Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways

CLOSED: Smacks Fleece Soaker Review & Giveaway

2013-05-27T15:48:00.005-06:00

It's been a while since I've had the chance to work with a WAHM who sews her own products from her den or kitchen table! For this reason I was thrilled to be able to recently partner with Deanna from Smacks, a work-at-home labor of love surrounding all things fleece soakers! Deanna is a stay at home mom to two sweet boys, and she has turned a real talent for sewing into gorgeous diaper covers to share with mamas everywhere! She puts together soakers, shorties, and longies in a variety of styles (solids, prints, or even with appliques and ruffles) depending on what you're looking for. She sells covers through her Facebook page and crafts up custom covers to fit your exact needs and tastes. Being as I have ZERO sewing ability whatsoever, I was dazzled by her cute covers as well as just how professional my sample looked when it arrived. It is tagged with a cute little company logo (looking super official). The stitching was well-done and a white liner on the inside looked professionally done. It is great to see a mama taking so much pride in her work, even when it's home-grown. It makes these covers better than a lot of factory-made stuff just for this reason!

In terms of this style of soaker, fleece was a new material to me. Typically I use mostly PUL-based pocket diapers with my kids. In the past, when I've used prefolds or fitteds, I've used different types of snapping or velcro PUL waterproof covers as well. In asking Deanna a few questions, doing a bit of research, and learning the ropes through the review process, I learned that when it comes to fleece, you almost can't go wrong! There are a lot of upsides to this material! Firstly, it is an accessible material to purchase, so covers are super cheap (starting at only $7) to purchase. This is considerably cheaper than many PUL covers (and way, way cheaper than wool covers!). As with most waterproof covers, you also need fewer of them (as compared to pocket diaper shells, etc) since they can be reused multiple times with diaper changes. Because of their repellant quality, soaker covers will not absorb urine and really only need to be washed/changed once a day (or maybe even less). Of course, the exception to this would be if they became dirtied with poop.

An extra liner is stitched in very professionally, and all the cuffs and seams are soft and cozy.

In terms of fit, a fleece cover is considerably more comfortable than many elastic-based PUL covers, which tend to dig into chunky waists and thighs, leaving a mark. It is also much softer and less itchy than wool. Fleece also requires zero maintenance (as compared to wool, which needs special washing routines and re-lanolization every so often). In fact, fleece diaper covers can be washed with any type of laundry--diaper laundry, baby laundry, or even regular household laundry. Even if some fabric softener were to make it into a load with your fleece covers, this wouldn't be a big deal as it would only serve to make the diaper cover even more repellant (waterproof). Fleece can be washed in any temperature and can be thrown in the dryer. Even if it weren't thrown in the dryer, it would dry quickly in the air since it doesn't retain moisture. Overall, can you tell this is a very low-maintenance, inexpensive cover (that is super cute to boot!).

It is worth mentioning the downsides to fleece, however. Fleece is not as breathable as natural fabrics like cottons and wools, so in warm, humid weather it retains a lot of moisture (like PUL does), and could serve to promote a rash or irritation, especially if you don't allow baby's bum to dry out between changes. We don't tend to get too much hot weather where I live, so this is rarely a consideration for me personally (if you lived in Florida, however, you might have more concerns!). Smacks' soakers are also sized for a perfect fit, so they are not the one-size option you may get with some snapping or velcro-style PUL covers. The upside to this, however, is that these covers truly just look like another article of clothing (and can be worn as such), rather than just being worn as a "diaper". We all know other diaper covers don't give off this vibe and should still have an article of clothing overtop when out in public, etc.

Once I gave Deanna my big bruisin' 7 month old's measurements, she had to chuckle and knowingly sent me a 'large' right off the bat (this kid is huge, folks!). Before the first use, I washed and machine dried the soaker once, and then slipped it onto baby's bum overtop of a Snappi'd cotton prefold. Although this combo is bulkier than a trim pocket diaper, it was an acceptable heft to me given that I didn't have to also put pants on baby that day for our around-the-house play and visiting with family. The cuffs and waistband were super wide and soft on his skin, which I loved. I also laid my super-soaking boy down for a long nap wearing this combo, and we had no leaks! Victory! I'd have to say that proclaims this soaker as a success, wouldn't you? ;)

Overall, if you are looking for a cover option to wear over prefolds, I would say this is a great soaker to consider! Be sure to check out the Smacks Facebook page to get a better idea of the huge range of options that Deanna has available for sale (and custom crafting!), and then be sure to enter to win your own Custom-Made Soaker below! Good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CLOSED: Baba and Boo Review & Giveaway

2013-03-28T08:54:00.000-06:00

Wow, these past few winter weeks have been some rough ones in our household! We got blasted by about three different flus, were snowed in by a pretty nasty blizzard, and have had the usual ups and downs that come along with baby and toddler days. So, imagine what a lovely surprise it was to receive this sunny little gift set to try from Baba and Boo! Now, I have worked with a LOT of cloth diaper manufacturers, retailers, brands, and WAHMs over the years, but I have to confess, as far as cuteness and originality goes, I think Baba and Boo may just take the cake! What's perhaps most impressive is that this gorgeous UK-based name, which boasts a variety of cloth diapers, accessories, matching shirts, bibs, shoes, and more, is all headed up by one lovely work at home mom, Eve! Look as far and wide as you want, I don't think you'll ever see shirt and diaper sets this cute anywhere else: Baba and Boo's got little frogs, foxes, hedgehogs, robots, bunnies, and even Russian-nesting dolls (seriously, go check out all their gift sets here--they'll make you squeal from the cute overload!). I did a bunch of thorough oohing and aahing when I got this darling parcel in the mail. The lovely packaging comes included when you buy one of these "Gift Sets" to give or mail to a friend. That gives it the special gift feel right off the bat. I would have loved receiving a set like this on my doorstep when I was pregnant!

Within the shipping parcel is a lovely gift-wrapped box in fashionable colors

What I've learned over the years with cloth diapering, though, is that (sadly!) cute does not always a good diaper make! After all, I've had adorably cute diapers before that ended up being bulky, or leaky, or hard to launder. So I didn't count my chickens before they hatched when I got this darling gift set in the mail--I held my breath and crossed all my fingers and toes as I tried it, and washed it, and hung it to dry, and stuffed it in different ways, and tried, and tried, and tried it again. And what I discovered (to my joy!) was that not only is this a cute diaper, but this is a well-functioning, great-fitting diaper, too!

This is a typical waterproof-shelled PUL pocket diaper. It stuffs from the back with microfiber inserts (each diaper comes with two). These inserts are much more plush and soft and dense than others that I've received with similar pocket diapers before. With my older microfiber inserts, I usually have to stuff my son's diapers with two these days as he's a heavy wetter and often leaks through the squashed old inserts in my stash. I decided to only ever try these inserts solo though--to see how they would hold up. They never, ever leaked, even with my heavy wetter, which was a great sign!

