Thirsties review/giveaway!

First of all I want to apologize for being absent lately! We have been under the weather (aka battling one of the worst bugs this year!) and I had to take care of two little special someones. We are not yet 100% but thankfully much, much better!
Thank you all for being patient!

Now on to the review ;)

Thirsties is a well known and well loved company! Started in 2004, they have strived, and succeeded to make fab diapers for fab babies! Here is their mission:

 "Thirsties line of cloth diapers were launched in 2004 in an effort to offer sustainably produced and quality designed diapers at affordable prices. Our mission is to make it easy and attainable for every family to choose cloth while simultaneously investing in our local economy and sustainable business practices."

One of the things that I personally LOVE about Thirsties, is that all of their diapering products are made here in the USA. This is important to me and I love supporting local companies!

Also, their diapers are adorable. Seriously cute fluff! Look at some of their new prints!

Aren't those gorgeous!?

Thirsties is currently making their famous fab fitted which comes in many beautiful colors, their sized diaper covers, their new duo wraps (a two sized cover system), and their new duo diapers (an all in two). They also provide prefolds, inserts and an assortment of different accessories!

For review I received the duo wrap and a stay dry duo insert to use inside it.  

The duo insert is WONDERFUL!! It is two inserts, one polyester and one hemp/cotton blend. They snap together for easy use and easy laundering. The insert is super soft and after we prepped it, it is super absorbent! All I have to do is lay it in the wrap and put it on EJ. Like a trifolded prefold but without the work, and with much more absorbency. Also I love that I can decided what material is against EJ's skin. You could use the fleece or the hemp if you want all natural fibers against babies bum. An extremely versatile item. I bet you could use these as a pocket insert as well and would work fabulously! Few things can beat the combo of microfiber and hemp for heavy wetters!

As far as the duo wrap is concerned, it is one of my favorite covers. You all know I love wool, but this is a close second. I love how the cover is soft and moves easily so it is not sticky, sweaty, and it doesn't restrict movement.  Another thing I love is that they come in your choice of aplix or snap closure. I prefer snaps as they tend to last longer and my little magician can't get it off!

They thing that really surprised me about the duo wrap was the sizing. They come in two sizes (size one and size two) and each size is adjustable by a snap down rise. With EJ being 26 pounds now and having a 18 inch rise, I need adjustable. I need a diaper that will fit him well and will fit through potty learning. A generous diaper will fit over his huge fitted diapers, and will be comfortable while being leak free. The duo performs! The size 2 duo is a large cover and very generous in its sizing.  While all other covers either don't fit, or are on the largest setting, he wears the duo comfortably on the medium setting. He has plenty of room!! I was thrilled with this! When he wears this over his duo insert, the trimness can not be beat.

I have been a long time fan of Thirsties. I have had their covers since we first started cloth diapering. I will attest to their quality and customer service. Almost two years ago, when one of my diaper covers had a seam that came undone, Thirsties paid to mail the cover back, fixed it, and sent it back to me within a week. Time and time again they have proven to be one of the best products out there and they stand by their products.
True work horse covers for a great price!

So I just know you are wanting in on the Thirsties love!!! Well you are in luck!
Thirsties is generously offering to give one of you a duo wrap in your choice of color and size, and a stay dry insert!!

All you have to do is visit Thirsties and leave a comment letting me know what color and size of duo wrap you would want!

For extra entries (leave a separate comment for each)
1. Be a public follower of this blog via google friend connect
2. Request a Thirsties Catalog
3. Be a fan of Thirsties on Facebook
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link
5. Follow me on Twitter

Contest is open to Canada and USA. Giveaway will end December 31st, 2010 and winner will be announced January 2, 2011. Good Luck!

OweWhoaWhen review/giveaway!

OweWhoaWhen is an amazing shop run by Linda. You can find her on etsy or at her other site  http://www.owewhoawhen.com/. Linda specializes in wool soakers and the quality of her products are incredible. It never ceases to amaze me when I receive an item that has been handmade and it is flawless.You can tell so much time and talent go in to each and every one.

This is the soaker Linda made for EJ. It was a semi custom soaker, so I picked the embroidery and she picked the wool. Isn't is just gorgeous!? Her embroidery is what really sets her apart from other shops. I love having such a unique piece in our stash and I am always showing this off to people. I am just in love!

As far as functionality goes, it is great. It has a second layer stitched into the wet zone for better protection and fits like a glove even on his chunky thighs. The waist and leg openings are nice a stretchy and are soft against his skin. He loves this cover because of the turtle and I can't blame him ;) We have worn this over prefolds and fitteds and it fits great over both types. Because of its stretch it really can accommodate any diaper. The rise is high enough to cover the top of his diapers generously but does not go too high like his night time covers do. An ideal rise for an anytime cover. So if you are looking for function and one of a kind designs, OweWhoaWhen is perfect for you.

In fact, one of you will win an OweWhoaWhen cover for yourselves!

(Winner can choose any in stock soaker!)

All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog via google friend connect, visit OweWhoaWhen and leave me a comment letting me know what cover you would get if you won! That's it!

