lo-wren

muse. mom. maven.

Wonderfully Thirsty: Wonderful Bambino Fitted Diapers

By 118 Comments

Wonderful Bambino Bamboo Fitted Diaper
Wonderful Bambino one-size bamboo fitted cloth diaper review.

Look out cloth diaper-ers, there’s a new (natural fiber) diaper in town!  I had the opportunity to test Wonderful Bambino’s one-size fitted diaper prototype back in June, and was excited to receive one of the finished products when they hit the market last month.  I’ve talked about how great of a fiber hemp is for diapers here and here, and Wonderful Bambino presented my first opportunity to delve into bamboo to see how it performs for a diaper.  In a nutshell, bamboo works wonderfully!

My first impression of this diaper was that it was really flimsy & floppy – I doubted it would be able to hold much liquid.  This, however, is one of the amazing qualities of the Wonderful Bambino one-size fitted diaper — it’s lightweight (read: SUPER TRIM) and really thirsty.

Made of 100% bamboo, the bamboo’s properties pull in and distribute moisture beautifully.  As I’ve said before, D is not a heavy wetter, so these work really well for us with just a cover.  Those of you with heavy wetters, or looking to use this diaper for nighttime, would do well to pair this fitted with Wonderful Bambino Bamboo Inserts.  The bamboo inserts are made from the same material as the diaper and are comprised of three thirsty layers of bamboo — these inserts are slim.

So, how does the Wonderful Bambino Fitted perform?  As a one-size fitted diaper, Wonderful Bambino features plenty of areas to adjust sizing to fit your little one.  The rise contains two rows of snaps, easily allowing you to fold the top row down and in to accommodate smaller babies.  The body contains two additional rows for sizing, again allowing for adjustment.  For those smaller, leaner babies, there is an additional snap on the waist to allow the tabs to overlap to secure (this feature is what got us through the first year of diapering with Declan’s lean waistline):

With multiple sizing options, the Wonderful Bambino diaper is a good ‘fit’ for most babies.  One of the great things about bamboo fabric (apart from how much it absorbs and distributes) is that it has a lot of stretch to it, making it a great option for chunky babies and babies/toddlers on-the-move.  The leg gussets hug D’s legs, ensuring a snug fit to prevent leaks, but not so tight that it causes marks or discomfort:
Overall, I am really pleased with how the Wonderful Bambino Fitted Diaper performs.  After using this diaper for over 2 months, I’ve yet to find any negatives to share with you.  Here is a concise list of the Wonderful Bambino’s great features:
  • Made from 100% Bamboo
  • Machine Wash AND Dry
  • A VERY trim diaper, compared to other fitteds on the market
  • Very absorbent diaper, even without bamboo insert
  • Great diaper for chunky babies
  • Great diaper for overnight, when paired with bamboo insert
  • Leg gussets create snug fit, deterring any leaks
Interested in learning more?  Visit their website at www.WonderfulBambino.com.  Want to connect via social media to find out the latest news and specials?  You can connect with Wonderful Bambino on Twitter: @WBDiapers  

*This post contains affiliate links.

