AppleCheeks Washable Swim Diaper

I hate to admit it but I was never able to get on board with cloth diapers. I so badly wanted to for the reduced impact on the environment and my wallet. I did give it a quick try when my fourth son was born. However once we had our first poop explosion, that was the end of it for me. The bottom line is I am lazy. I own it.

This summer I was given the chance to review an AppleCheeks Washable Swim Diaper and I was really excited to give it a go. Since cloth diapering was a failure for me, maybe I could at least succeed with this. We spent a lot of time at local town lake this year. I signed my older three up for swimming lessons so for seven weeks straight we were there having fun in the water. Those disposable swim diapers are expensive and for me to purchase seven weeks worth would have been a small fortune.

"Two layers of 100% polyester Canadian-milled mesh allows water to comfortably move through the diaper while keeping any solids, should they occur at an inopportune time, out of the water...And our signature two-size system with snaps at the waist and separately adjustable snaps at the thigh means your little one is guaranteed a comfortable, long-last fit. Size 1 fits approximately 7lbs - 20lbs and size 2 fits approximately 18lbs to 35+lbs."

I went with the Mojito color in a size 2 for my little chunky monkey. The snaps make it super easy to get on and off and the two sets allow for growth. I know I can get at least one more year out of this diaper which is awesome. The elastic around the legs keeps it nice and snug so nothing can fall out. I am actually fortunate that  my son never pooped when we were at the lake, so I can't 100% say that it holds in solid waste well, but just by looking at the way it fits I don't think there would be any issue. It certainly fits much better than a disposable swim diaper, and I have had poop leak out of those. I was extremely pleased with this diaper, which we got a lot of use out of this summer. Plus, they looks really cute on any baby!

Buy
You can purchase AppleCheeks Swim Diaper and other diapers at AppleCheeks.com.


Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. AppleCheeks provided me with free products to review.

Free Cotton Babies bumGenius Starter Kit

Thinking about making the switch from disposable diapers to cloth? Here is a great way to get your feet wet and see why cloth diapers are better. Get a Cotton Babies® bumGenius™ Starter Kit FREE, details apply. Kit includes diapers, inserts, and detergent.

Great Lakes Diaper Company Review & Giveaway

One of my Green Goals for 2010 is to try out cloth diapering with our newborn. Cloth diapers really intimidate me so I never tried them with our 3 older boys. Since I am new to the cloth diaper world, I really didn't know were to start or what diapers to try. So I was beyond excited when Rosemary from Great Lakes Diaper contacted me about a review.

Great Lakes Diaper Company is an online cloth diaper store that has everything to get you started with cloth. Started by a mama, they carry a variety of cloth diapers like FuzziBunz and Knickerknappies as well as all of the accessories you will need. If you are new to cloth diapering like I am and need information on how it all works, then you need to check out the Cloth Diaper FAQs section. For me, this is the best and most helpful cloth FAQ that I have come across. One of my biggest questions going into this was what do I do with the poop and how do I wash these things. Great Lakes Diaper Company answers these questions and others with very detailed explanations. They also tell you about the different types of cloth diapers that are available and what you will need to get started. If you still have questions then do not hesitate to email them!

Now when Rosemary offered me a diaper to try out, I told her how excited I was but also so clueless. I had no idea what I should try or what would work well for a tiny newborn.  I ultimately I gave her free reign and told her to send me what she thought would be good for me. I received 2 Perfect Size FuzziBunz (x-small) diapers.  

When my diapers came in the mail I was so excited! I was finally going to try out cloth, not to mention they are just so darn cute! The FuzziBunz are fairly easy to use. They have a waterproof outer layer and a fleece inner layer and come with a fleece insert that goes in the inside pocket for extra absorbency. Now lets be honest, cloth diapering takes some getting used to. As someone who used disposable diapers on 3 previous children, cloth diapers were pretty foreign to me. I will admit I was a little skeeved about what to do with a poop diaper. I knew I was supposed to dump it in the toilet but I had not completely read the FAQ section I mentioned earlier that tells you that exclusively breastfed baby poop can just be thrown into the wash. So the first time that my little guy pooped in his FuzziBunz, here I am trying to scrape the poop off with toilet paper into the toilet. It was quite a sight. I also had a major blowout/leak the first time we used it but that was because I hadn't made the diaper tight enough. The FuzziBunz have a bunch of snaps so you can adjust the diaper to fit your baby - do not be afraid to make them nice and snug!

Isn't a cloth diaper baby bum just so cute? After a few more tries with them I think I can say I got the hang of it. Well, I am better anyway. :) Now I still only have these 2 diapers so I am still using disposables most of the time, but I am hoping to slowly build up a supply of some more cloth.

