Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Inflation Solution: Get Started With Cloth Diapers for $50 or Less

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For years, I’ve written about how to save money on baby diapers by using cloth, and here I am again today. Why?

Because things are only getting worse. The American economy is seriously struggling, and everyone is feeling the pinch when they go to buy pretty much anything these days. Unless we get some wiser heads in control of the levers of power soon, inflation will worsen and costs will keep rising without incomes being able to keep up.

Sadly, I used to be able to recommend five dollar cloth diaper covers, but that’s a thing of the past (unless you buy secondhand on Facebook or Ebay).

But you can still invest in a simple, practical set of cloth diapers for about the same cost as a month’s worth of disposables, which is always good news! A box of 124 Luvs diapers costs about $35.00 right now at Walmart and will last you only about 20 days before you have to shell out more money.

 

Now here’s my proposal for an affordable set of diapers that you buy once and then get to use as long as you need them.

For the cover:

Option 1: Cloth-eez POSO

It’s a simple white cover with lightweight, breathable fabric and snapping sides. Available in 4 sizes. This cover works over pinned diapers; you can get a free pair of pins with your order at Green Mountain (a great Christian, family-owned company).

Cost: $6.95 and up.

Screenshot from Green Mountain Diapers of this cover on a baby

Option 2: Elemental Joy

A colorful and reliable option that’s adjustable from approximately 8-35 pounds, so you don’t have to buy multiple sizes. Snaps in the front. You can use this cover with pinned diapers, or folded diapers.

Cost: $7.00

Elemental Joy on my daughter, Mary Kate, paired with a folded flat diaper inside

For the diapers:

Option 1: Cotton Receiving Blankets

This is a great bargain from Green Mountain Diapers. You get an 8-pack of soft cotton flannel squares, the size of receiving blankets, and they can be folded and pinned and used under a cover. Bonus – lots of cute colors and prints! Bailey shows you how easy it is to use receiving blankets as diapers. You can double them up at night.

Cost: $9.00 for two packs (16 diapers)

Samples of cotton fabric squares at Green Mountain

Option 2: Flour Sack Towels

These aren’t quite as soft as the flannel squares above, but they do get nicer with washing, and are easy to rinse out and clean. A newborn can usually get by with one; older babies will need the towels to be doubled up. Or you can wrap the flour sack towel around a cheap cotton or microfiber insert. ClothDiaper.com has a 6-pack of cotton flannel diaper inserts for $6.00.

If you are creative, or like a pop of color, dye your flat diapers. If you’re still thinking “A one-dollar towel from Walmart as a diaper? Really?” Read my post about the pros and cons of using flour sack towels as diapers.

Cost: $14.00 for 15

If you have some ideas for cloth diapering on a super tight budget, please share in a comment below.

If you’d like to see what else is available on the market
visit my Cloth Diaper Shopping page with deals and coupons!

How to Save Money on Cloth Training Pants

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Families who’ve saved a lot of money on cloth diapers may face some sticker shock when it comes to buying reusable trainers. Some are $20 or even $30 apiece. But opting for disposable pull-ups takes an even bigger toll on your wallet. Even the generic trainers from Wal-Mart cost $6.00 each and might last a week or so. Spend that week after week, and it could add up to $300 or more over the course of a year (if your toddler doesn’t train right away). And they all go in the trash. Nothing to re-use, nothing you can re-sell.

So if you really DO want to keep using cloth, and keep saving money, here are a couple of tricks for the potty training phase.

Make Them Yourself

But don’t worry because this tutorial is simple; you just need to add a little absorbency to a pack of storebought Gerber trainers. Cut out a pad and attach it with a few simple stitches. Lindsey at So Easy Being Green calculates the final cost for her DIY trainer to be just $2.91.

Don’t Spend a Fortune on New

I’ve tried all these brands that are about $15 or less. Most you can get with free shipping.