This smooth PUL diaper is trim-fitting and cute enough to be worn pantless!

I love the snap pattern on these pocket diapers, as well. They have a square tab crossover style with a hip snap; this is always my favorite diaper snapping pattern as I find the tabs don't curl like round ones do. The crossover capacity gives a lot more flexibility in getting a good fit on baby's waist, especially for babies who are in between sizes. The hip snap helps eliminate drooping and leaking from the hip and thigh area. This diaper also snaps through the rise to adjust for small, medium, and large-sized babies (the range on these one-size Baba and Boo diapers is approximately 8lbs through to toddler-sized).

The inside of this diaper is a soft microsuede that is easy to clean and always came out of the laundry looking clean and smooth. Likewise, the 100% organic long-sleeved t-shirt was soft and easy to care for with the rest of my baby laundry. Even after many washes, it kept a good fit and stayed soft and smooth. The workmanship on all of Baba and Boo's items must be very high quality, if these two items are any indication.

Overall, this is the loveliest brand that I've had the pleasure of trying in a long while. The creativity of the pieces and the care that went into every little detail from the appliques to the prints to the gift wrapping showed that owner Eve is a woman who really cares about the business of babies! I would highly recommend her amazing shop for all kinds of baby and diapering needs, from reusable wipes to soft leather booties to wetbags and diapers, of course! (Did I mention they also have a killer "Clearance" section on their website? ;)

And--lucky for one of you--you also now have the chance to win one of these amazing gift sets (a diaper plus t-shirt) for your baby, too! Simply fill out the entry form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CLOSED: SmartSnugs Review & Giveaway

2013-01-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

After a bit of a holiday hiatus, I am very excited to be back for the new year to review one of my new favorite diapers in our (rather large!) personal stash! This one-size pocket diaper comes from SmartSnugs, a family operated business from the USA. Owner Samantha is a mom using her cloth diaper business to keep her babies healthy and dry, help the environment by reducing landfill waste, regularly donating cloth diapers to charities, and striving to stock diapers that are effective and innovative! Besides cloth diapers, their online shop also stocks inserts, bio liners, and wet bags, so it's the perfect place to stock up for your stash ;)

I really love the NatureSnug diaper that I was sent to demo. As per the product page on their website, SmartSnugs offers these cute pocket diapers in a bunch of cute diapers, including one two-tone variety (which I had never seen before). For our lil' guy, we demo'd the blue dipe, which has a soft, flexible PUL shell and a super soft bamboo charcoal liner. This OS diaper has an adjustable rise to fit most babies from newborn to potty training days. Also included with this sample diaper were two bamboo inserts, one smooth 5-layer one, and an extra 5-layer (textured) nighttime booster. I was very excited to try the bamboo as my little dude not only has sensitive skin (bamboo is a great natural fiber for sensitive skin), but he is also a very heavy wetter, and we often don't get great absorbancy with some of our older, well-worn pocket diapers with flattened out microfiber inserts.

As soon as I put this diaper on baby boy, I knew I loved the fit. It has the same snapping pattern as my other favorite pocket diapers in my stash: a square tab, crossover layout with a hip snap. Unlike some of my cheaper diapers, this diaper also has fantastic flexibility and a little stretchiness to it, which means that when you pull the tabs to snap them on the waist, you get a terrific snug fit, with no gaps. The envelope-style opening for the insert stuffs from the back, and a flap keeps the insert from sticking out the back and wicking urine outside of the diaper.

This diaper had terrific absorbancy for both short and long periods of wear, and this definitely has me thinking that I need to ditch some of my crusty old microfiber liners for these new bamboo ones! They have tremendous absorbancy, don't seem to get the same "stink" that microfiber inserts and boosters get, and they stay smooth out of the washing machine whereas microfiber ones seem to get a bit crusty and flattened, especially if they are line-dried.

One of my other favorite features of this diaper was the charcoal-colored bamboo microfleece interior. Not only did it stay super soft after being washed; it also prevented any nuclear yellow stains typically associated with my lil' breastfed fellow ;)

Overall, I totally love this diaper and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to start a new stash (or modernize a slightly crusty older stash like mine!).

SmartSnugs is also graciously offering a free pocket diaper to one lucky reader, so be sure to get your Rafflecopter entries in down below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CLOSED: Hipkiddo Review & Giveaway

2012-11-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

I've worked with Hipkiddo before, and it's no secret that I absolutely love their diapers. This month I'm excited to partner with them as they celebrate their two year business anniversary and introduce a Limited Edition Ooga Booga Intelligently Hip pocket diaper which will also be up for giveaway at the end of this review!

Aside from their new "Intelligently Hip" pocket diapers, Hipkiddo also introduced preemie/newborn WeeBaby Hip all-in-one diapers this past year, and I was fortunate enough to try a bundle of them with our newborn baby boy who just joined our family this past fall.

WeeBaby Hip newborn diapers are an all-in-one diaper that has a huge amount of positives when you are cloth diapering a newborn. The diapers are compact and trim so you can easily pack a lot of them in a diaper bag or travel-sized wet bag (a must as we all know newborns go through a huge amount of diapers in the first few weeks!). Since they are an all-in-one, they also need no assembly or stuffing; they go straight from the laundry back into the diaper caddy (or straight from the dryer or clothesline right onto baby's bum)--a nice chore-free option for those red-eye, late night diaper changes! Like any AIOs, they do have a couple of drawbacks, though. A thicker absorbent core means a longer drying time, especially if air-drying. As well, you'll want to be sure to change baby more frequently than if using a pocket or disposable diaper since a saturated core may cause a bit of dampness to leak through a leghole or pressure point (I had a few leaks with my supersoaker son who can pee through nearly any diaper configuration I put him in these days!). As long as they did not get oversaturated, though, these diapers had terrific wicking ability and kept baby's bum nice and dry with their super soft and cushy polar fleece inner lining.

Tummy can snap down to protect umbilical cord stump

An added feature that I absolutely loved with these WeeBaby Hip diapers is the option to snap down the front of the diaper on the tummy to allow room for the umbilical cord stump to be unobstructed and have no friction against it. Many other cloth diapers and covers have much too high of a rise to allow this, and, as a result, many friends of mine have had to use "swaddlers" style disposable diapers for the first few weeks until their baby's cord stump has fallen off. These newborn cloth diapers, however, provide a nice alternative to having to do the disposable route and will still be worth the money to buy a set especially if you have a smaller sized baby or a preemie. These diapers should fit most babies from 4-14lbs, although I did find the fit started to decline a bit when my chunky son hit about 11lbs. At that point, we were better off switching to regular OS pocket diapers to accomodate a rapidly-growing tummy and thighs.

