Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Snappi Baby Ergo Brush Review & Giveaway

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Snappi Baby USA reached out to me this spring and asked if I’d like to give their Ergo Baby Brush a try. It’s a flexible diaper cream applicator made of medical-grade silicone. There are many accessories on the market that can make diaper changes easier and more efficient. Is the Snappi brush one of them?

First of all, what are some of the issues you might encounter when using rash cream?

  • It gets on your fingers, your hands and under your nails
  • It can cause skin-to-skin contamination
  • Cotton balls stick to the skin and Q-tips take too long because they are so tiny

Let’s see how the Ergo Brush stacks up!

One feature I liked right off the bat was the suction cup base which holds it in place.

It also fits comfortably and firmly in your hand, thanks to the soft silicone material and nubby grips on the handle.

The applicator is a lot more flexible than even I expected. The soft, curved edges bend and flex to gently cover affected skin, and get in crevices.

Oh, and I found another great use for it – applying facial masks! (So you might need to buy one for yourself) 🙂

Here’s another nice feature: the Ergo Brush comes with a little orange drawstring pouch, which is great for toting around in your diaper bag, or just keeping it out of sight at home. Snappi recommends using the delicate cycle to wash/sanitize the bag periodically, and then hang dry. Clean the Ergo brush just like you would silicone teethers (with soap and warm water).

You might think “this product is just another thing to clean,” but if you’ve been using your fingers to apply rash cream, you have to wash them anyway, so there’s that. I can’t really see any drawbacks to Snappi’s Ergo Brush, and with a price tag of just $6.99  (with free shipping if you have Prime), giving it a try is a really low-risk proposition.

Plus, there’s also Snappi’s lifetime guarantee!

Snappi Ergo Brushes are available in three different colors right now – blue, red and white.

 

Where to Buy The Snappi Brush

Amazon
Snappi Baby USA

Giveaway: Snappi is giving away an Ergo Brush to TWO lucky winners! My readers in the US can enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

 

Bambino Mio Baby Clothing Review & Giveaway

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Bambino Mio diapers and covers are part of our regular rotation, so I was really happy to hear about their new baby clothing line which is compatible with reusable diapers. Bambino Mio sent Mary Kate a clothing set in size 6 to 12 months to try out, and is offering a giveaway, too (details in a minute)! After you enter my Bambino Mio giveaway, “hop” around to the other blogs listed at the very bottom because they are giving away some great prizes too!

Bambino Mio’s clothing set includes a long-sleeved bodysuit, leggings and bandana-style bib. There are two sizes: 0-6 months and 6 to 12 months; the former also includes a little knotted infant cap. Right now, the only design available is a cute whale with balloons tied on his back, but I’m crossing my fingers that there’s more to come, because Bambino Mio never disappoints with prints.

The set retails for $39.99, but the items can also be purchased separately.

Have you ever had moisture wick out of a diaper’s leg gussets and onto your baby’s bodysuit? This often happens because the suit fits tightly and clings to the diaper. The bodysuit is the first place that the moisture seeks out.

Bambino Mio’s suit is designed with a roomier fit at the bottom that also allows for more airflow.

I really love the way the leggings fit. A typical pair of cloth diaper pants has a big stretchy bum and skinny little legs, which (to me) overemphasizes the big, padded bum. Bambino Mio’s harem pants have a more relaxed, comfortable fit that I think is darling.

Our clothing set seems to run true to size. Mary Kate is a petite one-year-old and the 6-12 month set fits her perfectly right now. The leggings measure about 16 inches from waistband to the leg cuffs (unrolled). The fact that the pant cuffs can be rolled up or down give a little more growing room.

That brings me to my first suggestion, and that would be to offer another size (or two). Extended options like 12-18 months or maybe even 18-24 months would be fantastic, as many little ones stay in cloth for at least that long.

Along with a lower price point (the leggings are $19.99 each), I would also suggest a little bit more length in the bib. After laundering it measures about 3.75 inches from neckline to the point.  I suggest using the lowest setting in your dryer, or flat dry, to minimize this.

Bambino Mio has made a great start here, with a 100% cotton collection that’s cute, comfy and cloth-compatible.

I’m eagerly awaiting more additions to their line-up!

And now for the giveaway details!

Giveaway: My readers in the US and Canada can enter to win a clothing set from Bambino Mio. It includes a long-sleeved bodysuit, harem leggings and a bandana style bib. Choose size 0-6 months or 6 to 12 months. The 0-6 month set also includes a lightweight stretchy knot hat.

Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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What to Buy if Your Teenager Helps With Cloth Diaper Changes

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Do you have a spouse, teenager or other caregiver that helps out with diaper changes? Chances are, if you use cloth, they have their favorites.

That’s what I asked Catherine the other day. She’s almost fourteen now and has been helping me with diaper changes for years. My post today is equal parts curiosity and practicality. I was interested in her opinions since we have so many brands and styles, but I also felt like her perspective as a cloth diaper “helper” might be useful to those who are wondering which diapers to buy for caregivers to use.

Here’s her list:

Flip Covers: Catherine told me she likes Cotton Babies’ signature stretchy tabs with the double snaps because they stay put and lie flat when fastened.  “It drives me crazy when the wings curl back!” Another plus? No extra hip snap to fasten, so Flips are faster for her to get on. You can find Flips and the entire bumGenius family of diapers at Cotton Babies with free USA shipping.

Diaper Safari Covers: You can buy a snap or hook and loop version. Catherine loves the latter, and caregivers who tend to fumble with snaps will appreciate it, too. Diaper Safari covers are also roomy, so Catherine always knows they will fit over anything in our rotation. The bright colors and cute jungle animals are a plus. (I like that they are only $10 apiece with free shipping at Nicki’s Diapers!) 🙂

Prefolds: My daughter told me flat out “I don’t like to stuff anything!” So folding a prefold in thirds is her favorite way to use covers. Some of our favorites? The silky soft bamboo prefolds at Diaper Junction and Buttons.

GroVia Hybrid System: This is another hook and loop diaper Catherine uses a lot, and GroVia’s is top quality. The uniquely designed laundry tabs are tucked under a fabric loop that keeps them protected in the laundry. When GroVia inserts are snapped into the diaper shell, they stay put even while washing and drying, making the GroVia hybrid capable of functioning like an All-in-One system. You can shop the full line-up at GroVia.com, or at retailers like Diaper Junction and Nicki’s.

Lighthouse All-in-One: Catherine is undeniably the artist of our family, and has learned a lot from her grandmother who paints and sketches. So the beautiful, beach-inspired colors and prints from Lighthouse were an instant hit. Vanessa at Greenpath Baby has created many of her diaper designs from original paintings and sketches! As a diaper, the Lighthouse AIO is simple for Catherine to use, with a fully attached, fold-out insert and a waterproof outer. You’ll need fast fingers to grab the newest Lighthouse Diaper prints; the last release (Celestial Seas) sold out within minutes. Thankfully, there are other prints and solids still available at Dearest Diapers and Fluff and Familia; price starts at $20.99.

It was so much fun picking Catherine’s brain, that I had to ask her a few more questions. 🙂

Favorite print of all time? Afternoon Tea by Buttons Diapers

Which brand has come up with a great name? “I’ve always thought Blueberry is a really cute name! Rumparooz is fun to say AND has an adorable logo (the kangaroo).”

What do you like about cloth diapering? It saves our family a lot of money.

What do you not like? “The extra time it takes up. It’s pretty quick and easy to wrap up a disposable and toss in the trash.”

What print or color would you love to see on a cloth diaper? “No one has done a Greek or Roman design, with people in togas!”

When you get married and have a baby, will you use cloth diapers? “Yes, I think I will. BUT, if I find out I’m expecting while I already have a baby in diapers, I’ll use disposables to give myself a break!”

Is someone else besides you helping you with cloth diaper changes? I’d love to know what their favorites are, so let me know in a comment!

Is It Worth It to Cloth Diaper Just One Child?

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Is cloth diapering worth the time and effort if you’ll only be using them for one child? Yes, I think so, and here’s why.

Even if you only diaper one child in cloth, you will keep thousands of dirty diapers out of landfills. And you will still reap big financial benefits. Enter your unique numbers into the Thirsties Calculator; you could realize up to $2,000 (or more) in savings.

You might ask, “What about the water and energy I’ll use washing the diapers?” I’ve got that question answered here.

And after your cloth diapers have served their purpose, you can still re-sell and get some money back. Can’t do that with disposables! One way you can maximize your money savings if only cloth diapering one child is to buy used. That way, you’ll save significantly on your start-up costs.

And there are still a few MORE reasons that most families are really happy they choose cloth, no matter what their family size:

  • Your cloth diapering experience can help other families who have questions or need support.
  • Cloth diapers are adorable, beautiful, stunning, (insert your adjective of choice) and just plain fun to collect purchase.
  • You will meet new friends and broaden your horizons by being a part of the cloth diapering community.
  • Cloth diapers have helped out a lot of babies who were sensitive, or allergic, to disposables.
  • Cloth diapering families help support other families and small businesses with their purchases.

