I was approached by Sprout Change to review their new cloth diaper. I went to the website and looked at pictures and decided I would give it a shot.
Ease of Use ✰✰ Don’t get hung up on the stars too much. This category reflects not only the size changing of a one size diaper, but also how easy it is to put on the baby and take off. To adjust the size of this diaper takes a good amount of time. First, I couldn’t even figure it out. After I emailed the company I was still confused but did as she said. Basically, the legs have slotted elastic to adjust the rise. This can be seen in the Fuzzibunz One Size as well. To change the size you reach into a small hole in the front of the diaper. But how do you adjust the waist?!?! I had a tiny rise and a giant waist. There are only 3 snaps to choose from so it wasn’t going to snap tighter. Instead, you have to reach into the inside of the diaper, into each tab, and find a button and the slotted elastic in there. Getting in there isn’t the easiest thing in the world. I would say only small fingers will do. Daddy hands are out, unless Daddy has delicate tiny hands. Having the size chart I was sent will be handy. If you go by the seat of your pants and guess you might be upset when you have to do it all over again a few minutes later.
Now, once the sizing is DONE and correct, the diaper is easy to put on and off. The point of the complicated sizing is to make everyday changes simpler. Something I can appreciate. Rather than having multiple snap options on the waist, you get none. You have 3 snaps on each hip, one further in and one in line with the top snap. That is your only choice. I hear complaints with snap diapers that it is hard to know where to snap. This takes to guesswork out so even a Dad or caregiver can use a snapping diaper instead of a velcro one. It is an All in Two, and the inserts can be laid in easily and replaced with a new one.
Bang for the Buck✰✰✰ The Sprout Change diaper runs 25.00. This is definitely on the higher end of most cloth diapers. It is a one size that should fit 5-40 pounds, which is a large range. The materials of the insert are organic hemp and cotton. And the diapers are made in the US. This is a plus since many consumers want US made products and organic materials. Each insert is 6.95 and that isa great price for hemp/ cotton combo. Plus it is really soft!
Performance ✰✰✰✰This is the most important part, correct? If a diaper works it will have consumers. Well, the diaper does indeed work well. Once you get it adjusted you are good to go. You can use the prefold trifolded or put the prefold in the stay dry sleeve. The sleeve is an extra step worth taking if your child need a stay dry material, but mine doesn’t. The prefold was soft enough for me. Hemp/ cotton is absorbent so it held the pees in well. It is nice to use the prefold alone because you can fan it out in the back to catch the solid messes more. If you use the sleeve you ar emore at risk for having the mess get more on the cover than the insert.
Fit✰✰✰✰ I really do like diapers that use elastic as their sizing system. It is harder to adjust, but you only need to adjust it 4-6 times in a child’s diapering years. Since the hassle makes everyday diapering easier, this is something I can live with. I did get a very good fit for my son. After shooting the video I had to adjust it one more time and make the rise higher, and that made it just right. I can see this fitting a newborn, but am a little worried the waist doesn’t get large enough for bigger toddlers. I only have one slot on each side left and this is on my skinny man. I have 2 slots left on the rise, however.
Overall- Even though it sounds like I think this diaper is too complicated, I am just giving you a real review and my real experience. Yes, it is hard to get adjusted. Does that mean you shouldn’t buy it? Of course not. Once you get it adjusted you are able to use it very eaily for everyday. I would also think it should be good for daycares, even though most don’t like the snaps, there is only one choice to make for them. I don’t think the fleece sleeve is needed, but some might. And I would like the inside of the diaper to also be a fun color, to make reversing it worthwhile. There are some with dual colors, but would love even more! This diaper elminates ugly snaps in every form, on the waist and on the rise. It give you a very clean look, something everyone should appreciate.
To go along with my video review of the Applecheeks reusable cloth diaper system, Applecheeks is offering one lucky DDL an Applecheeks Envelope Cover and a Bamboo Insert!
To Enter:
Visit Applecheek’s website and tell me something you have learned from the site. There is tons of info on there! Leave a comment.
