We decided Sunday at 10 am we would go to Ottawa for the rest of the weekend.  We left by 11 and spent exactly 36 hours away!

At Cosmic Adventures in Ottawa

Museum of Culture

This post is part of Cloth Diapering Bloggers’ and Dirty Diaper Laundry’s Cloth Diaper Carnival VIII: Cloth Diaper Awareness.  Please visit the other bloggers participating by following the links at the end of this post.

I asked everyone to write about ways they envision spreading awareness of cloth diapers or work they have already done to do so. While I would like to think that just my blog does something in this area, I know in reality most of my readers came to me after already beginning cloth or after they had made up their mind to do so in the future.  So what more do I think I could be doing?

One idea that came to me many weeks ago was that perhaps I could volunteer to teach a Cloth Diapering class in conjunction with my local WIC office.  I did contact them but have yet to get a response back.  I will call again very soon when life isn’t as hectic.  Not sure when that will be since it has been for a while and will be for the foreseeable future!  I think speaking to families who are looking for assistance is a good idea.  I recently wrote that maybe we should stop expecting low income families to cloth diaper and start focusing on the middle class.  I still believe that is true.  But for families who own a washer and dryer but who are struggling to buy food and diapers every month, why not show them that they can ease the strain on their wallets by using cloth diapers?

In conjunction with a class of this nature, getting a local or online retailer involved who would offer a discount is a good idea.  It would help the families save money while promoting a business and potentially gaining a loyal and repeat customer.

I have already put myself out there in my local Mom Groups as the “go to” person if anyone is ever in need of help.  While I have only had one person accept my offer, just being out there is always a good thing!  I proudly wear the “Ask Me About Cloth Diapers” pin I got from the Real Diaper Association on my diaper bag and hope someone does.

Online, I of course run this website and the Cloth Diapering Bloggers network.  Behind the scenes I get lots of emails from people who come across my website and want advice about starting up, or what diapers they should buy.  I do my best to get to everyone in a timely manner and answer their questions honestly.  Being a neutral party is a great thing.  I can suggest any diaper, from any brand, that fits their needs.  I hope that I have been able to help a lot of families with their cloth diaper journey in this way.

Sadly, I don’t think I will be able to do Fluffy Christmas again this year.  With a baby being born in October, then my son’s birthday in November, and then traveling to North Carolina for Christmas, I don’t see a way to make it work.  It took a lot of planning, and packing time last year.  I was able to get enough donations from many different cloth diaper companies to send 10 families nearly complete cloth diaper stashes who needed them.  I know The Cloth Diaper Foundation does this all the time, but it was very special to do this myself with the help of those companies.  If anyone has the ability, this is a great project to undertake, even if you can just sponsor 1 local family and send them diapers to start out with.

In the grand scheme of things, we all know that marketing cloth diapers like the disposable companies market theirs, is the next frontier.  I have worked for many months on getting cloth diapers on The Ellen Show with my “Operation Fluffy” project.  I think it was very successful.  There were tons of people involved, many of you reading this I am sure, who sent videos, tweeted, posted pictures on her Facebook, etc.  The box of goodies I sent to California will be hand delivered to Ellen once her show begins filming again in a few weeks!  I sure hope this does something!  I will definitely let you know if it does!  Getting cloth on TV is what needs to be done.  And it will, I am sure of it.  Other people are working just as hard, granted, they are the brands themselves.  But any brand featured is great, it is exposure for all brands in a way.

I feel very priveleged to belong to this community of caring people who are so passionate about cloth diapering.  I have met a lot of friends just by starting this blog and sharing my love of cloth diapering.  Even in the past 2 years I have seen the rise of cloth, and it will grow even more in the near future.

Now, I want to hear what you had to say!  If you joined the carnival, don’t forget to add your link to this post.

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The Bottombumpers One Size was just released on September 1, but I was fortunate enough to be a tester.  I have had this diaper for a few months.  There were no changes to the final diaper other than rounding out the tab corners.

