cloth diapers — Page 5

6 Ways to Save Time When Cloth Diapering

January 15, 2017 by Anne Marie 1 Comment

Cloth diapering doesn’t require a huge time commitment, but it is an extra chore on your to do list. So if you are looking for ways to make cloth diapering quicker and easier, while still reaping all the benefits, this post is for you!

Being a mother of seven (while also blogging, consulting and home schooling), I’ve found a few ways to save time while using cloth:

Diaper liners help make clean-up quicker. They can be washable fleece or silk, or a flushable material like bamboo. A good quality liner can virtually eliminate time spent dunking and swishing. Here are some helpful tips for using liners with cloth diapers.
Storing diapers without folding also saves time. On busy days, I pull my diapers out of the dryer, dump in a laundry basket and then stash in our closet. Or use bins and baskets to sort; throw covers in one, prefolds in the other, etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong; I love the beauty of a stack of nicely folded flats, and will do that when I have time (and my oldest daughter is off school for the summer), but when things are hectic, I appreciate shortcuts.
Changing the style of diaper you use can reduce your time commitment. Some moms find that stuffing a few days worth of pockets takes too long; switching to covers with inserts or trifolded diapers can be faster. Or on the flip side, changing from complicated folds and fasteners to AIO or AI2 diapers, can make a difference. Check in here to see my reviews of different styles of cloth diapers.
Have your older children help with simple diapering tasks. My daughter not only helps with changes, but can move a load from the washer to the dryer, or empty clean diapers into the laundry basket and take to my bedroom. Young children can help replace the liner in your diaper pail or separate wipes from diapers in your latest laundry load.
Simply your wipes routine. I used to spend time mixing up solutions and rolling up or folding wipes in a warmer. With more on my plate these days, I find that a small squirt of diaper lotion and a wipe soaked in water gets the job done quickly and easily. Plus, diaper lotion doubles as a skin protectant and can even soothe minor rashes and irritation.
Simplify your system. In our eagerness to try new things and take whatever is offered by friends and family, it’s easy to build up a stash filled with inserts, diapers and covers of all different sizes and styles. That might add up to more time spent sorting, snapping and stuffing. If you are keen on saving time, it might help to pick just one or two styles and stick with that. Cull everything from your stash that isn’t being used and put it up for sale as a lot.

What are your thoughts about cloth diapering and the time it requires? Do you have any shortcuts to share?

Note: This article was originally published at the Kelly Wels blog, but has been updated and revised.

Diaper Rite 3.1 Review & Giveaway: AIO, Cover and Wet Bags

November 7, 2016 by Anne Marie 44 Comments

Diaper Rite, the budget-friendly brand found exclusively at Diaper Junction, recently got a face lift.

We received some complimentary items from Diaper Junction to review and share with you from the new Diaper Rite 3.1 line – the bamboo AIO, the one-size diaper cover, a pail liner, hanging wet bag and small wet bag.

The new AIO has changed the most dramatically, going from microfiber to bamboo, and a different insert configuration. You can read my review of the previous version here.

The Diaper Rite 3.1 bamboo AIO features:

10 layers of bamboo terry (80% bamboo viscose/20% polyester) and a waterproof thermally-bonded PUL outer shell (aka “TPU”)
One large (14.5″) and one small (11″) snap-in soaker
Double snaps on the wings, plus crossover snaps
Front and back flaps to hold soakers in place and prevent wicking of moisture
A fit that adjusts from approximately 8 to 35 pounds
Retail price of $15.95

There is a bamboo layer sewn inside, plus snaps to hold the inserts in place.

With the adjustable rise and dual inserts, you have a lot of different options. Here are just a few examples:

Roderick, my nephew, is 11 months old and about 25 pounds. He wears it on the largest rise setting because he is a pretty chunky boy. There’s plenty of room to grow in the waistband.

A two-year-old toddler, Ingrid also wears it opened up to the largest setting. Katie and I are using both inserts for Roderick and Ingrid in these pictures.

I really like the smooth, trim fit of this diaper, the silky bamboo fabric inside and the long stretchy wings. Dry time is about 1 cycle on medium/low since the inserts are only partially attached. One or two preparatory washes out of the package and it’s ready to go to work.

Ingrid can wear it through a nap or even nighttime because there are so many layers of absorbency. She is an average wetter. There aren’t any drawbacks yet that I’ve found; it’s a thirsty, soft and great-fitting diaper at a fantastic price. You can purchase it directly from my affiliate, Diaper Junction.