Window Shopping: Creating My Ideal Cloth Diaper Stash

By 5 Comments

*This post contains affiliate links.
If I could cloth diaper all over again
If I had the chance to start over and build my cloth diaper stash from scratch, what would I do differently or the same, knowing what I know now (after 14 months of cloth diapering)?  And how would I create my stash if I was given a $200 budget, or $500?  What would I choose with an unlimited budget (more like, what wouldn’t I chose)?  When Tara & Carolyn, from Padded Tush Stats, threw this topic out, I knew that I would have fun with it.  Window shopping, with all of the cloth diapering experience I’ve gained over the past year, has been fun and a challenge.
ClothDiaperBudget
I began putting together my cloth diaper stash when I was two months pregnant, so I had plenty of time to shop.  I read cloth diapering blogs like it was my job!  A couple of the first nuggets of wisdom I encountered were that a.) I would need to try a few different styles of diapers to figure out what worked best for us, and b.) not all styles of diapers work on all babies (it’s like finding the right pair of running shoes).  I knew that I wanted to diaper with prefolds (flats intimidated more than prefolds back then), but also wanted to try pockets, AI2s, etc.  I purchased prefolds new, little by little, and decided to buy pockets used.
I realized early on that pockets were not going to work for us, and gradually sold them to add more prefolds and fitteds.  It’s amazing how diaper preferences change over time…and over the course of your baby’s growth.  I was a staunch prefold advocate for the first year of diapering Declan, but when every diaper change became a wrestling match (aound the time he turned 1), I quickly realized that AIOs and AI2s were my ally on the changing mat, and I have been adding them to my stash here and there.  Every baby is different, but the following ‘dream’ lists are based upon my experience thus far diapering D.
To simplify things, I’ll be creating my stash using just one diaper store (no comparison shopping): Diaper Junction.  It pays to use one cloth diaper store because most of them have points/award systems that give you credit based upon what you spend.
Creating a Diaper Stash for $200
This task proved to be a bit more difficult than I had imagined, but it’s still no problem for me, a prefold lover.  I actually plan to use flats with our next baby, now that I’m no longer intimidated, and they are a perfect solution because they fit babies of all sizes.
12 – Preemie Indian Prefolds  $9.00
2  –  Bummis Newborn Diaper Covers  $13.00
2  –  Thirsties Duo Wrap size 1  $20.82
2  – Thirsties Duo Wrap size 2  $20.82
1  –  Econobum Diaper Kit  $49.95
10 – Charlie Banana 10 Reusable Double Sided Wipes, Blue Emb.  $12.99  (these are my absolute favorite wipes)
1  –  10-gallon step trash can (Target)  $15.00
There’s no wet bag included, but grocery bags work just fine when you’re out and about.  No frills diapering, but this will take you from birth to potty training for $193.97.
Creating a Diaper Stash for $500
Now with $500 I should really be able to create my dream stash, right?  Well, I had a tough time fulfilling my dream stash for $500 (those AIOs & AI2s are expensive!)!  For $500, however, I do get the luxury of having plenty of diapers for the newborn stage.  One thing I wasn’t keen on was doing diapers almost daily the first 2-3 months with Declan.  However, once babies are on solids, their daily diaper usage decreases drastically, and I really didn’t factor in a decrease in diaper usage when purchasing our prefolds (we have a lot…as in over 100 in multiple sizes a lot!).  With D, we have way more prefolds than we can use in our current rotation because his pH changed once he began teething; this meant that I went from doing diaper laundry once per week, to doing them every 3rd day (or have an insane ammonia stink emanating from the pail).  I’d rather have more diapers for those early sleep-deprived days, and this stash reflects that:
1 – 3-Pack Snappi Diaper Fasteners  $3.95

24 – Diaper Rite Flannel Wipes  $11.98
1 – 10-Pack Charlie Banana Wipes  $12.99

1 – Bummis Newborn Pack  $42.00
     12 prefolds
     2 covers
12 – Preemie Indian Prefolds  $9.00
12 – Diaper Rite Flats  $17.50
12 – Infant Indian Prefolds  $18.00
2 – Thirsties Duo Wrap size 1  $20.80
1 – Blueberry Cover  $16.95
1 – Applecheeks Cover  $19.00
12 – bumGenius Freetime AIOs  $239.40
1 – Step Trash Can  $15.00
2 – Planet Wise Pail Liners  $33.00
1 – Planet Wise Hanging Wet Bag  $29.99
1 – Planet Wise Wet Bag Medium  $16.50
All of this for a grand total of $493.07 – whew!  What’s interesting to note is that we’ve spent around $500-600 on our current stash, but have way more options.  Part of this is because we had a few of our cloth diapering items given to us as shower gifts, and cute covers for Christmas gifts.  The other reason why we have so much more is because I had the luxury of plenty time to shop around; I purchased used diapers, shopped B1G1 diaper sales, and lucked into meeting a woman that was liquidating her online diaper store inventory (I was able to purchase a lot of items at cost, including our pail liners and wet bags).
My Ideal Diaper Stash (no budget)
 
No budget?  Since money is no object, and the budget is out-the-door, the (cloth diapering) world is my oyster!  The interesting thing is that I didn’t go nuts.  At-the-end-of-the-day, diapers, for me, are pee and poop catchers that serve a practical purpose.  I don’t like clutter, so I hate to over buy.
One area where I minimized, compared to what I currently have, is with my diaper covers.  I have WAY more than I need now, so I would definitely scale back if I had it all to do over again.  Other changes?  One more set of my absolute favorite wipes (Charlie Banana double-sided), more (fun) wet bag options, more newborn prefolds and wool…lots and lots of wool (I.love.wool.).  I scaled back on the number of larger sized prefolds I would get because I would plan to switch over to AIOs around the one year mark.  This is my ideal cloth diaper stash (*drum roll*):
1 – 3-Pack Snappi Diaper Fasteners  $3.95
3 – 10-Packs Charlie Banana Double-Sided Wipes  $38.97
Wipes Warmer  $29.99
4 – 5-Packs of Bummis Fleece Liners  $20.00
Step Trash Can  $15.00
2 – Bummis Newborn Diaper Packs  $84.00
12 – Diaper Rite Birdseye Flats  $17.50
1 – Blueberry Cover  $16.95
1 – Applecheeks Cover  $19.00
1 – Thirsties Duo Wrap Cover  $10.20
1 – EcoPosh Wool Cover  $34.95
1 – Kissaluvs Wool Cover  $39.00
18 bumGenius Freetime AIOs  $359.82

