Cloth DIaper Challenge Day #14 bumGenius 4.0

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #14 bumGenius 4.0

I wrote my review on the discontinued bumGenius 3.0 one size pocket diaper - find it here

The new 4.0 arrived and I have been testing it out the last few weeks before I wrote a review for you. It looks all shiny and new compared to my stash of year old 3.0's. I am trying out the hook and loop version at the moment. They said the hook and loop is new and improved and I am hoping it holds up better than my previous 3.0's.

My biggest complaint about the new 4.0's, is the new colours - Noodle, Bubble and Sweet. In the pictures my son is wearing "Sweet." I find the Noodle and Sweet very "blah." The colour chart makes them look like they have more colour to them than they actually do. They are pretty darn close to white with a greenish tint or a yellowish tint. Bubble is a nice soft purple colour, but Noodle and Sweet are kind of disappointing. I am a bigger fan of the vibrant colours.

As for the other improvements, the do fit a bit bigger, my son can actually wear it on the lowest setting at 18 months old. Then again he is tiny, and less than 18lbs, but he is on the second setting on the 3.0's. The hook and loop does hold up well, sticks to the laundry tabs, but who knows what it will be like in a year. It does feel different than the hook and loop on the 3.0's, but the jury is still out on if it is actually "improved."

As for the easy access elastic change ability. I haven't had to use that new feature yet. Well I should HOPE I wouldn't have had to test that out yet. The diaper has only had 8 or so uses so far, but it does look easier to get to than the old version (which I did have to replace an elastic on)

So my overall review of the diaper? Close enough to the 3.0, that if you want to try out the bumGenius one size pocket line you may as well find some of the discontinued 3.0's on clearance! The 4.0 is still the same diaper with a few minor changes, of course if you are a snaps person you will be pleased with the new snap option available, but I can't say I have noticed any HUGE changes to make me throw out my 3.0 stash and rebuild it with the 4.0's. I am considering switching all the hook and loop with some of the replacement kits available.

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #13 Flip

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #13 Flip

Flip was released less than a year ago by Cotton Babies, the makers of bumGenius. I have previously reviewed the bumGenius 3.0's, so to find out more about Cotton Babies click here

The Flip system was released back in October. It has been available less than a year, and they have become very popular. There was buzz around the cloth diapering community for ages before they finally released and I was desperate to get my hands on a set to try out.

The Flip diapering system is a hybrid system with three different options. You can choose to use the stay dry inserts (just like their microfiber inserts with a stay dry top

layer), their organic inserts (made from organic cotton) or their disposable inserts. It works out great for families who like using cloth at home but still use disposable diapers while out and about or on vacation.

The Flip covers are one size, so they fit from 8-35lbs with three different rise settings. They can be wiped clean between uses and reused over and over again. Although once my son poops, the poo does get on the cover, so I wash it after a poop. But I can reuse the same cover for wet diapers all day long. The flip covers also have snaps, which are great. My covers I got in November still look brand new with very little wear and tear thanks to the snaps.

For those of you who hate stuffing inserts, the Flip system is designed to just lie the insert inside the cover. It can be a little tricky to get it on a squirmy toddler, since the insert shifts around while trying to do up snaps on an active kid who likes to run while getting his/her bum changed.

I love the Flip system but don't use it as much now for my active guy. I find it hard to get a good fit with the snaps and keep the insert in place when my active 1.5 year old wants to be running during a diaper change. I did love these from the time I started using them (my son was 8 months) until just over a year and I can't wait to use them on my new baby!

The Flip covers are priced at $13.95, which is a bit on the pricer side for a cover and doesn't come with any inserts. For a cover+an insert the price is $16.95 for the stay dry and $19.95 for the organic. If you purchase the day pack you get 2 covers and 6 inserts for $59.95 (organic) or $49.95 (stay dry). It works out to be less than $9 a diaper (you can get 6 diaper changes out of the day pack). Of course you can buy multiple inserts at $4.95 each for the stay dry of $9.95 for the organic.

