Product Review: Bummis Swimmi Diaper

Rating: A+
I would buy more of these in a heartbeat!

Review:
We recently began taking Baby "S" to the pool at our local YMCA. As I'm sure you know by now, I'm not a fan of disposable anything due to personal experience, so of course I did a little research and ordered two Bummis Swimmi Diapers. Most of the reviews I read were positive for this diaper. After using it once, I love it! Here's why I think this is the best swim diaper out there:

The outside of the diaper is very soft which is good if your little one has chubby legs that will rub on the diaper. The inside is a breathable mesh that does not stick to baby's bottom. The diaper itself is very stretchy. I ordered a size Large (22-30lbs) and on Baby "S" (about 25lbs), I was able to cross the tabs over to make it nice and secure without getting any disturbing red marks on her thighs. In addition, the diaper is very trim. It fits easily under her swimsuit and is not very bulky at all.

The performance of the diaper is superb. We had no leaks of any kind. It keeps everything in that should be in. After about 45min of swimming, the diaper was quite heavy when I took it off, leading me to believe that it does absorb liquid (poll water and urine both) quite effectively.

The only drawback I have found for this diaper is the lack of laundry tabs. You must fasten the diaper as you would if it was on the baby for washing. This is not a big deal when it is going through the wash, but when you hang it up to dry the tabs get caught on everything, including the diaper itself. I do wish that it had laundry tabs to make washing easier. On the washing note: it is very easy to wash (just toss in with your other diapers or your swimsuits), and it dries very quickly. I threw mine in the wash at 9pm last night, and hung them up to dry. By 10:30am both were dry so we could use them again this morning.

Overall, a wonderful swim diaper! I highly recommend this to everyone! (at $12/swimmi you really can't beat the price! Imagine how many disposables you'd get for $12....try making that last through the summer!)

Happy Diapering!

Week 3 Under Cover: Sewing A Cover

One of the absolute cheapest ways to get a cover is to sew one (or so I've heard). I'm in the process of trying my first one right now.

There are many places online to get free cloth diaper patterns. All you really need to do is google search and print out your favorite. Or, you can always trace a diaper you already have and love (don't forget when tracing near elastic, pull the elastic taught to get the actual measurement of the side!

You should have one layer of PUL (which can be expensive but if you get it on sale from a craft store it can be quite cheap). My first cover will be two layers of PUL, shiny sides facing in. The outer layer can be anything that is polyester (no cotton as it will draw the wet toward it thus making the diaper less waterproof). Make sure your threat is also 100% poly!

Personally, I prefer fold over elastic with a nice wide zigzag stitch around the entire cover. Easiest to deal with and the best fit. However, if you would rather you can always either serge or stitch and turn your cover and case elastic in around the legs and back.

Honestly, I can make about 4 simple diaper covers (depending on the size of the cover you make, how much material you buy, and how much you spend on material) for the price of one from the store. They may not look as pretty but they sure are functional. Baby "S" wears them under her jammies at night so we don't really get to see them anyway!

Week 3 Under Cover: Covers

The past few weeks we've been discussing prefolds and fitteds in the hope that you will try some of them. The missing ingredient with either of these is a cover. Covers are the part that keep the wet in. They are the barrier between the soiled diaper and the rest of baby's clothing. A cover can either make or break your system, in a manner of speaking.

A cover that is too small or not water resistant enough will not stop leaks. Therefore, when buying a cover it is important to be sure you order the right size. Since sizes tend to overlap (weight-wise) I prefer to order the size up if Baby "S" is borderline. That way, I can keep the cover pulled tight for the immediate future, and as she grows into the cover, I can fasten it further out.