Ease of Use ✩✩✩✩ The adjustment for the Bottombumpers One Size is unique because the snap down rise is inside of the diaper at the back, versus on the front on the outside like many snap down rise diapers.  The principle is the same, however, and is easy to snap down.  The two layer soaker snaps in at the back as well.  You do not need to unsnap it to wash unless you want.  I have been leaving it snapped and it stays attached and has caused no damage.  There are a total of 4 snaps to affix when putting the diaper on the baby, and they are on the side.  There are many choices since it is a one size diaper, but it should be fairly intuitive after a few times using it.

Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩✩ I would be more than happy to pay 22.95 for this diaper.  With organic cotton, bamboo velour, one size, and being made in the US, that is more than a fair price.  Of course you can find cheaper diapers, but often you get what you pay for.

Performance ✩✩✩✩ I used this diaper for day times and naps.  You have to be careful when putting the diaper on the baby to tuck in the cotton around the elastic.  The elastic is not encased, similar to the BG Organic AIO (Elementals) so when you wash it rolls out and scrunches up.  To avoid any leaks keep that in mind.  The soaker was adequate for us for both day and nite.  I did find when my son  slept on his side he occasionally got a leak, not a major leak, it was a small spot of wetness.  I imagine this is just because it is a side snapping diaper.

Fit ✩✩✩✩ I used the diaper on the third snap setting, so I have one last snap left for him.  There is plenty of room for him waist wise as well.  It fits very, very trim on his and looks nice and sleek thanks to the unique rise adjustment.  It is definitely a good diaper for under those jeans!  When you use smaller snap settings you will have to fold the soaker for it to fit inside the diaper, but at his size this wasn’t needed.

Overall- I love the way this diaper looks and fits.  It dries relatively quickly, within one dryer cycle.  If you air dried it it will take longer than a pocket with a microfiber insert since it is cotton and bamboo.

Where to buy: The Diaper Wagon (

Due to extremely limited quantities at this time, Bottombumpers is doing a giveaway but they will choose the color.  Luckily, all colors available at this time are gender neutral!

Bottombumpers One Size Side Snapping All in One Diaper is our *NEW* adjustable multi-size diaper. Made with the same great durable waterproof soft outer. They are lined with certified Organic Cotton.

A snap in absorbent soaker is included with each diaper. The soaker can be shifted forward and back to fit the size you need. Our soakers are 4 layers Organic Cotton and topped with Bamboo Velour.

To adjust your one size diaper, we have developed a unique snap down color coded system under the soaker of our diaper. Lift up your soaker and snap down the green studs to the various colors to adjust to the size you need.

Now, enter to win one *brand new* Bottombumpers One Size

Mandatory Entry:

(1 entry) Visit Bottombumpers.com and tell me which color is your favorite.  Please use the actual color name, not “red” or “blue” or I will not count your entry! Leave it as a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Enter to win the brand new and unique @Bottombumpers One Size!  #clothdiapers http://69tr3.th8.us Ends Sep 20”  Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

(1 Entry) Follow Bottombumpers on Twitter. Leave a comment.

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(1 entry) Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

(2 entries) Blog about this giveaway and link to it. Post a link in the comment.

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Giveaway ends on Sept 20. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US and Canada*

I was given the opportunity to review the new Fisher-Price EZ Bundle: a new 4 in 1 Infant Seat, Swing, High Chair, and Toddler Chair.  Yes, you read correctly.  4 baby essentials in one!  With a price point of 150.00 you get nearly every baby furniture essential for your home.

Here’s a revolutionary new space-saving idea that’s also a great value! The EZ Bundle 4-in-1 Baby System gives you 4 baby essentials in one! Start with one seat, then snap it into the infant seat frame, the swing frame, the high chair frame or the toddler seat frame. So easy to switch—and everything you need is included! Requires 4 C batteries.

At the moment, my baby tester hasn’t arrived yet, however he is anxious to try it out when he arrives.  In the meantime, I am going to give you the lowdown on what I have experienced so far.  I will let you know how he likes it when he gets here!

Infant Swing

• 6-speeds for variety

• 3-point restraint

• Comfy stain-resistant seat pad

• Approx. 0-6 Months, Maximum weight: 25 lbs.