These WeeBaby Hip diapers are available in six darling PUL colors and prints, four of which I had the luxury of trying out. I must confess, when I first opened the envelope and saw them in there, I shed a tear or two at just how cute and itty bitty they were. They also garnered plenty of "awwwwwwws!" when my teeny newborn was able to show them off to his new admirers as well. I think these would make a fantastic gift for a new mom-to-be, especially if you knew in advance that she was predicted to have a smaller sized baby (or had had a preemie).

Once again, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to try out another awesome product by Hipkiddo, a family-owned company from Maple Ridge, British Columbia. I'm also super excited to partner with them and offer the giveaway of their limited print Intelligently Hip diaper below, as well as to mention an anniversary special for the month of November: if you purchase a cloth diaper starting kit this month, you'll get $20 off if you mention the code "cdcontests" (limit 1 per household; while quantities last).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner of the bambinoBUMS Laundry Bag

2012-11-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Olivia Lasting on your big win! Please check your email for more information :)

CLOSED: Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot: Laundry Bag Review & Giveaway

2012-10-16T09:06:00.000-06:00

You may have noticed I'd taken a bit of a hiatus from the online world as of late. I'm happy to announce that, after a difficult pregnancy, we have welcomed our gorgeous new baby boy to our family! He is now five weeks and growing steadily stronger and sweeter by the day! With his new arrival came night feedings, itty bitty socks and sleepers, and of course, a re-entry to the realm of cloth diapering! And after being decked out in pink everything for our first baby, it was lovely to get a splash of this gorgeous green pail liner into our new nursery to accompany all the new boyish duds creeping into our house!

I have worked with Miranda of Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot before and am always happy to support local Canadian moms working hard to support their families! I've tried this shop's signature BambinoBUMS brand before (in diapers and wet bags) and was very happy with what they had to offer. When Miranda asked if I would be interested in reviewing another new product of theirs--this large laundry bag--I was happy to partner with her once again!

Now, as far as laundry bags go, there typically is not a huge amount of variation between pail liners or hanging laundry bags. I've tried a few in my journeys, and typically most bags have an elasticized top band on the simple PUL sac. This laundry bag was different the moment I opened it up. This bag has a drawstring cinching top, which makes it easier to fit to a variety of different pail shapes and sizes (in fact, Miranda recommends pairing it with their square-shaped pail!). The other great thing to a drawstring is that it will ultimately hold up better in the long-run than elastic, which can degrade and stretch after many hot washes (I always launder my pail liner in the same fashion as my diapers, so it takes a bit of wear & tear!).

The really revolutionary part to this pail liner, though, isn't its drawstring top (I have seen these before in other brands). No, the really cool part is that the bottom of the bag is also sealed with a zipper, which means that it can be easily unzipped to release soiled diapers into the wash! I can't tell you how many times I've gotten my hands slimed by trying to invert a stubborn pail liner into the washing machine! So far, I haven't had this happen with this bag since I just loosen the drawstring a little, unzip the bottom, toss the whole bag in my front loader, and give it a vigorous shake. Dirty diapers easily spill out both ends, leaving my hands free of any icky rummaging duties! To those of you who have a top-loading machine, this bag would be even better. Simply hover the bag over the top-loader, unzip, and watch the diapers tumble down all on their own. I love low-maintenance solutions like this. And so far, despite my furiously heavy-wetting newborn, I have not had any problems with the zipper leaking puddles into the bottom of my plastic pail (this was an initial concern I had with the design).

Overall, this is a super cool design for a pail liner and I'm really thrilled that Miranda contacted me to try out such an original product! These bags are available in punchy blue, green, and red tones and are available at a discount if you buy two at the same time (a smart idea as pail liners usually need to be rotated to have one clean one for the pail while the old soiled one hangs to dry!). Please also read below about how you can win one of these handy bags for your own nursery!

BUY IT:
Head over to Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot right now and browse through all their cute cloth diapers & related accessories!

WIN IT:
Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot is also offering one lucky winner a BambinoBUMS Laundry Bag in your choice of available color!

GIVEAWAY ENDS 10/25/12 at 11:59 PM MST
OPEN ONLY TO CANADA & THE UNITED STATES
Please read all the Giveaway Policies and Rules before participating. **EACH comment must have an easily accessible email address**

REMEMBER:
- leave a separate comment for each action completed
- don't forget your email address for each entry

WAYS TO ENTER:

Follow the Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways blog with Google Friend Connect (leave username in comments if not obvious)
Visit Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot and mention in a comment one item that you'd be interested to try from their online shop
‘Like’ Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways on Facebook
'Like' Calgary Cloth Diaper Depot on Facebook and leave a quick comment on their wall to say thank you
Follow @CDcontests on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Tweet this contest and tag @CDcontests (max. 1 tweet per day). Leave the permalink in the comments section. (1 entry each tweet) You may use the following tweet if you wish:

#Win a large #clothdiapers laundry bag via @CDcontests (10/25) http://bit.ly/T8skzb #ecofriendly #contest #giveaway

Subscribe to email updates from the CDC&G blog
Follow our blog with the Networked Blogs widget in the sidebar (leave following name)
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Grab our blog button and post it on your blog. Leave a link to where I can find it (add 3 entries)
Blog this giveaway and leave a link to the post in the comments section (add 3 entries)

Final details: I received this sample item free of charge. All opinions shared are my own, and I was not persuaded to share anything other than my own honest thoughts. Other users may have different experiences with this product than what I have shared. This giveaway will end on October 25, 2012 at 11:59pm MST and is open to residents of Canada and the USA only. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org’s services. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. The prize will be supplied and mailed out to the winner by the sponsor of this giveaway.

Add A Giveaway

2012-06-01T21:31:00.002-06:00

Winner of the Buns Up Baby Giveaway

2012-04-03T21:38:00.000-06:00

Congratulations, Olivia L! I am sending you a personal email and please reply to me within 48 hours to claim your prize!

CLOSED: Buns Up Baby Review & Giveaway

2012-03-18T17:12:00.002-06:00

I am privileged to be reviewing another reliable pocket diaper from another terrific Canadian WAHM! Mom Amber works from her rural home in Ontario, Canada and, like so many of us, became passionate about cloth diapering after learning all the tips & tricks, ins & outs of the gear and industry after cloth diapering her first baby. Now aiming to lend her own contribution to the cloth diapering community, she has founded Buns Up Baby, a fantastic little online shop for all things pocket diapers and accessories!

Buns Up Baby carries two types of pocket diapers--the original Minkee Buns and the latest & greatest BunsUp 2.0 Diaper (released only this week). These diapers start at only $9.99/piece at the cheapest price point, and they come in a huge variety of sweet little prints! Also up for sale on the site are handy wet bags, pail liners, and extra inserts--both microfibre and bamboo.

