Bee Bop Baby Review and Giveaway

June 15th, 2011
6:03pm

***Giveaway Closed***

I'm always excited to find a new favorite cloth diapering company! Even more exciting is getting to share it with you. So without further ado, I present to you Bee-Bop Baby! Kristin and Becki run this Etsy shop that carries affordable, high quality cloth diapering products that work. Not only are their products well made, but you would be hard pressed to find more fashionable fabric choices.

They have a great line of products that includes covers, fitted diapers, cloth wipes, AI2/ pocket diapers, snack bags and changing pads. Bee-Bop Baby has also added something new to their line up, a cloth diaper started pack! These starter packs come in quantities of 10 diapers or 2 diapers and include cloth wipes and enough inserts to use the diapers as an AI2 as well. Starter packs are a great way to try a product and cloth diapers in general. Take a look at some of their great products:

L to R: AI2/pocket diaper, cover, flannel wipes

The Review:

I reviewed one of the AI2/pocket diapers from Bee-Bop Baby. Since we might have more children, I try to keep my fluff gender neutral. When Kristin sent me a girly print diaper I was delighted! I secretly LOVE girly print diapers but can't justify buying one if we have more children. When I opened the package I saw a beautiful print with a light blue background with green, pink, blue and orange starburst shaped flowers. The cotton print is sewn to the PUL

This pocket diaper can also be used as an AI2. There is a PERFECTLY placed snap at the back of the pocket opening. The lining is made from suede cloth which is similar to microfleece but thinner, does not pill, and stays looking new longer. It wicks away moisture, and resists staining. The pink minkie tabs are slightly stretchy to find the best fit for baby. Did I mention that besides throwing in all the great conveniences of an AI2, cute fabrics and fabulous craftsmanship, the diaper is a one size diaper?

Ease of Use: This diaper has a snap closure. All that's needed to put the diaper on baby is four snaps.

Fit: Being a One Size Diaper, there are four size settings for babies 8-28lbs. I personally think it will fit babies that are slightly smaller (newborn) to toddlers that are over 28lbs. Seriously, it fits my 33lb 2.5 year old perfectly with room to grow in the waist. Charlotte is on the highest rise setting with room to grow in the waist. The elastic is encased on the legs and the back and hugs Charlotte's little,or not so little, body nicely.

Performance: No complaints here! I have really enjoyed using this diaper. It's held up well and shows no signs of wear after about 6 weeks of use. The hemp insert is trim and great at keeping leaks at bay. Although, for overnight use I'd recommend a doubler of some kind. Naptime was fine with no leaks but on one night time occasion we had a soaked through diaper and onesie. We seldom experienced wicking (the cotton outer getting wet from moisture passing through from the inner lining of the diaper); perhaps a handful of times at the beginning when the PUL was re-sealing.

Care: Wash with your regular cloth diaper wash routine. I'd suggest machine drying this one. I tried to line dry it and it wicked moisture to the outer cotton layer. But after a tumble dry, no problems. The hemp insert will need to be prepped separately from your other cloth diapers. Hemp has natural oils on it that, when stripped, can adhere to other fabric types (mainly synthetic fabrics like microfiber) and cause repelling issues. If you don't have any other hemp to prep, I'd suggest washing with a load of towels on hot a couple time (that's what I did and it worked just fine).

Favorite Features: The snap for the insert at the back of the diaper is in the perfect place! I've noticed that other diapers that have snaps in the front of the diaper or not as close to the back of the diaper don't work as well. If you have a diaper with an insert that snaps in the front when you go to put it on baby, the weight of the baby makes it so that you can't pull up the front of the diaper without un-snapping the insert. I also love that the insert comes with stitching that shows where to fold so that it will fit into the diaper. This takes all the guess work out of it!

L: Insert unfolded. R: Insert folded to small.

Materials: 100% Cotton outer with hidden layer of PUL, Suede cloth lining, hemp insert.

Cost: $19.00. Click here to purchase.

Overall Opinion: I really love this diaper and I can't pin down why. It might be the perfectly placed snap for the insert at the back. It might be the sewn in lines that show you where to fold the insert for different sizes. Perhaps its all the attention to detail. It's simple, it's stylish and it's super easy to use and care for. A new favorite in my book!