One thing I love (no really...LOVE...I mean it) in a cover is fold over elastic (ie: FOE) binding around the entire cover. Rather than pinpoint elastic that goes around the legs and in the back, this elastic binding goes around the entire diaper cover. The cover will lay more flat that if it had the "real" elastic in it (Zookies covers I believe use fold over elastic). I like this because when I use a fitted at night, I like the front and legs to have a nice elastic-y tightness to it since Baby "S" is now a belly sleeper. It is not tight elastic like you might be thinking where the fabric will pull and bunch and leave a red mark on baby. This simply causes the fabric to roll up just a bit and to stay nice and tight against baby's skin rather than just hanging out...much better for a belly or side sleeper!

Week 2 Under Cover: How To Fasten Your Prefold

Should you decide to try the Angel Fold for your prefold diapers (and I do think you should), you will need to know how to fasten it. These techniques will work for a fitted diaper with no closure options (snaps or hook and loop) as well.

Option 1:


Yes, you see that correctly. Diaper pins are still sold! If you want to save money or if you are comfortable using pins, you can still buy them and use them. Pins are your cheapest option. Personally, I have always had trouble getting the pins in even before Baby "S" became all wiggly, but if you can then power to ya!

Put a pin on either side. Try to get as much of the diaper in the pin as possible so that the diaper fits nice and snug.

Please please please get DIAPER PINS if you do this! Regular large safety pins will not work. Diaper pins have a special safeguard in them so the baby cannot unhook them if squeezing them. You have to squeeze up and in to unhook a diaper pin, unlike a safety pin. So although they look the same, they work slightly differenly.

Option 2:


This is a Snappi. Snappis are the most popular option nowadays. They are safe, easy to use, and although they are more expensive they are also more versatile.

To attach follow the directions on the packaging the snappi comes in. Basically, hook the left side, pull and hook to the right side, pull and hook to the bottom. I have learned that you need to put your thumb on the Snappi on the left side when pulling to the right, and your thumb and index finger on the right and left Snappi when pulling down. Otherwise you may pull the Snappi right off and have to start again! Although it looks a bit confusing, I promise the Snappi is very easy to use!

Giveaway & Review: IttyBittyBums AI2 Diaper!!

Rating: A+

Review: The ittybittybums diaper is an AI2 style diaper. This basically means that its a cross between an AIO and a Pocket diaper. There is a cover but with a nice soft inside sewn in. A liner is placed on top of that and fastened on the baby. This diaper fits very well for a sized diaper. It is nice and roomy. The outside is a very cute print and the inside is very soft.

I especially like the liner. Although it stains easily, it is very absorbent and because it dries separately from the diaper it is ready for use again very quickly(rather than an AIO that is sewn in and takes much longer to dry).

I also like that this diaper has laundry tabs that are different from any I have seen before. Instead of folding the tabs over so they are in line with the back of the diaper, you fold them down and attach them to a common laundry tab several inches from the top of the diaper. These tabs work the best of any I have tried. You won't get a diaper chain involving this diaper!

My only gripe about this diaper is the sizing. Baby "S" is very chunky and a belly and side sleeper so I would prefer a higher rise with a little more leg room. I am not saying there is a low rise or small leg room by any means...just that for my chunky monkey I'd like a little more room. Despite that, this is still among the first diapers that we reach for during a change.

A word on service: her service is wonderful! She has no problem doing custom orders, which is how I would do it next time just to get a little extra room (although I believe that she may be taking only a certain number of custom orders each month so you might have to wait a bit unless you get your order in early!). She is always willing to work with you to create a diaper you and baby will love!

How to buy this diaper:

IttyBittyBums diapers are available for purchase here. These diapers run about $12-$18 depending on what you want. She also sells trainers, covers, and minky AI2 diapers in addition to accessories.

How to win this diaper:

IttyBittyBums is giving away a custom AI2 diaper! You choose size and give a few print options.

Mandatory Entry:

*don't forget your email address in each comment so I can contact you if you win! If you do not include an email address I will have to choose another winner!

Visit IttyBittyBums Website and comment below telling me one item that you would love to try.