Up for review, Amber sent me one of the original Minkee Buns diapers in the sweet "Milky Way" cow print. This is my second cow print diaper and I absolutely love how cute these look on my toddler as she waddles around. With gender-unknown Baby #2 on the way for our family, I also love that it's fantastically gender neutral (Buns Up Baby has plenty of gender neutral prints as well as prints specifically for boys or girls).

This pocket diaper fits the way I love a pocket diaper to fit. The rounded tabs laid much flatter than I'm accustomed to with several other brands I've tried (I often find round tabs curl, but these weren't nearly as bad as some other PUL types I've tried recently). Crossover snaps on the tabs mean that small-waisted babies can get an even snugger fit. Hip snaps on both sides mean a nice trim fit on the hipbones as well as no "wing droop" (where parts of the diaper slide out of the waterproof layer) so that leaks don't happen. I have never had a leak while using this diaper.

The pocket itself has a microsuede inner lining on the top which I love for messy toddler diapers. Since I don't use a diaper sprayer or liners, I rely on the oldschool "dunk and swish" toilet cleaning method for soiled diapers. I find that at this phase of diapering, microsuede is far kinder to us than fuzzy microfibre is (since it's perfectly smooth, it comes quite clean even when shaken and even cleaner when rinsed). Stuffing at the back, this diaper has a nice snug, scrunched up elastic in the back waistband where the pocket opens, so stuffing is easy even for larger hands like my husband's. The pocket can accomodate being stuffed with whatever you prefer most--compact folded prefolds, microfibre inserts, bamboo inserts, or even stacked (doubled) inserts for naps or nighttime. Each Buns Up Baby pocket diaper comes with one microfibre insert included. It was the typical type of microfibre insert that comes with all the Chinese-manufactured diapers, and for daytime wear, it did the trick (I double stuff with items from my own personal stash for naps or nighttime).

Overall, these diapers are inexpensively priced at only $9.99 a piece. They hold up well to wear and tear, even that of a busy toddler who's into climbing, running, and tumbling at full speed. The snaps never budged, nor could they be pulled off by defiant fingers. Laundry was simple and this diaper always washed clean. Overall, it comes highly recommended for anyone looking for a great new brand of pocket diaper to try, particularly if you're on the hunt for some cute new minky prints! :)

Read on to find out how you can win one of these lovely diapers for your own little one!

BUY IT:
Head over to Buns Up Baby right now and browse through all their cute diapers & accessories!

WIN IT:
Buns Up Baby is also offering one lucky winner a free pocket diaper of their choice!

GIVEAWAY ENDS 04/01/12 at 11:59 PM MST
OPEN ONLY TO CANADA & THE UNITED STATES
Please read all the Giveaway Policies and Rules before participating.**EACH comment must have an easily accessible email address**

REMEMBER:
- leave a separate comment for each action completed
- don't forget your email address for each entry

WAYS TO ENTER:

Follow the Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways blog with Google Friend Connect (leave username in comments if not obvious)
Visit Buns Up Baby and mention in a comment one item that you'd be interested to try from their online shop
‘Like’ Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways on Facebook
'Like' Buns Up Baby on Facebook and leave a quick comment on their wall to say thank you
Follow @CDcontests on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Follow @BunsUpBaby on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Tweet this contest and tag @CDcontests and @BunsUpBaby (max. 1 tweet per day). Leave the permalink in the comments section. (1 entry each tweet) You may use the following tweet if you wish:

#Win a pocket diaper of your choice from @BunsUpBaby via @CDcontests (04/01) http://bit.ly/FPGQDO #ecofriendly #contest #giveaway #clothdiapers

Subscribe to email updates from the CDC&G blog
Follow our blog with the Networked Blogs widget in the sidebar (leave following name)
Share a link to this review & giveaway on a message board and leave us a reference link to where it's been shared
Vote for our blog on Picket Fence Blogs - can be done once daily (1 entry each time)
Grab our blog button and post it on your blog. Leave a link to where I can find it (add 3 entries)
Blog this giveaway and leave a link to the post in the comments section (add 3 entries)

Final details: I received financial compensation for administering this review & giveaway as well as receiving the sample items free of charge. All opinions shared are my own, and I was not persuaded to share anything other than my own honest thoughts. Other users may have different experiences with this product than what I have shared. This giveaway will end on April 1, 2012 at 11:59pm MST and is open to residents of Canada and the USA only. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org’s services. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. The prize will be supplied and mailed out to the winner by the sponsor of this giveaway.

Winner of the $120 Lil' Helper Giveaway!

2012-03-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to you! Please return my email within 48 hours to validate your win!

CLOSED: LilHelper.ca Review & Giveaway

2012-01-22T13:54:00.003-07:00

I always love supporting good, homegrown Canadian companies, and Lil Helper is one of the neatest cloth diaper suppliers I've found in a while. Run by quirky friends and business partners Mohammed and Nader, this business is a labor of love that aims to better not only the cloth diapering realm but also the world in general. Right off the bat, I was impressed by their vow to supply one cloth diaper to a child in need for every 3 purchased by the consumer. They also boast free and fast shipping anywhere in Canada as well as some of the wittiest web site writing I've seen in a while ;) This is a great company with a terrific lineup of unique and innovative products, and I'm happy to share them all with you in this two-thumbs up review!

Up for review, the guys sent me a generous care package to sample all their wares. As for diapers, they sent me one of each type that they supply: an organic charcoal bamboo diaper (in red), a bamboo cloth diaper (in green), and an original cloth diaper (in grey stars print).

Charcoal Bamboo Diaper (in red). Though the round tabs do roll a little, they still achieve a highly flexible fit!

All three diapers had the same overall shape and style to them. These one-size diapers adjust for small-medium-large in the rise with sturdy snaps that make each of these diapers fit from approximately 7-35lbs, which means you'll only have to buy them once (a great way to save money!). All Lil Helper diapers have stretchy, round tabs that pull across the belly for an easy fit. Although I usually prefer square tabs (because they don't roll as badly), these round ones did the trick and still allowed for cross-over capabilities, which provides a great degree of flexibility for fit (even when baby might seem to be "in between" typical diaper sizes).


These AI2 diapers feature snap-in liners that can be layered. Seen here are the unbleached cotton inserts.

These diapers fit great even for a toddler on the go!

At first, I expected these to be pocket diapers, when in fact they are actually all-in-two diapers instead. What this means is that instead of being stuffed below the inner lining, the absorbant inserts are actually fastened on TOP of the inner liner by means of two other internal snaps. These snaps hold it in place at both the front and the back. Each diaper comes with two inserts: a large insert and a small insert, which can actually both be STACKED (and snapped together to prevent any possibly shifting within the diaper) for even more absorption. What this means in terms of laundry is that, once wet or soiled, the insert can simply be snapped out and a new one can be snapped into the same shell, provided the cover hasn't been soiled. The only other diapers I've tried like this were Best Bottom diapers, and I actually prefer these Lil Helper diapers better as the insides of the shells are more natural and softer (no PUL next to the skin), and the inserts are able to absorb FAR more than a Best Bottom insert (which has a synthetic topper). All the Lil Helper inserts keep natural materials (cotton or bamboo) next to baby's sensitive skin!

