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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Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #7 Green Acre Designs Pocket

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #7 Green Acre Designs Pocket Diaper

There is nothing cuter out there than embroidered diapers! This was my son's custom birthday diaper. It will be a diaper that I will keep forever and he still wears it even when it is not his birthday just because it is so cute. It is a Green Acre Designs pocket diaper.

Shannon Story is the work at home mom behind Green Acre Designs (GAD for short). She started by sewing diapers for her oldest son when he was 10 months old. She says they were not pretty but they did the job, how far her diapers have come! After a lot of changes and playing around she finally came up with a design that looked nice, without scratchy velcro, and no saggy wings on the diapers. Her web store opened back in May 2004, more improvements were made to the sizing and in 2006 a medium long size was added to the line up.

I have emailed Shannon many times, she was very sweet with helping me come up with a diaper for Luke for his birthday, and got it done quickly. She is very committed to her business but also her family. Trying to balance both can be a challenge but she seems to have it under control.

GAD's product line offers pocket diapers, all in one diapers, breathable GADimal pocket diapers, diaper covers, one size semi-fitteds, and inserts. I am reviewing the pocket diaper today, but would love to try her other products in the future.

GAD's are so popular due to their adorable embroidery. You can buy the diapers with no embroidery, or you can add a pirate, monkey, monster, robots, cupcakes and more adorable embroidered patterns.

The pricing for GAD pocket diapers is $15.95 US for a basic PUL pocket with microfleece, or $23.95 with embroidery added to it.

Here are my pros/cons of the GAD pocket diaper

Pros

• Side snapping is convenient and prevents "wing droop"
• Microfleece is very soft against baby's bum and wicks away moisture
• Sized diapers give your baby a custom fit
• No scratchy velcro rubbing against your baby's belly
• Snap diapers don't wear out like velcro
• Easy on the go changes with an active toddler
• Adorable colour combinations such as violet and pink, black and fuchsia, teal and light blue, neon lime and fuchsia and many more
• Can't forget the embroidery you can add to your baby's bottom

Cons

• Snaps do take a bit of getting used to and to find the best fit
• No one size option so your baby will outgrow all their adorable diapers!
• Not being able to afford one of each colour and pattern :)
• In the winter having to put pants over these cute diapers!

I don't really have any cons. If I had an unlimited budget I would add many embroidered diapers to add to my sons diaper stash. I like the fit, they are soft, well made, hold up well over time, and they are made by a very sweet work at home mom.

If you are looking for a great pocket diaper, grab a few of these. And if you have the money to splurge add an embroidered one (like the new cupcake one that says "Bite me"). Make sure to visit the Green Acre Design website here and become a fan on facebook. Occasionally Shannon will post a photo contest or some great deals for her facebook fans. Make sure to check it out!

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day # 6 DryBees Fleece Nighttimes

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #6 DryBees Fleece Nighttime Pocket

I hate to say it, but I don't have a picture of Luke in this diaper! Darn! I thought I was pretty good about taking a picture of him in every diaper he wore, but I guess I missed this one. He wore the small DryBees Overnight Fleece diaper only a handful of times before I switched to the bumGenius for overnights. I guess I forgot to take pictures of him right before bed in this diaper.

DryBees started out in 2003 with just 5 yards of fabric. The products were all made at the kitchen table of Lisa Adkins at night once her children were in bed. DryBees started to take off, and soon there was more orders than she could sew in a night. With her mother taking on the seamstress job, the business continued to grow. In 2005 she lost her mother and could not keep up with the growing demand, and she took on a new seamstress who works in the comfort of her own home so she can be with her children. DryBees is located in West Virginia.

DryBees product line includes an All in One diaper, DryBees Lacies, Night time diapers, and fitted diapers. My review today is on the night time fleece diapers which I tried when my son was a few weeks old.

I bought two of the DryBees Night Times to use at night time. They are made of fleece and very soft. I would want to wear one to bed if I had to! They are made out of the same pattern as the other DryBees diaper but made with heavy weight malden mills windpro fleece. In the description it does say because of the fabric used to make them they are more bulky than typical PUL pocket diapers. These diapers were brought back by popular demand.

The DryBees Night times are priced at $19.50 each US. It is a good price for a quality night time cloth diaper. They come in a variety of colours including baby blue, black, brick, orange, cobalt, lemonade, navy, charcoal, mocha and more! No cover is needed, and they each come with an insert to use in the pocket diaper.