Extra Entries:

1. Publicly follow this blog (1 extra entry)

2. Follow IttyBittyBums on Facebook (1 extra entry). Don’t forget to thank her for the giveaway!

3. Enter another giveaway I am hosting this week (2 extra entries for each giveaway you enter)

4. Tweet about this giveaway (2 extra entries per tweet). You may tweet every 3 hours for extra entries). Leave a link below to the tweet as I will check when a winner is chosen.

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog (2 extra entries per post). You may post twice per day.

6. Mention this giveaway with a link to it on your facebook status (2 extra entries per status update with this mention). You may update your status every 3 hours for extra entries. Leave a link below to the update as I will check when a winner is chosen.

I will verify all entries prior to posting a winner. Winner will be chosen on March 26^th at 9:00pm EST via random.org.

Week 2 Under Cover: What To Do With Unused Prefolds

Either you no longer need to use them or you tried them and you don't like them. Regardless, you have a stash of now-unused prefolds lying around taking up space and collecting dust. What to do with them? Here is a list of things I have done with my prefolds. Maybe you'll find a few helpful.

1. Donate them to The Cloth Diaper Foundation

2. Cut them up and sew them into reusable nursing pads

3. Cut them up and sew them into a fitted diaper

4. Toss a few in the garage for use when working on icky parts of cars

5. Use them as burp cloths (if they are absorbent enough to soak up pee they can handle even the worst case of reflux...trust me!)

6. Use them to dust and polish with

7. Let your kids cloth diaper their babydoll with them

8. Use them to line another diaper such as a fitted or pocket for added absorption.

9. Keep them in the kitchen for kids to use when learning to pour drinks or for when they help you in the kitchen


Regardless of whether you like them as diapers or not, prefold diapers are the most versatile diaper around. While we ended up disliking ours, we did give it a great effort and have never regretted getting them because we have used them in so many ways! I have even recommended that my new mommy friends get a pack to keep around the house regardless of whether they are cloth diapering or not (makes it easier when I try to convince them to give cloth diapering a try too)!

Week 2 Under Cover: Tell Me About Prefolds!

Prefolds are basically pieces of cloth. They are usually layered in the middle so it is the thickest there. You fold the piece of cloth into thirds, place inside your cover and voila!

There are two ways to fold a prefold depending on the size of your baby and cover you will be putting it in. You can either fold it, as your elementary school teacher once said: "like a hamburger bun or like a hotdog bun"

The hamburger bun fold is best for a newborn (if you don't have newborn size prefolds). The hotdog bun fold is best for all other sizes of babies. As you can see, the hotdog bun style has the thin sections folded on top of the thick middle length-wise. The hamburger bun has the shorter sides of the rectangle folded in so the middle is very thick. This works best for a newborn (that super thick middle will actually be right where you want it to be) and if you have a very large prefold and want to fold it to wrap around your baby, although you can use either fold for a wrap depending on what works best for you.

You can also wrap your prefold around baby so it fits more like a fitted diaper. I have found that doing this seems to make the diaper a bit less absorbent because some of the material is no longer under baby but rather around them. Some people say this is the best way to wear a prefold, so you'll have to try it for yourself!

Yes, prefolds are sold in different sizes to best fit the needs of your baby. Any given size is made with extra room for your baby to grow into. The extra can be folded over so the prefold fits best into your cover. Where you place the extra material will depend on the gender of your baby: extra goes in the back for girls and in the front for boys (this is true of all cloth diaper inserts that you will fold).

Coming up this week I will post on: pros and cons of prefolds, how to keep your prefold closed if you wrap it around baby, and what to do with your prefolds if you don't like them or if you have stopped needing them.

Happy Diapering!

Giveaway & Review: Wool Cover *closed*

**This product reviews were written by me and 100% my own opinions. I did not receive any form of compensation for these reviews.

Rating: A

Review:
GrandmaGift11 is an etsy store that I just discovered. She knits wool covers (also called soakers) for sale. She graciously agreed to allow me to review one and provide a custom-made one for giveaway. First, I must say that her service is wonderful! Her sizing didn't exactly fit Baby "S"'s chunky legs, so she made me a custom cover without a second thought. Her shipping was fast as well.