The charcoal bamboo liners are super soft and fuzzy

These layered inserts work so well, in fact, that even my 17 month old heavy wetting daughter was able to nap in a Lil Helper diaper (with double-stacked bamboo inserts) with no leaks. She typically leaks through any pocket diapers I own now during nap time (especially as she is a tummy sleeper). Usually naps and bedtime mean disposable diapers for us, so it is nice to find a simple new cloth alternative that works!

Organic bamboo cloth diaper in green

The other thing I like about Lil Helper diapers is that all their shells and inserts are interchangeable. Laundry becomes less picky when you can snap the cotton inserts into the bamboo shells or vice versa (as long as you're not finicky about colors matching). That being said, the Charcoal Bamboo shell and liners were my absolute favorite; not only are they super, SUPER soft, but I love that the interior is grey in color so they will hide stains very well.

Lil Helper doesn't only stock cloth diapers, however! They also have my favorite cloth wipes to date!! I have tried a great many cloth wipes, and of all the ones I've tried and reviewed, these are my total favorites! They are made of super duper soft bamboo that doesn't crust up even in my washing routine (no vinegar, no fabric softener, no dryer sheets). Typically cloth wipes can feel a little "crusty" once they've been laundered for a while, but these have stayed very very soft (like velvet!) after many washes. For a newborn, these are definitely the wipes I will be using next time around!

Lil Helper stocks eco-friendly bamboo cloth wipes and two types of wetbags!

Lastly, Lil Helper also carries wetbags of both the zippered and drawstring variety, depending on what your preference is. The zippered wetbag is extremely well-constructed (better than many I've tried). The zipper is very flat and well-sealed to prevent wicking or leaks. It has a sleek design and comes in bright, punchy colors. The handle snaps open and shut to easily dangle from a doorknob or rail wherever needed. This tiny wetbag folds up so compact in a diaper bag yet can fit 3-4 soiled diapers easily. At only $8.00, it's a real steal! The drawstring wetbag is even cheaper at only $6.00! Constructed of the same quality material, this wetbag also holds 3-4 dirty diapers and has a well-made elastic and drawstring clip. I personally prefer zippered wetbags over drawstring wetbags (simply because they contain leaks a little better), but if you simply wanted a wetbag to simply have hanging somewhere (rather than lumped on the floor or in a diaper bag like mine often are), then this would be a stellar little bag for you!

Overall, I am highly impressed with Lil Helper's professionalism, innovation, and quality products. Any of you will be lucky to win the generous prize (valued at $120!!) they're contributing down below--good luck!! :)

BUY IT:
Head over to Lil Helper right now and browse through all their cute diapers & accessories!

WIN IT:
Lil Helper is also offering one lucky winner an AMAZING GIFT PACK VALUED AT $120! You will receive one of each of the diapers (3 altogether) that I tried above, an extra pack of liners for each type, a package of bamboo wipes, and two wetbags (one of each type!). WOW, WOW, WOW!!

GIVEAWAY ENDS 02/17/11 at 11:59 PM MST
OPEN ONLY TO CANADA & THE UNITED STATES
Please read all the Giveaway Policies and Rules before participating.**EACH comment must have an easily accessible email address**

REMEMBER:
- leave a separate comment for each action completed
- don't forget your email address for each entry

WAYS TO ENTER:

Follow the Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways blog with Google Friend Connect (leave username in comments if not obvious)
Visit Lil Helper and mention in a comment one item that you'd be interested to try from their online shop
‘Like’ Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways on Facebook
'Like' Lil Helper on Facebook and leave a quick comment on their wall to say thank you
Follow @CDcontests on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Follow @lilhelper_ca on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Tweet this contest and tag @CDcontests and @lilhelper_ca (max. 1 tweet per day). Leave the permalink in the comments section. (1 entry each tweet) You may use the following tweet if you wish:

#Win a $120 @lilhelper_ca #clothdiapers prize pack via @CDcontests (02/17) http://bit.ly/ys4mI1 #ecofriendly #contest #giveaway

Subscribe to email updates from the CDC&G blog
Follow our blog with the Networked Blogs widget in the sidebar (leave following name)
Share a link to this review & giveaway on a message board and leave us a reference link to where it's been shared
Vote for our blog on Picket Fence Blogs - can be done once daily (1 entry each time)
Grab our blog button and post it on your blog. Leave a link to where I can find it (add 3 entries)
Blog this giveaway and leave a link to the post in the comments section (add 3 entries)

Final details: I received financial compensation for administering this review & giveaway as well as receiving the sample items free of charge. All opinions shared are my own, and I was not persuaded to share anything other than my own honest thoughts. Other users may have different experiences with this product than what I have shared. This giveaway will end on February 17, 2011 at 11:59pm MST and is open to residents of Canada and the USA only. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org’s services. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. The prize will be supplied and mailed out to the winner by the sponsor of this giveaway.

January Cloth Diaper Giveaway Linky!

2012-01-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

If you have an open giveaway relevant to cloth diapering, please add your link to the widget below! Be sure to check back to this post daily to see all the new links & opportunities that come rolling in! :)

Winner of the Tender Tushies Giveaway

2011-12-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Anne! Please check your email and reply to me within 48 hours to validate your win :)

December Cloth Diaper Giveaway Linky!

2011-12-03T10:51:00.002-07:00

CLOSED: Tender Tushies Review & Giveaway

2011-11-20T12:21:00.006-07:00

I am very excited to partner with "mompreneur" Rachelle on this latest review & giveaway. Based out of Maple Ridge, BC, this Canadian mama of three began Tender Tushies after she herself tried many different types of modern cloth diapers and finally found her "perfect" diaper! Her entire lineup of manufactured Tender Tushies diapers features a wide variety of pocket diapers--some which are similar to others I've seen before, and some that seem to be an all new creation! I was excited to give all these gorgeous products a whirl and let all of you lovely readers know just what I thought!

Up for review, Rachelle sent me three Tender Tushies diapers--one "Polka Dot" print, one "Purple Purple Eater" solid, and one "bamboo red" diaper. She also threw in a cute white & black polka dot wetbag for me to "test drive" :)

Round tab print PUL diaper ($10)

I love the variety of diapers that Rachelle & Tender Tushies offers, because it likely means that every mama will be able to find a style and fashionable look that suits their baby best. Both the purple diaper and the polka dot diaper that she sent me boast a leakproof PUL outer shell (softer and more flexible than many I've felt by other brands!), a supersoft microfleece inner, and a microfibre insert to slip into the pocket. The only real difference in these two diapers other than their print is that the print diapers are all available in rounded tabs whereas the solids are available with square tabs. Personally I'm almost always a square tab kind of girl as I find I always like the fit and stretch and reach a LITTLE bit better, and I like that the tabs always lay flat on a square tab diaper. Even the round tabs on the polka dot DID curl a little bit with how they fit on my daughter's tummy.