For additional entries (leave a separate comment for each)

1. Follow me on twitter

2. Like OweWhoaWhen on facebook

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

4. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

5. Have the cool cloth event button on your site

Giveaway will end December 31, 2010 at 12pm and the winner will be announced January 2, 2011 at 12pm. Good luck!

Grateful Buns review

Sometimes, there is something I come across that is so great, I just can not wait to share it with you! This is one of those things!
Marion, owner of Grateful Buns, has the most incredible talent! Her etsy store is overflowing with gorgeous hand made items from amazing super soaker wool diaper soakers and longies, to hand knitted items galore.
Marion stays super busy with a farm and two boys but still has time to creat these one of a kind items.

When I received a soaker for review, I was thrilled with it from the moment I opened the package. Marion's most absorbent and thick soakers are called "underwater" and the soaker I received was a "half underwater". There are a couple of things that set her soakers apart that I just love. First of all, notice how the stitching is outward? I loved that! That means only the softest seams are facing EJ. Babies are super sensitive and I know I wouldn't want any itchy serging against their tender skin. However, you could always turn it inside out if you wanted for a more finished look.
Also, her soakers are the thickest most flawless wool ever. If you are familiar with an aristocrat, these are even more thick and wonderful. The fit is great and there is just enough stretch. Her sewing skills are perfection and I have to add that she must lanolize her soakers with a lanolin/lavender mix because they smell heavenly. We have been using ours at night for a few weeks and it still smells so so good! If you have a super soaker this is definitely the cover for you! There is nothing going to get past her underwater soakers! Definitely the most bulletproof cover we have! Lastly, her prices are amazing and you truly are getting the most bang for your buck with a Grateful Buns cover. Beautiful, well made, and a workhorse diaper cover all for under $20. Can't beat it!

So now you are wondering how you can get one of these for your very own? Just hop on over to Grateful Buns and order to your hearts content. Trust me you will love your new soaker! Also, any of you who order, just let Marion know you came from Nault's Nook and she will discount any item $2 for you! Now what are you waiting for!?

Flora Gayle- wool longies and soakers (review and giveaway)

Flora Gayle is a wonderful etsy shop, owned by Amanda, and has beautiful recycled wool longies, soakers, and unique fabric necklaces. What drew me to her store was her gorgeous soakers but after talking with her more I knew what a great company she has. Amanda's husband has been serving in Iraq, and I can't help but feel good knowing that when you buy a soaker from her, you are supporting a military family! But back to her wool, they are truly one of a kind!

See what I mean? However when it come to cloth diapers, it doesn't matter how cute it is if it doesn't work! Function is key especially with a diaper cover. Wool is known for its benefits with cloth diapering. It is highly absorbent, leak proof, breathable, and all natural. I find that a good fitted with a wool soaker is bulletproof for night time diapering. There is no way I could do it without wool! I think it is safe to say I am a bit obsessed with all things wool. Especially cashmere! So when Amanda generously sent me a pair of cashmere longies I was over the moon! Cashmere is the softest material I know, all while allowing one to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I love that EJ has something so soft and wonderful to wear to bed at night. Also, our longies have a double layer of wool, with a heartier wool in the soaker area sewn right in to the inside. We have used these longies for a couple weeks now and we have never had a leak or compression wetness. The fit is perfect on my hard to fit toddler. EJ has short legs, chubby thighs, and a 19 inch waist and she was able to send us something that fits like a glove! Another thing about Amanda's shop is that she strives to make wool affordable for all. Almost all of her wool in under $20 so there is something for everyone. Her what she says:
"One of my main goals in making my diaper covers is to make wool affordable so that more people will be willing to try it. I got in to cloth diapering to try to save some money (among other things), so I couldn't justify paying $30 or $40 on one diaper cover--no matter how cute it was! Especially considering how fast babies grow.



I'm lucky enough to have learned to sew as a child, so now I'd like to offer some cute, functional, eco-friendly, well crafted, recycled wool diaper covers to others who might not be able to pick up a pre-loved sweater at a thrift store and turn it into and item of baby-couture. Don't be intimidated by wool, either. It's not hard to care for! "

The best part of all of this, is that Amanda is going to give one of you a wool soaker/longies of your choice. You pick the size, let her know if you have a boy or girl, and whether you want a soaker or longies and she will do the rest!
All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog, visit Flora Gayle and leave a comment letting me know what item is your favorite!

For extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each)
1. Follow me on Twitter
2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link (can be done daily)
3. Blog about this giveaway (leave me the link)
4. Have the cool cloth button on your blog

Giveaway will end November 12/31/2010 at 12pm and the winner will be announced 1/2/2011 at 12pm. Good Luck!

Knit Together review/giveaway

Beautiful right? Well I think it is no secret that I love wool. I believe there is a place for a PUL cover, but for me, wool is supreme. Especially with sensitive little ones with eczema and prone to rashes, wool is our best option! I have some super soakers for bed time, but what about a perfect daytime wool cover? Something super light weight and breathable. Something super cute :)

Knit Together has the answer!