Here are some of the Pros/Cons of the Flip System

Pros

• Very trim for a onesize cover. My little guy is very skinny and these fit great and didn't give him a bubble butt at all
• One size so you can use the same covers for two in diapers, and use them from birth until potty training
• You can choose between a stay dry insert, an organic insert or the disposable insert depending on your needs and your babies needs
• Cost effective if you buy the day packs and additional covers/inserts to fit your laundry needs
• Fit great under clothes
• Very absorbent! These can work well for overnight
• They come in a variety of colours including 3 new colours - Bubble, Noodle and Sweet

Cons

• You do need a new diaper cover after each "poop" My little guy has solid poops now, but they still get on the cover
• They inserts bunch up a bit when they get wet
• The stay dry are microfiber so you can get the "microfiber" stink, and they need to be stripped
• The elastic in one of mine broke after just 3 or 4 uses. It was a disappointment, but my others have been fine and it was pretty easy to fix
• Hard to get on a squirmy, active toddler

Overall the Flip is a great system. I can't wait to try them out on my newborn and see how they fit at the beginning. They are getting neglected more often now because they are just to hard to get on my on the go son!

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #12 Bumboo silk Fitted diaper

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #12 Bumboo Silk Fitted Diaper

Doesn't the title alone make you want to try one? Any diaper that has "silk" in the title it use to grab attention as being a super soft diaper. I was totally impressed when I took it out of it's package and felt how soft it was. I almost didn't want to wash it, or use it. More like stuff it and use it as a stuffed animal.

The Bumboo Silk fitted diaper is made by the company Earth, Mom and Baby. Like many cloth diapering companies, Earth Mom and Baby was started out of a desire to find convenient products that keep babies happy and don't have a huge negative impact on the environment. When one mom couldn't find these products, she turned to her mother to help create the products they now sell.

While Earth, Mom and Baby was born in Canada, the demand for their products could no longer be manufactured at home, during naptime. Their products are now created in a mill and factory owned and run by a women. She runs a clean, bright factory and offers free child care for the women who work there.

Their product line includes the Bumboo Cloth Diapers, the Pika Bubi Nursing and Maternity fasion, and the Panda Pocket Baby Carrier. I have nothing but great things to say about the carrier, but this review is on the Bumboo Diaper.

The Bumboo Bamboo Diapers come in 2 sizes. The smallest size fit tiny babies up to 12lbs and the second size fit until potty training. By having 2 sizes you get a better fit but still save money but only having to buy 2 sizes instead of small, medium and large.

The Bumboo diapers are antibacterial. They are also 100% biodegradeable and compostable after their life as a diaper is over. Polyester used in other cloth diapers is not biodegradeable and will stay in a landfill as long as a disposable diaper. You can be confident that these diapers are the best for the environment and you will leave no environmental footprint behind after your baby has potty trained.

While these are fitted diapers, the do need a cover, but they are so absorbent. Up to 4x as absorbent as cotton diapers, my son can have a major pee and still feel almost dry on the front of the diaper. We hardly ever use a cover, unless we are out and about. The diapers are also adjustable through the waist and through the rise. Making them a perfect fit for different babies of different sizes and shapes.

Here are my Pros/Cons of the Bumboo Diaper

Pros

• My biggest pro is that unlike other diapers I have reviewed the Bumboo diaper claims to be 100% biodegradable. There is no polyester so it can all return to the earth and not sit in a landfill along with disposable diapers and other cloth diapers
• These diapers are the softest diapers I own! The bamboo/silk combination stays soft after many washes
• Only 2 sizes so you will save money but also get a diaper that fits great
• Very absorbent, although a cover is recommended, my son can wear it at home with no cover and have no leaks
• Very adjustable, so you can adjust the rise and the waist to get a great fit without worrying about if they fit chunky or skinny babies better
• Priced at $20.88 for Size 1 and $22.88 for Size 2, they are affordable

Cons

• They are only available in the white/natural colour, no funky patterns or vibrant colours if that is what you like to look for in diapers
• The snaps can be a bit tricky, I find they can be hard to snap
• The diaper is completely adjustable but it can take some practice to get the rise right, without it drooping

These are beautiful, soft, absorbent diapers. The maker behind the diapers (and the nursing shirt, and carrier) is very knowledgeable and great to work with! Oh and I love finding products designed in Canada! Makes me feel proud to be Canadian to see such great products.