Now, on to the cover itself. This cover is sooo cute! It is soft and tightly knitted to prevent leaking through (which I admit was a concern of mine as I had never tried a wool cover before). All wetness stays inside the cover although if the fitted diaper is soaked, it may feel a bit damp to the touch on the outside of the cover. The cover feeling damp can be easily avoided by changing baby before the diaper inside is completely soaked (which is something you generally do anyway!)

The cover rise is nice and high on Baby "S" and well covers the diaper inside the cover. The extra material is fitted very nicely on her leg so there is nothing running down her leg (as I had feared there might be without actual elastic around the leg). It is also nice and roomy so that a bulkier fitted diaper fits nice and snug inside and isn't too tight around Baby's legs or waist.

This cover may be used multiple times depending on how soaked through the diaper is (as with any cover). The cover is nice and soft against baby's skin. Baby "S" seems to be sensitive to nearly everything in that area but this cover has never bothered her. It is also easy to wash. It needs to be hand washed. Toss some wool-friendly soap in a bucket along with cold water and let the diaper soak. After it soaks a bit, swish it around and rinse it thoroughly. Hang to dry. Simple.

It is also important to note that GrandmaGift11 pre-lanolizes the cover for you so that you don't have to buy lanolin and do that yourself.

How to buy this wool cover:

Check out her etsy store! Covers run about $20 each. (She has some super cute soaker skirties you should check out for little girls too!)

How to win this cover:

Mandatory Entry:

Check out her etsy store and leave a comment here with one item you would like to try.

**Leave your email address in each of the comment boxes so I may contact you should you win.

Extra Entries:

1. Publicly follow this blog (1 extra entry)

3. Enter another giveaway I am hosting this week (2 extra entries for each giveaway you enter). Comment with what giveaway you entered and if the posting name is different on that giveaway, let me know so I am able to find you to verify!

4. Tweet about this giveaway (2 extra entries per tweet). You may tweet every 3 hours for extra entries). Leave a link below to the tweet as I will check when a winner is chosen.

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog (2 extra entries per post). You may post twice per day.

6. Mention this giveaway with a link to it on your facebook status (2 extra entries per status update with this mention). You may update your status every 3 hours for extra entries. Leave a link below to the update as I will check when a winner is chosen.

I will verify all entries prior to posting a winner. Winner will be chosen on March 21^st at 9:00pm EST via random.org. Winner has 48hrs to respond via email or a new winner will be chosen.

Week 1 Under Cover: Good Times To Use A Fitted

In theory, you can use any diaper any time. For some diapers I suppose this is probably true. However, in my experience, different diapers serve different purposes. For example, I prefer a pocket when I'm traveling over 30 minutes because it keeps my baby feeling drier.

First, you should know that Baby "S" is a heavy wetter, especially at night. I struggled for months to find a nighttime diapering system that works for us! My opinions of fitted diapers are based on this fact.

I have found that the best times to use a fitted diaper is overnight. If you have a heavy wetter like Baby "S", you will be amazed! No more changing 3 times per night, no more peeing through multiple jammies, no more washing every day! It is incredible how well a fitted + cover can work overnight!

I also like to use mine when I'm just hanging around the house and we aren't going out. That way, when she pees through it, I can quickly change her. When she's wet and awake, she notices and wants a change right away (she can sleep through the wet at night).

Week 1 Under Cover: How To Get Fitted Diapers Cheap

I admit, fitted diapers are not the cheapest things in the world. Then on top of it you have to buy a cover! (Although you do not necessarily need one cover per fitted diaper depending on whether you use them during the daytime or nighttime). Here are some things I have found for getting good fitted diapers at a cheaper cost.