These shorties are so darn cute I can barely stand it. For review I received a pair of shorties in this gorgeous turquoise color. Right from opening the package, I knew I would love these. Debbie, the owner of Knit Together,  has an amazing gift! I only wish I could knit like this. She also hand dyes her wool yarn! Talk about talent!

The shorties she makes are flawless and squishy soft. They are only one layer which makes them ideal for day time use. My favorite thing about them is that they have a drawstring waist. I just pull them on, just like shorts-Ha!, and then tie them up. Never an issue with fit this way! I bet these will be our go to spring/summer cover. Ej loves them because of how comfy they are for him. No tags, no tight waist to hinder movement. Perfect for my little "on the go" EJ. I truly think everyone should have a cover like this. If your babe needs to air out, especially during illness or during a bad diaper rash, but you don't want them to go completely coverless, you have to get one of these. Or two! have you seen all the colors!! Sigh :) Also for a hand knit item her shipping was super fast! I was amazed at how quickly it came!

The best part of all of this is that Debbie is going to give one of you a pair of her fab shorties! You pick the color and the size and she will get them to you!

All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog, visit Knit Together, and leave a comment telling me what color/size you would want if you won! That's it!

For extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each)

1. Follow me on twitter

2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

4. Have the cool cloth button on your blog

Giveaway will end 12/31/2010 at 12pm and the winner will be announced 1/2/2011 at 12pm. Good luck!

My Eco baby review

My Eco baby is a wool lovers paradise. An adorable etsy shop, owned by Gabriela, and has the most gorgeous wool sweaters and longies. Her creations are just to die for. With a heart after all things eco friendly and talent for recycling wool, her wool sweaters and longies are one of a kind.  

The thing I love about the longies she sent me for review, is the fact that they have elastic in the waist.  With a generous and roomy fit, the elastic is key. Now you don't have to worry about your little ones cover constantly coming off, or pulling up their pants 10 million times! My Eco Baby longies are only one layer of wool, so this is a great day time cover. Now that it is fall, and now that it is getting chilly out, a nice pair of wool longies are perfect. Put on your favorite prefold or fitted, and slide these right on over it! Diaper cover and pants in one! Plus, with as cute as these are you wouldn't want to cover them up!

These longies will definitely fit over the bulkiest of diapers. EJ often has a nice big fluffy bum, and these longies fit over it with room to spare! He can move around, run, play, and they stay up perfectly without restricting movement.

So head on over to My Eco Baby and have a look around!  Whether it is a gorgeous sweater or some comfy longies for your little eco baby, I know you will find the perfect gift! 

Crunchy Angel-Toodle Bugz (review/giveaway)

Crunchy Angel is a cloth diaper boutique selling cloth diapers and accessories! When Wendy contacted me, I was thrilled! Wendy is super sweet and has excellent customer service! She always responds super fast to my emails and always goes above and beyond helping her customers.

Wendy generously sent me two pairs of Toodle Bugz leg warmers for review. I choose the Bambooz Navy and she sent me the Monkeying Around pair as well.

The first thing I will say is that I love these leg warmers. I have a ton of babylegs and I do like them, but these are so much better in my honest opinion. For one, they are sized so you can ensure a perfect fit, they are super soft, and they have gentle elastic so no red marks on your little ones thunder thighs! I got the toddler size and they fit EJ perfectly and they also fit Austin! The bamboo pair I received are a just a bit softer than the regular and almost silky. I love bamboo so much! The Monkeying around print is adorable and EJ loves the "mokeys". I have washed both pairs several times and they show no wear at all.

These are perfect for under pants to add extra warmth in the winter, great for those who are still crawling to protect their knees, and great for quick diaper changes! You don't have to hassle with pulling down the pants first and then leaving their little legs exposed while doing so. Toodle Bugz would also be perfect for your arms! I have Austin wear them with short sleeved shirts to warm up his little arms when he gets chilly! So versatile! I just love leg warmers and Toodle Bugz are the best I have tried.

The best part is that Wendy has generously offered to give one of you a fabulous pair of Toodle Bugz in your choice of print and size! All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog, visit Crunchy Angel and leave a comment telling me what pair of Toodle Bugz you would love!

For extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each)

1. Follow me on Twitter

2. be a fan of Wendy's facebook page

2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave the link

4. Have the cool cloth  button on your blog

Giveaway will end 12/31/2010 at 12pm and the winner will be announced 1/2/2011 at 12pm. Good Luck!



Bitty Bumz review

Bitty Bumz Boutique is another etsy favorite of mine! Amanda is the genius behind these adorable diapers and she is amazingly talented. Just take a look at these little works of art~

Tell me those are not the cutest things you have seen! Perfect for the holidays! Bitty Bumz diapers are unique in that they are a one size fleece all in two. The shell is fleece with a snap in soaker on the inside. You can choose either a snap in contoured bamboo soaker, or a snap in petal soaker. I had the petal soaker and it was fabulous! These diapers fit pretty trim and are really squishy soft. They stretch great to get a perfect fit and are not bulky at all between the legs. And again, these are so so soft!! Not all diapers that claim to be "one size" really go the distance, but with these diapers I truly feel as if they could fit through potty training. There was still room to grow for EJ but I can also see it fitting much smaller babies with how trim it is. These diapers have a wonderful fit! Also, we only washed our diaper once and wore it for almost two hours. The insert was barely wet so I call that a success! It was super easy to snap in and snap out as well. You could definitely reuse this shell if you needed and either snap in a another soaker or even use a prefold trifolded. All in all fabulous diaper!

