reusable diapers - Stuff Parents Need

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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.

Lotus Bumz Cloth Diaper Review

July 3, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 179 Comments

Lotus Bumz is a cloth diaper company started by a mother named Lorain who saw the need for affordable cloth diapering options on the market. She has, in my opinion, come pretty darn close to perfecting the pocket diaper, all thanks to one especially clever feature, which I’ll tell you about shortly!

I was sent the one size pocket diaper in a cute star pattern (they do offer newborn pocket diapers, as well). We had to wait about a month after Layah was born to start using the diaper. Layah was 7 pounds 3 ounces when she was born, and was right around 9 pounds at 4 weeks. I will tell you that for the first week or two that we used the diaper, we had inconsistent results with it, in the form of leaks out of the legs (a problem we seem to frequently have with Layah in most cloth diapers). I think that Lotus Bumz simply require a little bit chunkier of a leg!

Now that we are further along and Layah has really started to chunk up big time, we aren’t having leaks at all with this diaper. So I don’t think our problems were the fault of the diaper, just a timing thing. I wouldn’t recommend the one size Lotuz Bunz for your newborn, but would definitely say to start using them around 6 or 7 weeks, which is when we started to have good luck with them.

Lotus Bumz one size pocket diapers feature 3 rows of snaps so that younger babies and toddlers alike can wear the diaper. Also note that there is a snap on each hip. I think this is a fantastic addition, as it does allow for a more snug fit around the legs, which as we discussed, is very important for Layah.

But the feature that I’m absolutely bonkers about, and that I think catapults Lotus Bumz diapers to the top of the pocket diaper pile is the hole in the back where you stuff the diapers. The hole is pretty small. Well, it really isn’t, it just has elastic around it on both the outer and the inner sides, and this keeps the microfiber insert from coming out of the back. Trust me when I say that it is literally a pain in the rear to have your inserts start creeping out the back of your baby’s diaper. When your baby pees and the insert is sticking out, you are about to have one wet mess on your hands! Lotus Bumz nips that problem in the bud by having a back pocket that is not wide open like so many other diapers are. Three cheers for this feature, Lotus Bumz!

Lotus Bumz one size pocket diapers are available for just $16.97 in an adorable assortment of patterns and solid colors. You can also stock up and save by ordering 10 diapers at once, and in return, you’ll receive an extra diaper and a wet bag for FREE!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Lotus Bumz printed pattern diaper! Yay!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Bummis Easy Fit Diaper Review: The Best of Both Worlds

September 1, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

When I first started using cloth diapers, we were an AIO (All in One) household, all the way. We LOVED them. And I still do love them, at least somewhat.

They have two fatal flaws, however. First, they take forty forevers to dry. Boo hiss to that because I need to hurry up and get them back on Darah’s bottom! Second, in my experience, AIO diapers are the ones that stink the most. I mean that literally. I don’t know why, but my AIOs have to be stripped far more often than my pocket diapers. Has anyone else found that to be true?

So now I use more pocket diapers than AIO diapers. But I miss not having to stuff, and more importantly, not having to touch soiled inserts.

Bummis

Today I am bringing you a diaper that strikes a beautiful balance between the convenience of AIOs and the quick drying of pocket diapers. Check out the Bummis Easy Fit. I heart it in a major way. I made a video (while Darah was napping, sorry if it seems rushed and amateurish…because it was and it is!). Check it out to learn exactly what makes the Bummis so unique and so crush-worthy (is it weird to have a crush on a cloth diaper?…). Oh, and just ignore the fact that my floor is so dirty that the diaper is picking up bits of leaves…oops.

So yes, that semi-attached insert is a fantastic feature. If I were building a diaper stash right now, I’d want at least 3 of these bad boys. That’s a note to self for baby #2!

Buy it!: I was thrilled to see Bummis diapers for sale at my local Whole Foods, and you can also find them on Amazon. The price seems to be right around $23.95, which seems fair to me for the quality (bamboo) and the convenience.

Win it!: Bummis wants to give one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader the chance to win an Easy Fit diaper in your choice of color! Woo hoo! The contest will run until September 11th at 7:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to their notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is drawn. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me your favorite type of cloth diaper (AIO, pocket, prefold, hybrid, etc.) and why. If you don’t have a favorite type or don’t yet use them, tell me why this giveaway is of interest to you. I’m curious to hear!

Additional entries:

Additional entries:
1. Follow Bummis on Twitter
2. Subscribe to the Bummis blog
3. “Like” Bummis on Facebook
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
5. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
7. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my home page).

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.

BottomBumpers Diaper Review

July 11, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 367 Comments

Edit: This giveaway is CLOSED.

The more I get into cloth diapering, the more I realize that diapers really can be hit or miss. In some cases, it has everything to do with the quality of the product being offered. In other cases, it has everything to do with your child’s body shape and how certain diapers do (or don’t) fit well with that shape. And in many cases, having a bad diaper experience has a little bit to do with both issues. I have had negative experiences (and by that I mean major leaks) with diapers that THOUSANDS of moms and dads rave about. And I’ve had major successes with a brand that gets very little attention. That’s the tough thing about cloth diapers; sometimes you just have to try, try and try again until you find diapers that are winners for your particular child.

