Doodle Dypes AI2 Review

Aug 12,2010 / By Maria / 3 Comments

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I received my Doodle Dypes all-in-two diaper a few weeks ago, and it earned it’s spot in my pile of favorites right away!

Sandy of Doodle Dypes makes many of her diapers custom to order. Mine has a cotton knit outer, hidden procare waterproof barrier and an organic bamboo fleece inner.

I love this print! I think the blue makes it suit my son, but the purple hearts would work for a girl too.

This is an AI2 with a snap-in soaker.

You can overlap the wings to fit a slimmer baby.

This definitely looks like a professionally sewn diaper, with even stitching and evenly applied snaps.

It is a “one size” by way of a fold down rise. One thing that’s unique is that the second row of snaps are hidden (applied under the inner layer) so when you’re using this on a smaller baby, no snaps will touch his/her tummy.

The all-in-two’s snap in soaker can give you 5-15 layers of organic bamboo fleece absorbency, depending on how you fold it.

Organic Bamboo Fleece needs to be prepped (washed on hot & dried on medium heat 3-4 times) and will gain maximum absorbency after about 10 washes. Sandy pre-washes all of her fabrics before sewing, so you don’t have to worry about any uneven shrinking.

Above is how you use the fold-down rise.

I’m able to get a good fit with or without folding down the rise. The fit looks a little strange in that picture for some reason, but it’s not!

It fits wonderfully around the legs too.

I was anxious to get the diaper on him, so I only washed it once.

The absorbency is fantastic.

Our Doodle Dype is in our regular rotation. In fact, my son is wearing it and sitting on my lap right now!

We have even used it on car rides with no leaking, and it doesn’t have the wicking (at the legs) issues that some diapers with a cotton outer & hidden PUL have! I do know that the cotton outer will fade and wear over time. That’s just the nature of a cotton knit fabric.

A Doodle Dypes all-in-two will need to be changed at each diaper change, it isn’t the hybrid type where you can just change out a soaker. Each one retails for $20 and you can shop Doodle Dypes on HyenaCart and visit Doodle Dypes on Facebook!

The diaper was provided to me free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not requested or required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own. I was not otherwise compensated for my review.

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Uncategorized

New review archive, and why diaper laundry is fun

Aug 11,2010 / By Maria / 2 Comments

>So, looking back at some of my old reviews, I’m a little embarrassed. When I was newer at cloth diapering, I wasn’t as good at reviewing since I didn’t know specifically what I was looking for or what I preferred.

Even so, I’ve wanted to point people back to older reviews quite a bit. I use tags, a blog post archive and a blog search feature, but I still have trouble finding things…and I know what I’m looking for is there!

I wanted to make it really easy for someone to see if I had already reviewed something and easily go to those posts. So, I created the “Review Archive” page. My intentions are to update that as I add new reviews, so you can quickly and easily refer back to them. I’ve divided it by category as well. The link will be at the top of the page, in the upper left corner (right under “home.”)

Another thing I did was to go to most of the reviews that are more than 3 months old, and add a short snippet at the end to update how it’s working for us now.

and that is why diaper laundry is fun!

my little helper may make things take a little longer…

but he sure is cute!

My little lazybones is finally standing!

Hopefully he will be walking soon!

He knows just what to do!

Here you go Mommy!

Or maybe I’ll just…

drop it right here! Hee hee!

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

EcoMom $15 GC Giveaway Winner

Aug 11,2010 / By Maria / No Comment

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There were good odds on this one, only 151 entries! The winner is Jen of We Love Fluffy Bums!

Congratulations Jen!

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Econobum Giveaway (CLOSED 8/13)

Aug 10,2010 / By Maria / 120 Comments

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I received an econobum free with a coupon code last year, and I didn’t really give it a fair shake. I wasn’t terribly impressed, I was happy with my pocket diapers, and I figured I might as well sell it before I fully prepped it and used it a bunch.

The econobum consists of a really nice, quality prefold and a cover.

Like the flip, it is “one size” via a snap down rise, and has snap closures. It’s like an economy version of the flip. Thinner and doesn’t have the flaps to tuck the insert under.

It’s definitely pretty basic. It comes in white only and its pretty thin.

It’s not called the “luxurobum,” it’s called the econobum, and for good reason. The cover and prefold are just $9.95.

The prefold that’s included is very nice, and you could really supplement the system with some cheaper prefolds to really stretch the budget.

For myself, I figured as long as I was spending less on cloth than I would be on disposables, I was doing all right.

As I’ve said before, I built my stash gradually, washing twice a day for a while, but something like the econobum would get you in cloth in no time flat!

So, I got sucked in by my favorite 4 letter f-word (free!) and bought something I could have paid less for, just to use a “spend $xx get a free one-size diaper” coupon. I had read comments of what others had received and I was hopeful that I’d get something new. Doncha know I ended up with another econobum.

So, I thought I’d give it to one of my readers, and I’m making this quick and easy (insert off color joke here.)