As I mentioned, Great Lakes Diaper company has a nice selection of different cloth diapers, wipes and other accessories. You will also find newborn packages which is a really great way to get yourself started. They even have a Rewards Program which lets you earn gift certificates to use towards future purchases. There are 3 ways to earn rewards (be sure to check the site for all the details):
~ For every $100 you spend you will receive a $5 certificate
~ Refer a friend who makes a $50 first purchase and receive a $5 certificate
~ Post their button on your blog and send them 100 unique visitors and receive a $5 certificate. (I actually need to get that set up myself)

Great Lakes Diaper Company often has special sales, you may have seen me post some in the past. So be sure to check out the sale section and save! And all orders over $50 will receive free standard shipping within the USA.

So whether you are an experienced cloth diaper user or a newbie like myself, you should definitely check out Great Lakes Diaper Company!

Giveaway
One (1) winner will receive a $20 gift certificate for Great Lakes Diaper Company.

Mandatory Entry
Visit the Great lakes Diaper Company site then come back and tell me your favorite product.

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This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ only and will end on Thursday, March 4 at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org and will be posted on the Winner's Announcement Page. Winner has 48 hours to claim his/her prize otherwise a new winner will be picked. You must leave your e-mail address in all of your comment(s) so I can contact you. I will not share your e-mail address with anyone, it will strictly be used to notify you if you win. Good luck!

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. Great Lakes Diaper Company provided me with 2 diapers for review and is providing the gift certificate for the giveaway. 

Thirsties Diaper Sale at Great Lakes Diaper Company

From February 4 through February 11 Great lakes Diaper Company is having a 15% off sale on Thirsties cloth diapers and accessories. This is a great opportunity to stock up on some diapers!

At the end of the sale, all orders containing a Thirsties Product (placed between Feb 4 and Feb 11) will be entered to win 2 Duo Wraps! The winner will be randomly selected and announced on February 12. And don't forget there is always free shipping on orders over $50.

Great Lakes Diaper Company Holiday Sale

Do you need to stock up on some cloth diapers, cloth wipes or other diapering accessories? Or maybe you would like to give a gift of cloth to someone this holiday season (hint, hint). Great Lakes Diaper Company is having a 4-day storewide holiday sale. Save on popular brands like Fuzzi Bunz and Gro Baby.

Now through Sunday, December 13, 2009 you can save 10% PLUS free shipping on ALL orders. Simply use coupon code HOLIDAY at checkout

I'm On The Hunt for Cloth Diapers

I have never ever used a cloth diaper in my life. To be honest, they really intimidate me. But I am determined to give them a try with baby #4. I have no idea what kinds to try nor do I have any clue how the heck I will afford any. So what does someone on a small budget do? Enter lots of Cloth Diaper Giveaways! Here are a few that I found that I thought I would share. I'll add more as I find them.

Erin over at The Mom Buzz has 2 diaper giveaways going on right now. One is for Itty Bitty Baby Bunz (8/20) and the other is for an Urban Fluff AIO (8/21).

The Eco Chic has a giveaway for a GADBaby diaper (8/21).
Organic Girl is giving away a choice of diaper from Cuddle Bunz! (8/27)

Going Green: Caring for Cloth Diapers

So I have 5 months till baby #4 arrives and I am trying to educate myself about cloth diapering so I can give it a try. To be honest, it intimidates the hell out of me! Back in April I had an Intro To Cloth Diapers post written for me by a contributing blogger. I learned a lot from it (I hope others did as well). But I thought, "OK so now I have my cloth diapers, how do I care for them and wash them?" So I reached out to Hyla of Green Earth Journey to share what she does with us. Thanks Hyla!

Today I'm going to talk about caring for cloth diapers. We have been using cloth diapers for about 4 months now. We started 2 months with our oldest daughter, Guinevere, before our youngest daughter, Willow, was born.

We tried many different methods and found one that works the best for us.

We have two different kinds of diapers:

All In Ones (AIO) - All the layers in these diapers are sewn together, PUL (waterproof) and absorbent layers.

Pocket Diapers - The PUL with a pocket sewn on the inside is the main part of the diaper and you put your absorbent layers inside the pocket.

With the AIO diapers we toss them in the washer or in a dry bucket if there is only urine on them. If there is poop we rinse them off in the bathroom sink, our sink does not have a straining cap on the drain, just a big hole. Squeeze the excess water out and toss in the washer/bucket. It's kinda creepy the way the poop just rolls off the diapers into the drain ( :cough: eh hmmm....).

Moving along...