Diaper Rite 3.1 One-Size Cover: Diaper Rite has updated their one-size cover as well. It’s two layers now and the cut is slightly different from the older version, which you can see from the photos below. Some elastic has been added at the front of the waistband, which is actually a feature I could do without since it tends to make the waistband curl inward as soon as Ingrid starts moving around. The cover is slightly larger overall compared to the previous version, with longer wings and trim sewn around all the edges. This is a very reliable and sturdy cover with a great price of just $10.95, and lots of color options. It’s roomy enough to fit over most any style of diaper, with flaps at the front and back to hold inserts, prefolds or flats in place. It has double (inner) leg gussets which are less tight (and therefore much more comfortable) than our older Diaper Rite covers.

The new 3.1 cover has also been updated with the addition of crossover snaps on the wings. Gone are the angled wing snaps from the previous version.

Ingrid is wearing the cover with her large Diaper Rite bamboo flat diaper in this photo:

The Diaper Rite 3.1 cover on our 7-week-old, 10 pound daughter, Camille. This is when she just started fitting into it.

Diaper Rite Hanging Wet Bag: Measures 15″ x 27″ when laid flat and holds 20 or more diapers. I can pack 3 days worth of laundry into it. It features the improved rolled seams on the inside for better wetness protection, as well as stronger serging. The waterproof, thermally-bonded PUL fabric is thick, soft and smooth; the handle is tightly attached and is more than up to the task of handling a heavy, saggy load of diapers. The hanging wet bag retails for $14.95 and comes in 7 different colors. I like it so much I’ve been using it instead of my pail for the past 2 weeks.

Diaper Rite Pail Liner: If you like storing your diapers in an upright pail or can, the Diaper Rite pail liner is made to fit perfectly and has a heavy-duty elastic top which stretches to fit the rim of your container. It easily holds 3 days worth of dirty diapers and features the new and improved seams and serging. The Diaper Rite pail liner costs just $14.95 and comes in 7 different colors.

Diaper Rite Wet Bag: At just $7.95, the Diaper Rite Wet Bag is a great bargain and perfect for holding a few soiled items when you’re away from home. It measures 11″ x 16″ when laid flat and features zipper closure and a snap strap for easy carrying or hanging. Inside seams have been strengthened and improved, as with the other Diaper Rite 3.1 products. In the picture below, you can see what the new and improved rolled seams look like.

Giveaway: Diaper Junction is giving away a bamboo AIO diaper, in your choice of color! This promotion is open to US and Canadian residents, and you can enter below, doing any or all of the optional entries to increase your chances. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Imagine 2.0 Diapers: Fitted, AI2 and Bamboo AIO Review

October 29, 2016 by Anne Marie 57 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

We have quite a few Imagine cloth diapers in our rotation, including Imagine covers, AIO’s, AI2’s and even a few newborn diapers.

Nicki’s Diapers recently announced some updates and improvements to the line, which is now called Imagine 2.0. I received a complimentary bamboo fitted, a bamboo AIO and an AI2 diaper shell from to review and share with you. In my review, I’m also including the “old” version of the Imagine AIO, AI2 and fitted that we purchased a year or so ago; then you can see how they compare.

As you know, I have reviewed hundreds of diapers over the years; Imagine has stood the test of time in terms of durability, performance and affordability. Which is why I continue to add them to our stash from time to time as the need arises (and yes, as new and adorable prints are added!). I have a bamboo newborn diaper and a newborn cover tucked away for our baby due in January. Oh, and as a bonus, you always get free shipping at Nicki’s on purchase over $10.

Here’s what I received to review: an Imagine Bamboo One-Size Fitted in Lilac, an Imagine Bamboo One-Size AIO in Emerald and an Imagine One-Size AI2 shell in the Raccoon Ruckus print.

What’s new with the AI2 system? The AI2 system consists of two parts – a waterproof, wipeable diaper shell and microfiber inserts that snap in. The 2.0 version has eliminated the inner flaps at back and front. It still has those great double or inner leg gussets for better mess containment. The Imagine AI2 is a “true” AI2 because the shell has no inner fabric lining which more easily gets damp or soiled. Being able to switch out inserts allows you to use the shell longer, and thus buy less of them. The shells are $13.95 each and snap-in pads are available in packs of 3 for $13.95 and come in two different sizes. They are super absorbent and resist staining. The fleece topper also gives your baby a comfortable “stay dry” feeling. One of the things I like best about the Imagine AI2 is that the snaps at front and back keep the inserts from moving around or twisting as your baby soaks them.