If you win, you will get the brand new, in it’s package, econobum pictured here.

Here’s how to enter:

Comment on this post. That’s it. Told you it would be quick and easy. Say anything you like, but I’d really love some feedback. Things you’d like me to review or give away, what you think of my usual giveaway entry methods and so forth. Please do make sure to leave your email address in your comment if it isn’t visible in your profile.

I’ll accept entries until Friday, August 13th, 2010 (oohh Friday the 13th!) at 9 P.M., Eastern. I’ll draw a winner using random.org’s true random number generator and notify him/her by email. S/he will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and other winner chosen.

This is open to the U.S. only. Sorry Canadians, I don’t really understand the rules up North, and I don’t look good in orange. ‘Cause, you know…they put people in orange jumpsuits when they throw ’em in the pokey. Bah-dum-ching. I’m here all night folks.

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Mailbox Mondays

Mailbox Mondays 8/9/10

Aug 9,2010 / By Maria / 6 Comments

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Every Monday I will answer user submitted questions. They don’t have to be about cloth diapering! I’ll always answer questions via email, but if you would like your question to be answered in a Mailbox Mondays post, send an email with the subject “Mailbox Mondays” to change.diapers.change.the.world at gmail dot com!

Ash says:

Hi Maria! Love your blog! You were the first blog I found that I started following when I started blogging. 🙂

So right now I am exclusive to only one brand of cloth diapers. But I want to get some other brands soon. My question is…When you have more than one brand of diapers, how do you wash them? I know that most brands have different instructions for washing, so do you just keep washing with whatever you find that works, or do you wash each brand separately?

Thank you!

Ash from The Adventures of Ash and Rowe

http://adventuresofashandrowe.blogspot.com/

OK let me stop doodling big puffy hearts around Maria + Ash and answer the question. I love when someone tells me that they enjoy my blog, like my reviews etc. It makes me feel all warm & fuzzy and happy.

This is a very, very timely question given my recent issues with my Rumparooz delamination. Most of the differences in washing instructions (that I’ve noticed) have to do with the order of cold rinses/hot washes/cold rinses and when to use the detergent. Some say it’s OK to tumble dry, some recommend hanging to dry.

I always follow initial washing instructions, since some materials need to be washed separately a number of times to remove natural oils (like hemp.) Some materials (usually organic cottons) need to be washed around 3 times to prep, and up to 10 times to achieve maximum absorbency.

Beyond that, I do what works for me. Cold wash/rinse, hot wash/rinse with the occasional extra rinse. I do not bleach my diapers, or use additives on them, though I do use an occasional dab of bleach (and/or RLR) on the inserts only, followed by many extra rinses.

If I had to keep track of specific washing instructions for each manufacturer and wash separately, I would lose my mind.

That brings me to the other issue. Detergent. The majority of diaper manufacturers have the same list of “no-nos” including enzymes, brighteners, whiteners, dyes, scents etc. This issue is a hot button for me since the lack of “safe” affordable, local detergent is the #1 thing that stopped me from CD’ing from day 1 with my son.

Rumparooz, Drybees and at least one other (slips my mind right now) diaper company specifically recommend “standard” detergents like Tide, which contain dyes, scents and enzymes that are on the detergent black lists.

I stand by the idea that you should use what works for you. Don’t use too much or too little, and rinse them clean.

The problem with that is this: what if you have an issue with one of your diapers while it’s under warranty, and your claim is denied because you didn’t use the “right” detergent? Well, I’m not terribly worried for myself, because my choices were disposable diapering, paying outrageous sums to have one specific detergent (that was on all of the “safe” lists) shipped, or to use what worked.

Also, warranties don’t cover staining, repelling or stink. If a “safe” detergent isn’t getting my diapers clean, what good is it?

I really don’t like to use this thinking but, plenty of people have used any number of detergents with no issues. I’m using what works for me and that’s that. There’s no way I’m going to wash diapers separately so that some can be clean and stink free and others can be smelly, washed in pricey detergent, but covered under warranty!

In conclusion, yadda yadda, I bet you’re sorry you asked. 😉

Remember that my blabbing shouldn’t be taken as expert advice. Always pay careful attention to the manufacturer’s instructions. I’m not responsible for any damage or diaper injuries, insert other verbiage as you see fit to cover my hiney. 🙂

Bonus question since the first was so long, this is quick. It’s just a snippet of an email since it wasn’t a MM submission.

How did you get your comments numbered?

I followed these instructions from Blogger Sentral. Those are for use with blogger. I’m sure I could fool around to get them nicer looking, but this was just one of my many HTML “projects” and I was ready to be done by the time I got it working!

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Author Archives: Maria

Doodle Dypes AI2 Review

New review archive, and why diaper laundry is fun

EcoMom $15 GC Giveaway Winner

Econobum Giveaway (CLOSED 8/13)

Mailbox Mondays 8/9/10

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