cloth diapers

Stinky Diapers Are Gone: My Thoughts on Diaper Fresh

June 22, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Affiliate links my be included. I only promote what I love.

So as many of you know, Layah is being rather stubborn about this potty training business. She knows how to use the potty, and actually often will use the potty when we put her there, but she won’t ever tell us when she needs to go, and like many children, she has no interest in pooping on the potty (seriously…I REALLY don’t get this…how is poop in your pants “not so bad”?).

So at various points on any given day, Layah might be wearing a diaper, training pants or even “big girl” underwear. And even on my own most disciplined days where I remember to take her potty very regularly, we’ll still have at least 2 things getting soiled. So all that is to say, the sun may be setting on the diaper days in our home, but we aren’t done yet. Boo.

I’m OVER the Stink

We primarily use cloth diapers in our home, but there was a period of almost 2 months where we just used disposables (shout out, Honest Company). You guys, I was just bummed that Layah didn’t want to potty train, and having to wash the cloth diapers just made me feel punished. This is silliness, but it’s where I was with dealing with it, and disposables I could at least throw out.

But the smell? The smell lingered, my friends! We don’t have a Whisper Diaper Pail, so dirty diapers just go in the regular trash. So when Diaper Fresh reached out to me about a spray they have that has gotten RAVE reviews for truly eliminating the foul odors in both cloth AND disposable diapers, I had a little heart-to-heart with myself, admitted that we aren’t done with diapering, and then agreed to check out the product. It sounded like the type of thing I like to tell others about (if it actually works!).

It Works!!!!

And it TOTALLY works, you guys. I have spritzed it on cloth diapers that are headed into the cloth diaper bag to await laundry day (which happens every 3 days or so). I’m sure you can imagine how disgusting that bag can get, in terms of the smell. I’m not saying that it is totally odor-free by using Diaper Fresh, but the difference is HUGE.

For those of you who use disposable diapers, you may be wondering why you would need to spray something you are putting in the trash. If you have an air-tight system that locks away odors, then keep doing your thing. For the rest of us who just toss them in the garbage can, then you KNOW why you need this. There are times when I have taken out the trash only 1/3 full because it contained such a gross smelling diaper that I couldn’t allow it to stay in the house. It only takes 2-3 squirts from diaper fresh and it’s like the odors just disappear.

The bad odors are not replaced with a different smell, so this is NOT an odor covering product. It is an odor neutralizing product, and there’s a big difference!

A Second Way to Use Diaper Fresh

I did a little experimenting with using Diaper Fresh in the laundry, and I wanted to share my successful results with you! I was noticing that my cloth diapers were starting to have just a wee bit of the “funk” even after being fully washed. All my cloth diaper readers will know that means that it usually means you have to strip the diapers in the near future (a cumbersome process because it takes a long time). I decided on a whim to put 1 Tbsp of Diaper Fresh in the first wash for the diapers (my first wash is more like a rinse, with absolutely no detergent). Well guess what? There was absolutely NO smell after the entire wash routine was over. Diaper Fresh saved me quite a few hours worth of work by knocking out the problem. I would not hesitate to use it again on my cloth diapers and I would not hesitate to use it on any other load of stinky laundry.

A Third Way!

I have even used this product on my kids’ car seats, which stink after a while and are a HUMONGOUS pain to remove, wash, and re-install. Save me a ton of time and hassle, and it nips those “spilled milk” odors in the bud!

Diaper Fresh is just a fantastic all-around odor remover, and I very highly recommend it, even if your diapering days are nearly over like mine are (please Lord let that be true!). You can purchase it directly from the Diaper Fresh website, or you can also find it as an add-on item at Amazon (just $6.95! More than worth it!!!). Whatever stage of diapering (or not-diapering) you find yourself in, I would suggest adding this item to your next Amazon order, as it is a versatile product for so many household odors!

Flip Hybrid Diapering System: My Very Last Cloth Diaper Review

September 9, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 9 Comments

The Flip Hybrid Diapering System is perhaps the perfect diapering system with which to end my time as a cloth diaper reviewer. This is because it has me going back to a cloth diaper that I tried before and didn’t like. But I know the truth: I gave up on it too quickly, and I didn’t have the full “Flip” experience.

So when I had the opportunity to try out Flip diapers again, and this time the right way, I knew I needed to give them another chance. After all, they are some of the most popular cloth diapers on the market. My dislike was quite unusual! Since Layah is already on the road to potty training, I feel confident that this will be the last cloth diaper I will review, and what better way to end this season of my life than by returning to the one type of diaper I couldn’t really get into before.