Now the fun part!!! One of you is going to win one of these fabulous diapers!
All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog via google friend connect, visit Bitty Bumz Boutique and leave a comment letting me know which one you want if you win! 

For additional entries (leave a separate comment for each)
1. Follow me on twitter
2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)
3. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link
4. Have the cool cloth event button on your site!

Giveaway will end December 15th, 2010 at 12pm and winner will be announced December 16th, 2010 at 12pm. Good Luck!

Some fine print:
Now although I give this diaper 2 thumbs up, I do have to let you know I found out EJ is sensitive to fleece. Since wearing this diaper (and him having a reaction to it) we have tested several different fleece items on him and he broke out in blisters to all of them. Even his fleece blankets when rubbed on his skin directly cause a horrible rash. This is in no way related to Bitty Bumz diapers and I wish he wasn't reactive because his diaper is soooo cute! Fleece sensitivities are extremely rare but if your little one is also sensitive, please realize this diaper would not be for them.

Abby's Lane review and giveaway

Abby's Lane is a fabulous diaper shop owned by Stephanie. In her own words:

"Hello! Welcome to Abby's Lane, a unique boutique offering products to make your parenting experience enjoyable and a little closer to nature. I am Stephanie, owner and founder of Abby's Lane, which opened in September of 2004, we are currently located in Northern Virginia. My husband, Phillip, and I are proud parents to our 3 beautiful daughters and one little son.


Our cloth diaper journey began when Abby was 3 months old, Camille, Lucy and Sebastian have been cloth diapered from birth. I was a reluctant participant at first, I believed the myth that cloth diapering is messy, messy, and...well...messy! I assure you that is entirely false! Cloth diapering has been the most wonderful experience, and if my husband is an advocate, anyone can do it! The products I carry at Abby's Lane are carefully chosen to make your cloth diapering experience an easy and enjoyable one."

What I personally love most about Abby's Lane is Stephanie herself. Sure the free shipping on all orders is a huge plus as well as the vast selection of cute cloth diapers! But her customer service is what has made me the most loyal of customers.

First of all when I received my Blueberry diaper for review from her, it had a slight manufactures defect in the bamboo lining. I contacted Stephanie and told her and she responded within an hour. She paid my shipping to and from, and sent me a brand new diaper within three days. Fabulous! Although defects are rare in diapers, they can and will happen on occasion. Knowing you have someone backing you and who will always go above and beyond to correct any mistake (even in this case it was not her own!) shows what kind of company she has. Furthermore, she ships FAST. No waiting and waiting for your fluffy mail to arrive!

As if this wasn't enough, I have been emailing Stephanie for about a month now about some serious stink issues we have been having recently. She always responds right away and has given me lots and lots of great tips. She is patient and relentless in her pursue to make cloth enjoyable for everyone. Sure enough after trying almost everything, it was Stephanie who has helped me refine my wash routine and I am happy to say we have zero stink and zero rash. She has made all the difference for me.  That is the difference in a person who loves what they do! We have even talked on the phone and she is always willing to help! I don't know how she does it with four little ones!

Needless to say, Abby's Lane is by far one of the best companies I have had the privilege of working with.

 Blueberry diapers have long been considered one of the best. With there generous one size sizing and their luxurious minky outer, they left little room for improvement. That was of course, unless your little one was sensitive to polyester! Almost all pockets out right now have a fleece or a microsuede lining on the inside. EJ has never been able to wear these diapers with out getting a rash and therefore although I wanted a blueberry for my own, I never could get one. Until now ;)

Blueberry now makes a bamboo pocket, with the inner lining made of a bamboo/organic cotton blend! So of course I had to try it and I have to say I am impressed! The outside minky of the diaper is buttery soft, like a velvet. I love having something this soft for EJ to wear. The inner is super silky soft as well. Plus the great thing about this diaper is it is a pocket, so you can customize the absorbency. We love this diaper for outings, or for when we need a quick change. EJ has worn it over night but I prefer my fitteds and wool for that. All in all  this is the greatest pocket I have tried. Natural fibers, great absorbency, snap closure, and so stinking cute. Also EJ is 21 months and 25 pounds. This diaper fits him great and we can even wear it on the medium setting. He wont be out growing this any time soon! I imagine it would be a bit bulky on a small baby, but for my toddler the fit is wonderful. You simply must try this diaper!

                                                             How cute is this cow print??

So the best part of all this? Abby's Lane has generously offered to give away a $10 store credit to her shop! I can think of about 100 different things I would want that $10 for! Maybe you have been looking at a new diaper, some new detergent, or maybe a diaper sprayer? Now you will have an excuse to splurge :)

All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog and visit Abby's Lane and leave a comment letting me know what item you would purchase with your gift certificate!

For extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each of the following)

1.Follow Abby's Lane on Twitter

2. Follow me on twitter

3. Like Abby's Lane on facebook

4. Tweet about the giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

5. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

6. Have the "cool cloth" button on your blog

Giveaway will end December 31, 2010 at 12pm. Winner will be posted on January 2, 2010 at 12pm. Good luck!



let the cool cloth event begin!!!!

Are y'all excited???? You should be!! Starting tomorrow I will be hosting reviews/giveaways everyday during the cool cloth event! Diapers, discount codes, wool covers, detergent, you name it!

I love cloth diapering and I am so thrilled to share it with you! Here we go! See you tomorrow!

Cloth diaper reviews-covers

Diaper covers! I love them.
There are so many choices to choose from!

The most common diaper covers are made of PUL and have an aplix closure. Thirsties and Proraps are examples of these.
Proraps are by far the most economical diaper cover. At about $7.00 a cover you can afford to stock up. These diaper covers work well, have a double gusset, but tend to run a full size smaller. I have never had a leak with these and during the itty bitty new born stage, they fit the best. They come in preemie, newborn, small, medium, large and extra large. They do not have overlapping sides so sizing up doesn't work very well.


Thirsties are amazing! These covers fit well, are durable, and with all the color choices, are very cute! They have the double gusset but they also have cross over tabs! You can easily size up a little sooner than needed and just cross over. Because of this, you can get a lot of use out of each size. They run a lot bigger though, so use caution when sizing up. During EJ's first days the extra small thirsties was a tad to big for him, and would completely cover his umbilical cord stump. Now they have the best fit out of all of our covers. Thirsties is also a great company! I bought a cover that had a spot that had been mis sewn (rare to happen) and they paid for shipping, they fixed it and returned it all in a few days! They really stand behind their products! Thirsties comes in extra small, small, medium and large.

In addition to these covers, there are also covers made out of different materials. Imse Vimse makes an organic wrap and there are also wool covers.

The wool cover I have is an aristocrat wool soaker. The small size fits newborn up to 20 pounds. The thing about wool, is that you have to think of it as an extension to the diaper, NOT as a water proof barrier.
Wool is ultra absorbent and will absorb any excess moisture. If it absorbs too much, you can get compression leakage. The wool cover will not spill out like a PUL cover can, it will instead create a damp spot where the child is laying. For this reason, I prefer wool matched with a fitted. Just to make sure I know there is enough absorbency there to prevent a leak. Some other great qualities are that wool covers are breathable and all natural. The only thing to keep in mind is that they can only be hand washed and they must be lanolized. Washing wool is very different than washing other covers. You only wash every two weeks or so, or when it is visibly soiled. To wash, you fill the sink with luke warm water (take care to make sure it is not too cold or too hot as you can shock the wool and cause shrinkage), add some baby wash and gently swish and pat the cover. Do not rub! Then rinse with the same temp water. After this, I always lanolize. Take a pea size amount of lanolin and melt it in a little water in the microwave. Pour this into the sink with the same temp luke warm water as used to wash. Let the cover soak (inside out) in the mixture. To dry, lay a towl flat on the floor. Lay the wet cover on the towl. Roll the towel up like a burrito with the cover inside. Press to remove the water then lay flat on the counter to finish drying.
Wool does take a bit of extra effort, but the benefits can be worth it!

The last diaper cover I wanted to review is the Blueberry onesize cover all. This cover is a PUL cover and has the aplix or snap closure. The one size aspect is the same as their pocket diapers, with rows of snaps on the front. This diaper cover is great and works wonderfully. The thing to keep in mind, is that this cover runs very large (fits up t0 40 pounds) and is not for newborns. I would say from 15 pounds up.
I do love the one size feature though as it can make the cover buying process a lot easier!

Cloth diaper reviews-prefolds

Flats and prefolds are as basic as it gets when you choose cloth. They are also the cheapest way to go. Flats can cost you about 1.00 a diaper, and prefolds between 1.00-3.00+ depending on size and material. The difference between the two is that prefolds are already folded and sewn in place. You still have to fold prefolds on the baby, but not nearly as much.
Both flats and prefolds require covers. Now I have not personally used flats so the rest of my review will be on prefolds.

There are different types of prefolds out there. The main two are chinese and indian. You can also choose bleached or unbleached.
Chinese prefolds are a bit stronger than indian prefolds. They will last a bit longer. Indians will still last years, but they do show some more wear and tear. Indians, however, are softer than chinese prefolds. I find them to be equally absorbent. I also prefer unbleached prefolds. I like the natural aspect of them. You do have to wash the unbleached prefolds more times prior to use to achieve the ultimate absorbency.
You can also get prefolds that are organic or that are made out of other materials. They have hemp prefolds, and I have been tempted to try them! They come with a steep price tag though!