Visit their website here and make sure to join their facebook page. They sometimes have giveaways and contests. Find them here

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #11 Grovia AIO

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #11 Grovia AIO

Maybe I should specify AIO = All in one. Meaning no cover, or stuffing of inserts. Just put it on and go!

I figured since I just did a review on the GroBaby Hybrid system yesterday, I would post my review for the new Grovia (previously known as GroBaby) all in one, one size diaper.

Go back to yesterday's post for more about the Grovia company and how they started and grew to what they are today.

I was lucky enough to be able to test their new Grovia AIO diaper. They posted some slots on their facebook fan page and they were gone within a minute or two. It was fast, what a rush! I lucked out and got a spot and could not wait to try out the "mystery" product.

I was thrilled to see it was a diaper, but not sure how I felt about it being an all in one diaper. I am not the biggest AIO fan out there, I hate the dry time of them. However I was surprised to see that it didn't take longer to dry than my regular prefolds, that changed my opinion of this all in one diaper right away.

This one is also one size, and I am a huge fan of one size diapers. My son is still on the smallest setting for it because he is such a skinny guy, I am sure it will have no problem lasting him until he is potty trained. It is a side snapping diaper, not a huge fan of the side snaps either, I find it tricky to get the right fit, but with this AIO the tabs are super stretchy and makes it easier to get a great fit.

The best part about this diaper, in my opinion is that it is made of organic cotton, so you know the best is next to your baby's bottom. It is trim fitting, fits great under clothes and it is super absorbent! We have used it overnight, with no issues at all. It doesn't leak and it has contained poop just great. It is also a great price for an all in one diaper. Just $21.95US for this one size diaper.

Here are my Pros/Cons of the Grovia AIO

Pros

• Very user friendly, the perfect "daddy" diaper. No stuffing inserts, snapping in inserts, adding a cover. Just put it on and go
• The side wings are very stretchy and make for a great fit
• The diaper is very trim, especially for a one size
• Made from organic cotton, the inside is very soft
• Dries quickly for an all in one diaper (as long as my prefolds usually)
• Side snaps so there is no wing droop
• Snapping diapers stay in better shape longer than hook and loop diapers
• Absorbs floods! Literally contains super soakers and works great for overnight

Cons

• Mine stained really quickly, unlike other diapers I have
• There are only 3 colours available right now - pink, blue and the vanilla
• I sometimes have a hard time getting the side snaps done up while my son is on the run

Overall I can't say there are too many cons to this diaper. I

think it is my favourite all in one diaper that I have tried, although I have not tried a whole bunch of them. It is one size, so it will hopefully last birth to potty training, saving you money in the long run. If you want to have an entire stash of all in one diapers you will have have to spend quite a bit, and make sure you have 24-36 of them. It will also be a lot of laundry. This coming from a lover of prefolds and covers and all in two systems :)

They are a great daddy diaper or diaper bag diaper. Quick and easy to use!

Make sure to check out the GroVia website here

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #10 GroBaby AI2

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #10 GroBaby AI2

Technically these diapers are now known as "Grovia" However I bought them when GroBaby just came out and the Grovia version has a few modifications to them. This review is on the old style GroBaby All in 2 system. As soon as I get my hands on one of the new GroVia I will be sure to add my review and all the differences I noticed.

A ton of changes have taken place to get to where GroVia is today. It all began as Montana's Diaper Shop, an online retail site operating out of owner Kim's laundry room and quickly expanded. In 2008, Kim created a line of eco-friendly parenting products and developed the Natural Baby Company. GroBaby became a huge success after it's launch in 2009. It was a very unique cloth diapering system and the forums at diaperswappers.com were going crazy. I got caught up in the hypeof these new diaper system and of course had to purchase it not long after it was released.