This entry is mandatory and must be completed before you do extra entries.
Extra Entries, leave a comment for each one you do.
Follow my twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “@KimRosas and @ApplecheeksDipe are giving away an Applecheeks cover and bambo insert. http://pxqeo.th8.us #clothdiapers Ends Feb 4.” 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.
Applecheeks is a brand I only heard about this year. The premise behind the system, and the adorable look of the diapers had me intrigued so I wrote to them about doing a review.
Applecheeks has done an amazing job of thoroughly illustrating instructions for use, which you can see here. They also have a very cool video of their own, seen here.
My review is of the envelope cover and hemp inserts.
Ease of Use ✰✰✰✰ Like I said above, Applecheeks has the most user friendly guides I have seen. Even though the system isn’t hard to figure out, I imagine even a newbie to cloth diapers would have an easy time of it if they watch the video and use the illustrations. Not having to pull out inserts of attach laundry tabs makes taking them off as easy as a disposable. They will need to be stuffed, or have the insert laid inside, and they have snaps, which aren’t always easy for some people. Bang for the Buck ✰✰ OK, the major drawback of this diaper is the price. 19.00 for a cover, and between 7-8 dollars for one insert. You can buy kits with one cover and 3 inserts, which will save you some money. To get your money’s worth, using them as an All in Two is a wise idea. Just be warned, using it as an All in Two means you will have a potential for wet microfleece. Airing out covers between uses is a good idea. I don’t like using hemp against my son’s skin because it can get rough over time. If you want it as an all in two, bamboo would be a good choice. I’d like to see a cotton insert as well. Performance ✰✰✰✰ As both a pocket diaper, and an all in two, things went swimmingly. No leaks. We used the hemp inserts, not the bamboo. We never had any wicking issues, and even overnight he was dry. As an all in two, the insert stayed in place well, no sliding around. It fit perfecty between the elastic, no gaps. Fit ✰✰✰ I haven’t tested this diaper over a long enough time to say how the two size system works. Everything is subjective to your baby’s height and weight combined. The size 2 had a good fit on the legs, not very tight at all, so room to grow. The waist had plenty of snapping room left. He technically could have been a Size 1 when we began testing this since there is an overlap, so I wonder if it would have fit him.
Overall- If you get past the price tag, you will have a really great cloth diaper. The best feature has to be the agitating out insert. I personally prefer using this diaper as a pocket, but I just like pockets. I don’t need to use it as an all in two, since I have enough diapers. If I didn’t I might feel differently. Even though air drying your covers is always best, mine get dried in a dryer. The serged edging on this diaper got caught on the velcro every time, and it started getting fuzzy. This was my biggest concern with the diaper, but it didn’t affect the function in anyway. Like I said, I would love to see an organic cotton insert, which would be good to use against baby’s skin. The bamboo would be good for that as well. My personal preference is to not put hemp on the baby’s skin. I also love the tag logo on the back, I think it makes it even cuter! And, the colors are awesome!
Eco Bebe Boutique is a Canadian store that sells cloth diapers, but much more! Of course they carry the Canadian brand, AMP. They also have other awesome Canadian Made diapers like Berry Plush, Monkey Doodlez, and Sugar Peas Wool Covers. They have other brands too. Besides diapers, you can find cool natural products like Ringley Teethers (a brand I have at home), baltic teething necklaces, Bum Bum Balm (my new favorite cloth diaper safe cream that I need to tell you all about soon!), and even stuff for Mama! Eco Bebe Boutique ships to Canada, but also to the US, though their prices are listed a CDN.
To coincide with my Video Review of this diaper, Eco Bebe Boutique is sponsoring a giveaway!
One Lucky DDL Reader will win an AMP Duo One Size with a 2 layer hemp insert, and a 3 layer hemp insert!
Mandatory Entry: Go to Eco Bebe Boutique and browse the awesome selection. Tell me your favorite item from the store, other than the ones mentioned above. This is mandatory and must be done before you do the extra entries. No one word answers please.
