussets and a wipe-clean inner.

Performance: The Buttons cover is a versatile component because it’s reusable if only the coordinating pad gets soiled or wet. Two layers of PUL make this a very durable and highly waterproof cover, yet the fabric is by no means stiff or uncomfortable. In fact, it’s very soft, smooth and pliable. The cover closes with a single row of snaps. My personal preference is for a double row of snaps, but this hasn’t affected the fit or function of our cover on Erik.

Buttons inserts are made of multi layers of microfiber. There are two sizes: day and night – and you can customize them in whatever way you wish. Inserts can be snapped into the shell individually, snapped together and then fastened to the shell…or simply laid in. One side is topped with microfleece which goes right up against your baby. At night, I put a day time insert on top of a night time insert which results in 10 layers of fabric. It’s a very thirsty combination, and paired with the double layer of PUL in the cover, has been bulletproof so far for my toddlers, and they are both tummy sleepers. For Erik, who is younger and smaller, I found the two inserts together were too bulky to get a good fit at night. So I use the Buttons cover instead with a pad folded flat and doubler. Nothing ever escapes the cover.

I also like that Buttons is a hybrid system, so it can work in harmony with other things already in your stash. My flats and Geffen prefolds work great in the Buttons covers, and the Buttons inserts work just fine with my other one-size covers.

You might have noticed that the Buttons system is somewhat similar to the Best Bottom diaper system. I did, and discovered that the inserts are interchangeable; i.e. the soaker pads will snap into either brand.

Fit: Ok, now it’s time for Buttons pictures on Erik, Susanna and Samuel. Compared to other one-size covers in my stash, Buttons diaper covers run small.

UPDATE: Erik is now 10 months old/17 pounds and wears his Buttons on the largest setting at night when the diaper is really stuffed. So he will most likely outgrow them by 25 pounds.

* Where to Buy Buttons *

Receive FREE shipping at the online store with orders over $75

Shop for Buttons at My Affiliate Partners:
Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique – free USA shipping
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