1. Try to win them. Takes a little time to enter but if you win then you get a fitted or two for free!

2. Make them. Either from a prefold diaper or from fabric. Depending on what fabric you get, how much, and from where it may be the cheapest option. Or, if you have a bunch of prefolds lying around that you don't use you can always turn them into some nice fitteds! Check the links below to find directions on sewing.
Prefold to Fitted
Sewing a Fitted

3. Check Etsy. Etsy is full of WAHMs and sometimes you can find a real gem for a low price. My all-time favorite fitted diaper is made by handsewnbyme and sold on Etsy. These diapers are cloth inside and out with layers of zorb in the middle. Very absorbent, cute, functional and cheap! Only $8.25 for a large + very reasonable shipping.

4. Check Ebay and other resale diaper sellers. Be careful of the quality. When I was checking this out, my first thought (I admit!) was that there is no way I want a diaper someone else used! But then I found that if you look frequently (as they get snatched up quickly) you can find barely used diapers that someone bought to try and ended up disliking. Just make sure if you bid on something that you don't bid over the limit of what it would cost you if you bought brand new!!

Those are my tips and what I usually do when buying diapers. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to share! Happy Diapering!

Giveaway & Review: Zookies Cover! *CLOSED*

Rating: A +

I recommend this cover to everyone

Review:

I was on the fence about this cover prior to trying it because it is about $15 and I generally don’t spend that much on my diapers or covers. When it arrived in the mail and I ripped the packaging open, I was first very impressed by how cute it was! Then I pulled it out and I couldn’t believe how soft it felt! My other covers all feel rather waxy on the outside. This diaper is nice and soft inside and out. It has nice soft fabric around the legs and the back. Gentle elastic is sewn in around the legs and in the back.

I chose to get this cover with Aplix closure as I far prefer that. The laundry tabs hold very well in the wash and the Aplix is holding up very well thus far with no fraying, pulling or curling. It does seem to take an extra hour to dry because of the soft cloth outside, but if you don’t wash your covers intending to use them in just an hour this won’t make any difference. It will still be dry and ready to use by the same afternoon.

This diaper has a nice high rise. It fits very well over my fitted diapers that have a high rise. I end up pulling my other covers and repositioning a ton of times in an attempt to get them to fit over the fitted diapers I have, but not this cover! I have no problems getting it to cover around the legs and up the back.

I ordered the diaper in a size Large so my daughter would be able to grow into it and use it for a longer time (her weight overlaps between the Medium and Large sizes right now). You should know that Baby “S” is also still chunky around the legs and trimming around the waist. This cover fits perfectly! She will be able to wear this one for a long time and yet it is not too big right now. The tabs are made to cross over to fit the smallest weight that it is made for and that is just perfect. I also have had no problems getting a great fit around the legs and waist as is a problem for many diapers and covers I try.

How to order this diaper:

Zookies has a website. Don’t forget to check out her Bargain Bin!

How to Win this diaper:

Zookies is giving away one diaper cover in the winner’s choice or size, print, and closure.

Mandatory Entry:

*don't forget your email address in each comment so I can contact you if you win! If you do not include an email address I will have to choose another winner!

Visit Zookies Website and comment below telling me one item that you would love to try.

Extra Entries:

1. Publicly follow this blog (1 extra entry)

2. Follow Zookies on Facebook (1 extra entry). Don’t forget to thank her for the giveaway!

3. Enter another giveaway I am hosting this week (2 extra entries for each giveaway you enter)

4. Tweet about this giveaway (2 extra entries per tweet). You may tweet every 3 hours for extra entries). Leave a link below to the tweet as I will check when a winner is chosen.

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog (2 extra entries per post). You may post twice per day.

6. Mention this giveaway with a link to it on your facebook status (2 extra entries per status update with this mention). You may update your status every 3 hours for extra entries. Leave a link below to the update as I will check when a winner is chosen.

I will verify all entries prior to posting a winner. Winner will be chosen on March 16^th at 9:00pm EST via random.org.