• Use Swing from birth until child becomes active and attempts to climb out of the product.

High Chair

• 5-point restraint

• Comfy stain-resistant seat pad

• Approx. 6-24 Months, Maximum weight: 50 lbs.

• Use High Chair only with a child who has enough upper body control to sit up unassisted.

Newborn Seat

• Great for feeding or napping!

• 3-point restraint

• Comfy stain-resistant seat pad

• Approx. 0-6 Months, Maximum weight: 25 lbs.

• Use Infant seat from birth until child is able to sit up unassisted.

Toddler seat

• Holds toddlers up to 50 lbs.!

• Comfy stain-resistant seat pad

• Approx. 18 Months & up, Maximum weight: 50 lbs.

• Use Toddler seat only with a child capable of getting into and out of the product unassisted.

First Impressions:

The box the EZ Bundle comes in is rather large, however you have to remember there are parts to the 4 items inside.  Opening the box overwhelmed me a little.  There were what seemed to be a lot of parts.  I took a breather and came back to the box to tackle my project.  In reality, it was not that hard.  I am like a man in that I don’t like manuals.  I winged it.  I looked at the pictures and compared parts, laying things out that seemed to go together.  4 green pieces went together to create the base of the High Chair/ Toddler Chair stand.  No screws needed.  The infant chair/swing base does require a few screws.  I found it hard to screw them in with a regular screwdriver, so a drill if you have one around is definitely handy!  The swing needed a few screws, and my hubby actually did that part.  Overall it only took 20 minutes of assembly between all of the different pieces.

High Chair: Honestly, this chair is not missing anything in my opinion.  Some people like their chairs to recline but I have never found this necessary.  I believe if you like to give a child a bottle then this is something you need.  My baby never had a bottle and when he learned to use a sippy he didn’t need to be reclined.  The tray is large enough for any dish I own.  The fabric of the seat is easy to wipe clean, another bonus!

Toddler Seat:  My son loves this seat!  As soon as I put it down he ran over to sit in it.  I think toddlers in general love having their own, easy to access, chair.  Unlike our upholstery chair, I felt good when he ate in it knowing I could wipe it clean.  He did often try to sit a cup on the “arm” but it is sloped and just falls off.  He is used to the seat he already had which has a flat arm.

Infant Seat: Sometimes, you just need to put a baby in a safe spot.  Especially if you have this at a home where there aren’t other baby gadgets, this seat is going to come in handy.  Instead of putting the baby on a couch, bed, or floor, you can use this reclining seat which has a buckle.  It might not vibrate or play music, but they don’t always have to!  There is a little rattle toy attached which can entertain the baby.

Swing: The swing has 6 speed settings.  I will have to test out how it goes with a baby and how many pounds it can swing with, but so far it seems to be working great.  My son is just too large for it!

Big Picture: Ok, here is what I love about this.  Cheap, cute gender neutral print and color scheme, and space saving.  But what I really love is the potential for this to make trips to the grandparent’s house that much easier.  For 150.00 you or your parents can buy a simple item that will change how your visits will go.  Let me tell you, I would have killed for a swing for my son when we visited our family.  He napped in a swing at home most days.  There, napping took place on me.  I also didn’t have a place to sit him down…. there was a bouncer but it was upstairs more often than not, and carrying it up and down was a hassle.  There, there was the high chair conundrum.  My well meaning in laws bought a clamp on high chair that was fabric.  It works well for my son now, but it was so soft and low, eating was hard when he was younger, and clean up was a nightmare!  I wanted a regular plastic, easy to clean, chair.  I also think having a toddler chair is such a cool possibility.  There is a tiny wicker chair that he likes to use but it is more for decoration.  He sits on the floor to watch TV and the toddler chair would be much more comfortable!

150.00 is a small price to pay when you want the comforts of home!  And of course, if you are just starting out buying the baby basics and you have a tight space and/or a tight budget, this is a pretty sweet set up!

