This week I unpacked my sweaters, coats, and boots. We don’t get a lot of cold weather in this part of Florida, just a few days here and there worth bundling up for. You have to wear layers for sure, because the second the thermometer dips every business in the city lurches for their central heating and a bit of shopping can turn into a sauna. With Harper I’m always a little unsure of how warmly to dress her. Many times if I bundle her up in the cold she gets too hot and fussy and sweats like crazy. If I try to pare it down a bit, and skip a hat, say, or go with a lighter sweater, a well meaning stranger will inevitably chastise me (what is the deal with that? I would never tell someone they aren’t dressing their child correctly) and I dread the attention. How do you deal with cold weather clothing for your tots? And what do you say to (usually elderly) folks who criticize your choices?
Today I’m reviewing Green Line Diapers. They seem to have a cult-like following, I’ve heard rave reviews about them and their fans are very enthusiastic. I was very excited to be review a Green Line cover and bamboo soaker to see what all the fuss is about. They are very unique and have a lot of features I haven’t tried before.
[typography font=”Crafty Girls” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Ease of Use ✩✩[/typography] The Green Line Cover doesn’t look like most diaper covers. There is no elastic, so to get a good fit you fold down a piece of the back and you tighten a pair of drawstring cords at the legs. Green Line offers a flat soaker made of a cotton bamboo blend which you can fold to fit your baby before adding the cover. This is a bit more labor intensive to anyone used to simpler systems, but it can allow for a more custom fit.
[typography font=”Crafty Girls” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩[/typography] You can purchase the covers and soakers separately, a ready-to-ship cover will run you twenty dollars, a soaker is normally eight (though they are having a sale right now if you buy multiples). The soakers are available in one size for newborns or to be used as a doubler and a second size for older babies. This is a bit high for a cover and soaker, but the materials used are quality. The interior of these covers is a fabric called Ultrex which is rather soft and breathable and an excellent alternative for babies sensitive to PUL. The outer is a printed cotton and Green Line offers an extensive variety of choices as well as offering customs. I do think the Ultrex is worth paying more for, it feels nicer then PUL.
[typography font=”Crafty Girls” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Performance ✩✩✩[/typography] The customization options of this diaper allows a lot of flexibility in troubleshooting leak issues, but I still struggled with this one. The bamboo cotton soaker is extremely absorbent, but it also seems to cause a little pinkness in her skin. I do like that you can use diaper creams safely with these soakers (just make sure to wash the soaker separately if you use cream, you don’t want residue on any other diapers that aren’t cream friendly). We experienced leaks a couple of times in the thigh area, the drawstring tends to either be too snug or too loose, it can be a perfect fit while she’s lying down but gap when she’s crawling. I don’t think this would be an issue for a younger baby who is less mobile or an older baby who is walking, and it may also be specific to Harper’s unique size and frame. We tried tucking the drawstring as suggested on the website, but my curious child would always insistently tug at the bit of string exposed until they came loose again. I relented and left them out, and she does finger them and play with them but she hasn’t bothered the toggle itself. Of course, if I put pants on her it wouldn’t be an issue at all.
[typography font=”Crafty Girls” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Fit ✩✩✩✩[/typography] I love that the aplix allows for a custom fit in a way snaps can’t quite hit. The style Green Line uses is extremely strong and I think it will last a very long time. It may even be a little too strong, I find myself struggling to open the diaper when Harper is wearing it, it can be hard to get a good grip on the material and I really have to focus to get the diaper open (generally while dealing with a squirming baby which will make any diaper change a bit of a challenge). I wish the diaper had laundry tabs, but by securing the aplix at the widest setting and flipping the diaper cover inside out I was able to wash the cover many times without any snags.
[typography font=”Crafty Girls” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Overall:[/typography] Line is a wonderful company providing environmentally friendly products that offer unique features. I love how handwashable their system is, I would definitely recommend these diapers to a family without a washing machine as they are so easy to clean and line dry. They are an imaginative company troubleshooting cloth diaper issues with innovative ideas. That being said, for Harper at this specific time in her life and this specific size, I’m not a fan. This seems to put us in the minority but I will always blog with honesty and I found that this style of diaper is just not for our family at this time. The drawstrings didn’t provide the fit my acrobatic baby needs, the diaper requires more time and concentration then her others and I tend not to reach for it as often. It may be the perfect fit for your family, it just wasn’t for me.
{Editor’s Note} Over the years DDL has been asked to review this diaper by a lot of readers, many of whom loved this system and wanted to see it featured here. I encourage everyone to keep looking beyond our reviews in any situation for a better overall look at the experiences with a diaper. Not every diaper works for every baby and in this case, this diaper just wasn’t the right one for Harper.
[typography font=”Crafty Girls” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Where to buy:[/typography] Green Line Diapers
Have you tried Green Line Diapers? Please let us know your experience with them in the comments, this will also help others who come across our review in the future!
[typography font=”Crafty Girls” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]Fit ✩✩✩✩[/typography] I love that the aplix allows for a custom fit in a way snaps can’t quite hit. The style Green Line uses is extremely strong and I think it will last a very long time. It may even be a little too strong, I find myself struggling to open the diaper when Harper is wearing it, it can be hard to get a good grip on the material and I really have to focus to get the diaper open (generally while dealing with a squirming baby which will make any diaper change a bit of a challenge). I wish the diaper had laundry tabs, but by securing the aplix at the widest setting and flipping the diaper cover inside out I was able to wash the cover many times without any snags.