However, there is one MAJOR upside to these rounded tab diapers when compared to other round tabs I've tried before--they also have an extra hip snap like their square tab counterparts, as well as a crossover capacity on the tabs themselves. I've never seen these two features in a round tab diaper before! I love these extra snap options for a couple of reasons--firstly, of course they provides a better fit (the hip snap prevents wing droop and therefore leaks and blowouts; and, the crossover capabilities mean a perfect bit even when baby is at a bit of a strange size).

Secondly, apart from this more obvious perk, I am also very particular with how I stuff and fold my pockets for putting them away in diaper bags & baskets, and having crossover tabs means I can fold and SNAP SHUT this round tab diaper as well, making it more compact and stackable in my stash. Typically, my round tab diapers are flopping all over the place in my basket, coming unraveled and having the inserts shift and bunch even before Baby has worn them!

Great snapping options make this diaper fit perfectly

Aside from the waist and hip snaps on these diapers, they also are equipped with three sets of rise snaps to adjust for sizing (small, medium, or large). This is great and a money-saver as it means that one set of pocket diapers will take your baby from 8lbs all the way through to potty training, most likely! What mama doesn't want that?!

Rise snaps snug the diaper up to the perfect size

The only downside to the snaps is that I did find they were ever so slightly harder to snap than on some of my other brands. I noticed this only on the PUL shelled diapers (I had to apply a little more oomph with my thumb to get the snap to really stick in properly). However, this never resulted in any major problem or headache for me.

While these two aforementioned Tender Tushies diapers are quite similar & comparable to others I've tried before (similar to many Kawaiis & other Chinese-manufactured names), Tender Tushies also offers another type of pocket unlike any I've ever tried before. I'm absolutely ga-ga for this diaper: their bamboo pocket diaper!


Bamboo pocket diaper with bamboo insert

Outer Material: "70% Bamboo Fiber; 30% Cotton; Waterproof PUL"
Inner Material: "100% Bamboo Carbon Fiber; Micro-polar fleece"

Rachelle sent me this bamboo/cotton blend pocket in a cute punchy red color (also available in sky blue and soft green). Although slightly more expensive than the above-mentioned diapers (the bamboo is $12 whereas the PULs are in the $9-10 range), this diaper is SO worth it for a couple reasons. I've NEVER felt a pocket diaper as soft as this, inside & out! The outer shell is actually like a cotton jersey material--it honestly looks and feels like Baby is wearing a pair of underwear, not a sweaty, plasticy diaper! Because of this jersey material, it also has AMAZING stretch & flexibility--the square tabs easily pull and reach to wherever you'd like to snap them, providing not only a perfect fit, but also a super comfortable one. NOTHING digs in, and everything is fuzzy and tender (a namesake to the company name, perhaps!!).

My favorite diaper in ages!

Secondly, this diaper's inner lining is ingenious--other than being a bright white which may easily stain with messes, this microfleece lining (still fabulous at wicking and remaining super soft after washing) is a DARK GREY color. Not only is it fashionable and different looking, it is also so, so, so, so practical! Although none of these Tender Tushies diapers had any problems with stains, I would imagine that this diaper in particular would never be susceptible to stains of any sort, and I LOVE this!

Lastly, this bamboo pocket diaper also comes with its own insert--a 5 layer, super absorbant insert with a uniquely soft, smooth surface of bamboo. This insert is super soft, super compact and trim, and has been abosolutely foolproof for me!

This is honestly my favorite diaper that I've tried this year, and I plan to hopefully buy a bunch as gifts in the new year!

Double-zippered wetbag (medium)

Winding down from my diaper fever, I must also mention the cute, trim wetbag that Rachelle also sent my way. This black & white polka dot minky wetbag is cute and folds up teeny tiny in a diaper bag, which is so handy. A short (possibly a little too short for some peoples' needs) elastic handle allows it to easily hang on a change table or doorhandle if you so desire. As a double-pocket wetbag, it's also super handy for storing multiple different items and keeping them separate if need be (dirties & cleans separate, for example; or, wipes separate from diapers). I've tried other wetbags like this before and always love them! At 10"x13" this will comfortably store 3-5 diapers and is easy to toss in a diaper bag, car console, etc. This bag easily washes clean with the rest of your diaper or baby laundry and hangs to dry in a jiffy! My only feedback would be that I do wish the zippers were a little more heavy duty and that the zipper pulls were a tad bit larger, but regardless of that, they still do the trick! :)

BUY IT:
Head over to Tender Tushies right now and browse through all their cute diapers & accessories!

WIN IT:
Tender Tushies is also offering one lucky winner one cloth diaper of your choice!

GIVEAWAY ENDS 11/30/11 at 11:59 PM MST
OPEN ONLY TO CANADA & THE UNITED STATES
Please read all the Giveaway Policies and Rules before participating.**EACH comment must have an easily accessible email address**

REMEMBER:
- leave a separate comment for each action completed
- don't forget your email address for each entry

WAYS TO ENTER:

Follow the Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways blog with Google Friend Connect (leave username in comments if not obvious)
Visit Tender Tushies and mention in a comment one item that you'd be interested to try from their online shop
‘Like’ Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways on Facebook
'Like' Tender Tushies on Facebook and leave a quick comment on their wall
Follow @CDcontests on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Tweet this contest and tag @CDcontests (max. 1 tweet per day). Leave the permalink in the comments section. (1 entry each tweet) You may use the following tweet if you wish:

#Win a Tender Tushies cloth diaper of your choice via @CDcontests (11/30) http://bit.ly/rR2qP4 #clothdiapers #ecofriendly #contest #giveaway

Subscribe to email updates from the CDC&G blog
Follow our blog with the Networked Blogs widget in the sidebar (leave following name)
Share a link to this review & giveaway on a message board and leave us a reference link to where it's been shared
Vote for our blog on Picket Fence Blogs - can be done once daily (1 entry each time)
Grab our blog button and post it on your blog. Leave a link to where I can find it (add 3 entries)
Blog this giveaway and leave a link to the post in the comments section (add 3 entries)

Final details: I received financial compensation for administering this review & giveaway as well as receiving the sample item free of charge. All opinions shared are my own, and I was not persuaded to share anything other than my own honest thoughts. Other users may have different experiences with this product than what I have shared. This giveaway will end on November 30, 2011 at 11:59pm MST and is open to residents of Canada and the USA only. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org’s services. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. The prize will be supplied and mailed out to the winner by the sponsor of this giveaway.