Where to buy: Fisher-Price.com

I was able to review this product through my affiliation with Mom Select. The item was sent by the manufacturer for the review free of charge.  No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

Tell me about yourself:

Ashley's beautiful family!

My name is Ashley, and my husband and I started a company making “green cleaning stuff” 3 years ago called Crunchy Clean. The link is www.CrunchyClean.com — we started with an everyday laundry soap that I made when I was in graduate school, and we’ve expanded from there to include a very popular Diaper Laundry Cleaner! We make a hard water version that has been very well-reviewed, and our products are all exclusively made from vegan minerals and nothing man-made.

How long have you been cloth diapering?

3 years — we have a newborn on the way due in the Fall, so I’d say we’ll be a consecutive 6 in a few years!

What made you decide to start?

I nannied for a little boy while I was in graduate school, and something bothered me about the way disposable diapers smelled. I always wondered what was in them, so when I heard about “modern” cloth diapers when I was pregnant, it seemed very natural to research them!

What was your first purchase and why?

My first purchase was a one-size diaper sampler pack — it was all the rage three years ago! It included a Happy Heiny, Bumgenius 3.0, Mother’s Touch, and a Haute Pocket! I put them on my little girl as soon as they came and took a picture of her in each diaper!
When we started, pockets were all the rage — many of you may not believe that hybrid wasn’t even a diaper type back then We haven’t even gotten to try a hybrid diaper yet!

The Stash!

On the left are two hanging wetbags folded up, then the covers, including Olive Janes covers (olivejanes.etsy.com), some wool, and sbish wool yoga pants!  Then there’s a large stash of one-size pockets — our favorites are probably the BG Elemental Diapers and the FB One-Size, but we even have some BG 3.0s in there from 3 years ago (that pink one on top!) that’s in great condition!  Next to those are fitteds in a plethora of brands and wipes!  Then, there’s the newborn stash starting in the back right — so far, we have some Thirsties Duo Diapers, Thirsties covers, Happy Heiny Mini One-Size, and a Monkey Snuggles Newborn Pocket — there are newborn fitteds and prefolds missing, as well as a bunch of toddler prefolds we use occasionally!  :O)  Can you tell we’re all girl here?

How much do you think you have spent on your diapers total?

I’ve been so blessed with diaper costs — having a work at home mom business, I’ve been able to trade and barter a bunch. So, honestly? I haven’t really kept a tally, but I can tell you that many of the diapers that have come in our house have left via a trade so I don’t have nearly as many diapers as I could have
We have a new baby on the way, so now I’m focusing on the tiny diapers that have been introduced in the last 3 years — I’m so excited to give them a try!

Have your family/ friends been supportive?

At first, family and friends were skeptical that I’d follow through (and I think they were skeptical of how “easy” they are) and my husband used to say that if we didn’t have a business based on living green, I probably wouldn’t have continued.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of cding?

Knowing exactly what was going next to my very small and sensitive newborn’s skin was very important to me, and it still is. I also love not having that huge trash bag full of diapers weekly — it makes me feel good to know we’re not contributing our thousands of disposable diapers to landfills.

What is your favorite diaper to use?

It has changed through the years, currently its a Fuzzibunz One-Size. With a 33 lb. 3 year old, she can tell me how the diapers feel. Just recently, several of our standby one-size diapers were “too tight”, and so we’ve had to look for a new option!

What has been the biggest challenge to your success at cding?

I think in the midst of a very busy work at home mom career and raising a child, its hard to find time to wash! Thankfully, testing different soaps we come up with and products does give me motivation to have dirty diapers handy at all times! Also — they say that cloth diapered babies potty learn faster, and that hasn’t been the case with us! We’re still struggling with the potty unfortunately, and I think part of it may be my daughter loves her “bipers” so much!

And anything else you want to discuss!!!

I’ve been washing our own cloth diapers for 3 years now, but in the midst of all of that, I have answered thousands of questions and trouble shooted for many moms. I hope washing is never a hindrance to cloth users, so please contact me if you ever need help! I think I’ve seen it all!

