Fancy Cloth Baby Review and Giveaway

July 14th, 2011
2:30pm

Charlotte has sensitive skin. All my kids do. For overnight diaper use, we like to use a stay dry fabric next to her skin to make sure no rashes arise. During the Flats Challenge back in May, I started to think about using flats as our main diapering stash. The thing I really appreciate about flats and prefolds is their simplicity. Yes, there are a myriad of different folds but I really love the simplicity of a 2 part diapering system. (That sounds like an oxymoron). Yes, you can have simplicity in a two part diapering system. You can use one cover until it is soiled (this cuts down on laundry), just change out the insert. Anyways, the thing that prefolds and flats are missing is the stay dry element. Fancy Cloth Baby has a solution! Christine has created a stay dry liner with a pocket that can be stuffed with a prefold, flat or another insert and laid into a cover. Genius! More on these liners in the review.

Christine's shop also carries numerous other cloth diapering supplies. Her line-up includes Hemp/cotton contoured prefolds, Fleece pocket wraps, Newborn AI2's and these great reusable deodorizing discs that you can put essential oil on to prevent diaper pail stink. She also has a blog with some useful cloth diapering info on it.

The Review:

Christine sent me a stay dry liner to review. She has created a liner that is used as a stay dry layer for prefolds, flats or any other inserts. The liner 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. This liner is One Size. It adjusts by folding down the back part of the liner to fit your baby. Liners are very handy to have around if baby gets a rash and needs diaper cream. Some diaper creams are not safe to use with cloth diapers because of the moisture barrier ingredients that they have in them. These ingredients, if they get on cloth diapers, can cause repelling issues.

(L to R) Liner unsnapped, Liner with flat, Stuffed Liner in cover.

Ease of Use: Easy! All the needs to be done is stuff the flat, prefold, or insert into the pocket flap of the liner and snap the closure. This snap holds the insert and prevents bunching and shifting. You could even prepare this before hand and have them ready to lay in the cover.

Performance: I was very happy with these liners. We mainly used them at nighttime and naps with great results. Charlotte's skin was always dry when she woke up and rash free. The liner adds no bulk at all and keeps the insert in place. I'm really surprised that they are not stains on this liner. We've been using it for about 8 weeks or so and no stains (believe me, we've had messes while wearing it too).

Care: I washed this with my normal cloth diapers. Christine reccommends warm washing. The liner has held up really well and there is no pilling.

Material: Suede cloth (100% polyester)

Cost: $3.95. You can save be buying them in a 12 pack ($24.00). Click here to purchase.

Overall Opinion: These liners are the perfect option for parents wanting to use prefolds or flats. They provide a stay dry barrier that protects delicate skin. They have the added benefit of helping inserts stay put in covers. I love the fact that I can size these to fit any baby and any cover. The liners are a more economical nighttime option for parents who use prefolds or flats than a pricey pocket or AIO diaper.

Do you need a nighttime boost for you prefolds or flats? Christine makes a liner made out of hemp to add that much needed nighttime absorbency.

The Giveaway:

Christine at Fancy Cloth Baby is giving one of you a stay dry liner.

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Fancy Cloth Baby and tell me your favorite item.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Fancy Cloth 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 stay dry liner from Fancy Cloth Baby. Visit http://bit.ly/qb4a77 to enter. Ends 8/4. #clothdiapers @knockedupnursin"(can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Make Fancy Cloth Baby a fav on Etsy
• Follow Fancy Cloth Baby's blog
  
• 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 Thursday July 14th, 2011 at 2:30pm (CST) until August 4th 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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Gro Via Cloth Wipes Review and Giveaway from Green Baby Elephant

July 11th, 2011
11:03pm

Finding a new store is always fun. Finding one that sells cloth diapers...even better! Green Baby Elephant has some of the most popular brands of cloth diapers available. Babykicks, Thirsties, GroVia, Fuzzibunz and all of the wonderful accessories that go along with those brands are available online. If you aren't an online shopper and live in the Tucson Arizona area, Green Baby Elephant also offers cloth diaper parties. It's kinda like a Tupperware party but for cloth diapers. Tonya will bring different brands and accessories to your home so you can see what the diaper looks and feels like in person. I always appreciate the "in person" option as I'm one of those people who has to touch a product to really understand it. These parties also give people the ability to ask all of those questions most people have about cloth diapers to someone who knows cloth!

The Review:

I had the great pleasure of trying out the GroVia Cloth Wipes. This is actually the first GroVia product that I've used. People have been raving about this brand for quite a while and I had yet to try them out. These 8"x 8" wipes come in a pack of 12. When I first pulled the wipes out of the package, I gave them a nice squeeze... SO fluffy! I like that GroVia has minimal packaging. Just that little paper tag which can be recycled. The wipes are made out of a blend of polyester and cotton which gives them a nice stretchiness and durability.

Performance: Best wipes for poop EVER! The little terry loops pick up everything! If there's a big mess, I grab these guys. They are soft on baby's gentle parts and yet grab all the mess that needs to be cleaned. These also make super soft kleenex and face wipes for kiddos. These wipes have held up well and show no sign of wear. There were some loose threads that came undone after washing a couple of times but a quick trim with the scissors fixed that. They are still white and super soft.

Care: No special care is needed for these wipes. I washed them before use. Simply throw them into the wash along with your cloth diapers. They will come out clean and stain free.

Materials: Made from 88% polyester and 12% cotton. This blend is what gives these wipes their stretch.

Cost: $10.95. These are some of the most economical wipes out there on the market! Click here to purchase.

The Giveaway:

Tonya is going to give one lucky person a set of GroVia Cloth Wipes like the ones pictured above.

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit Green Baby Elephant and tell me your favorite item.
  
• Leave an email address where you can be reached.

Extra Entries:

• Become a fan of Green Baby Elephant 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 GroVia cloth wipes from Green Baby Elephant. Visit http://bit.ly/nzd5jU to enter. Ends 8/1. #clothdiapers @knockedupnursin" (can be tweeted once a day until the giveaway ends)
• Follow Green baby Elephant's blog
  
• 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 Monday July 11th, 2011 at 11:30pm (CST) until August 1st 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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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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________