The Giveaway:

Want to win one?! Follow the direction below and you can be entered to win this bee-utiful AI2/pocket diaper from Bee-Bop Baby!

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Bee-Bop Baby and tell me your favorite item.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Bee-Bop Baby US on Facebook.
• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a cloth diaper from Bee-Bop Baby. Visit http://bit.ly/kxgN2k to enter. Ends 7/6. #clothdiapers @knockedupnursin" (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Make Bee-Bop Baby a fav on Etsy
  
• Follow Knocked Up and Nursing via GFC *Plus 2 entries*
  
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway and link to this page/or my blog.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook with a link to the giveaway (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.


Giveaway will run from Wednesday June 15th, 2011 at 7:30pm (CST) until July 6th 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. I was given a product to review and my opinions on the product are my own. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

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I'm participating in A Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0!

June 8th, 2011
6:15pm

Remember A Blogtastic Extravaganza? Well, starting August 17th, A Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0 will begin! 100 blogs will be linking together to offer you prizes totalling at least $5,000. I'm so happy to tell you that I'm participating in A Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0! I have a few wonderful sponsors lines up and am looking forward to sharing them with you VERY soon. Every blog has chosen their own theme and mine is "The Miniature Scientist". Babies are the ultimate scientists. This prize package will have items that will help bring about that natural curiosity that babies and all children have.

I can't wait! Keep on the lookout as I post Sponsorship Spotlight posts for A Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0.

If you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact me at knockedupandnursing@gmail.com.


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itti bitti Review and Giveaway

June 6th, 2011
8:15pm

***Giveaway Closed***

itti bitti hit the scene here in the US not too long ago in March. The company was started in Australia in 2005 and has not stopped since. You can't go wrong with diapers are being sold in 25 countries!!! Sue McLachlan, like many moms, was frustrated with the fit of so many other diapers on the market. They were too bulky for her liking so she went to work designing something that would fit her babe. itti bitti prides themselves on their trim diapers that will ft any shape baby. One of the signature features of their line of diapers is the narrow crotch. A narrow crotch means that baby's legs will be comfy without the added bulk of many layers of cloth between them. itti bitti is also know for their low rise which contribute to the trimness factor.

itti bitti has three different cloth diapers in their line along with a few essential cloth diapering accessories. This is a company that has a little something for everybody! The diapers include the bitti tutto, a one size AI2, the bitti d'lish, a sized AIO, and the bitti boo, a sized fitted diaper that has amazing absorbency! itti bitti also carries luxury minkie wetbags and velour cloth wipes. I had the opportunity to review the bitti tutto, the bitti boo and a luxury wetbag.

The Review:

Bitti Tutto:

The bitti tutto is a one size diaper (fits 8-44lbs) that can also be used as an all in 2 (AI2). The diaper comes with three inner soaker pads. You can purchase additional sets to use the diaper like an AI2. To do this, just change the soaker pads instead of changing the whole diaper. Reusing the shell makes a lot less laundry! It has 4 rise settings that are adjustable by a snap down rise. Another great feature of the bitti tutto is the "poo fence". This fence is actually a double gusset that goes the whole way around the back of the diaper to contain explosions.


Ease of Use: I have to admit, the way the soakers all snap together was slightly intimidating at first. The diaper and the soakers have color coded snaps so you never have to worry about what goes where...unless perhaps you are color blind. The itti bitti line of diapers only comes in snap closure. Not all families will like this but for me, it's a plus! I like snaps better than velcro because I feel they hold up better and baby can't take them off!

Fit: It took a few times to get the right fit on Charlotte. For a while there, we had a hard time finding a rise adjustment that would fit her (this girl has a seriously high rise). Her booty was hanging out, while the waist and legs fit perfectly. This was sightly frustrating. Also, the poo fence only works if the whole booty crack is inside the fence. After we found the right fit on Charlotte, we haven't had any issues. The elastic is gentle but strong and the poop fence does a great job holding in liquidy newborn messes!

Performance: The stay dry lining on the soakers was great on Charlotte's sensitive baby skin for overnights! These are some of the best diapers as far as leak protection goes. After almost daily use of the diaper for 8 weeks, the minkee outer is still soft and squishy. The inserts also wash really clean and the bamboo doesn't hold smells!