As far as folding goes, my favorite fold it the angel wing fold. It is easy and works well.
Here is a great picture tutorial.
http://diaperpages.com/angel_fold.php

I have also used the jelly roll, and although you lose some absorbency in the middle, it really does hold in the poo!
Here is that tutorial.
http://www.littleturtleknits.com/sidewallpf.htm

Sizing for prefolds is pretty easy. They offer preemie, infant (newborn to 15 pounds), premium (15-30), and toddler. Usually you will only need infant and premium. My children tend to grow very large and EJ grew out of the infant prefolds very quickly. We were using premiums by two months.

Snappis are wonderful! It is because of this little gadget that we don't have to use pins! Some still choose to use pins but I much prefer the snappi!


All in all, prefolds can be great. I love the fact that they are completely customizable. I fold them to meet whatever my needs are at that time. You can even trifold them and lay in a cover. They are perfect for when I am craving something very simple and natural. The down side for me is the absorbency. They just don't cut it for my heavy wetter. There is no way he could make it through a nap, let alone night time. He can soak a prefold in an hour. I still use them as my back up diapers and often use them in my pockets because of their quick drying times. They definitely have a place in any diaper stash!

When choosing prefolds keep in mind you MUST use a cover! I will go over those soon!

Cloth diaper reviews-fitteds (kiwi pie)

Alright! I LOVE fitted diapers! There is only one that I have and it is the kiwi pie fitted.
This diaper is amazing. When you get it in the mail, it is so deliciously soft you want to snuggle it. Seriously. They also have (imo) the most adorable prints available. They are made out of bamboo, and being a natural mommy, I LOVE bamboo. They are bacterial resistant due to this as well.
As far as absorbency goes, they rock! They come with a doubler of sorts, and it can contain anything. Because it is a fitted, the entire diaper is absorbent and therefore requires a cover. However, this is a bullet proof system. Since the kiwi pie is a diaper in and of itself, breastfeed poo doesn't stand a chance at leaking. Nothing gets past this diaper, and if it did, it would then have to get past the cover. Not going to happen!
I love to put a wool soaker over these!
As far as the one size aspect in concerned,they have snaps to allow for adjusting. These diapers fit my four year old. They have stretch like you would not believe! I do not see any issue whatsoever with these not lasting to potty training!
They are breathable, soft, adorable, and fantastic!
On thing, is that if you use this overnight, I recommend putting a fleece liner in between the baby and the diaper. Only so they don't feel the wetness.
Over all I love this diaper!

cloth diaper reviews-contours

There is only one contour diaper I have and it is the Imse Vimse terry contour.
This diaper is organic, and that was probably why I chose it. I am so glad I did!
This diaper is a thick, absorbent terry diaper. It is one size, however you do not adjust it with snaps. You simply fold it over to fit a smaller baby!
Since this diaper has no aplix, no buttons, nothing extra, I see this out lasting any other diaper. I have been using this diaper for 10 months, and no wear of any kind. It is strong and durable.
For me, I use my snappi with this diaper. I simply fold the tabs over like you would a diaper with aplix, hold it and then snappi it. Just like a prefold! Then I use my cover. Since the whole diaper is absorbent you must use a cover!
This diaper is extremely absorbent and I have used this for overnight use. I add a fleece liner and a doubler though.
For smaller babies (that require you to fold it over) it will be bulky but it fits my four year old well. Very nice sized diaper!

It is easy to wash (always comes out clean) and fast drying.
This diaper also has gussets, so it will contain anything, even breast feed poo!
Imse Vimse is an amazing company and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE these!

Cloth diaper reviews- gro baby

I was so excited to get a Gro baby diaper! It had fab reviews and the new hook and look closure seemed to good to be true! No more fuzzy aplix? No more rough tabs that could rub the babies skin? Yes please!

Similar to the softbums, with the fact that there is a snap in liner, this diaper is also very different. It does not have a fleece interior, instead it has an easy to clean mesh. Also, this diaper is organic! The snap in liner is super thick and plush. It is incredible and very absorbent. It also comes with a doubler. Between these two, I have never had a leak! I love the fact that it is organic and no chemicals are against my baby's bottom!
For sizing, it has the traditional snap settings on the front of the diaper. It fits a newborn and also, it does fit my four year old. Not quite as generous, but this will definitely last through potty training!
The hook and loop is as good as it gets! I do believe they now have snaps available, but there is no need really. It is soft to the touch but has an incredible grip. I LOVE this!!

I usually will not use this diaper over night, simply because the little ones can feel the wetness. This could be remedied by using a liner (maybe fleece?). Also, I would have to put in a couple of doublers, just to make sure!!

Since it has a snap in liner, if the cover is not dirty, you can unsnap the liner and place a new one on! Less wash!