The Imagine AI2 system is very flexible, so if you don’t like mirofiber, you’re not boxed in to that option. Best Bottom inserts will snap into the Imagine AI2 shell, and that gives you the additional choices of bamboo and hemp.

Some of you will miss the front and back flaps being gone, especially if you like to use your Imagine AI2 shell as a cover with flats or prefolds. That front flap was also nice for giving a little extra wetness protection up front for tummy sleepers. And if you were using the AI2 as a nighttime diaper, that might be another reason you’ll be sad to see the front waterproof flap gone. I generally use snap-in inserts with our AI2 shell, and Ingrid wears it during the day, so the new version without flaps still suits our needs well. It also means you don’t have to lift up the flaps anymore to get access to the snaps.

Ingrid has been wearing the size large inserts since she was a year old. She’s two now.

What’s new with the Bamboo AIO? The Imagine 2.0 Bamboo AIO is now larger overall, and is made with a softer weave of bamboo fabric. The differences are very noticeable. Both the previous version and the 2.0 are lined with 100% bamboo viscose, include a snap-in bamboo soaker, and have a waterproof shell. The leg elastics are completely encased. A nice little extra touch is that the bamboo inserts are dyed to match the diaper; in this case, the inside is celery green to compliment the emerald outer. Very pretty!

The Imagine Bamboo AIO retails for $16.95.

Because the inserts are not sewn in, dry time is a little bit faster than your typical multi-layered bamboo or cotton AIO. The insert measures 14.5 inches long.

Here are the original Bamboo AIO and the 2.0 Bamboo AIO side by side, so you can really see how the sizing is much more generous now. Because of the improvement, I would definitely recommend starting your baby on this diaper after the newborn phase (opting instead for Imagine’s actual newborn size).

And look at the different in fit, especially on a toddler! The rise is significantly higher now. I am so happy about the updates that allow this diaper to be worn for a much longer time.

What’s new with the Bamboo Fitted? The Imagine Bamboo Fitted is also made with the newer and softer bamboo fabric. Likewise, the sizing has been expanded. As with the AIO, the bamboo insert snaps into the back. And in the same way, if you’re shortening the rise for a smaller baby, you can fold the insert under to shorten it.

The bamboo fitted takes longer to try than the AIO since the whole body of the diaper itself is made of bamboo. I wash mine in an HE top-loader, which is really good about wringing a lot of water out, and the fitted takes 1 full dryer cycle on low/medium to dry.

Here are the old and new, side by side. As noted before, sizing is more generous now, with the exception of the width of the crotch. I found the new 2.0 to be slightly trimmer in that area.

Here is Ingrid in the original (left) and the new 2.o (right). I definitely prefer the larger sizing, yet trimmer profile. This is a highly absorbent diaper that Ingrid can wear around the house with no cover for an hour or so. It performs great as is through naps, and will hold her all night with 1 extra insert and a Nicki’s diaper cover.

Overall, I’m really happy with the new 2.0 line, especially because the generous sizing allows them to fit my toddler so much better. And although it means the 2.0 diapers may not get small enough to fit a newborn, Imagine has a whole line of diapers tailored to that early stage.

Shop for Imagine diapers at Nicki’s
with FREE shipping over $10

Giveaway: ++CLOSED++ There will be THREE winners, thanks to our generous friends at Nicki’s Diapers! The three prizes are a Bamboo AIO, a Bamboo Fitted and an AI2 diaper shell. It’s open to both US and Canadian residents and winner choose from in stock prints/colors. Good luck!

Bummis AIO Diaper Review + Giveaway

June 8, 2016 by Anne Marie 21 Comments

Bummis recently gave me the chance to try out their new All-in-One diaper in exchange for a review. It now features an organic cotton interior and components made in the US and Canada.

We received the Aqua (with chocolate brown trim) and Forest Animals (with white trim) diapers:

This is a true AIO (All-In-One) diaper which requires no stuffing or snapping or folding. You simply adjust the waist and rise to fit your baby and put the diaper on. It’s a one-size diaper with snaps on the rise to shorten or lengthen it and fit babies from about 8 to 35 pounds.

Looking inside, you’ll see some really unique features. The middle or core of the diaper is made of an unbleached organic cotton fabric with a soft, dimpled texture. It’s permanently attached but open at the front end so it acts as a pocket.

The white fabric you see along the inside edges of the diapers is polyester fleece. The semi-attached soaker has 1 stay-dry layer on top, so that when you choose to lay it inside the diaper (instead of stuffing), this wicking layer will go right up against your baby.

Because of the pocket design you can choose to have the organic cotton core or the stay dry soaker against your baby’s skin. You can also easily tuck an extra insert in there.