Extra Entries, leave a comment for each one you do.
Follow my twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “AMP Duo One Size #clothdiapers giveaway from @KimRosas and @ecomomwannabe. http://3dy89.th8.us Ends Feb 1” 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.
I am trying something new, so let me know how you like it. I will be posting my reviews separate from my giveaways, that way, if you have a comment directed toward the review itself, you can post it! This is more for my cloth diaper video reviews.
I was contacted by Sarah from Softbums about doing a review of her diaper. I had heard of Softbums before. It was actually when there was a lot of buzz about Gro Baby. Many people, like myself, were really excited about an All in Two with a reusable shell. It seemed like a novel concept. Well, some other moms were already in the know about Softbums. They were around before Gro Baby, and are also an All in Two with a reusable shell. There are definitely differences between the two diapers. I am not saying anything negative about Gro Baby, because they work well. But Softbums just have a more precise sizing option since the leg elastic is adjustable. I hope the video gives you a good idea of how they work.
I want to add that I have talked to Sarah over email and on the phone a few times. She really has a heart for cloth diapering. In fact, she has been doing it for 13 years, way before many of the modern diapers we know now were around. She knows her stuff, and has used her experience to create a very superior cloth diaper with the ability to truly fit a baby from 6 pounds to 35 pounds and possibly more if needed. While not the “perfect” cloth diaper, Softbums is pretty close. I wish Sarah had the ability to put the Softbums name out there for more moms to hear, but she is running this operation practically solo.
Ease of Use ✰✰✰✰ Softbums are extremely easy to use. They have an aplix version and a snaps version. With the aplix the diaper can go on much like a disposable if you have the insert presnapped in. There are two ways to put on a softbums, which are both reflected in the video. One, which has the insert presnapped and folded down. The other, the insert snapped in but not folded until you put it on the baby. Changing my son into a Softbums with aplix is one of the quicker diaper changes I have compared to some of my other diapers. Adjusting the diaper for the first time might take a bit to figure out where to set the “snugger” leg elastic. If you visually compare your Softbums to another diaper you have that fits your baby, it might alleviate the guessing game. Once on the baby, you can let it out more by pinching the toggles if need be, to perfect the fit. Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰✰ Yes, you can fine one size diaper systems, and even one size All in Two systems for less money. What you are paying for is worth factoring in. Made in the USA, a TRUE one size diaper, quality materials like sturdy Aplix and bamboo if you choose those for inserts, and an all around good diaper. You can buy a start pack with one cover and 3 microfiber soakers for 33.92. Why .92 and not .99 I have no clue hehe!
Performance ✰✰✰✰✰ No leaks with these! Performance gets a five star. Even though the soakers aren’t “thick” they are super absorbent. They are a total of 4 layers of microfiber once you fold the insert over in the front. The bamboo insert works really well also, but it is a tad bit bulkier. Fit ✰✰✰✰✰ Fantastic! I love putting this diaper on my son because it goes on so easily and because of the “snugger” system and the stretchy leg elastic it fits snugly and comfortably on my son. It leave no red marks on his thighs or back. I haven’t had any leaks around the legs due to a fit issue. Overall- It is pretty apparent that I think these diapers are awesome. I do want to note a few things that make it not “perfect” but that wouldn’t convince me not to buy them. First, the liner is microfleece. Since these are an All in Two, you will be reusing the shells. The microfleece will probably get damp after the soaker has been wet. It is best to air the soakers out in between uses, but since the shell doesn’t have laminate PUL you can’t wipe them clean between uses. You will also mos likely end up having to use a new shell if your baby has loose stools. Second, since the long soaker folds in front, when my son sits down he gets a little “bulge” in front. I know the lady babies give him the eye because of it! It still isn’t bulky, it just tents like bad khakis when he is seated, giving him a very “happy” appearance. I am still in love with these diapers. There are 9 color options, from tame to BRIGHT. They have a snaps and aplix version, and they have a microfiber or bamboo soaker to choose from.