Week 1 Under Cover: Introduction To Fitteds

What is a fitted diaper you ask? Think: All-In-One but it needs a cover and that will give you the basic idea. A fitted diaper is usually cotton on the outside and on the inside and the middle has something absorbent sewn into the middle such as zorb. A cover is needed because the cotton is not waterproof in any way. I have seen these diapers made in a sized version (large, medium, small, etc) and in a One Size version (snaps on the front to adjust the rise). I have also seen these made with snap closure, Velcro closure, and no closure sewn on, in which case you could use a Snappi or a diaper pin.

Why get a fitted instead of an AIO? In my opinion, a fitted diaper is the best diaper for night-time use. About 2 months ago, I discovered the joy of these diapers. An AIO diaper is only absorbent on that small strip under the baby where the insert is sewn in. A fitted diaper is completely absorbent. True, when you take it off the entire thing will be soaked (if you use it overnight), but at least you don’t have any leaks! I love these diapers at night-time. I do add a fleece liner to the inside of mine to wick moisture away from Baby “S”, but I love having a diaper that is completely absorbent and a great cover to keep it from leaking.

Under Cover Month Begins!!

Welcome to Under Cover Month! This month we will be discussing prefolds, fitteds and covers: the hidden gems of cloth diapering! These diapers seem to take a backseat to All-In-Ones and Pockets and thus are not as well-known.

The goal this week is to help you all to understand the value of these diapers and to convince you to give them a try. They are a fabulous addition to your stash and while you may not desire to have only prefolds and fitteds, you just may learn that they are wonderful for certain times in your cloth diapering journey. You just might be surprised at how much you like them!

This week I will also be hosting three giveaways:

1. A cover by Zookies

2. A wool cover by GrandmaGift11

3. An All-In-2 by Itty Bitty Bums

Welcome and Enjoy!

Cloth Diapering Blog Hop

March Blog Hop is Here! Follow the linky below to find other cloth diapering blogs! If you're new here from the Blog Hop please leave a comment so I may say "Hello & Welcome"!

Snaps V. Aplix

This is one of the hottest debates in the cloth diapering world. Many people are either on one side or the other; either you like it or you don't. I have yet to meet anyone that is indifferent about the type of closure on their diaper. Here, I am going to discuss my preferences and what I have found to be pros and cons for each type of closure.

Note: Aplix may also be called Velcro or Hook & Loop.

I far prefer Aplix closure. I have tried both snaps and Aplix, but with my little one Aplix is the much better choice. Here's why:

APLIX
pros
* It is easy to get a good fit around the waist and around the legs. Baby "S" is trimming out a bit around the waist but still has very chunky thighs. she needs her diaper tighter around the waist yet wider around the thighs. With Aplix, we are able to position the closure so the diaper fits exactly the way we want.
* If one falls off (although this hasn't happened yet and we're 8 months into cloth diapering) you can simply sew it back on, or easily buy another to sew back on.
*Quick closure for squirmy babies or those that cry through an entire change.

cons
*At 9.5 months Baby "S" learned how to unhook the Aplix (one week later she learned how to pull the snaps off though).
*Curl in the laundry after time.
* Will likely create a "diaper chain" in the laundry because the laundry tabs only work for so long
*May become frayed over time depending on what brand the diaper company uses (for example, my Bum Genius Aplix hasn't lasted and is in terrible shape while my KaWaii Baby Aplix still looks brand new. We use the KaWaii Baby diapers more frequently).

SNAPS
pros
* Snaps hold better for a baby that is trying to take their diaper off.
* Won't create a diaper chain in the laundry, making laundering a tad easier
* Won't stick to clothing (Aplix tabs may curl a bit and stick to the inside of clothing. Although this doesn't cause any damage to clothing or diaper, it can still be annoying)
* Two rows of snaps can help to create a more appropriate fit around waist and legs as snaps can be at different stations on each row (personally, this didn't help the fit for Baby "S" very much).

cons
* When snaps fall off (as has happened to me a few times now), they are much harder to replace. I do not happen to have a snap press just lying around, and if you have lost the snap you will want to find one that at least comes close to matching the ones already on there.
* Very difficult to fasten with a wiggly baby on your hands or one that cries through the entire diaper change as it takes longer to fasten snaps
* More difficult to get an appropriate fit for baby.