And I have a winner for you today, folks! Check out Bottombumpers! Anne from The Diaper Wagon (edit: the diaper wagon is no longer in business, but BottomBumpers are still around!) sent me one of these to try out, and I’m going to tell you all about it.
Aesthetically, it was love at first sight. The diaper is very trim, very smooth on the outside, very soft on the inside (organic cotton, baby!). And it comes in the color navy, which is really hard to find, but which goes so beautifully with so many different colors. Basically, when Darah wears her BottomBumpers, she has built-in bloomers, which is so convenient.
When we first started using the Bottombumpers, we had a few bumps in the road (no pun intended). At first, we did have a bit of a leak problem. As I used (and washed!) the inserts more, though, this problem started to fade. So the primary cause of leaks was simply that I hadn’t pre-washed the insert enough times to get it to its full absorbency.

Additionally, I have simply learned that since Darah sleeps on her side, she is likely to leak out of most any diaper that has a snap in or lay in insert. That’s just reality for her. Babies who sleep on their backs or tummies will likely not face this same challenge. So that’s not a complaint I have about BottomBumpers, but rather a complaint I have with my child (Just kidding! She can sleep however she likes!).
During the day, though, BottomBumpers are one of the diapers in her stash that gets used first every single time. That poor diaper is always dirty! 🙂 It is one of only a few diapers that she has that is so trim she can wear the right size pants with it. She’s currently wearing size 12 months, and it is a little frustrating when she has a coordinating top and bottom and I can’t put the bottom on her because of her diaper. Not the case with BottomBumpers. Hooray!

I really like that with BottomBumpers, the wing snaps on the side are hidden, which keeps those red marks at bay (I always feel so guilty when Darah’s diapers leave a mark on her! How uncomfortable she must have been!).
BottomBumpers are a terrific diaper, and I definitely recommend them! They may or may not work for your child, but I think this is one roll of the dice worth taking, because the quality of the diaper is top notch.
Buy it!: BottomBumpers are available at my very favorite diaper shop, The Diaper Wagon, in a fabulous variety of colors for $18.95. ALL U.S. orders get free shipping, and any order over $65 gets from Canada free shipping. Also, check out their sale items!

Win it!: Thanks to the fabulous Anne at The Diaper Wagon, one super lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a BottomBumper in your choice of available sizes and colors. Rock!!! The contest will run until July 21st when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me one other item that The Diaper Wagon offers that you either already love or would like to try!

Additional Entries:
1. Follow The Diaper Wagon on Twitter
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
3. “Like” The Diaper Wagon on Facebook
4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
5. Subscribe to the Diaper Wagon blog
6. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by RSS, email or Google Friend Connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
7. If you are a blogger (posted something within the past 3 months) put my button on your blog and leave a url so that I can find it.

Be sure to check out all the other current giveaways, listed on the sidebar of my main page!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Twinkletoes Diapers: Discovering AI2 Diapers

June 19, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 370 Comments

Bloggy friends, I am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce you to another fabulous mom who has developed a great business that helps her stay at home with her children. Meet Vanessa, the owner of Etsy shop Twinkletoes Diapers. Vanessa specializes in AI2 diapers, and she also has a nice variety of diaper covers for those of you who prefer fitted diapers.

Vanessa sent me the cutest AI2 diaper ever, because it is made from Supergirl fabric! When the diaper arrived, it came with really helpful instructions for prepping the diaper before its first use (for those of you who are new to cloth diapering, the vast majority of cloth diapers have to be washed anywhere from 1-8 times before they are fully absorbent, and the number of times depends on the material that is used). For Twinkletoes diapers, the liner only needed to be washed once, and the inserts need to be washed 4-6 times. I’m impatient, so I only washed them 4 times before I put them to use!

After reading over Vanessa’s instructions for prepping, usual washing and general use, I realized that this diaper offers something distinct from the other AIO diapers I use. The shell can be reused all day long, provided that the elastic isn’t soiled. You just unsnap the insert and wipe down the shell, and then snap in a clean insert and put it back on the baby. I think that’s really cool! Her diapers come with one insert, and you can purchase additional ones if you’d like to use the shell more than once before washing it. They are only $3.00. This is a terrific way to essentially turn one diaper into two or even 3 for very little extra money!

Twinkletoes diaper inserts are made with some really cool fabrics: bamboo fleece, suede cloth and ZORB…this fabric is new to me, but it rocks! Zorb soaks up wetness faster than any other material out there. I love it! I have found AI2 diapers to not be as effective for Darah during nap times, because she sleeps on her side and the inserts aren’t quite able to keep her dry at that particular angle. But during the day, they work like a charm and I would highly recommend them. If your baby sleeps on his/her back or tummy, I can’t imagine that you’ll have any leak problems during nap times with these diapers.

Buy It!: If you are looking for a way to get a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to cloth diapers, without compromising the cuteness factor or the ease of use, Twinkle Toes diapers are the way to go! Check out what Vanessa has to offer, and purchase a few diapers and several inserts today! You’ll not only be getting some very nice diapers, but you’ll also be helping a mom live her dream!

Win It!: Twinkle Toes Diapers knows that once you try them out, you’ll come back for more. That’s why they are offering 1 lucky Stuff Parents Need reader the AI2 diaper of your choice from those listed! So generous!

The contest will run until June 29th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me which diaper you would choose, and choose wisely, as the winner will get what s/he selects in this entry!

Additional Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only 1 extra entry, even if you subscribe more than 1 way)

2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)

3. “Like” Twinkletoes Diapers on Facebook

4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

5. If you are a blogger, add my button to your blog (and leave your url so I can see it!)

6.Add Twinkletoes Diapers to your Etsy favorites

7. Make a purchase at Twinkletoes Diapers and you’ll get 10 extra entries!!! Just include the email addressed you used at the time of purchase in your comments here. (purchase must be made during the contest being live, so June 19th – 29th).

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own.