Green Sprout Baby Review and Giveaway

395 comments
April 8th, 2011
4:14pm

Green Sprout Baby is a home-based cloth diaper company run by Rena and her mom, Lyn. Like many mom-trepreneurs, Rena couldn't find a cloth diaper that fit all of her cloth diapering needs. Using her skills as a fashion designer, she started making her own diapers. Green Sprout Baby has been offering fitted cloth diapers and fleece and wool covers since 2007.

The Green Sprout Baby line of diapers includes 5 size options to find the optimum fit for your baby (see chart below). The EVO and the ML (Medium Long) are essentially the same, but the EVO has some great added features. The EVO can accommodate smaller babies (6 lbs and up) as it has a snap down rise. It also has 3 hip snaps to prevent wing droopage. The EVO can work like a one size diaper for most babies. The EVO also offers a snap flap for the third snap when baby doesn't need it any longer. The flap makes it so the male end of the snap does not dig into babies skin when wearing.





The Review:


I received the EVO in Zen Garden for review. This fitted diaper is equipped with a total of 11 optional layers of bamboo. The diaper is comprised of an outer shell with a knit print, a hidden layer of bamboo and another layer of organic bamboo on top. There are two snap-in inserts, one with three layers of bamboo topped in organic bamboo velour. The other insert snaps into the first insert on the bottom so no snaps touch baby and has four layers of bamboo (somehow the doubler I received has three layers instead of four).

The EVO has three snaps on each tab. Since the EVO can fit babies 6-35lbs, it has a Snap Flap that protects you baby from the male end of the snap when they no longer need the third snap. Since I received my diaper for review, Rena has updated the Snap Flap design. The diaper I have has a flap that folds down instead of to the side. I found these to add bulk to the front, especially for smaller babies.

Ease of Use: If you dislike snaps, this diaper is not for you! There are a total of six snaps that need to be done. Plus you will need a cover since these are fitted diapers. After using the diaper the first few times to figure out what snap your baby is on, it's not bad. I prefer snaps to velcro, so it doesn't bother me.

Fit: I'm really sorry to say that this diaper doesn't fit Charlotte anymore. She wore it for a little less than a month and a half. Being the EVO, this diaper is suppose to fit babies 6-35lbs. I have no doubt this diaper would fit a newborn; straight out of the womb even. I don't know if it would fit a larger baby. Charlotte is chunky and has a high rise (17.5lbs at 4 months and a 17.5" rise) but that is well within the diaper's limits. I measured the diaper and it has shrunk significantly. The rise is now that of a newborn diaper (14") and the snap down rise setting looks like a premie diaper (11.5"). I washed it per care instructions. To me it looks as if the knit has shrunk and the bamboo velour inner has not. When I stretch the diaper, the cotton is taught but the velour looks like it still has more room to stretch. Because of the shrinking, the inserts now hang out the top of the diaper.

That being said, I really like this diaper when it fit. It was snug around the legs, yet gentle and left no marks. Great for my chunky baby. It was slightly bulky around the snap flaps but those have been re-designed. Surprisingly trim with 10 absorbent layers.

Performance: I loved this diaper for overnight! Charlotte is an above average wetter and this held up nicely! Paired with a wool cover it was bullet proof. We didn't have leaks until she started to outgrow the rise (her booty crack is literally hanging out of the diaper like a little baby plumber). I really enjoyed this diaper and am sad that the knit shrunk. There is some slight pilling on the knit print. I also experienced a hole in the knit near the leg elastic. It appears as if the elastic was rubbing on the print and made a slight hole. (See photo below) This might also have happened because of the uneven amount of tension on the cotton and the velour due to the shrinking.

Care: I chose to unsnap the doublers from the diaper when i threw it into the washer. It washed up nice and fluffy. The diaper dried fairly quickly but the doublers sometimes took longer than one cycle. I often just hung them to dry if they were damp.

Materials: Cotton knit outer, hidden organic bamboo fleece, organic bamboo velour on top. Soakers are made from organic bamboo fleece and may be topped with organic bamboo velour.

Cost: From $19.50. There are many options you can add such as an extra doubler for heavy wetters or organic outer knit. Click here to purchase.

Overall Opinion: I think I got a lemon! After talking with Rena, it seems like the problem was the shrinking cotton outer. She did do a pre-wash before sewing but had not done many diapers with this print. All fabrics shrink at different rates and I can see that with this diaper. I really loved the performance of this diaper and the style. I would like to try another diaper from Green Sprout Baby like her Sapling Sprouts which is made of all bamboo. It's the same as the print diapers, just minus the outer print layer. Hopefully this would prevent the issues that I had with the diaper.