Thanks Ashley for being this week’s Fluffy Mama!  I am so happy you have another baby on the way!  Your family is going to be even more beautiful!

If you want to be a featured Fluffy Mama of the Week shoot me an email at dirtydiaperlaundry at gmail dot com.

PUL, or Polyurethane Laminate, is the waterproof layer of material often used in cloth diapers.  Pockets, All-in-Ones, All-in-Twos and Diaper Covers most often use this on the outer layer of the diaper as a more breathable alternative to the old Rubber and Plastic pants of the previous generation of cloth diapers.

Example of laminate inside and polyester outside (at top) of this Flip Cover

So what exactly is PUL? When you look at many diaper covers you can see that there is a “wipeable” side which is inside, and a cloth like outside, which is usually polyester or cotton.  The laminate side has been fused to the cotton or polyester side using heat or a chemical process.  Usually this process is permanent and the two layers stay together for the long haul.  However, certain chemicals and other mistreatment of this material can cause the laminate to separate from the fabric outer, in which case the diaper will begin to have leaks through those areas.  It will bubble up and appear like a peeling sunburn.

Cotton or Polyester? Pretty much any diaper you have seen uses polyester as the soft fabric side.  While cotton offers many options for cute prints, these wick more.  The bigger brands can afford to commission large quantities of proprietary prints in polyester PUL.  The reason you don’t see many prints is for that reason, they are expensive and require large orders.  Not to mention they need to be designed.  Remember, the fabric has to look good rightside up and upside down.  A lot of diaper makers who really want to have fun prints choose to use a regular cotton knit sewn over a hidden layer of PUL.  Some are successful in this (GEN-Y Covers have NEVER leaked or wicked for me) but other diapers end up with horrible wicking (moisture from the inside of the diaper migrating to the cotton, usually around the legs.)

1 Mil or 2 Mil? PUL has either a 1 mil or 2 mil thick layer of the laminate backing.  It is up for debate whether or not 1 or 2 mil is better.  1 mil certainly feels thinner, but 2 mil has an extra layer of protection.  It could be argued that 1 mil will potentially wear down quicker over time.  You could also argue that 1 mil would be more breathable since there is less waterproof laminate for air to come through.  I have not seen conclusive evidence of either.  Unless you are making your own diapers and buying PUL, most consumers don’t even realize there are different types of PUL being used.  If you are buying your own PUL, 1 mil is easier to find and less expensive.

Examples? Bummis covers are made with 2 mil PUL.  bumGenius! products use 1 mil, for a comparison.  The Bummis covers definitely feel thicker.  Understandably, some people do not wish to use 2 mil because it is harder to work with and sew.

Some of the larger brands commission their own PUL with distinctive brand specific colors (think Bum Genius) and patterns, (think Mother-Ease).  bumGenius! have stated that they do not use a chemical solvent process, and they also believe their PUL is made in an environmentally friendly way.

Many other brands and WAHM’s have been using a brand of PUL called Fabrite which I recently learned is considered the best for diaper making.  Unfortunately this brand stopped production.  Unbeknownst to consumers, diaper makers are scrambling to find a comparable alternative, of which there aren’t many.  Fabrite used a solvent process described as”The PU film and knit are coated with a solvent based adhesive that slightly liquefies the surface of the PU film and knit, then pressure is used to fuse the fabric together.”  source: Wazoodle

After speaking to others I have learned not everyone thought Fabrite was the best.  Many used to use it and later went with a heat solvent PUL.  Nifty Nappy prefers the heat solvent PUL also.

There is another term floating around regarding PUL and this is TPU.  TPU stands for Thermoplastic Polyurethane.  This is where it gets hairy.  According to Rumparooz, who uses TPU, they regard it in another category altogether.  Taken from Rumparooz’s Website:

In 2008 Kanga Care started using a biodegradable TPU waterproof material. Biodegradable TPU is solvent-free. Biodegradable TPU is a polyester fabric that has been laminated with a thermoplastic polyurethane using a heat bonding process. This process is low in toxicity and is better for the natural environment. Both the TPU laminate and the polyester fabric the laminate is applied to are biodegradable.  When composted they will biodegrade in 4-5 years.