A grand total of $1,033.21.  Disposable diapering can cost anywhere from $1,500-$2,000, so I’m still saving money while having my dream diaper stash.  The crazy thing?  These diapers will diaper all of my kids and I’ll still be able to resell many of these items when done and recoup some money (cloth diapering just makes cents).  I feel I should have a disclaimer — I’ve not tried Blueberry or Applecheeks covers, I’ve just heard so many great things about them that I had to include them.  Also missing?  The diaper I am absolutely dying to try right now is a Smart Bottoms Smart One 3.0. I just can’t justify any more diaper purchases when we have so many diapers that go unused each rotation (even though I really, really, really want to add just 5 more AIOs/AI2s to my stash!).

Window shopping has been fun, but it makes me want so many more diapers (and another squishy baby to put fluff on)!  I was surprised that I had difficulty with the $200 budget even with exclusive flat and prefold diapering.  While I was pretty much a prefold-only gal (with a few fitteds thrown in for good measure), I did have a lot of comforts along with those diapers, in the form of multiple wet bags, pail liners, premium cloth wipes, wipe warmer, and way more cute covers than we have ever needed (who knew?).  The biggest comfort I factored into my $500 and unlimited budgets was having the luxury of more diapers and cutting down on the frequency of laundering.  What I didn’t factor in was a laundry service, but that may just be a topic for a future post…

Green Mother Crafts Hybrid Fitted Diaper

By 1 Comment

* I received product, free of charge, in exchange for this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 When the opportunity arose for me to review one of Green Mother Crafts Hybrid fitted diapers, I jumped at the chance!  I was originally drawn to Green Mother Crafts because of the beautifully-crafted diaper covers they make in bright, fun prints.  Lucky for me (and all of you), Green Mother Crafts agreed to sponsor one of their beautiful covers, and a set of cloth wipes, for the Prefold event I’m hosting, starting Monday, July 1!  I digress…

In business for 3 years, Green Mother Crafts’ Jo and Angela share well over 20 years of experience crafting and using cloth diapers; they are cloth diaper artisans.  Green Mother Crafts’ philosophy is best described in Angela’s own words:

We both care deeply for the Earth.  Our goal is to make affordable products that are functional, stylish, and have a positive impact on our environment.  We have been described by some as “Modern Hippies.”
For some people, what we make is a ‘poop catcher’.  To me, it is a work of art.  Each item is made with love and creativity.  I am a perfectionist, so I pay attention to every detail.  My creations are my gift to the world to help make it a little more beautiful.  That is why I tie a bow on each one before I send it out.

That “attention to every detail” is extremely apparent once you take a look at a Green Mother Crafts diaper! I chose the Woodland Trails Deer print for my Hybrid Fitted, and absolutely fell in love with the diaper once I saw it in-person.

My Green Mother Crafts’ Hybrid Fitted Diaper came with 2 snap-in inserts to try, one 17″ and one 12″.  The inserts are comprised of 1-2 layers of Zorb (1 layer for newborn insert, 2 for larger insert), sewn between a layer of organic bamboo velour and a layer of organic bamboo fleece.  One of the great things about GMC, is that I received detailed instructions for how to prep, and subsequently care for the diaper; this is the first diaper I’ve had with such detailed instructions (which is great because I don’t want anything to happen to such a beautiful diaper)!

The front waist features 12 snaps which leaves plenty of room for growth, and a fold-down rise with an additional 12 snaps.  The left wing features 3 snaps, the right wing 5 — this diaper will easily fit a newborn!  The inside of the diaper is typically lined with a cotton velour, in a color coordinating with the outside design.  Moving forward, GMC will be using Windpro and Polartec fleece in their hybrids.  So, is this diaper all looks, or does it actually perform?

Thankfully, this hybrid is SUPER absorbent, as I would hate to have cover this amazing print!  When testing diapers, I typically like to leave them on for around 3 hours.  Because of the timing with bathtime, I ended-up  leaving the hybrid on for 3 1/2 hours, with just the 17″ insert inside.  I was shocked to see that the insert, which I had doubled over in the front of the diaper, had absorbed all of the moisture, and the diaper itself wasn’t even damp!  If I used cloth at nighttime, this would make a wonderfully absorbent nighttime diaper!  What I love even more is the fact that this diaper isn’t bulky, so you get absorbency without hindering movement:

My Green Mountain Crafts Hybrid Fitted diaper has definitely become one of my favorite diapers in Declan’s stash.  If you’re looking for an affordable, well-crafted, artisan cloth diaper, definitely check out Green Mother Crafts’ Hyenacart store.  You can also connect with Green Mother Crafts on Facebook, to check out some of their latest creations and up-to-date information for stockings.