The organic cotton fabric that’s sewn into the middle core of the diaper shrinks slightly when you wash and dry it; Bummis designed it this way to create a sort of natural “gusset” for extra protection through the legs. One result of this shrinking process is the fabric puckers somewhat. After washing and drying the diaper I will reach my hand inside the pocket to smooth the fabric out and eliminate lumps or bunching while Ingrid or Erik is wearing it.

The cotton is a soft “dimpled” texture that’s unique to Bummis, and that I really like alot. The solidly designed snaps are of excellent quality. I love the snaps that Bummis uses!

Fit: The new Bummis AIO has a very trim design for a cotton diaper. The double snaps on the wings made it easy to customize sizing beyond the rise; you can angle the snaps one way or the other (for instance, you might want the waist snap tighter and the leg snap looser). However, the wings do not stay completely flat but curl back a little after you put the diaper on.

I found the size range to be fairly accurate, giving you roughly size small (young infant) to extra large (toddler).

You may have noticed there are only 2 sets of snaps down the front rise of the diaper. This means there are less to fasten, but it also may cause the fabric to pucker out after your baby gets moving. You can see this in the bottom right picture on Ingrid. If you have the rise on the largest setting (nothing snapped at all), this isn’t an issue (see the picture of Erik further down).

I like the soft knitted (and very stretchy) legbands on this diaper. The same trim goes around the waist and wings as well.

Performance: This is a perfect day-time diaper – trim and quick to get on and off. It will absorb steadily for a good 2 hours. The caveat is that it actually worked better for us with the insert NOT in the pocket. The stay-dry layer absorbs more quickly than the organic cotton.

When Ingrid naps, I add a small doubler and this combo keeps her leak-free. We were not able to use the Bummis AIO overnight, which is not unusual for an AIO diaper. I noticed that since she’s a tummy sleeper, once the diaper was fully saturated wetness would wick from the poly fleece and out of the top of the waistband. I wonder if having PUL (the waterproof material on the outside) at the front inside of the diaper would help prevent wicking? But again, I don’t expect most AIO diapers to hold all night as they are mainly designed for convenience and quick changes. You could definitely try it, though (with a hemp or microfiber doubler), if your baby isn’t a heavy wetter.

Laundry notes: It took many washes to fully prep because of the organic cotton. Shoot for 6 to 8 for full absorbency. If you choose to tuck the partially-attached soaker inside of the pocket, it will agitate out on its own in the wash, so that’s nice. The permanently attached inner core of the diaper takes a really long time to dry, sometimes a full cycle and a half or more. To overcome this, I highly recommend turning the diaper inside out before tossing it in the dryer. It will *usually* dry this way in a normal amount of time, along with your other diapers.

Value: At $28.95 (USD), the new Bummis AIO is on the higher end of the price scale for an AIO. Many factors go into pricing including the fact that the components are sourced in the US and Canada, which is very important to a lot of consumers. And having tried many Bummis products over the years, I can attest that they use premium diaper components (fabric, snaps, etc.).

Giveaway: Bummis is giving away an organic cotton AIO to one lucky Zephyr Hill reader! You can enter on my Facebook page.

Let me know if you’ve tried any Bummis products! What do you think of the design of their new cotton All-in-One?

Why I’m Handwashing Our Cloth Diapers This Week

May 16, 2016 by Anne Marie 13 Comments

In my 7 years of blogging, I’ve encouraged people to give cloth diapers a try even if their budget is tight, or there’s no washer or dryer. This year, I figured it was high time I put my money where my mouth is.

So I’m taking Dirty Diaper Laundry’s Flats and Handwashing Challenge this week. Six years strong, this is a week-long event that aims to prove that pretty much anyone can cloth diaper. After all, our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had no choice in most situations, and they rolled right along with their boiling pots, washboards and trusty lye soap.

To take Kim’s challenge, families commit to using flat diapers (cheap and easy to launder) for one week, to launder the diapers by hand and air dry them. Simple, “old fashioned” diapering like this is a great testament to the fact that most any hurdle can be overcome.

In other words, I don’t want to advise a family to try something that I haven’t done myself. Period.

So here goes!

Stay with me this week as I share our experience with flat diapers and handwashing with a bucket and plunger. It’s bound to be interesting! Tomorrow we’ll take a peak at the diapers and supplies I’m using. There will also be a giveaway mixed in one day this week, so look out for that, too.

Are any of you taking the challenge? Have you joined in the past? Share your thoughts and experiences with me in a comment below!