****UPDATE****
My husband, the problem solver, was trying to figure out a way to still use this diaper. He started stretching and pulling at it for about 10 minutes. He wasn't doing this gently! He said he was trying to stretch back out the cotton knit. Well, guess what!?! It worked! He stretched it out enough that Charlotte was able to wear it to bed last night with no problems! It's in the wash right now so let's see how it keeps. I can't tell you how excited I am to have this diaper back in rotation!


Picture of the hole near leg elastic.


Love how trim it is between the legs.

The Giveaway:
Rena has offered a Busy Little Bee fitted diaper!


Mandatory Entry:
  • Visit Green Spout Baby and tell me your favorite item.
  • Leave an email address where you can be reached.
Extra Entries:
  • Become a fan of Green Sprout Baby on Facebook.
  • Become a fan of Knocked Up and Nursing on Facebook
  • Become a follower of Green Sprout Baby on Twitter
  • Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing on Twitter
  • Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a URL. You can use: "#win a @GreenSproutBaby Fitted Diaper. Visit http://bit.ly/frTvbV to enter. @knockedupnursin #clothdiapers " (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 Thursday April 8th, 2011 at 12:15pm (CST) until April 21st, 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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Welcome to The Bunny Hop!

0 comments
April 5th, 2011
11:00am



Welcome to the celebration of the grand re-opening of TerraMade Products!

Today a re-opening of TerrMade Products on Hyenacart. To celebrate, you are invited to participate in The Bunny Hop! Starting today, April 5th and running until Saturday, April 9th, players are encouraged to "hop" down the list of sponsors and collect entries into the Grand Prize Basket valued at over $300! A complete list of sponsors is HERE on TerraMade's website. When the event ends, you can email Terra with all your entries (some entries will be mandatory and others will be extra entries). A winner will then be chosen randomly for the gift basket with fluff and stuff and be announced on Monday, April 11th. For a complete list of rules visit here.

During the contest there will also be some other great giveaways going on at TerraMade and some of the other sponsors so keep in touch. You don't want to miss this.



Connect with TerraMade Products:
Facebook
Hyenacart
Website

To Play:
  • Become a follower of Knocked Up and Nursing via Google Friend Connect (on the Right hand side).
  • Feel free to leave a comment to remind yourself of your entry.
  • After you have entered all the mandatory "stops" and as many "hops" as you would like, email Terra at customerservice@terramadeproducts.com. Include your full name, address, and telephone number, along with an email address we can use to contact you. Also include a list of all of the stores and blogs that you supported on the trail, so we know how many entries to put in that hat for you!
Contest begins on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 12:00pm EDT and runs through Saturday, April 9th, at 8pm EDT. All email submissions for entries must be received by this time. Submissions received after this time will not be eligible. Winner will be announced on or about Monday, April 11th, and prize package will be mailed to the winner at that time.

Good Luck!

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Breastfeeding Blog Hop: Weaning

7 comments
March 23rd, 2011
10:29am



I never wanted to wean my children. Weaning always seemed like curse word to me. I love the nursling/mama bond, why would I want that tot stop. I have three children, a 4 year old girl (Sally), a 2.5 year old boy (James) and a 3.5 month old baby girl (Charlotte). Charlotte is nursing and loving it and I'm not looking forward to the day when she weans. My philosophy tends to lean more to the side of child lead weaning; where the child decides when to stop nursing. While I do have a top age limit, 4 years or so, I do not practice extended breastfeeding.

My daughter Sally decided to stop nursing WAY before I was ready. She was only 15 months old and I was three months pregnant with James (yes, I've been knocked up and/or nursing for the past 5 years). She stopped cold turkey from nursing about 4-5 times a day. This was so painful for me. My breasts were engorged and sore for about a week. I remember feeling like somewhat abandoned. My baby didn't need me in the same way that she used to. She was growing up. I wasn't thinking about what my daughter needed but about what I wanted. That realization helped me a lot!

My son stopped nursing a week before Charlotte was born. I really wanted to tandem nurse (having more than one nursling). James got a stomach bug about a week before he weaned that made his poo very liquidy. When it didn't clear up after the bug, I thought it might be the colostrum that my body was producing. He was down to one nursing right before bed. I stopped offering to see if not nursing would firm up his poop. It did and he never asked about "nursies" again.