This Week's Mass Cloth Diaper Giveaway Link-Up

2011-11-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

Winner of the bumGenius 4.0

2011-11-13T16:23:00.001-07:00

Congratulations, Breanne! Please check your email to claim your prize :)

This Week's Mass Cloth Diaper Giveaway Link-Up

2011-11-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

Winner of the Swaddlebees Prefold Kit

2011-11-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Emily! Please check your email and reply to me within 48 hours to claim your prize! :)

This Week's Mass Cloth Diaper Giveaway Link-Up

2011-10-30T20:45:00.002-06:00

bumGenius 4.0 Review & Giveaway

2011-10-29T11:23:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited to finally be able to say I've tried one of the biggest names out there in cloth diapering! bumGenius is a name that's been around quite a while in the cloth diapering world. Their diapers have evolved through various different designs and models, and they've finally ended up with their super popular 4.0 version--this diaper has been my segway into trying bumGenius for the first time, care of Figure 8 Maternity, my lovely sponsor for this review!

Figure 8 Maternity is a super cute online boutique (their website makes me feel uber posh as I browse it from my pajamas at home! lol--check out their cute graphics & you'll see what I mean!) specializing in all things pregnancy, mom, and baby. They carry a bunch of hip, gorgeous maternity clothes, nursing bras, breast pumps, post-partum shapewear and accessories, and a huge selection of cute and unique baby gear, wear, and accessories, including cloth diapers. I love that this is a "one-stop shop" where a pregnant mama really settling into her "nesting" phase could get a lot accomplished! heehee! ;)

Up for review, Figure 8 sent me a bumGenius 4.0--a stay-dry pocket diaper in the gorgeous "Zinnia" color! This color is probably my new fav in our stash for our darling little Aurelia--it's so feminine but punchy and bold at the same time. I would say that this diaper is a "heavy duty" diaper that has great structure and workmanship. The velcro on it seems super-strength! It is thick and supersticky, which can frankly be both a good and a bad thing. The good is obviously that once put onto your baby (or your toddler, especially!), it stays PUT! They could not easily fiddle with this velcro, and you won't find it easily snagging on clothing, etc and yanking free. The width and heft of the velcro does make the waistband of this diaper feel slightly less soft & flexible than the snap diapers I'm used to, though. The super-sticky feature of the velcro means that if you don't properly fasten your diapers before putting them in the wash, you might find yourself having to unsnag the velcro from a huge "diaper chain" or from other covers and laundry in the load. The bumGenius 4.0 does have AMAZING fold-back diaper tabs built in, though, just for the laundering purpose. Simply fold the tabs back before tossing into your pail, and these tabs won't move an inch while in the wash (they have never come undone yet for me). I did have to pick the occasional hair or lint out of the velcro band post-wash cycle, though.

These fold back laundry tabs hold tight in the wash

This diaper comes with two thirsty microfibre inserts (one newborn size, and one adjustable size for infants/toddlers). Although microfibre can have its issues over time (buildup & stink), I never have a problem with new microfibre inserts, and these ones have done a good job at staying white and fluffy when dried with my dryer balls over the past month or so. Over time, I know bumGeniuses have a bad rap for getting stinky with buildup or residue, so in the long run, I think stuffing the pocket with other bamboo or cotton inserts from my own stash will probably be best. For now, though, I'm happy with what came included with the diaper. I also love the generous pocket opening that is easily stuffed come folding time.

Two microfibre inserts are included with every shell you buy

The inner lining of this diaper is a soft, synthetic microsuede that comes clean very easily. Although I have primarily microfleece diapers in my stash, I am always happy when my little toddler is wearing a microsuede lined diaper come time for a #2 diaper change--they are so, so much easier to clean over the toilet, especially since I don't ever use a diaper sprayer. This diaper was no exception; it cleaned particularly well with the old dump & swish method, sparing mama extra work in the washing department ;)

A generous pocket is easy to stuff with a clean insert, and the soft microsuede liner is easy to clean!

This diaper is made one-size by its adjustable rise snaps, and it should fit most babies from 8-35lbs. The outer PUL shell is snug and trim and has held up very well through my intensive laundering regimen (which even includes vinegar in every pre-soak--a big no-no, I know, but a step that is necessary for our household at this time!).

Although (I confess!) I still love snapping diapers most, I love that this is a diaper that I can leave when daddy, grandma, or another babysitter is watching Aurelia for the day. Even for the cloth diapering faint of heart, this diaper couldn't get simpler to clean and use--it really does go on just as quickly & easily as a disposable--a definite plus once you've got a walker on your hands like we now do with 14 month old baby girl!!

Overall, I now know why bumGenius is still one of the top names in cloth diapering today. Although the diapers do come with a bit of a larger price tag than some other overseas made brands, many customers feel that the 1 year warranty on each diaper more than pays for itself in terms of ease of mind that any problems will be remedied!

And now, read on to see how Figure 8 Maternity is providing you with a wonderful opportunity to win a bumGenius 4.0 for your own baby!

BUY IT:
Head over to Figure 8 Maternity right now and pick up a bumGenius 4.0 for yourself!

WIN IT:
Figure 8 Maternity is also offering one lucky winner a bumGenius 4.0 pocket diaper in your choice of available color!

GIVEAWAY ENDS 11/6/11 at 11:59 PM MST
OPEN ONLY TO CANADA & THE UNITED STATES
Please read all the Giveaway Policies and Rules before participating.**EACH comment must have an easily accessible email address**

REMEMBER:
- leave a separate comment for each action completed
- don't forget your email address for each entry

WAYS TO ENTER:

Follow the Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways blog with Google Friend Connect (leave username in comments if not obvious)
Visit Figure 8 Maternity and mention in a comment something else that you'd be interested to try from their online shop
‘Like’ Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways on Facebook
'Like' Figure 8 Maternity on Facebook and leave a quick comment on their wall
Follow @CDcontests on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Follow @fig8maternity on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Tweet this contest and tag @fig8maternity and @CDcontests (max. 1 tweet per day). Leave the permalink in the comments section. (1 entry each tweet) You may use the following tweet if you wish:

#Win a @bumgenius 4.0 stay-dry diaper from @fig8maternity via @CDcontests (11/6) http://bit.ly/vHoj97 #clothdiapers #contest #giveaway

Subscribe to email updates from the CDC&G blog
Follow our blog with the Networked Blogs widget in the sidebar (leave following name)
Share a link to this review & giveaway on a message board and leave us a reference link to where it's been shared
Vote for our blog on Picket Fence Blogs - can be done once daily (1 entry each time)
Grab our blog button and post it on your blog. Leave a link to where I can find it (add 3 entries)
Blog this giveaway and leave a link to the post in the comments section (add 3 entries)

Final details: I received financial compensation for this review or giveaway as well as receiving the sample item free of charge. All opinions shared are my own, and I was not persuaded to share anything other than my own thoughts. Other users may have different experiences with this product than what I have shared. This giveaway will end on November 6, 2011 at 11:59pm MST and is open to residents of Canada and the USA only. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org’s services. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. The prize will be supplied and mailed out to the winner by the sponsor of this giveaway.