Flip Diapers

So what are Flip diapers? They are a hybrid diapering system designed for maximum flexibility. They are sold in various components. First, you have your covers. Pictured below are two of the four covers I received, in colors noodle and grasshopper. Covers are one size, with adjustable snaps along the front. They come in hook and loop (velcro) or snaps. I would recommend getting the snaps because they don’t wear out as fast, and because babies have a harder time figuring out how to take them off.

The next component is the stay dry inserts. You simply lay these inside the diaper shell for use, and they are very easy to remove and replace. The idea is that unless you’ve got a messy diaper on your hands, you can use the diaper shell multiple times and just switch out the inserts. This was an idea I could never fully appreciate with the one Flip diaper I owned, and that’s because I purchased it with only one insert! Now that I’ve actually tried out the Flip concept as it was intended, I find it to be very easy to reuse the inserts as long as you have your available replacement inserts close at hand. I also LOVE that the inserts have marks on them to show you where you should fold them for small and medium sizes. They take out the guess-work! Inserts are also available in organic cotton. My personal opinion is to go for the stay dry unless your baby has super sensitive skin and doesn’t do well with microfiber. Why is that my opinion? Well, prior to this review, the one insert that I did have was the organic one, and while it was absorbent, it also felt more damp on the baby’s skin, which wasn’t as comfortable.

Additionally, Flip offers disposable inserts, which I had never tried before. Let me tell you why I love these so much! These are absolutely perfect for when you are out and about. When you change baby’s diaper, you just toss the old insert, and lay in a new one. The inserts take up less room in the diaper bag than a cloth diaper, and even less than a disposable! I also think they are great for anyone who might be taking care of your child for you (babysitter, grandmother, day care provider) and who is just getting used to the idea of using cloth diapers. This is sort of a happy mix of reusable and disposable.

But what I love the disposable inserts the most for is using when I suspect that Layah might be about to poop. Sorry if that is TMI, but I think all parents know that our life revolves around pee and poop for a certain number of years. That’s just the way it is! Anyway, if I time it right and Layah poops while wearing a disposable insert, that means that I can just toss the insert and not have to deal with nearly as much mess with the diaper sprayer. And that, my friends, is a WIN!

So now that I have given Flip diapers a fair shake and used them exactly the way that they were intended, I have to say that I like them! I’m not madly in love, but they are in regular rotation now, and I’m even using the same shell more than once before replacing it. That is cutting down on my cloth diaper wash load, and I REALLY love that!

Have you ever tried Flip diapers? Or hybrid cloth diapering, in general? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Little Monsters Diapers: So Much Cuteness (Giveaway!)

June 18, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 163 Comments

Any cloth diapering parent will tell you that one of the many perks of cloth diapering is how unbelievably cute they look on your baby. A fluffy butt is right up there with kittens and puppies cuddling with baby bunnies, my friends.

But the mom-owned cloth diaper company Little Monsters has taken it up a notch with their very VERY cute cloth diapers. I mean, get a load of this:

That sheep diaper is the cutest thing!!!!

Little Monsters Cloth Diapers are not only cute, but also effective. They are one-size pocket diapers with multiple rows of snaps to fit growing babies (from 9-35 pounds). They come with microfiber inserts that we have found to be very effective.

Little Monsters also sells solid color diapers for $20.99, but trust me when I say you should spend the extra $2 and get the embroidered Little Monsters. It will pay for itself in smiles in just a few minutes! 🙂

I have been using this diaper on Layah for several weeks now, and I have absolutely no complaints. I haven’t yet used it overnight, but if I were to, I would add some additional inserts, which the diaper is designed to accommodate easily. And I really like that it is snaps instead of velcro, because Layah LOVES to rip off her velcro diapers these days. The snaps are beyond her abilities to undo, thank goodness!

My overall thoughts about Little Monsters diapers is that they are every bit as good in quality and design as other pocket diapers we have tried, but they stand apart from the crowd with their adorable embroidered designs. Check out their selection and see which one is your favorite!

Also, Little Monsters is having a big sale on their monster package, which is a great option for anyone looking to really build their stash. It comes with 5 monster diapers for just $69.99! Woo!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Little Monsters diaper of your choice!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebsar of my page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Real Nappies: Affordable Cloth Diapers and Diaper Liners

June 3, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

As a cloth diapering mama, I certainly have my favorite type of products. I tend to favor diapers that are super easy to use, and in the past, that has meant that using prefolds was not my favorite thing to do. Prefolds are larger swatches of material (usually cotton) that you fold in a certain way and either lay inside a diaper cover or stuff into a pocket diaper. Let me be clear: using prefolds isn’t hard. It just requires more effort than an all-in-one diaper, which is every bit as easy to use as a disposable diaper. So they just weren’t my go-to.