So while it is true that the benefits multiply for each child that uses your diapers, never forget that even a single diaper change makes a positive impact!

What are some reasons that you’re happy you gave cloth a try?

 

 

 

 

 

This content was previously published at the Kelly Wels blog and has been updated.

*New* Imagine Stretchy Bamboo Flat Diapers

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This post contains affiliate links.

Imagine Baby is constantly innovating, and the happy result of that is a brand new product for 2018 – stretchy bamboo flat diapers! You can find them right now at Nicki’s with free shipping.

These new stretchy flats are made with the same 100% bamboo viscose as the Imagine 2.0 bamboo AIO diaper. One side is smooth and the other is a fine bamboo loop terry. They are available right now in one size, which is roughly 27 inches square.

Here are some of the questions I had about the Imagine stretchy flats that we purchased, and what I learned after testing:

Do they shrink? Before washing, the Imagine flats were about 27 inches square, with one side being slightly longer. After washing and drying once, there was almost no shrinkage (maybe an 1/8 of a inch or so).

Do they work with diaper fasteners? I tested with Boingo’s and Snappi’s, and both grip just fine, but they can create tiny little snags if you’re not super careful. I want to keep mine looking as nice as possible for a long time, so I’ve been mostly padfolding.

How stretchy are they? Although the fabric does not have any spandex in it, there is some natural stretch since it is one thin layer of bamboo. Pull one way and you get a little stretch; pull another and you get a lot more (i.e. two-way stretch).

What size baby will they fit best? Most stretchy bamboo flats are available in different sizes. A typical infant size might be 24″ square, while for a toddler you would buy 28″ square. Imagine stretchy bamboo flats are available right now in one size – 27×27 (approximately) – which is a kind of middle ground. When padfolded, they are 14×5 inches, putting them in the medium to large size range. So they will work best for older infants and toddlers.

If you prefer to fold and pin your flats, the fold might be slightly off on one side since these diapers are not perfectly square. When I did Happy Anteater for Mary Kate, the wing on the left was slightly longer, but it doesn’t matter after the diaper is all pinned up and tucked under a cover.

You can fold the Imagine stretchy flats to a smaller size, but they get really bulky. Here’s a regular pad fold next to my original “Mini Pad Fold.” I would be so grateful if Imagine would make a small or newborn size stretchy flat available! Wouldn’t they be lovely pinned on a little newborn??

My Mini Pad Fold tutorial for flat diapers works great for newborns and very small infants.

Do they hold their shape? Yes! The edges stay pretty flat, too, but not as flat as a high-end luxury diaper.

Do they stain easily? Not as much as a cotton flat, so that’s good.

Are they better than regular flats? In order of absorbency, I would say first comes the 100% cotton flat. Then a bamboo/cotton flat. And then these. Imagine stretchy flats have a huge edge in absorbency compared to a plain cotton flat diaper.

Additionally, the two-way stretch gives you a better and more comfortable fit when pinning or fastening around your baby. The fabric is also much softer than cotton, or bamboo/cotton blend.

Are they a good value? As far as “stretchy flats” go, absolutely! Granted, stretchy flat diapers are a sort of cloth diapering paradox in that flats are traditionally a low-cost option, but the stretchy bamboo WAHM versions are definitely not cheap. An old school cotton flat might be just one or two dollars; luxury flat diapers may cost $10 each. However, Imagine Baby Products has bridged the gap by creating a stretchy flat diaper with some of the “luxury” features, yet with a median price tag of $6.65 each.

How do they compare to other stretchy flats? I’ve tried the “Sweet Iris type” flats before and Nicki’s share some of the same characteristics: they are one stretchy layer, they are serged at the edges, they have a smooth side and a terry side, and so on. Some additional features you might find in a “luxury” flat would be more high-end thread, the addition of organic cotton for more softness, the addition of spandex which gives 4-way stretch, corners that lie flatter, and that they are tagless.

Suggested improvements? As mentioned above, I would like for Imagine to make these tagless! If Imagine added any more luxury features (mentioned above) then the price would go up, which would sort of defeat the purpose of what they are trying to accomplish with this middle-range flat. I’d also love to see a small/newborn size in the future.

Any other thoughts? Imagine stretchy bamboo flats can also double as a soft and silky little blanket, burp cloth, or a nursing cover.

Buy a 3-pack of Imagine Stretchy Bamboo Flats at Nicki’s
for $19.95, plus FREE shipping!

New for June 2018 – stretchy COLORED flat diapers!