This Week's Mass Cloth Diaper Giveaway Link-Up

2011-10-23T22:12:00.000-06:00

Winner of the Sew Is Your Baby Diaper

2011-10-22T11:49:00.000-06:00

Congratulations, JuRita! Please check your email and reply to me within 48 hours to validate your win :)

This Week's Mass Cloth Diaper Giveaway Link-Up

2011-10-16T20:45:00.000-06:00

CLOSED Swaddlebees Prefold Pack Review & Giveaway

2011-10-12T20:52:00.003-06:00

The product I'm reviewing today is one of my favorite items to have ever tried because it broke me into a whole new realm of cloth diapering--using prefolds! When Swaddlebees offered to send me a 6-pack of their cotton prefolds along with a coverall to use, I was both excited and nervous. I have never tried prefolds before. I had never used pins or a Snappi. I wasn't sure if I had the skill to do such things. I had fears about rash, leakage, or staining. I am so excited to report back that after delving into the world of prefolds, I have nothing but love for these simple diapers I'm about to review!

Up for review, Swaddlebees sent me a 6 pack of their natural cotton prefolds in the Medium/Large size (there is also a Newborn/Small size available). They also sent a pair of large coveralls (in the super sweet & girly 'Pink on Chocolate' polka dot print!) to create a truly leakproof system! When I first opened up the pack of prefolds, I was perplexed. I had heard that prefolds were extremely absorbant, but the fabric felt thin and wimpy to me. I recalled the importance of prep-washing and crossed my fingers that some magical tranformation would take place through my repeated cycles of hot washes. And something magical indeed did take place! After a few hot, soapy washes, my prefolds came out super plush! All the fibres bulked up at least tenfold. The fabric was no longer scratchy but was cushy and soft. Now I was beginning to believe in the absorbant properties of these prefolds, but I still had to put them to the test!

The prefolds here in their state prior to prep-washing

Not being comfortable with pins, I used a Snappi fastener with my prefolds. The cushy cotton allowed lots of thick layers for the Snappi to grab onto so that there was no fear of the claws going through and digging into Baby Aurelia's tummy. When we began using these prefolds, Aurelia was going through a nasty diaper rash (mostly from teething), so it was real relief to be able to put her in something totally natural and breathable. Around the house, we left the prefolds on coverless to allow for maximum air-flow to help heal her bottom. Even if she wet her diaper during playtime, these prefolds really were thirsty enough to not leak through--only a bit of dampness would begin to spread so that I could tell when she needed to be changed. This dramatically helped me to clear up her rash. These prefolds were also a lifesaver during a heat wave we recently had--again, they were much more comfortable and breathable during the heat and humidity. These prefolds would also be terrific for potty-learning or Elimination Communication as they allow both baby and parent to get a sense for dampness spreading (while still comfortably containing all accidents!).

After prep-washing, the prefolds are super plush and absorbant!

What really shocked me, though, was just how AMAZING these prefolds perform at nighttime. As Aurelia has grown from a newborn to an infant to a one year old toddler, it's amazing how many changes we've had to make to our nighttime diapering routine! As she'd recently become a tummy- or side-sleeping heavy wetter, pocket diapers (even double stuffed) were just not working well for nighttime anymore. We tried everything and often reached for the disposable diaper at night to ensure dry sheets in the morning. I wanted to give these prefolds a nighttime go but was extremely skeptical that they would work. I fastened them on in a basic newspaper fold (our favorite), added a stay-dry microfleece liner from my own collection just for a little extra wicking power, and I covered the whole shabang with the pink polka dot coveralls that Swaddlebees had sent along. It was amazing! It was miraculous! These prefolds absorb and absorb and absorb and have NEVER, EVER leaked after weeks and weeks of repeated nighttime use! In the morning, the prefold feels like it's about 5lbs heavy when I remove it, but Baby's bum is dry, with no redness.

This cover is totally leak-proof with double rows of snaps at the waist, an adjustable rise, and double leg gussets!

Laundering out the prefolds is a breeze! Occasionally I'll rinse my night diapers to cut down the ammonia smell in the pail (especially in the summer's heat). However, with or without pre-rinsing, I find that these prefolds wash MUCH cleaner in the laundry than my synthetic fibre pocket diapers, and I end up with far fewer issues (like "funky" smells!) than with microfibre, etc.

At only $19.95 for a pack of 6, these prefolds are all-around powerhouses. Next time I have a newborn baby, I will honestly be going with prefolds and covers rather than Frankensteining together my own system & collection. Once you get over the fear of folding & fastening, there is really nothing easier (especially in terms of care, laundry & maintenance) than this age-old system!

BUY IT:
Head over to Swaddlebees right now and pick up a pack of these thirsty prefolds for yourself!

WIN IT:
Swaddlebees is also offering one lucky winner their own prefold prize pack (with your choice of prefold size as well as your favorite size/style of diaper cover!)

GIVEAWAY ENDS 10/23/11 at 11:59 PM MST
OPEN ONLY TO CANADA & THE UNITED STATES
Please read all the Giveaway Policies and Rules before participating.**EACH comment must have an easily accessible email address**

REMEMBER:
- leave a separate comment for each action completed
- don't forget your email address for each entry

WAYS TO ENTER:

Follow the Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways blog with Google Friend Connect (leave username in comments if not obvious)
Visit Swaddlebees and mention in a comment something else that you'd be interested to try from their online shop
‘Like’ Cloth Diaper Contests & Giveaways on Facebook
'Like' Swaddlebees on Facebook and leave a quick comment on their wall
Follow @CDcontests on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Follow @swaddlebees on Twitter and leave your Twitter username in your comment
Tweet this contest and tag @swaddlebees and @CDcontests (max. 1 tweet per day). Leave the permalink in the comments section. (1 entry each tweet) You may use the following tweet if you wish:

#Win a #clothdiapers prefold prize pack from @swaddlebees via @CDcontests (10/23) http://bit.ly/nmkMrw #baby #contest #giveaway

Subscribe to email updates from the CDC&G blog
Subscribe for the Swaddlebees Newsletter
Follow our blog with the Networked Blogs widget in the sidebar (leave following name)
Share a link to this review & giveaway on a message board and leave us a reference link to where it's been shared
Vote for our blog on Picket Fence Blogs - can be done once daily (1 entry each time)
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Final details: I received no financial compensation for this review or giveaway, though I did receive the sample item free of charge. All opinions shared are my own, and I was not persuaded to share anything other than my own thoughts. Other users may have different experiences with this product than what I have shared. This giveaway will end on October 23, 2011 at 11:59pm MST and is open to residents of Canada and the USA only. Winner will be chosen randomly using random.org’s services. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. The prize will be supplied and mailed out to the winner by the sponsor of this giveaway.

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