Real Nappies

But over the last month I have had a bit of a change of heart. I’ve really fallen in love with a cloth diaper company based out of New Zealand called Real Nappies. Their diaper line is super simple, super affordable, and super easy to use. They also have a GENIUS additional component that I’ll tell you about in a few paragraphs, so hang with me!

But first, let’s take a look at the Real Nappies Cloth Diapers Top-Up Pack I was sent. This kit comes with simple white diaper covers and 6 prefold cloth diaper inserts, each made with 100% Indian cotton (which is very absorbent). The price for this kit is just $44.99. Since the inserts can be removed and the diaper covers used multiple times before being washed, this means you can have up to 6 diapers available to you for this price. And that makes it a HUGE bargain. I love how affordable Real Nappies are, as not everyone (present company included) can afford to have an entire cloth diaper stash of easy all-in-one diapers.

But the other thing I’ve realized over using these for the past month is that they honestly aren’t difficult to use at all. If I want to treat them like my other diapers and put both the insert and the cover in the diaper bag after one use, that’s no problem. Or I can take a few extra seconds to just switch out inserts and use the cover again. I’ve been avoiding doing this type of thing for years, but once I forced myself to give it a try, I realized that it isn’t cumbersome to do this. In fact, it makes a lot of sense! The only thing that I wish was different about the covers is the velcro tabs. These are just like disposable diapers and are actually easier to use than a snap closure, but my daughter is at the age now where she loves nothing more than to rip off her diaper. I can fix the problem by just making sure she has on pants or bloomers. But I find that once they discover how to take off their diaper, life is just a lot easier if you go for snaps. So I’d love to see this company offer a cover with snaps in the future.

I’ve been very impressed with the inserts and how well they are working, too. But even more than that, I am head-over-heels about the Real Nappies Diaper Liners. Honestly, I’ve seen diaper liners before (had a package once when Darah was in cloth). I barely used them. Just didn’t really understand the point. My first child also happened to have fairly predictable bowel movements that were fairly easy to deal with (in other words, they could be dumped in the toilet from the diaper without too much fuss, usually). Layah, on the other hand, can poo at pretty much any time of day without warning, and let’s just say what she produces is really gross and leave it at that. That’s where these Real Nappies Diaper Liners totally save the day.

When we use the Diaper Liners and she poos, Tim doesn’t have to deal with nearly as much mess (he’s the household diaper sprayer, or the diaper pre-treater, and I’m the diaper washer). The liner can simply be removed and flushed, leaving a significantly cleaner diaper than you otherwise would have had. Tim is pretty much in love with these. And for this kid, this is a product that we will be buying again as soon as our current supply runs out. They just make life a little less gross for us, which we very much appreciate.

I also wanted to point out that the Diaper Liner are a great option for you even if you use disposables. Most people don’t realize that you are NOT supposed to throw away poop, but instead, are supposed to dispose of it in a toilet prior to throwing out your diaper. Read any box of diapers and you will see! Diaper Liners can help make this task much easier for you.

So after having tried two great products from Real Nappies, I have to say that I’m impressed with the quality and the price point, I’m converted to the idea that prefolds rock, and I’m dealing with less nasty poo. I’d say this has been a positive experience!

If you or someone you know is interested in starting cloth diapering but doesn’t want to break the bank, I can’t think of a better way to get started than with a kit from Real Nappies!

I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Buttons Diapers: Layah’s Pick for Overnight Cloth Diapers

May 4, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 148 Comments

Overnight Cloth Diapers

Every cloth diapering parent knows the difficulty that comes along with finding the “right” fit for your baby in cloth diapers. Typically, daytime options are plentiful, but when it comes to finding an overnight cloth diaper that really does work, especially as your baby gets older and moves to the toddler stage, it is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

With Darah, we experimented with different covers and different inserts until we found the magic combination. Only to have to come up with a new plan a few months later when the old method stopped working. But we kept at it and always found a way to cloth diaper her overnight.

For Layah, to be perfectly honest, we haven’t done much trying. We remember all too well how tricky it is (and how many times you have to wash crib sheets) as you figure out how to keep a baby dry for 12 hours. It is just a lot easier to use a good disposable diaper. Just being honest!

Buttons Diapers

So when I saw the design of Buttons Diapers, I was totally intrigued and thought, “These seriously might work just as they are made!”