However, the fabric distrubutors Wazoodle, who issued a highly informative breakdown of the different PUL’s, say:

TPU is the technical name for polyurethane film used to make all PUL, new and old.  A few vendors heard TPU for the first time and thought it would help them make their items sound different — just marketing tricks!

So if TPU is better for the environment why aren’t more diaper manufacturer’s using it?

It could just be that they are, and the TPU is just a fancy name for the heat solvent version of PUL that many manufacturers use.  It is all very confusing for someone who does not make diapers!

Bottom line?

It is near impossible to know exactly which PUL a diaper is using unless you ask.  Some makers are very forthcoming, others believe their proprietary PUL recipe should be kept secret.  I found both sides when looking into this post.  You will also see that some diapers source PUL from China, but other brands are still careful to use PUL made in the US.  I still believe PUL has made the cloth diapering revolution possible. I love my Pockets and couldn’t live without them.  Cloth diapers are better than disposables any day, no matter how the PUL was made, but it isn’t something you should keep your head in the sand about either.

What is I don’t want to use PUL but want to use cloth diapers? If you are concerned that PUL production is bad for the environment there are certainly other options.  Wool and fleece work just as well at keeping leaks at bay.  While it isn’t practical to expect every cloth diaper user to use these materials, if you really want organic and conscientiously produced diapers wool and fleece might be what you need.

For responsibly made wool I would recommend: Sustainable Babyish, Better for Babies (Little Beetle), and the WAHM’s out there who upcycle wool into soakers or hand knit them (Hyena Cart and Etsy will yield results).

If you prefer fleece (easier to care for overall and less expensive) I suggest Lollidoo, who use recycled plastic bottles to make their fleece!  Also, there are WAHM’s who upcycle fleece to make soakers as well.

Special thanks to the cooperative diaper companies I contacted: bumGenius!, Bummis, and Nifty Nappy, who were very helpful in answering my questions.

Images: Flip- clothdiapers.blogspot.com, PUL- www.zjgxdiaper.com

If you have been reading my blog for a while you probably know that I am a “fan” of bumGenius! products.  I have been using their 3.0′s since my son fit into them (around 12-14 pounds, leak free) and their Elementals (Organic AIO’s) since I bought a few when he was a couple of months old.  I have reviewed the 3.0 (BG 3.0 Review) and Elemental (Elemental- FMA BG Organic AIO- review) already.  I won’t say I was disappointed when they announced that the 3.0 was being discontinued since I knew the next diaper (I correctly predicted would be called 4.0) would be very similar with a few improvements.  The most obvious improvement they needed to make, improving the hook and loop closure and adding snaps, were both realized.  Bonus improvements: the ability to easily replace elastic and a higher rise.  They also added new colors, which I am not a huge fan of.  I will specifically say I am not a fan of their names.  Why must color names be so confusing?  Case in point:  I ordered 2 bumGenius! 4.0′s to review, one with hook and loop and one in snaps.  I ordered 2 of the new colors: Noodle and Bubble.  I didn’t double check what the colors were.  Bubble= lavender.  Let me ask you, when you think of a bubble, do you think of purple or blue?  Water=blue.  Bubbles=blue.  Also, the color Sweet reminds me of lavender or pink.  That is pale blue.  Noodle is the light yellow, which does make sense.  Noodles are yellow, or pale yellow, and this is an accurate description of that color.  I do not like that I need to research the colors, which not all stores have listed with a description or photo (and photos don’t help since the colors are so pale, they all look the same) before I buy.  My son has a purple diaper.  So what?  Wanna fight about it?

Now, for my review of the diaper itself and the performance, since my color rant is over.  For those curious, they are bringing back the brights (my favorites) and will be introducing prints.  No date announced yet.