  • Imagine Trainers snap open on one side and offer several layers of cotton plus a PUL panel for light absorbency. Normally $12.95, they are BUY 1 GET 1 FREE right now at Nicki’s!
  • Nicki’s Day Trainers are pull-up style with stretchy elastic sides and a low-rise fit. Lined with cotton flannel and waterproof on the outside, they are just $10 each with free shipping.
  • Nicki’s Night Trainers contain four layers of a bamboo, a comfy stay dry fleece lining and a waterproof outer. You also get a bonus, foldable bamboo insert. All of this for just $14.00!
  • Wink Organic Bamboo Trainers snap open at both sides and have 3 layers of bamboo terry and microfiber inside. Lots of unique and beautiful prints and colors, too! Just $15.99 at Wink Diapers (use my code ZEPHYR20 for 20% off your order).
  • Buttons Trainers are new to the market are great for small toddlers and new learners. There are 3 layers of bamboo/cotton sewn in; you can also purchase additional cotton boosters that fit perfectly inside the pocket. $15.00 at Buttons Diapers.

Use Side-Snapping Diapers

Side-snapping diapers work well as trainers because they look more like big kid pants. The side closure makes cleaning up accidents so easy, compared to standard trainers that leave an awful mess on your child’s legs as you pull them down.

  • Knickernappies Custom Pockets go up to size large (35 pounds, photo below) and can double as trainers. They have been discontinued but I can sometimes find them on Ebay.
  • GroVia All-in-One diapers are very trim and can double as trainers later on, so they are a great investment. They are available new with free shipping at Nicki’s. You can also buy directly from GroVia, and they usually have a 20% off sale every Black Friday.
  • Blueberry Simplex diapers can be found used on Ebay or Facebook buy/sell/trade groups. Like GroVia, they are a great investment that can possibly double as trainers for your baby later on.

Buy Ahead and Buy Slowly

You can make an investment into cloth trainers over time to spread the cost out. Start before your baby is learning so you’ll be ready. Consider selling some of the diapers you don’t use or don’t like to fund a few trainers. I invested in some Imagine XL pocket diapers one at a time because I knew Ingrid was not going to nail night trainer for a long time. They are $17 each (with free shipping at Nicki’s), and I now have 4 pairs that I rotate between washings, and they’ve totally paid for themselves. When I think of the money I would have thrown away on overnight pull-ups, I’m so happy about my decision!

Do you have any tips for saving money on cloth training pants?

 

 

*New* Thirsties Natural Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway

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This post contains affiliate links.

There’s another natural pocket diaper on the market again, this time from Thirsties! It looks a lot like the original synthetic diaper, but inside it’s lined with organic cotton instead of fleece, and both of the inserts are made of cotton and hemp.

Here are the basic features of the new natural Thirsties pocket diaper:

  • Waterproof outer and a 100% organic cotton inner lining
  • Two inserts included: the newborn insert is 3 layers of cotton and the full size insert is 5 layers of hemp/cotton
  • Inserts can be snapped together or used individually
  • Pocket openings at both the front and back
  • Made in the USA
  • Retail price $23.25

It adjusts to fit approximately 8-40 lbs (4-18 kg)

Performance: Organic cotton absorbs quickly, so when you place the cotton insert on top of the larger hemp insert and stuff both in the pocket, you have a combo that works really well together and guards against compression leaks. Add to that Thirsties signature leg gussets, and you have a diaper with a lot of built-in protection.

We’ve been using this diaper for almost 2 weeks now. The absorbency definitely increases after several washes (at least 3), but Thirsties confirmed that we could use it after the first wash. With the diaper at its full absorbing potential (fully prepped with both inserts stuffed inside) Mary Kate can wear it for 3 hours or more during the day, no problem. For overnight, there’s just enough room in the pocket to squeeze in a small hemp insert. I also add a fleece liner on top to protect against extended wetness.

The microfleece lining in Thirsties’ original pocket diaper is a little bit softer and cozier than the new cotton lining. Plus, it has a stay-dry effect, so if those two features are important to you, that would be a minor drawback to the new natural diaper.

Fit: The new natural pocket is a little bit more trim than the original (because cotton is less bulky than microfiber), but has the same great fit. I like the double snaps on the wings, so you can adjust the waist and legs separately if need be. Mary Kate is a petite toddler at 18 months and about 22 pounds. She’s slimmed down with her newfound mobility, and the chunky thighs are slowly going away. The extra snugness in the double leg gussets is a great feature. And all of the colored elastic trim which edges the diaper is nice and soft.