My best advise is to give each style of closure a try. While I am extremely pro-Aplix and anti-snaps, you may find yourself the complete opposite. It is all about what works best for you and your baby. However, don't tie yourself down to just one style until you have tried and explored both snaps and Aplix closures. You may be surprised at what you prefer!

PRODUCT REVIEW: Little Muffin Bottoms Pocket Diaper

This product review is written by me and 100% my own opinions. I was not compensated in any way for this review.

Rating: A-

I would recommend this to others

Review:

Little Muffin Bottoms pocket cloth diaper is a very cute, well-made diaper. When I first saw it in person I was very excited by the appearance and quality. I could tell that a lot of time was put into making this diaper and that the materials used were of a higher quality.

This diaper is very unique in that the pocket opens in the front just above the aplix rather than in the back like most pocket diapers. To be entirely honest, my first thought was that it was unique, but then I was a bit thrown off. It took me two tries to get the diaper on my daughter properly with the insert staying put in the back and not overflowing out the front. However, I’m confident that I can easily get used to this unique feature. The reason for my troubles at first was simply that I am so used to back-opening pocket diapers.

My favorite things about this diaper, aside from the quality and appearance, include the trim fit and the extra long insert that is very absorbent. I love that this diaper is so soft inside. The extra long insert provides double coverage which makes this diaper ideal for a heavy wetter.

My biggest gripe about this diaper is that it is small in size. I asked for a size large because Baby “S” is currently 22.5lbs and rather chunky. When I first saw the diaper, I was afraid that it wouldn’t even fit her because it looked so small! I decided to wash the diaper and give it a shot anyway. It does fit her, but it is a bit small and tight on her. I do not think it will fit her for much longer, which makes me very sad because I do like this diaper so much. If you choose to order this diaper, please recall that it seems to run small.

Overall, I think that this diaper is well worth the money. It is not only cute, but also unique in the placement of the pocket opening. This diaper is among the first that I reach for at every diaper change!

PRODUCT REVIEW: Handsewnbyme Fitted Cloth Diapers

This product review is written by me and 100% my own opinions. I was not compensated in any way for this review.

Rating: A+
I recommend these diapers to everyone!

Review:

I have been struggling for several months now to find the perfect overnight diapering system because 9 month old Baby “S” is a very heavy wetter. The pockets that we have tried (even when double inserts are used) are easy for her to wet through at least twice each night. Then I tried the fitted diaper by handsewnbyme. These diapers are AWESOME! I cannot say enough great things about them! They are soft, absorbent, have layers of zorb sewn into them, and are very affordable! (only $8 for a size large). Best of all, they have Velcro closure rather than snaps, and in that debate I am firmly on the side of aplix because of past experiences with both.

Not only is the product great, but the seller is wonderful as well! She is quick to ship, responds very quickly to messages, and is willing to work with you to try to create a diaper you would like. If you need a size large but like a print you see in a smaller size, she is more than willing to try to create the diaper you would like (although this of course is dependent on whether or not she still has material in that print).

That being said, I do have a few complaints about the diaper. When Baby “S” wakes up in the morning, she is soaked all around. To try to rectify this situation, I recently bought Bummis fleece liners to sit inside the diaper to help wick the moisture away from Baby “S” so she does not feel so wet all night long. I have been using the Bummis liners with this fitted diaper for about two weeks now and it works perfectly. My other complaint is that the Velcro strip is very wide so I sometimes feel a bit concerned that it might rub on Baby “S”’s tummy although it really never has.

I have only used these diapers at night, so I cannot yet speak to their ease of use during daytime wear. I do feel that they hold up well if properly cared for. They are much nicer than I had expected for their price. I feel that they are a higher-quality diaper for a much lower cost. I just ordered 5 more so that I have one for most nights and I will no longer need to go a night without one!