Ease of Use ✫✫✫✫✫ The 4.0 doesn’t differ from the 3.0 in this regard.  I tell anyone who asks me about a good intro cloth diaper that they should try the 3.0 (now I say 4.0).  It is affordable, durable, easy to use with the hook and loop (and snaps), simple to find the right fit, and easy to take off.  You still need to affix the laundry tabs before washing, and you need to remove the insert.  You will need to restuff the diaper before baby wears it.  Is it easy?  Yes.  Is it as easy as an AIO? No.  Is it worth the extra steps?  Pretty much.  Pockets dry faster than most AIO’s and are generally cheaper.  I do wish the laundry tabs were closer to the actual tab, so that when I change the baby I could just pinch it closed rather than seek out the tab farther in.  I have to look for it.  Some diapers you don’t need to do this.

Bang for the Buck: ✫✫✫✫ The 4.0 is the same price as the 3.0 was: 17.95.  bumGenius! keeps their prices consistent among retailers.  It is hard to find a “sale” on them.  However, they are worth the investment.  My 3.0′s have lasted for almost 2 years.  I am hopeful that the improved hook and loop will last on the 4.0, and replaceable elastic will also contribute to their life span.  You will see that a few hundred dollars for a stash of 4.0′s will still be far less than the thousands of dollars you would have spent on disposables.

Performance ✫✫✫✫✫ I am going to say that I have had no leaks, no fit issues, nothing with the 4.0.  I was new to cloth when I started with the 3.0 and did experience leaks due to my repelling issues.  I have used these overnight with both inserts and I also had no leaks.  I do prefer fitteds overnight but I was happy to report dry sheets!

Fit ✫✫✫✫ I can at this time only speak to the fit on my toddler.  He is still on the middle rise snap (has been for a very long time) so he has growing room.  In the video you can see a comparison to the 3.0 in terms of the change in rise.  While it isn’t a massive jump I figure it will help increase the time babies can wear these.  He doesn’t get red marks from elastic.  The diapers aren’t terribly bulky with one insert.

Overall- I am very happy with the 4.0, as I was with the 3.0.  Like I said, these are really great for any parents first starting out.  They don’t have bells and whistles like some diapers, and they don’t want to.  You need to start somewhere and learn how to cloth diaper.  These are simple enough to do that.  Not everyone loves microfiber inserts because they can build up the stinkies.  Microfiber is a more affordable insert option, but if you want you can always upgrade to a hemp/cotton/bamboo/zorb insert at a later time.

Where to buy: Pretty much any cloth diaper store.  But, if you want, you can support my blog by buying yours at Kelly’s Closet.

I purchased (2) bumGenius! 4.0′s to review from Kelly’s Closet.

I am resurrecting Fluffy Mama of the Week and the first post in almost a year is a special one!  I contacted Glorimar Rosa who I had heard collected vintage diapers.  I was dying to learn more about her collection.  On top of collecting vintage cloth diapers she has also been cloth diapering for 15 years!  She has seen it all!
Tell me about yourself: My name is Glorimar Rosa. I am 38 years old and the mother of 6 kids, 5 here with me one (Zabi) in heaven with God. I am a pastry chef by profession, I went to culinary school in Puerto Rico and learned sugarcraft in England with the masters. I can make beautiful flowers in sugar and small sculptures. I did this for many years in Puerto Rico.  My cakes were featured in several wedding magazines.

I live in California now with my husband and 5 kids. I started Zabi Baby after my son Zabiullah passed away shortly after he reached 2 months of age. Sewing diapers helped me through my grieving process and kept his name very alive. We see his sweet name here every day at all times. Zabi Baby is a tribute to our little angel. We miss you Zabi.

How long have you been cloth diapering? – I have been cloth diapering for over 15 years. My eldest son Cesar used cloth.

What made you decide to start? – You know…I don’t remember. I think it have a lot to do with Mothering Magazine. I remember calling the toll free numbers and requesting catalogs, no websites back then (not that I can remember and I certainly did not have internet). I used to order my diapers at Babybunz and Babyworks. I was familiar with Nikky covers. Locally I could get Gerber diapers and covers. Gerber had a line of nylon covers with velcro that was pretty decent. Lots of pvc or vinyl was available.