Care: itti bitti recommends washing diapers before using them. I threw my bitti tutto in the wash and went about my regular wash routine (cold rinse, hot wash, cold rinse). I went ahead and unsnapped the soakers to speed up drying time and not cause too much stress on the snaps. The bitti tutto washed up nice and dried really quickly! The shell wash dry almost straight from the washer. I like line drying my covers mostly to give them a longer life. Every so often, I throw them in the dryer. The soakers dried quicker than I though and were only slightly damp maybe one or two times after a dryer cycle.

Materials: The outer material is made of a polyester minkee with a stay dry inner liner. The soaker pads are made of bamboo viscose with a stay dry top (which is awesome)!

Cost: $26.95. The bitti tutto is a little pricey but is worth it for this versitile diaper. Click here to purchase.

Overall Opinion: Getting the right fit was a little bit of a lengthy process for us but when we got it, magic happened. You can tell that a lot of R and D went into this diaper. My favorite feature is the hip snap that has an ingenius little cover that snaps into place so that baby never gets snap imprints on their skin. Plus this diaper comes in 18 different color choices! The diaper is on the more expensive side but should last you from birth to potty learning. A minkee diaper is a great addition to any diaper stash and surely a luxurious feel for baby!

Bitti Boo:

The bitti boo is a fitted diaper and has some of the same great features as the bitti tutto. There is the signature trimness throughout the crotch and the amazing absorbency that IS itti bitti. This diaper comes with unique soakers that snap in place. One soaker is topped with bamboo velour and has an hourglass shape to it and the other is a square that is be trifolded. The bitti boo diaper comes in three sizes, small (8-16lbs), medium (14-26lbs) and large (23-37lbs). I got to review one of these diapers in lime size medium.

Ease of Use: Easy! There are four snaps that must be done (two on each side) to fasten the diaper on baby. The bitti boo does come with crossover snaps, two on the left wing, which is a great feature for smaller babies and will make this diaper last longer. This diaper will need a cover.

Fit: itti bitti is known for their low-rise fit and the bitti boo has it! The diaper has encased elastic around the legs that holds in messes. The elastic is strong but gentle on baby's legs. The bitti boo diaper has a low profile while being extremely absorbent.

Performance: This is one of my favorite overnight diapers! Super absorbent and NEVER a leak. The bulk of most overnight diapers makes babies look all bowlegged, like they just got done riding a horse for 8 straight hours! Not with this diaper! The narrow crotch design helps eliminate bulk where it isn't needed.

Care: itti bitti reccommends washing diapers before using them. I threw my bitti boo in with my regular wash routine (cold rinse, hot wash, cold rinse) and didn't have any problems. The outer material is a bamboo/organic cotton blend that stays soft.

Materials: The outer and inner of the diaper is made of a bamboo/ organic cotton blend. The tri fold soaker is made out of bamboo, cotton and polyester (in that order on the tag. No percentages given). The hourglass shaped soaker is topped with bamboo velour.

Cost: $19.95. Comes in 5 vivid colors! Click here to purchase.

Overall Opinion: This is one of my go-to diapers for outings and overnights. I know I won't have to worry about leaks in this one. I'd love to see itii bitti come out with a cover. I think it would be a great addition to their great cloth diaper line up. The trimness and softness of this diaper make it comfy for baby. I often let Charlotte wear it round the house with no cover so I could see the vibrant lime color and feel the softness of the diaper every time I picked her up.


Luxury Wet Bags:
itti bitti didn't keep all the minkee for the babies. They have also made this great wet bag out of laminated minkee for parents on the go. I loved feeling the soft minkee as I putting dirty diapers in the bag. The wet bag is the perfect size for day trips. It measures 12" x 15" and can hold four or more diapers. The zipper is really heavy duty and is ergonomically designed. Most wet bags have two layers; a PUL inner and a fabric outer. The two layers are usually not sewn together to reduce wicking. It's a pain to turn them right side in and line the two layers back up after drying. You don't have to worry about that with the itti bitti wet bags. Since the minkee is laminated, there is no need for a double layer. This reduces bulk and makes storage easier. The Luxury Wet Bag has been my favorite wet bag that I've used so far. It's durable, easy to use and care for and it comes in eight colors and seven prints.

Cost: $14.95. Purchase here.