With Pocket Diapers we rinse the diaper if there is poop and always remove the absorbent liners from inside the pockets. We have found that if you leave them inside the diapers they do not get cleaned thoroughly, because they get bunched up inside the diapers, and retain a smell. You will end up having to throw them through the wash again if you forget this step.

Do not use fabric softener or detergents with fabric softener with your cloth diapers. Fabric softeners inhibit the diapers from absorbing as much as they should. The same goes with bottom rash creams. If you need to use a cream on your babies bottom switch to disposables for the duration of use or put a protective layer between the cream and the diaper, such as a small soft piece of fabric or a soft washcloth.

Do not let your diapers sit too long before washing, the most we let our diapers sit is for 24 hours. Trust me when I say, with a newborn, you will have more than enough diapers for a load of laundry by then! If you will not have a chance to do a load of diapers every 24 hours, I have seen recipes online for liquids that you can store your diapers in. Such as vinegar and water or baking soda and water. Luckily we have a small washer in our apartment so we have not had to use this method, but you will most likely have to experiment to find a liquid recipe that works well for you.

Through lots of trial and error we have found the best washing method is;

* Use half as much detergent as you think you should use.
* Start the water on hot and fill the washer.
* After the washer has filled once, switch the water to cold.

We air dry our diapers on foldable drying racks. I have read the use of a commercial dryer with cloth diapers shortens their life and tends to ruin the elastic. To whiten diapers and help remove stains let them dry in the sunshine. The sun will bleach the diapers and help them dry faster.

AIO diapers take the longest to dry and that is why we have switched to mostly pocket diapers. Because the outsides and insides of the diapers are separate, they dry much faster.

The way cloth diapers are made today, you should have no qualms using them, they are just as easy as disposables.

Written by Hyla from GreenEarthJourney.com

Green Glossary: Wet Bag

Wet Bag: A waterproof bag used for storing soiled cloth diapers when you are out and about. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to keep smells to a minimum until you get home to your washer.

Where do you get one? Here are some online shops that I found:

Happy Tushies
The Stork Warehouse
Wet Happened?

Cloth Diaper Giveaways at The Mom Buzz!

Since we are talking about cloth diapering this week, I thought it would be appropriate to let you all know about some cloth diaper giveaways! Erin at The Mom Buzz has not one, but TWO cloth diaper giveaways going on right now!

The first giveaway is for a Kissaluvs fitted diaper and a pack of reusable wipes. Enter here.

The second is for a SoftBums all-in-two diaper. Enter here.

So head on over and enter. I'm actually going to go enter myself. What better way to get started with cloth diapers than to win one?

Environmental Impact of Disposable Diapers

• Most are bleached which produces dioxin, a highly toxic byproduct of bleaching.
• Every year, around 82,000 pounds of plastic and 250,000 trees are used to make disposable diapers for American babies. (FYI, plastic is made from petroleum)
• Emissions from the plastics and fragrances in disposables are linked to respiratory problems and symptoms of asthma.
• Contain sodium polyacrylate crystals which have been linked to toxic shock syndrome, allergic reactions and is very harmful and potentially lethal to pets.
• According to the EPA, some dyes and dioxin are known to cause damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, and liver.
• Untreated waste placed in landfills by dirty disposable diapers is a possible danger to contaminating ground water.

Sources
http://www.thegreenguide.com/greenguide/buying-guide/diapers/environmental_impact
http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/diapers.htm

There is much debate regarding cloth diapering and if it is actually more eco-friendly than disposables. The thought here is that the amount of water and energy used to wash cloth diapers negates their benefits. I don't know, I think using a little more energy to wash a cloth diaper is better than all the oil and chemicals that get used to make disposables. Which will then end up in landfills for years upon years. Even those that are biodegradable can't really decompose in a landfill since there is a lack of oxygen. To make washing diapers more eco-friendly, use an energy star, high efficiency washer when possible. They use a lot less water and energy. Line dry you diapers instead of using the clothes dryer (a major energy hog). And do not use chlorine bleach. Instead opt for a chlorine-free bleach like ones made by Seventh Generation and Ecover.

What do you think? Which is better?

Going Green: Introduction to Cloth Diapers

Written by contributing writer Brandi of The Hip Hippo.

Even though cloth diapering used to be the norm, I get many funny glances and remarks when I tell people that I cloth diaper my daughter. Cloth diapering drums up thoughts of folded diaper squares, diaper pins and hours of washing poopy, smelly diapers. Many people are shocked when I pull out one of my daughter’s diapers. “Oh my goodness, how cute! WHAT is that?!” is usually the common response. While many people do still use prefolds on their newborns, the world of cloth diapering has grown immensely.