What is so special about the GroBaby system? For one, it is one size, meaning it will hopefully fit your newborn or your toddler. There is the outside, that had a wipeable mesh inside, and a snap in soaker. The insert can be unsnapped and the outside cover reused for multiple uses. This saves money, you can buy a few covers and then multiple inserts and also being able to use the same diapers from birth to potty training.

They have since released a Bio Soaker pad, made with biodegradeable and compostable materials to use on the go, or instead of the cloth inserts. These turned this all in two system into a hybrid system. The shell sets (include 1 cover + 1 insert) are $24.95 US, the 2 pack of soaker pads are $16.95US. If you are interested in only using this system you can purchase the GroVia Live Package which includes 12 shells, 24 soakers and 4 boosters (for nighttime diapering).

I have been using my original GroBaby diapers since my son was about 2 months old. I can't wait to try out the GroVia as they made some modifications, including adding a waterproof layer to the back of the soaker pads.

Here are my pros/cons of this product. I just wanted to add what my husband had to say about GroBabys. "I put a GroBaby on him, it is so easy, I just had to snap in the insert!" My husband is not a "cloth" person. He will change a diaper once in a blue moon, but never does it on his own. I asked him if he put a diaper on Luke (after his bath) and he told me about his love for the GroBaby diapers

Pros

• One size, I love one size diapers because they save money and it is easy to switch between two kids both in diapers
• Being able to snap in a new insert instead of replacing the entire diaper, saves laundry and money
• They keep releasing more and more colours and prints. It started with just Mandarin, Kiwi and Blackberry and they have quickly expanded to more solid colours and also prints
• They come in hook and loop, but you can pay for them to be converted to snaps
• Leg gussets do a great job holding in the poop!
• The hook and loop is not scratchy, it is very soft.
• You can switch between the cloth and the biosoakers for convenience
• They always have contests on their facebook page!
• They do work for overnight with the booster, haven't had a leak!

Cons

• This apparently has been fixed with the new GroVia version, but the original GroBaby gets a "pee" smell to the outside shells pretty quickly (after 1 use sometimes)
• Poop always gets on the outside shell, and needs to be washed before it can be reused
• The hook and loop no longer sticks now that they have been in use over a year
• They are the bulkiest diaper on my baby, they give him a huge butt
• The soakers don't stay nice and soft and white. Mine are a tanish/brownish colour now, no longer super soft either

As mentioned above, they are great about doing contests. I have won a few photo contests and won some free products. You should become a fan on facebook if you own some of their products so you can participate in the great giveaways. They even put up tester slots now and then. I have been lucky enough to test two of their products!

I would love to try the newer version because my biggest complaint about the diaper is the stink the shells get after one use. Apparently with the added waterproof layer on the back of the soakers this is no longer a problem. I can deal with the bigger butt they give me son (some people have said these are the trimmest diapers they have used! Each baby is built different) as long as his diaper doesn't smell like pee all the time!

They have just created a Biodiaper and also an AIO diaper, so stay tuned for more reviews from GroVia products! Visit their website here

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #9 Thirsties AIO

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #9 Thirsties AIO

I know, I know, I am on some kind of "discontinued diaper" kick. I swear I am just trying to go back in time to tell you about all the diapers I have already used before I go forward and I just happen to have used some diapers that have sincebeen discontinued. I don't know WHY these diapers were discontinued, I thought they were fantastic. Of course you can find them used, check out the forums on www.diaperswappers.com or some retailers may still have a bit in

stock. I know I still have a few larges hanging around.