And friends, they TOTALLY work overnight. Joy of joys! I haven’t had to add any extra inserts, do anything crazy folding tricks, or wave my magic wand, say a prayer and make a wish in order to keep Layah dry overnight. They are EASY and that’s exactly what we need in an overnight cloth diaper right now. I seriously wish I had 2 more of these in my stash.

Want to see this amazing diaper??? Yeah you do!

The first thing you might notice is that the microfiber inserts for this diaper lay on top of the diaper, rather than being stuffed. The bottom layer actually snaps onto the diaper to ensure that it won’t move around too much. The second insert is the overnight insert, and it actually snaps onto the daytime insert. SO SMART!!! Check out the thickness of these two layers, too!

Is the diaper a little bulky? Yes. But Layah isn’t uncomfortable in it at all. She’s slept great in it every time we’ve used it. And NO LEAKS! That is the key!!!

When you remove the second layer for daytime use, it fits just like any other diaper with an insert. I think these inserts are the bee’s knees, you guys. They hold A LOT of liquid. I’m a big fan.

But as awesome as these inserts are (and they really are awesome!), there’s actually one other feature of this diaper that makes it stand head and shoulders above the competition. Check it out:

Double gussets! These are AMAZING, and they keep EVERYTHING contained. My daughter put this diaper to the ultimate test the very first time she wore it overnight. When she woke up 12 hours later, not only had she peed in the diaper multiple times, but she had also had what should have been a major blowout. Except that it wasn’t! To this day I don’t understand the physics behind how this diaper held it all in, but I know those double gussets played a key role. This is a unique feature I haven’t seen before, and it is rockin’ my world!

So between the awesome inserts with a clever design and the double gussets, Buttons Diapers are something truly special in the cloth diaper market. It is also a family-owned company started by a husband and wife team! I HIGHLY recommend that you give them a try! Covers are just $11.00 and daytime inserts are $3.50, nighttime inserts are $5.00. They are an affordable option that performs like something with a much higher price tag!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Buttons Diaper cover and 2 daytime inserts (winner’s choice of cover color and insert size!).

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Switch to Cloth Event (Huge GIVEAWAY!!!)

February 14, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 58 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day! Welcome to the Switch to Cloth Giveaway Event hosted by SAHM of Drama Queens & a Prince, My Cloth Diaper Stash, A Year With Mom and Dad, Mommy of One and Counting and Adventures of Mommyhood. Together we are bringing one lucky winner a cloth diaper prize pack worth over $450. Below is a list of everything you can win!

Rockin Green – Rockin Bundle (winner’s choice of formula), Funk Rock and a Diaper Sprayer

Glowbugs – 4 pack of winner’s choice Girl or Boy/Gender Neutral – Read Karine’s review and Shannon’s review

Chelory – $30 Store Credit

Poppy Fields – Fitted Poppy Fields Diaper – Read Shannon’s review

Rumpkinz – Embroidered Diaper – Read Shannon’s review

Thanks Mama – Thirsties Duo All-In-One

Sunbaby – Sunbaby 4.0 One-Size – Read Karine’s review

BALM! Baby – Diaper Essentials Kit

Irresistibly Green – Sweet Pea Diaper Cover & $50 gift certificate – Read Julie’s review

Green Baby Goods –

Medium Planetwise Wet Bag

Sweet Pea Pocket Diaper – Read Karine’s review

Sweet Pea Diaper Cover

Spray Pal – Spray Pal

Diapers by Chris – Diaper

Red Barn Cloth Diapers – Heavy Doody Diaper

Sports Bumz – Fleece Cover (custom slot)

If you are thinking about using cloth or if you are already a cloth fan, this is a SUPER sweet collection of items to help build your stash!

One lucky winner will win everything listed above.

Giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on March 14th at 11:59pm EST

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Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Stuff Parents Need is not responsible for shipping prize to winner, nor did I accept any compensation for this promotion.

Coming Soon: Switch to Cloth Giveaway Event!

January 26, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Blog readers who love (or are curious about) cloth get ready!

Bloggers, join in!

Dates: February 14th to March 14th

Hosted by SAHM of Drama Queens & a Prince, My Cloth Diaper Stash, A Year With Mom and Dad,Mommy of One and Counting and Adventures of Mommyhood. The prize is an amazing cloth diaper prize package featuring over $250 in cloth diapers and supplies.

Red Barn Cloth Diapers

Irresistibly Green

ChunkabuTT Creations

Willow with Love

Free Twitter or Pinterest for promoting sign-ups ($5 without post)
Additional links $1.00 each (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest)
Follow Host Page $5

Please send as a gift or if sending as a regular transfer be sure to cover the transfer fee on Paypal
(i.e. you purchase 2 links totaling $2, make sure you cover Paypal’s fee of $0.36 – fees are 2.9% of money sent plus $0.30), if you are unsure of the fee cost before sending money you can emailkarine@sahmofdramaqueens.com.