Check back next week for a chance to win a Green Mother Crafts diaper cover and set of flannel wipes!


D.I.Y. Wool Soaker #2

By 3 Comments

Back in April, I shared my first attempt at knitting a wool soaker, and my first time knitting from a pattern.  Unfortunately, the soaker was SO big that the only time D’s worn it was for the picture I took!  I’m hoping he’ll fit into it in the fall.  I came across another pattern that I liked and really wanted to try: The Curly Purly Soaker.

I should add a disclaimer, stating that you really must go to the Curly Purly website to see how beautiful and trim this soaker truly is, as I am a beginning knitter.  In stating that I’m a beginner, I’m also adding a disclaimer that it really shouldn’t take you the month or so it took me to knit this!  To be completely honest, I took a lot of breaks, mostly from making silly mistakes…and not catching them until hours of knitting later.  After having to unravel hours of knitting, multiple times, my frustration level was such that I had to put my knitting down and walk away.

I am, however, determined to have my son wearing lots of wool this summer, so I perservered.  While I have  the other soaker that I knitted, it’s way too big.  But, I have my Little Fawn Organics soaker, a Living Green Baby fleece soaker (I’ll talk about this one soon), this newly-knitted one, an adorable pair of wool shorties ordered from Squishable Baby, and plan to try my hand at sewing some upcycled wool soakers in the next few weeks.  Here is the finished product on Declan:

A little big, but that makes all of the trial and errors worth it, as he’ll get more wear out of it.  It really is a hot mess to look at close up, but I’m still proud that I stuck with it, and have an incredible sense of accomplishment.

I will note that I am not a great knitter, so this soaker can easily be made over the course of a week of knitting in the evenings.  I really love the patience knitting teaches me, and this project was a HUGE lesson in patience!  Also, the more mistakes I make, the more I learn.  However, my next project is going to be a super easy one, as I need a break and I need a project without a ton of instructions and techniques!

GroVia Kiwi Pie One Size Fitted Diaper (Review)

By 169 Comments

I’ve talked about how how much I love cloth diapering with prefolds, but when I decided to try cloth diapering at night again, I wanted to try using a fitted diaper for added absorbency.  GroVia’s Kiwi Pie Fitted was my first choice…

I will start by saying that I don’t have any pictures of my GroVia Kiwi Pie Fitted Diaper packaged…because I was SO darn excited to try it out, that I started seasoning it as soon as I opened the package!  So, I apologize for not having any ‘before’ photos for you.
My first impression of GroVia’s Kiwi Pie Fitted cloth diaper was how soft and trim the diaper was.  I’ve used one other brand of fitted, and while soft, the newborn fitted diaper was super bulky.  Not so with the Kiwi Pie, even with the extra soakers inside.

As you can see, the soakers snap together, if you choose to use them both.  I’ve only used my GroVia Kiwi Pie for nighttime diapering, so we go ‘all-in’ and use both soakers.

GroVia Kiwi Pie cloth diapers are handmade in the USA, and the attention to detail is apparent.  One of the reasons this diaper is so trim is because of the remarkable craftsmanship – the quality of the sewing is impeccable.  The inner elastic keeps the diaper close to the thighs, without chafing, providing a trim fit and deterring any leakage.

Made from 50% MicroModal/ 50% Pima Cotton, the Kiwi Pie is incredibly soft and absorbent.  As I said earlier, we use our GroVia fitted diaper for nighttime diapering, and love that the cotton is soft and comfortable for my little guy and extremely absorbent (we’ve not yet had a leak).

An added bonus to all of the functionality?  Kiwi Pie Fitteds come in an array of fun and funky prints (Cream Dogs & Cats is pictured).  My husband loves using fitted cloth diapers because of their ease of use.  Just snap on and pop a cover on over top; we use wool for nighttime:

D’s definitely not suffering from bulky nighttime diapering syndrome.  With the Kiwi Pie, D’s nighttime diapering is trim, comfortable, and super absorbent.  If you’re looking for a great nighttime diapering solution, or want to try a new fitted diaper, I would definitely recommend giving the Kiwi Pie a try.  Check out GroVia Cloth Diapers  for all of your cloth diapering needs: fitteds, hybrids, AIOs, wool soakers, trainers, and more!

** If you do end up buying a Kiwi Pie Wool soaker to go over your Kiwi Pie Fitted, check out this great tutorial for using Kool-Aid to dye your wool here!**

*This post contains affiliate links.