I really didn't use these diapers a whole lot to give you a pros/cons of them. I liked how soft they were, how well they absorbed, how dry my baby felt when he woke up in the mornings. However they were way to bulky for my little guy. I had a hard time fitting pj's overtop of this diaper and his legs looked to be a mile apart. Each diaper fits different babies, and I just had a very skinny baby and I found they were not the best fit. Of course if I tried one now they might fit him a lot better.

If you are having a hard time finding a nighttime solution I suggest you look into these. They have worked well for many babies, which is why they brought this diaper back. I am sorry I don't have any action shots for you. I will make sure it doesn't happen in the future.

Check out the DryBees website for more on their overnight diapers and their other products here

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #5 bumGenius 3.0

Cloth Diaper Challenge Day #5 bumGenius 3.0

A few weeks ago an announcement was made that shocked the cloth diaper community. Cotton Babies was discontinuing their beloved bumGenius 3.0 diaper. It was later announced that the 4.0 was coming out with changes everyone would be sure to love. This review is on the 3.0 version, one of my very favourite diapers and my leak proof nighttime diaper, I look forward to adding my review for the 4.0 product in the near future.

Jennifer Labit is the women behind bumGenius diapers. Their company, Cotton Babies, began with $100 worth of product in a green milkcrate, and continued to expand throughout their household, until 2005 when they moved into their first commercial space and 2006 they opened the first retail store. In 2005 they launched the bumGenius product line. Their products are both made in Denver, Colorado and Alexandria Egypt. The products sold in the US are generally made at the US location, where all the international orders come from the Egypt factory.

bumGenius' product line includes the One Size bumGenius 3.0, a discontinued Bamboo fitted, all in one diapers, an organic line, Flip and Econobum. This review is for the now discontinued One Size 3.0

I heard a lot about these diapers while I was pregnant and deciding which type of diaper to go with. I read about a lot of women who used these as their bullet proof night time option. I ended up buying one in every colour (except the pinks) and these are what I still use at night time. They are a one size diaper, meant to fit from 8-35lbs. My son is right now about 18lbs, at 16 months and is at the second rise setting on the diaper. The diapers are easy to use, stuff the one size microfiber insert into the pocket, put it on your baby, and velcro shut! Easy as that. At first they looked like they would be hugeon my newborn, but they turned out to fit very well with the newborn insert.

The inner fabric that touches your baby is soft, sueded that wicks away the moisture and even after 12 hours overnight my little one's bum is nice and dry. The leg casings fit great around my son's thighs to prevent leaks and explosions, and we have only ever had a handful of leaks, mostly due to human error.

Here is my list of pros and cons on the diaper. Keep in mind these diapers have been used daily for over 16 months now. They are oldest diapers I am still currently using.

Pros

• One size option makes them more cost effective. They will last you until potty training (hopefully)
• Convenient if you have 2 in diapers, just adjust the rise setting and you can fit them on your newborn and toddler
• Cute colours! I love the Twilight colour (possibly because I am a huge twilight fan? Who knows!)
• My little guys bum always feels dry even if the diaper weighs almost as much as he does in the morning
• I can put him to bed in this diaper and not be worried about him waking up wet. He was soaking through a disposable at nighttime, but this diaper held up against leaks!
• Well known brand, with a ton of users that would be more than happy to help you out if you are having any problems

Cons

• I have got to say, my least favourite thing about these diapers is the fact that I have to reach into the diaper and pull out the insert before washing. After a long night, it is a soaking wet, warm, insert and there is just no way around it without getting your fingers wet
• The hook and loop wears out. It is a part of usage, and I can't wait to see the new hook and loop improvements on the 4.0, but my well loved 3.0's have lost most of their sticking power and will need to be converted to snaps
• I have only had elastic problems with 1 diaper, and it was a bumGenius diaper. It was fairly easy to fix it, and their improvements have made it even easier to replace
• A little one the pricier side. I am a cheap person, and I have found other pocket diapers that are comparable for almost $10 less a diaper
• The microfiber "stink" I have to strip them fairly frequently to keep the ammonia smell away

Seeing as I have used these diapers for so long, that despite the cons I listed I still use them and encourage other families to try them out. I am looking forward to trying the 4.0 diapers to see the improvements. Including, a more generous size (isn't really needed for my super tiny guy), snap option, and easier to replace the elastic. Plus the new colours.

Visit the Cotton Babies website to learn more about their bumGenius diapers here or find their facebook page here. They don't have contests regularly like some other diaper companies but they did have a photo contest last summer. The pictures in this entry are ones I took for the contest, and I did not mind that my neighbours stared at me like a crazy person while setting up my diaper line down by the water.

Stay tuned for my 4.0 review coming soon!