The next question is usually “Why do you use cloth?” Aside from the cuteness factor, it’s cheaper for us. We were spending $40 on expensive name brand diapers every week and a half to two weeks. Our daughter is a heavy wetter, especially at night. I was tired of spending that much money on disposable diapers, only for her to wake up from naps or in the morning soaked through her clothes. What happened to those leak guard guarantees? I was frustrated and looking for another solution.

I knew that cloth diapers would probably be the best way to go. I had given it a whirl with my first son, but never put the money into having enough to cloth diaper him full time. I was familiar with the options I had, and the benefits of using cloth.

I would always cringe when I thought of all the possible chemicals used in the process of making disposable diapers. There are tons of products that we once thought were safe to use on our kids that we now know are full of nasty stuff like formaldehyde. With cloth, you know that the soft cloth next to your child’s most delicate skin isn’t going to be rubbing nasty chemical residue on them.

It’s also healthier for the environment. Newborns go through 8-10 diapers a day. At the end of a baby’s first year that number can grow to 3700 diapers. Where do all those diapers end up? In our ever crowded landfills. Not to mention the fact that most parents do not dump their child’s solid waste into the toilet before throwing their disposable diapers in the trash. Human waste in a landfill can spread sickness and disease. I will admit, when we had our son, I never knew you were supposed to flush before throwing them away.

I ultimately chose to use pocket diapers for my daughter - it fit with our lifestyle and needs. There are many different cloth diapering options to choose from, unlike in the years passed when our grandmothers used cloth.

Our grandmother’s cloth diapering consisted of prefolds and pins. Prefolds are pieces of cloth that are folded down and used as a diaper. They were fastened closed with a diaper pin, a and covered with some type of waterproof cover. Using prefolds today hasn’t really changed much. There are Snappis now, instead of diaper pins. Snappis are a “T” shaped product that grabs onto the prefold at each hip and between the legs which allows for quicker and easier fastening. Prefolds require a waterproof cover. Some examples of covers are fleece longies (either with newly knitted ones, or recycled from an old wool sweater), a fleece cover (again, newly sewn or recycled), or covers that resemble a diaper made with polyurethane laminated fabric (PUL) and have a snap or aplix closure. Basically, if it’s waterproof, you can turn it into a cover!

Pocket cloth diapers resemble a disposable diaper. The shape is the same. The convenience
of pockets is they allow you to control your absorbency. They have an opening, usually in the back waist of the diaper which allows you to stuff them with your choice of insert. Insert options are numerous. You can buy already made inserts, which are usually made of layers of flannel, micro fiber, bamboo or hemp sewn together. You can also use more cost effective inserts like micro fiber towels from an auto parts store. These are what I use. You can usually get five in a pack for $5. You can also make your own with scraps of fabric as an even cheaper method. No need for pins or Snappis for pockets, they usually have a snap or aplix closure. You can buy pockets in a variety of prints and colors. Most fabrics are backed with PUL. You can also get pockets in fleece. These require no PUL because fleece repels moisture.

Fitteds are a step between prefolds and pockets. They are made of two to three layers of fabric. Some come with an extra soaker for added absorbency. Sometimes this is a lay-in soaker, other times fitteds will come with the opening in the back like a pocket to stuff in an soaker. While fitteds are shaped like pockets, they are not waterproof. They do require a cover, like a prefold. Fitteds come in a variety of colors and prints as well.

All-in-ones (AIO’s) are just like pockets, except their inserts are sewn into the diaper. While you can’t control your absorbency as much as a pocket, you can use lay in soakers if more absorbency is needed. AIO’s cut down on laundering time - no need to unstuffy the pockets to wash, and then restful to use again, but their drying time can sometimes be longer depending on how they are made.

A lot of people use prefolds for newborns - in their opinions it contains the runny newborn poop better than any other style. As babies get older, they then transition their stash to fitteds or pockets, or a combination of the two. Pockets and fitteds come in sizes (Small, Medium, Large) with a variety of snap options on each size. This allows for better customization to the baby’s body shape.

Jumping into the world of cloth diapers can seem overwhelming. There are a lot of choices to consider. There is no set rule on how to cloth diaper a baby. Do your research on each brand and style before you buy. Make sure you know if the diaper you buy needs pins or a cover, or if it comes with inserts. The best way to see what works for you is to buy a couple of each type and test them out. You may love the design and features of one diaper, but it’s shape just won’t fit your baby properly.

Most of all have fun with it! One of my favorite parts of cloth diapering is educating people about today’s cloth diapers - how cute they are, how many different choices we have, etc. You never know, you might make a new mommy friend while helping her make a greener, healthier choice for her family!