Hipkiddo Intelligently Hip Cloth Diapers

November 1, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 175 Comments

There tend to be 3 complaints that cloth diapering parents consistently have about using fluff instead of disposables.

1. All that extra laundry

2. The up front cost of reusable diapers

3. Getting clothes to fit around that fluffy bottom

Hipkiddo, a Canadian cloth diaper company that is mom-owned, can’t solve problem #1 for you, but it does aim to address problems 2 and 3 with its Intelligently Hip diapers. They are among the most slim fitting cloth diapers I have seen (and I’ve seen A LOT, people!) but without sacrificing functionality, and certainly without sacrificing cuteness.

I mean, just look at this:

This pocket diaper comes with a 3 layer microfiber insert. I made a little swooning sound when I saw how thick it was, and yet, how the diaper still seemed to offer quite a slim fit.

The diaper has a double row snap system that comes across the entire front of the diaper, which makes it easier to fit smaller babies. I have found it to be quite easy to find the right fit for Layah, and we have not had any leaks or any other problems so far. It’s been one of the diapers that I reach for first when the laundry is dry!

Hipkiddo also strives to keep the cost down, and priced the diaper at an affordable $14.00! That’s up to $15 cheaper than some of the other diapers in my stash, but it performs just as well.

And it gets even better, folks. This company has a heart for children, and donates cloth diapers as well as part of its proceeds to Seeds of Change children’s orphanage in Zambia. Every purchase you make not only helps to reduce your own environmental impact, but also gives back to children in need. That’s pretty hip, if you ask me!

The Intelligently Hip diaper is one size and fits from 8-35 pounds. It has a waterproof PUL lining, so it does not require a cover. It comes in 6 colors and one print.

Buy it!: In need of an affordable diaper that isn’t bulky? Hipkiddo has got you covered! Purchase Hipkiddo diapers directly from the website!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an Intelligently Hip diaper from Hipkiddo in your choice of color!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper Review: One of the Best!

October 3, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 5 Comments

I’ve been hearing about FuzziBunz diapers ever since I started using cloth back in early 2010. They are a very popular brand, and I usually find that when a brand is so well-known, it is because it works so well.

That’s why I was super excited to see FuzziBunz on the list of diapers I received with my cloth diaper rental. FuzziBunz had a great line of Perfect Size diapers, and they were absolutely critical to have in the newborn stage. Even know with an almost 5 month old (WHAT?! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!), I still appreciate the fit of a sized diaper.

With my newborn stash, I noticed that the FuzziBunz diapers were the ones I reached for first from clean pile. They consistently worked and they looked super cute. So I reached out to FuzziBunz to see if they wanted to be featured on Stuff Parents Need, and they said yes!

If you are on the fence about whether or not to try this line, I want to encourage you to buy FuzziBunz cloth diapers. I really don’t believe that you will regret your purchase for a moment! You also don’t have to go through an independent cloth diaper boutique if you don’t want to, as customers can now shop directly at the FuzziBunz website! I think that is a smart option, because in the unlikely event that there is an issue with the diaper, you can easily go straight to the manufacturer.

Speaking of customer service, this is something that FuzziBunz is known to be exceptionally awesome at providing. A few months ago I listened to a podcast that had the CEO of the company on it, and she was such a down-to-earth person. Listening to her, it was obvious that her primary focus was on making the best cloth diaper available, and not strictly on her bottom line. She said that she had been discouraged from making a product that could be used so many times (and then re-sold!) before it wore out. But she felt that’s what a cloth diaper should be able to do, and she’s sticking with that instead of creating a product that will have to be replaced after just one child. BRAVO!!!

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper

I love the fact that the Perfect Size diapers have 14 color options! We went for cotton candy this time around. I mostly avoided gender-specific diaper colors for Darah since I wanted to re-use them for baby #2, but since I think she’s our last and she’s also a girl, I’m loosening up and embracing the pink!

Here’s a pic of the diaper and the insert. The insert is nice and thick (and absorbent!), yet the diaper is actually quite trim! I would actually like to purchase some additional FuzziBunz inserts because I’m so fond of them.

Layah is modeling the size M, which fits her chunky 16 pound frame now and will fit her up to 30 pounds. I’m going to get a lot of mileage out of this diaper, I think!

Here’s the size chart for the Perfect Size diapers, if you were wondering which size would be best for your little one!

What about you? Have you tried this brand of cloth? Were you as impressed as I was?

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.