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Maria is an aspiring "fit mom" of 3 children, writing about cloth diapers, going green, and her life as a single mom. Maria works with many companies within the cloth diaper industry and beyond, providing social media management, product development, and other services.

DypesByDixon Sweet Slumber Night Time Pocket Diaper

Mar 30,2010 / By Maria / 2 Comments

Finding a night diapering solution seems to be a pretty common dilemma, and I always read and respond to questions about it.

I repeatedly heard people talk about DypesByDixon Sweet Slumber pocket diapers. Since one size pocket diapers are my diaper of choice, I was intrigued. Especially since they are fleece. My son is not sensitive to PUL (knock wood!!) but I’ve heard of children developing a sensitivity, so I’m always interested in non-PUL options.

The diaper maker stocks in her own Hyena Cart store, as well as the Whimsical Fluff Congo and the Cuties With Cloth Booties Congo.

Her diapers are pretty popular and sell out quickly, but I contacted her and she agreed to make me a custom!

I was really pleased with the charcoal fleece/black snap combo I chose, and the diaper came really quickly.

I think it’s a nice touch when diapers are packaged professionally. I know the packaging has nothing to do with the diaper, but to me, the maker taking care to package it like this shows me they probably took the same care when making the diaper.

I always appreciate care instructions. I don’t like having to hunt them down, and not every diaper has the same instructions. I never thought about waiting until the diapers had cooled before stuffing them, but it makes sense.

The sleeve also had weight guidelines. There are 4 size settings, similar to the Happy Heiny’s, they seem to be about a small, medium, large and extra-large/toddler. My 16ish pound son fits well into the medium. I definitely think this diaper will fit for a long time!

In the interest of full disclosure, when I scrutinized the diaper, I did notice that the snaps are not perfectly straight. They’re not totally out of whack and don’t affect the function or closure of the diaper in any way at all, and I am not saying this as a dig at the maker. Just that they don’t look as though they were factory applied like a mass produced diaper. The snaps only look weird in this picture because it’s not completely flat. You have to look pretty closely to see that the snaps aren’t in line like little snap soldiers.

I don’t know if anyone else has ever watched How It’s Made, but I’ve been surprised by how much is done by hand. For example, in an episode about rain boots, a seamstress sewed the same part of the boot over and over, and over again. She did it so quickly, it was practically in the blink of an eye. I would have guessed that was done by a machine. That said, she sews the same part day in and day out, hundreds of times. What she did so precisely in just seconds, would take even an experienced seamstress several minutes to accomplish. In any case, this digression was just to say that I’m not picking on the maker since she has probably applied snaps hundreds of times, ever, not per day. I think the longer a diaper maker has been in business, the more precise she becomes.

The inside is super soft suede cloth. One thing I love about pocket diapers is their stay dry inner. This one is particularly soft!

DypesByDixon come with a microfiber towel to use as an insert. I chose to pay an extra $1.50 for an additional towel. Even with that, I think this diaper was an absolute bargain at $19.50 shipped.

Ideally, I prefer to buy a diaper that comes with a sewn insert. Not only so I can use the diaper without making an additional purchase, but because the insert is usually sized just right to fit in the diaper, and has usually been tested for function in the diaper as well. However, I’m glad it came with something!

We got a great fit!

The two microfiber towels got us through the whole night with no leaks, but they did add a bit of extra bulk between the legs. It didn’t cause any problem at night, but I did end up with a leg gap while I was holding him on my hip before bed one night, leading to a wet Mommy! I also don’t love having to fold them (the feeling on my hands bugs me for some reason); I could probably get a trimmer fit if I folded them differently, but I also had to make sure the end wasn’t too close to the top of the pocket. If the inserts sticks out, you can end up with wicking.

Since then, I’ve tried the diaper with a superdo insert, two microfiber inserts + a hemp doubler, and a loopydo insert + microfiber insert + hemp doubler. All got us through the night with no leaks!

DypesByDixon minky pocket diapers are also very popular. Right now you can win one for the cost of shipping ($3.50). You have to have an account on Hyena Cart to enter. Become a fan of DypesByDixon on Facebook, then enter the giveaway on Hyena Cart. Do it quickly, the Drawing ends April 1, 2010, 12:00 pm EDT.

All in all, this is a great diaper and a great value. The 4 sizes along with the ability to overlap the snaps means that the diaper will fit a huge range of sizes and last a long time!

Edit August 2010: This is still in our regular night-time rotation, stuffed with a Knickernappies Superdo!

Made in the USA Wipes Solution

Lil’ Outlaws Texas Ranger Rump Solution

Mar 29,2010 / By Maria / 2 Comments

I love using my cloth wipes. Right now I’m just using some burp cloths I cut and zigzagged, but I’d like to buy a nice, fluffy stack of cloth wipes soon! I had been wanting to try Lil’ Outlaws Rump Solution for a while, and I finally bought some!