Please note: a cover is required for this diaper!

Favorite Overnight Diapering System

Baby "S" is an extremely heavy wetter. I have tried double stuffing numerous brands of pocket diapers and she still manages to wet through them at least twice each night. So I tried a fitted with a cover and it worked pretty well but Daddy "S" and I didn't like how wet she was in the morning. Finally, I settled on an option that seems to work very well for us and finally we're very happy with our night-time situation. Here it is:

First, we put a Bummis Fleece Liner inside the diaper. The diaper is a fitted diaper that has cotton on the inside touching baby, zorb layered in the middle, and cotton print on the outside. The diaper is $8 for a large (gasp!), high quality, and made by handsewnbyme. We put either a Zookies (review coming) or Bummis cover on the outside.



This system is amazing! It keeps all the wetness from leaking through because the entire diaper is absorbent. Not to mention how absorbent zorb is! The liner looks so incredibly thin I didn't think it would do anything, but it seems to wick the moisture away from Baby "S" so when she gets up in the morning she doesn't feel very damp at all. I'm not sure that it really adds much absorbency but they are so thin you could layer multiple liners in the diaper to truly add more.

Best Cloth Diapering Resources

I have found over time that when I research different cloth diapering topics online there are mulitple sites with answers to the same questions and I feel that I waste a lot of time looking for the resource with the most clear, east to use, helpful information. Therefore, I have decided to help out all my followers and friends by posting the list of my favorite articles and resources to make it easier for you. Happy Diapering!

Here are links to articles that I have found to be helpful:

How Many Cloth Diapers?
New To Cloth FAQ
More FAQ
10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me
10 Reasons To Cloth Diaper
10 Myths About Cloth Diapering

Here are links to information. These are the ones that I use most often and I have found to be the most helpful:

Detergent Chart
Diaper Fabric Explained
Washing Cloth
Stripping Cloth (easier than you think)
Pros & Cons: The Systems Explained <--BEST place for a beginner or someone looking to try a new system to start!! Truly a “must-read”

Here is a linky list of accessories that I find to be essential for making your experience as simple, easy and enjoyable as possible:

Diaper pail liner (I have 2 of these because when I wash diapers, I toss the liner in with them and put the second in the pail right away)

Wet Bags (I have 2 large drawstring bags that I keep folded up in my diaper bag at all times—they fold up sooo tiny yet somehow each holds at least 6 soiled pocket diapers + cloth wipes !)

Diaper Sprayer. I linked to one but there are a lot of other options besides spending this much on one. You can very easily make your own. Or, if your shower sprayer reaches the toilet bowl you can just use that…its what I do. However, you probably won’t need one until your baby starts purees and the poops begin to become a bit more solid.

My Gripe About "One Size" Cloth Diapers

One Size (also called OS) cloth diapers are all the rage now. Essentially, the rise is adjustable so the diaper can grow with your baby. Overall, I am a huge fan of One Size diapers. The majority of my diapers are One Size and I love them. I have been able to use the same stash of diapers the entire time we have been cloth diapering Baby "S" and I don't anticipate that changing until she is potty trained. However, one downside is that regardless of what the manufacturer states, they rarely fit a baby under 11-12 pounds.

My biggest gripe however, is that when the diaper is as large as it can get (see picture above), the snaps seem to bother Baby "S"'s chunky legs. As she is cruising around, they almost dig in. It doesn't seem to hurt her any, but seeing the little red imprints makes me a little worried. I have to make sure that she always has a onesie on so I can tuck it around the diaper to keep the open snaps from rubbing on her legs like when she has on a sleeper, romper, or pants without a onesie.

That's my biggest gripe. I must say, I see this being a problem with skinny babies, not just chunky babies like Baby "S". Too bad there isn't a way around this because I still prefer having the One Size diapers that grow with my baby as my primary stash.