I think I was more emotionally prepared for James' weaning than I was for Sally's. It helped that there was a baby coming soon after James stopped. I have a personal goal to give my children the best start possibly by breastfeeding for at least two years. Perhaps I had a harder time when Sally stopped nursing because I didn't fulfill my "goal". The global average age of weaning is approximatley 4 years and I think that is why around the age of 4 seems to be my weaning number.

I wonder how I'll feel when Charlotte decides she's done. So far, we seem to get pregnant when our littlest is about one. We'll see if that rings true.

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Great article on the life of a Midwife's Husband

1 comments
March 23rd, 2011
1:36pm

I often think of what I'll do with myself when my kids are all grown up. Being a Stay at Home Mom is an amazing profession and the next logical thing for me to do is homeschool my kids. But what am I to do after raising my children? I'll have been out of the workforce for more than 20 years with little to no "skills". I'll have spent those years teaching my children and doing my best to be a mother. I will have experience with birthing and breastfeeding. Two things I'm passionate about. I'd love to become a midwife or lactation consultant in the future. I've talked to my husband about this and he's very supportive. I came across this article on a husband's perspective on it all.

http://www.mothering.com/pregnancy-birth/married-to-the-midwife

Are you a stay at home mom? What do you plan on doing when your kiddos are all grown up?

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Sugar Plum Baby Fitted Cloth Diaper Review and Giveaway

391 comments
March 22nd, 2011
6:00pm




Sugar Plum Baby is run by Susan Mraz of Monkey Toe Diapers . By stripping away some of the flairs while leaving the style, she was able to simplify and create her own line of fitted cloth diapers. Instead of offering prints, she has decided to offer fitteds in bamboo fleece with your choice of colored thread and snaps. Sugar Plum Baby offers you an affordable, sleek looking way to cloth diaper baby. You can save even more by purchasing diapers in packages of 3,6, or 12.

The Review:

Sugar Plum Baby Newborn Single Diaper Bamboo

I had the opportunity to review the Sugar Plum Baby Basic Bamboo Fleece Fitted diaper in small with pink snaps and serging. There is a snap in soaker that combines with the diaper to offer 6 layers of absorbency. Sugar Plum Baby diapers come in 4 sizes: Newborn (birth -12lbs), Small (10-15lbs), Medium (15-25lbs), and Large (25-35lbs). The newborn diaper features a snap down front tab for the umbilical cord and the Medium and Large sizes come with hip snaps and a doubler.

Ease of Use: Simple,simple. Just 4 little snaps and you are good to go.

Fit: We received this diaper when Charlotte was a month old and 10lbs. The small size fits babies 10-15lbs. The diaper fit really well; snug around the thighs and waist but not too tight. I felt as though the diaper was on the small side. Charlotte grew out of it at 13 lbs. I do have chunky monkey babies and knew it was time to retire the diaper when red marks were starting to show on her legs after use. I was really sad to pull this one out of our rotation and save it for the next babe! It had become a favorite. The elastic was strong and we never had any blowouts.

Care: This diaper still looks brand new! Even after washing and using it daily for almost 2 months! Susan reccommends that you wash and dry on hot. It dried rather quickly. Occasionally the gathered elastic on the legs would still be slightly damp after a dryer cycle but just air drying it or setting it in the sun for a while took care of it.

Materials: Bamboo fleece (70% viscose from bamboo/30% organic cotton), snaps.

Cost: The diaper I tried out was $14.00. A single diaper is anywhere between $12 and $21.
Click here to purchase.

Overall Opinion: I really like the Sugar Plum Baby design. It's simple and easy to use while still being cute. The style and fit are reminiscent of a big name brand but Sugar Plum Baby offers a more affordable version with the kinks worked out. This is a great diaper for any parent to have in their stash. Worked well for overnights, naps and daytime (even with a heavy wetter). They do run small so think about ordering the next size up.


These are of Charlotte when she was about 13lbs, about when she grew out of the diaper.

Connect with Sugar Plum Baby:
Facebook
Website
Etsy

Coupon Code:

Susan has offered you guys a 15% off coupon that will work in any of her stores! Enter KNOCKEDUP at checkout!



The Giveaway:

Susan has offered a Bamboo fitted diaper in winner's choice of size and color.

Mandatory Entry:
  • Visit Sugar Plum Baby and tell me your favorite item.
  • Leave an email address where you can be reached.
Extra Entries:
  • Become a fan of Monkey Toe Diapers/ Sugar Plum Baby 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 Bamboo Fitted Diaper from Sugar Plum Baby. Visit http://bit.ly/fq9bIc to enter. @knockedupnursin #clothdiapers " (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 Tuesday March 22nd, 2011 at 12:00pm (CST) until April 5th, 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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