What was your first purchase and why? – A few packages of Gerber diaper covers and prefolds. Those were available at department stores locally. It was basically my only option, till I decided to see what those companies that advertised in Mothering had to offer.

When and how did you begin collecting vintage cloth diapers? – 2 years back! My mother had something to do with this. I come from a family who use cloth diapers and support the idea a lot. My mom and auntie used to tell me how they washed and how they IRONED their prefolds and flats so they look super cute and nice. She told me about the Curity 21×40 that she used with pins. That triggered aninterest in me to find those diapers. I don’t use them, I just stare at them LOL.

Vintage Diaper Collection

Vintage Fasteners

Vintage Diapers and pins

How do you find your diapers? Online? Sales?

My vintage diapers? I find those on Ebay and have a team of friends looking in garage sales or state auctions. If you have some and are willing to sell contact me!!
The diapers I use with my daughter Tasneem I buy online as well. I use different kinds. My all time favorites are Nikky covers and I pair those with bamboo prefolds. This combination is the one we use the most at home. I use also Kiwi Pie fitteds, Bagshot Row Bamboo and Sticky Peas for the cute factor with GAD covers. Weehuggers give me a super trim fit to go out and it always open a conversation with a mama. I have seen mamas staring at them LOL. For nap time and night time I use Little Comfort Nappies. I am fan of natural fibers and use those exclusively, except for the Little Comfort that contains a few layers of microfleece but perfectly balanced to be an absorbent fitted with stay dry benefits. I am ok with one size diapers but never one size covers. I like my covers to be sized, or at least 2 sizes like Weehuggers.

What is your opinion of how diapers have been made easier over the years?
Cloth diapering has come a long way!! 15 years back we had no snappis, so pins were the only option unless you trifolded your diaper inside a wrap. Not many exciting fabrics. Fitteds and all in ones were not as trim as they are right now. Back when I started there was flannel, flannel/terry combo and cotton twill or birdseye prefolds and some of them with a horrible poly/rayon pad inside. Nikky covers have always been superbly made with the best materials on the market but besides those nylon and pvc were the materials more widely available back then. I remember a cover made of GoreTex fabric, that was supposed to be breathable. I wonder why other covers are not made of that fabric. I owned a few of those and they were nice. Aristocrats wool soakers were available too.

What is the most rewarding aspect of using cloth diapers?
Being able to say that my baby does not get a rash ever!
What has been the biggest challenge to your success at cloth diapering? - It was a challenge in Puerto Rico. I did not have a dryer and it rains a lot. I used to place the diapers to sun outside and then minutes later the black cloud came! Everybody had to run to pick them up and install a line indoors. There were times that we had to buy sposies because they were all wet. Indoor drying is not easy because of the level of humidity on the island. I don’t face that challenge here. No challenge at all right now. Cloth diapering is super easy!

Anything else (advice, etc)?
I advise mamas to buy different kinds of diapers to find out which one they like best. What works for me might not work for another mama. What I love might not be the favorite of another mama. Don’t buy all your cloth diapers at once at the beginning. I did that once and ended liking other things along the way as the baby was growing.

I hope you found this week’s Fluffy Mama to be extremely interesting and passionate!  It is amazing the changes seen in cloth diapering over the past 15 years!

Glorimar also wanted to do a giveaway for an embellished prefold from Zabi Baby.  The winner will choose from a selection she has in stock from her store, and she is throwing in a snappi too!

Mandatory Entry:

(1 entry) Visit Zabi Baby’s online shop and tell me which item she sells that you would love to try or already tried and love! Leave it as a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “@KimRosas is giving away an embellished prefold from Zabi Baby http://n8taq.th8.us. #clothdiapers Sep 11”  Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

(1 entry) Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

(2 entries) Blog about this giveaway and link to it. Post a link in the comment.

(2 entries) Get Creative: Post about this giveaway on a messageboard or forum. Leave a comment with a link.

(1 Entry) “Like” Zabi Baby on Facebook. Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) “Like” Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook.  Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) Go to Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook and start a discussion or reply to a discussion.  Tell me what you did. Just leave your comment

Giveaway ends on Sept 11. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US and Canada*