Over all I love this diaper and look forward to trying the snap version!

cloth diaper reviews-all in two (softbums)

All in twos are very similar to the pocket diaper. They have the outer PUL so they do not need a diaper cover. The Softbums are very unique though!
Instead of having a slit to place an insert into, they have a snap in liner that you can adjust. The insert is very long and so you fold it to double over the are where the most absorbency is needed. For us (a boy) that area is in the front. It has a fleece interior and the insert I have is also fleece, although they do make a bamboo one as well. They have also recently started making them in snap, although I have the aplix.
This diaper is very soft and squishy! Also , out of ALL my diapers, this is by far the most trim diaper. It is very narrow through the legs.
There are two great things about this diaper!
Since it has a snap in liner, if only the liner is dirty, you can simply snap in another liner. You can reuse the shell! This saves time, and you have less to wash. Because of this the covers are washed less and therefore, have less wear. For us, I usually will not put the same cover right back on. The fleece interior of the cover will usually be damp, and I let mine dry a bit before reusing it.
This diaper is so easy! The aplix is sturdy with large tabs. It has a crossover tab and is very high quality. It doesn't come undone when washing and stays clean and nice looking.
The best, is how you size this diaper. It has internal "toggles" similar to what would be on a laundry bag. Where you compress them and it allows the string to slide through. They are very tiny but easy to use. You simply pull them out through a small slit, toggle up or down to achieve the PERFECT size. I love this and wish more diapers were like this. There is literally an unlimited amount of adjustment!
As far as absorbency goes, I could never use this diaper for overnight. It is great for day time and can even handle naps, but not night time use for my heavy wetter.
Sometimes I will add in a doubler if I need it to last longer. The only other issue I have, is that it is just a bit too narrow for my chunky boy. This is not a problem usually, but if his pants ride up in between the diaper and groin area, it will cause wicking. This doesn't happen very often though and I do not consider it a significant problem. It is worth it for how trim it is!
Also, something to keep in mind, is that this is the smallest of all my one size diapers. This definitely does not fit my four year old. However, it is hands down, the best newborn diaper I have ever seen. This diaper can size down to fit into the palm of your hand. It is amazing!!! Plus after months of washing, this diaper has shown no wear whatsoever!
Over all I love the ease of use and trimness. Great day time diaper!

cloth diaper reviews-pockets

Okay so pockets are probably the most "known" cloth diaper out there. With names like Bum Genius, Happy Heiny's, and Fuzzi Bunz, it is no wonder!
With pockets, they do not require a cover. They have a PUL outside, with a fleece or microfiber interior. Between the two layers there is a space to slide in an insert. The fantastic thing about this, is that you can add as much or as little as you need. For over night I "double up" and have no worries! Also since I pre load mine right out of the dryer, they are ready to go and at diaper change time, they as easy as a disposable. Even dads love pocket diapers! Most pockets come in set sizes (s,m,l) or one size. Most offer both snaps and aplix. I have the three diapers listed above, and all one size.

The bum genius was the first one I bought and tried. I knew that I wanted a "night time" diaper and had heard such great things from this diaper. So I bought one with the fleece interior and tried it out. First impression? Love at first sight! It was so incredibly easy to size and to put on. It fit wonderfully and that night, it lasted 12 hours!! Not one leak. This diaper is very trim and very absorbent. Even on my tiny newborn, it wasn't too overwhelming. Another feature to consider is that this diaper has a flap in the back that covers where the insert goes in. I love this and this is my favorite thing about this diaper. It does more than contain the insert. It protects the baby's skin! Since the fleece flap is what is against the babies skin, there are no red marks! I love this!Also the aplix is super easy!
Over all this was a fantastic diaper. However, with these, there is considerable wear on the splix tabs with repeat washings. They will curl and stick to everything. You usually end up with "diaper chains" when taking it out of the dryer. Over time the tabs get fuzzy and down right ugly. Now I love this diaper, but I think the tabs need to be redesigned. Also, bum genius, run a bit smaller. Great for a trim fit and for smaller kiddos, but this diaper does not fit my four year old. Out of all of the pockets I have, this is the smallest but trimmest diaper.

Happy Heinys were the second diaper I tried. (I have both snap and aplix)
The first thing I noticed is how much larger they were compared to the bum genius. They still size down well, but they fit my four year old with room to spare. They are very generous with their sizing. The interior is fleece and it also comes with its own inserts. I loved that Happy Heinys came in prints! I have the cow and monkey print! Adorable!
The first night I actually used this, it was perfect! Easy to put on and did not leak! The thing I quickly discovered though, is that I MUCH preferred the aplix over the snaps. Since this diaper is sized generously, the amount of change with each size adjustment is quite large. So if your baby is in an in between size, the diaper does not fit well. There is a lot of wing droop, and I found this very problematic. I normally prefer snaps, but not with this diaper! The aplix, however is great! The tabs are completely different than bum genius, and work a lot better. They are larger and easier to use. They also have an overlap tab that is helpful! The aplix allowed me to "fine tune" the size better and this works for us!
At first the diaper was easy to wash and always came clean. After months of use though, the diapers interior fleece has began to break down. I have six of these diapers, and all of them are doing it. The aplix is still perfect, but the interiors are failing. We will have to see if this continues or not. Over all, I do recommend this diaper, especially for larger kiddos. Even those who are potty training and still need a night time diaper. This will be a great choice!