Like the original pocket, the new natural pocket runs on the large side, so I would estimate it starts to fit best at 10-12 pounds, depending on your baby’s side and build. At 18 months, it’s still just one snap setting shy of the very smallest setting.

Care: The organic cotton lining in this pocket diaper stains more easily than the microfleece lining of the original Thirsties pocket, so the lining of this diaper may not look as pretty over time. I tackle our diaper stains with a Buncha Farmers stain stick. Dry time is very similar to the original, since both include a large cotton/hemp blend insert. It takes a full cycle in my dryer.

Value: Pocket diapers are one of the most popular styles on the market, but at $23.25 each the Thirsties natural pocket is on the high end of the price spectrum. I think if given the choice, I’d buy the original instead of the natural next time I’m in the market for a Thirsties pocket. It comes down to personal preference and price. The original is four dollars less ($19.95), has a softer “stay dry” lining and the same wonderful Thirsties fit and reliability. Plus, one of the inserts IS made of natural fibers.

But if 100% cotton and hemp really rock your socks, then spring for the Thirsties natural pocket. It’s definitely worth the money, and I think you’ll be really happy with it!

Where to Find Thirsties Diapers:

Diaper Junction
Dearest Diapers
Kelly’s Closet
Nicki’s Diapers

Giveaway: Enter to win ANY Thirsties diaper that you want! Winner picks from any in stock Thirsties diaper OR cover at my affiliate, Nicki’s Diapers. Plus, you’ll receive a FREE Zephyr Hill mini tote bag (black or blue).

Let me know in a blog comment which Thirsties style and color you’d choose. Good luck!

 

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!

 

*New* Funky Fluff Flex Diaper Cover Review & Giveaway

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Note: The new Flex Cover is no longer sold.

A while back, Funky Fluff started offering their AI2 shells for purchase separately. They knew that many of their customers like to use the shells as covers with flats, prefolds and other inserts, and so the decision was made to introduce an official diaper cover.

This new cover will definitely have a broader range of appeal. If you’ve always wanted to try Funky Fluff, but felt it was cost-prohibitive, you’ll like this new cover which can be used several times before washing. The new Flex cover looks a lot like the AI2 from the outside. But the inside has no fabric lining and is 100% wipeable/reusable PUL, just like a traditional diaper cover. It’s designed to work with flats, prefolds and fitteds, or you can use the snap receivers to hold Funky Fluff inserts. Snaps are located at both the front AND the back, so you can focus the absorbency where your baby needs it most.

I tested our new Flex cover with the LUX inserts and also with prefolds, flats and fitteds from our collection. LUX inserts come in sets of two – one small (11.5 x 5.5 inches) and one large (14×5.5 inches). The terry fabric is a silky blend of 70% bamboo viscose and 20% polyester. The inserts can be snapped one to the other, or used alone. If you have a newborn or small baby, the small insert (5 layers) works great on its own. Later on, you can use it as a booster together with the large (6 layers).

The contoured shape helps make Funky Fluff diapers more trim at the middle.

Flaps inside the Flex cover hold prefolds and flats in place.

In the pictures below, I have the Flex cover unsnapped to the largest rise setting so you can see how the large LUX insert fits, and how a medium or large prefold fits in terms of length.

Sizing: The new Flex cover is estimated to fit sizes 7 to 35 pounds. I tested it on 15 month old Mary Kate, who’s very petite, and Katie tried out the fit on Evangeline, now 2 months old. Evangeline was over 10 pounds at birth and is growing fast. She can already wear the Flex cover on the rise setting that’s just above extra-small.

As you know, Mary Kate is very small for her age. With just the large insert by itself, she wears her Flex diaper at the same rise setting as Evangeline! When I use both inserts together, I unsnap the rise to the large setting.

 

Performance: The Flex is even easier to care for than the Funky Fluff AI2. With a wipeable, waterproof inner, I don’t have to worry about stains on the lining, or dingy leg gussets.

Our Funky Fluff Flex gives good coverage over prefolds, flats and fitteds (excluding the really plush hybrid style). I also like the back elastic (same as the AI2) that gives extra protection against blowouts from behind.

Another bonus? The crossover snaps on the waistband don’t just allow you to adjust the Flex to fit a tiny baby, they also make it easy to roll up dirty diapers and snap them securely closed when you’re out and about.