The Giveaway:

itti bitti US is giving one of you:

• 1 bitti tutto
• 1 bitti boo
• 1 luxury wetbag

That's one great prize package!

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit itti bitti US and tell me your favorite item.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of itti bitti US on Facebook.
• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of itti bitti US on Twitter
  
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a 2 cloth diapers and a wet bag from @ittibittiUS. Visit http://bit.ly/jItIWB to enter. Ends 6/27 #clothdiapers @knockedupnursin" (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Follow Knocked Up and Nursing via GFC *Plus 2 entries*
  
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway and link to this page/or my blog.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.


Giveaway will run from Monday June 6th, 2011 at 8:00pm (CST) until June 27th 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. I was given a product to review and my opinions on the product are my own. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

______________________________________________________________

Olie and Ava Review and Giveaway

June 2nd, 2011
11:01pm

***Giveaway Closed***

Patti runs the Etsy shop Olie and Ava. She offers you fun, stylish products to help your family live a green lifestyle and reduce waste. All of her products are handmade with care in her sewing studio from new and upcycled materials. Some of her products include cloth napkins, custom name banners (which are great for birthdays and room decoration), and cloth diaper accessories that include cloth wipes, fleece liners and inserts.

I had the opportunity to test out and review a half pack (5) of Olie and Ava's cloth wipes in the colorful, fun pattern Urban Splash. These wipes came beautifully packaged with a strip of lacy ribbon and a tag with about 5 different uses for cloth wipes! The wipes fluffed up nice and lofty when I washed them. The cloth wipes measure 7" x 7" square and are made of flannel. The wipes are serged together with coordinating thread (a nice touch). After washing a few times, there were a few stray threads that I had to trim, no big deal.

Flannel wipes are a wonderful all purpose wipe. I have some terry wipes (thicker with little tiny loops that grab) that are great for solid messes and I have some hemp fleece wipes (thinner with a smooth feeling) that are a single layer and are great for wiping after peeing. Flannel is kind of in between the two fabrics. It has tiny little grabby bumps on the surface of the fabric that do a great job at cleaning more solid messes while still being soft for baby's tender bum. Flannel will continue to get soften as you use and wash it too! I've have some flannel cloth wipes that I've been using since Sally was a baby and they are some of the softest wipes that I have!

Overall, these wipes were great! I like that they are slightly smaller (7" x 7") than most wipes because this means that they fit great in my diaper bag. There is a front pocket in my diaper bag where the Olie and Ava's wipes fit perfectly in. The fabric is so different than any of the other wipes I have. For some reason, all of my cloth wipes are white or a natural color. This means that you can see the stains on them. Not with these bad boys! The darker patterned fabric means that you can't see any stains!

Even if you don't cloth diaper or don't have kids in diapers anymore, there are a million uses for these wipes. You can use them as kiddo napkins at the table, washcloths, or keep a stack by the bathroom sink for individual hand towelettes! I love cleaning the kids up with them after eating. If you want to use them on the go, I suggest getting a small wetbag (possibly one made for mama cloth) and wet the wipes before you go out. So simple!

The Giveaway:
Patti has put together an an awesome prize package for one lucky winner! One of you will win:

• Set (10) of gender neutral cloth wipes
• Set of two fleece diaper liner (great for use with diaper creams)
• Set of two microfiber inserts
  

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Olie and Ava and tell me your favorite item.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Olie and Ava on Facebook.
• Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
• Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a cloth diaper prize pack from Olie and Ava. Visit http://bit.ly/ivbTCf to enter. Ends 6/23 #clothdiapers @knockedupnursin" (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Add Olie and Ava to your favs on Etsy.
  
• Follow Knocked Up and Nursing via GFC *Plus 2 entries*
  
• Subscribe to my blog via Email (See "connect" tab on top right)
  
• Blog about this giveaway and link to this page/or my blog.*Plus 5 entries* Leave a URL.
• Share on Facebook (Leave a link)
• Grab my button and leave me a link to find it.*Plus 5 entries*

If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.


Giveaway will run from Thursday June 2nd, 2011 at 11:00pm (CST) until June 23rd, 2011 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen using random.org's true random number generator upon the close of the contest. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. I was given a product to review and my opinions on the product are my own. Must be 18 year old to enter. Open to US and Canadian residents only. Subject to changes.

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