This AIO diaper was made by Thirsties. I have already done an entry on one of their products, so to read about the company check out this entry

Do you see how adorable my little guy

is in these pictures? I took these shots in his very first cloth diaper, which happened to be the xsmall Thirsties AIO. They looked the least intimidating to me, no need to add an insert, stuff a pocket or add a cover. Just put them on like a disposable. They do have an opening though for those super soakers to add an extra layer of absorbing material. I put this diaper on him, and took out my camera to grab a few shots of him for his birth announcement. I think he pooped in it within minutes, but no leaks!

I didn't use these diapers very long, probably a month or two until my little guy outgrow the xsmall size. Here are my pros and cons of this diaper.

Pros

• I was not scared to use it! As a first time cloth user it was the first diaper I grabbed, no nonsense, easy to use
• Has a pocket to add extra layers if your child needs it
• Dried quicker than my other AIO's that I was using
• Very soft
• It was a trim diaper
• Velcro worked well, I didn't have any issues with it, although I did only use it for a short time
• No leaks
• The leg gussets held in the explosive breastmilk poo
• They sold for a good price for an All in One diaper (around $15-$16 US)
• They had adorable colours available
• The Xsmall fit under the umbilical stump
• The xsmall also fit the scrawny chicken legs of my newborn

Cons

• They were discontinued!
• There are not so great reviews for this product on diaperpin.com
• Heavy wetters seem to have major leaks with this diaper
• I found they stained pretty easily and took a while to get the stains out

I don't really have too many other cons. I didn't use these diapers long term, just for the newborn stage and then decided I really didn't want to use AIO diapers. However, they were easy to use, very close to using a disposable diaper, I found they fit my little skinny newborns legs great and never had a leak with them.

If you want to try them, try looking for them used or check out some retailers and you may get lucky!

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Cloth Diaper Challenge Day # 8 bumGenius Bamboo Fitted Diaper

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day # 8 bumGenius Bamboo Fitted Diaper

Another amazing product from bumGenius! Unfortunately these diapers have been discontinued and no word yet on a possible replacement for these much loved bamboo fitteds!

To learn more about bumGenius look back a couple at my review on the bumGenius 3.0s. I won't repeat all the company information, just a review on the Bamboo fitted diaper today.

The Bamboo fitted was made for parents who were looking for a fitted diaper (one that is not waterpoof, a cover needs to be used for these diapers) and also natural fibers to be against their baby's delicate skin. The bamboo diaper is super soft and absorbs moisture and is made from 80% bamboo and 20% polyester. The soaker is made from Cotton Babies microfiber terry insert.

These diapers are super trim and come in extra small, small, medium and large. I bought mediums for my son last summer (at 6 months old) and he is still wearing them now at almost 18 months old. The xsmall size can fit a newborn because they were designed to fit under the umbilicus to keep the entire area free of moisture and dampness. I wouldn't recommend them as a night time option, but I love using them during the day without a cover.

Here are my pros and cons for the bumGenius Bamboo Fitted diaper

Pros

• Very trim diaper
• Natural fibers against your baby's soft skin
• The diaper is very soft even after many washes
• Avoid diaper rash and heat rash in the summer with a breathable fitted diaper
• They don't get a stink to them because they are made of natural fibers
• Reasonably priced brand new at $12.95 US

Cons

• They have been discontinued so the only way to get your hands on these is to find them used
• They are a multi size diaper, so you would have to purchase, xsmalls, smalls, mediums and larges as your baby grows
• They do need a cover if your child is going to wear clothes over them
• I find once my son pees in it the entire diaper is saturated. Other fitteds we have used only soak in the front
• The hook and loop (velcro) is not as sticky after a year of use
• They stain easily. Not just poop stains, but the outside of mine are a greyish colour because they take on every other colour diaper in the washing machine. After a year of use they are not the nice natural colour anymore

I had a beautiful collection of PUL diapers and then last summer my DS would break out in a heat rash so I had to buy some fitted diapers. I love fitted diapers, and I use them in the warm months and not as often in the winter. If you find a few of these diapers used I would say go ahead and try them! They are super trim, absorb well, and look adorable. Maybe bumGenius will bring out a new bamboo fitted product? Perhaps a one size option?

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