Alright, last but not least, is the Fuzzi Bunz one size. This was the last of the pockets I bought. I will tell you right off the bat, this is my favorite pocket diaper!
When I received this diaper, I was so thrilled. The exterior is much thicker and nicer than other PUL outers I have seen. The interior is by far the softest fleece! This diaper looks amazing! Also, they only come in snaps, which I love.
The thing about this diaper is the unique way you adjust the size. Instead of snaps, you have access to the elastic itself within the diaper, and you pull it or release it, then secure it with a button. This allows for the most minute size adjustment of both the rise and waist. I love it and it is our best fitting pocket. Also the inserts are amazing to say the least. We now use this diaper as our exclusive night time diaper! I can also tell you that after 10 months of washing, the diaper is still perfect. No wear and tear! I can not tell you enough how much I love this diaper! Do not be intimidated by the different sizing method. Trust me you will LOVE this!


Pockets are great and even more, they are easy! No stash is complete with out a few. These are my go to diapers for trips and traveling!!

Cloth diaper reviews-basics

Alright, I am finally starting up my cloth reviews!

We will start with Why?

Cloth diapers are GREAT! But in addition to this fact they are economical(save around $2000 total!), eco friendly, safe for baby, and super cute! I love being able to choose what fabrics and chemicals are against my babes bum! They have every fabric! Cotton, hemp, bamboo, fleece, wool ect. You can even choose organic. In addition to this we also make our own wipe solution (for our flannel wipes) so I have a lot of say in what EJ is exposed to. We use a perry bottle filled with water, about 1-2 tablespoons vinegar, and a dime sized amount of California baby body wash. This has been the best solution for us!
I just love cloth!

How?

Cloth diapering has never been easier than today! We have such a vast array of choices. There are flats and prefolds, fitteds, pockets, AIO (all in ones), and AI2 (all in twos). There is literally something for everyone. With pockets and AIO's they are just as easy to use as a disposable. Instead of throwing away you simply wash!
Washing diapers does not have to be difficult. I try to make it as easy as possible. First thing to do is to get your detergent. I use Arm and Hammer for sensitive skin because it is easy to find at the store and EJ has never had a reaction to this. I did try Crunchy Clean due to the rave reviews, but poor EJ is just so sensitive and would break out in a horrible rash everytime. I have also heard great things about Charlies and Allens.
After you get your detergent, you need to set up a routine. I wash every 2-3 days. I do a cold prewash with no detergent, then a hot wash (the longest available) with detergent and then a second rinse. Remember to only use 1/4-1/2 the recommended amount of detergent to avoid build up!
To dry I usually dry on the lowest setting available. However, I do love hanging them out to dry when I can. Nothing, and I mean nothing, gets stains out better than the sun!
It really is not hard at all. Once you get your routine down it just become habit!

How to get started? What to get and how many?

For newborns I recommend about two dozen diapers. You can change around 12 diapers a day and that really adds up! So it depends on how often you want to wash.
As far as what type of diaper to get, everyone has a personal favorite.
When I started out I was willing to try prefolds due to their low cost. I did end up getting quite a few different types of diapers and I think they all have their purpose. I strongly recommend getting a little bit of everything to decide what you really love. Every type of diaper works so differently, has different absorbancy levels, fits very differently (even one size) and will just suite your needs diferently. So try different ones before you commit your entire stash to one diaper!

In addition to diapers, you will need wipes, wipe solution, a wet bag, and any extras you might need like snappis and liners. *As far as wipes go, you can actually make your own very easily! Just cut up some flannel and there ya go!

Where?

I have shopped at many different online stores. Kelly's Closet is one of my favorites! I also like Nikkis diapers, Cotton babies, Abbeys lane, and Mothers milk boutique. Some of them even have free shipping!

All in all, cloth diapering can be a very enjoyable, rewarding, and even addictive thing! Don't be afraid to give it a try!

cloth diaper love...

I don't know how many people know we are cloth diapering, but I am in love people! I guess you could call me a natural mommy of sorts. I breastfeed, cloth diaper, make my own baby food, and even wear my baby. Adam lovingly calls me a "tree hugger" ;)

So anyways I decided to go with unbleached indian prefolds and covers. This was a little intimidating but I must say it is so easy. These things absorb an insane amount of everything EJ can throw at them. They are super soft and adorable! I am now a huge advocat for these! I have never had a leak and the fact that I am saving the environment from even more waste makes me happy.

So I thought I would share some pics of my little man in cloth...enjoy ;)



Prefold with an aristocrat wool soaker

Angel wing fold with snappi

Thirsties XS cover


In other news, I had a decent amount of sleep last night and feel great today. I have so much energy and I feel like my normal self. EJ woke up about 5 times but I went to bed early to try to compensate for that. I can't tell you all enough how much I love this little one and how much he completes me. I look at my two boys and I am in awe. I want to absorb every moment, every smile, tear, every breath they take. They have stolen my heart and I am A-okay with that. I look at my husband and I am so thankful for this life he has given me. Together we have made this little family....Thank you so much Adam. You are the love of my life...
I also owe a very huge thank you to our Lord and Savior. All of this would never have been if it wasn't for Him.
So thank you Lord for all my blessings. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude. I can't imagine being any happier than I am right now.....