There are tons of fragrance options, though every scent isn’t always in stock, so check on the product’s fragrance drop down. I chose Baby Bee, a guaranteed in stock fragrance described as “a fragrance cocktail of luscious fruits such as peaches, mandarin oranges, coconut pulp, bergamot, grapefruit, tropical guava, and tangy lemons.”

You can choose normal, light or extra light fragrance strength, heavy for .50 extra, or extra heavy for $1.00 extra. I chose the extra light strength.

Even so, my package smelled great as I carried it from the mailbox. It came really fast!

You get approximately 48 pieces for $10.50, and shipping is always free. I got exactly 48.

Here are the instructions from the site:

Simply add one or more stars (to your preference) to one or more cups of water (depending on how strong you like your solution). Microwave approximately 15 seconds to soften, and stir to dissolve!

Then just apply to your wipes in your favorite manner – I dunk mine, wring them out, and place them in a wipes warmer or travel case. You can also put the solution in a spray bottle or peri bottle to wet wipes as you use them, or pour it over the pile of wipes in the tub or warmer.

Any way you choose to use it, Rump Solution is excellent for messy bums (and hands, and faces, and…)! Great for sensitive skin, too!

I prefer to use my solution in a spray bottle. It takes me nearly 2 weeks to go through a cup of solution, making this very cost effective! .

I use distilled water and 1 piece of solution per cup.

The star dissolved with just a few seconds of microwaving, so it could be used right away. The cubes I’ve been using until now take lots of microwaving, stirring and cooling before dissolved and ready to use.

I had enough solution to fill my spray bottle and also my travel bottle.

I have the extra stars in a drawer and the scent is strong enough that I get a whiff when I walk by. Mixed, the extra light strength is mild, but still pleasant.

The solution cleans well and doesn’t cause any irritation on my son’s hiney. His skin is fairly sensitive; he gets a rash with angry red welts from disposables. If your little one is very sensitive, you can get unscented solution.

Want some? Buy a bag or a sampler pack, which includes a 6 load bag of Detergent, 2 oz of Pail Pardner, a generous sample pouch of Rump Rub, and 5 pieces of Rump Solution.

Want to win it? Stay tuned for a great giveaway later this week, which includes a full size bag of Texas Ranger Rump Solution!

Uncategorized

Initial Impressions vs. Longevity

Mar 28,2010 / By Maria / 6 Comments

>I was re-reading a few of my posts and realized that with quite a few of my diapers, my initial impression of the diaper was a complete 180 from what I thought of it after using it for a few months.

I’m trying to decide whether I should put a “bolded” update at the end of each post to say what I think of it now, or if I should create a new post with a link to each initial post and a blurb about what I think now.

What do you think? Does anyone look through the archives?

Cloth Diapers Fitted Diapers Made in the USA One Size Diapers Review WAHM made

Heartland Dreams Fitted

Mar 27,2010 / By Maria / 11 Comments

I’m really not a huge fan of fitteds because they aren’t waterproof, but the prints are just so cute, they keep sucking me in. I had heard good things about Heartland Dreams, and I wanted one even more after I got the doll diapers her daughter made.

I saw a few prints I liked in her store, but I wasn’t quick enough to snap them up. When I saw this fitted, I grabbed it!

Something unique I didn’t even notice until the third or so wash, is that Tina seams her fabric in the middle. This way, the print is right side up in both the front and the back. Just another little touch, but it does bug me when the print is upside down!

The shape of the diaper and soakers, as well as the fold down rise, remind me of Goodmamas. She also sells one size snappiable/pinnable fitteds, All-in-twos and a 2 stage fitted diapers. I’m currently drooling over this one and this one. Well, the second one is sold but I’m still drooling over it! She also stocks on several congos. She regularly posts when and where she is stocking on the Facebook fan page for Heartland Dreams. In the past, she has also stocked sized pockets (I’d love to try one of those since pockets are my favorite!), sized fitteds, and other things I’m sure I’m neglecting to mention!

This diaper is the first HD I fell in love with but didn’t pounce on. I love that print. *sigh* Poor me.

I received my order really quickly after buying. It was packaged really nicely. I always think it’s a nice touch!

She included a card with care instructions.

And business card…

with a hand written thank you on the reverse.

It’s a small thing, but it’s nice.

She also included a free wipe!

Very cute!

Heartland Dreams diapers are incredibly well made. They simply don’t look like a diaper that a Mom made on her sewing machine at home. I didn’t go over it with a magnifying glass or anything, but wow. The stitching…everything is very professional.

The legs are turned & top stitched to avoid chafing baby’s legs, and the front and wings are serged for less bulk.

The outside of the diaper is cotton knit, there is a hidden layer of OBF (rayon from organic bamboo fleece)and the inner and soakers are topped with OBV (rayon from organic bamboo velour). They are so soft, and there is a signature heart on the reverse of the soaker that is so cute.

Each of the two petals of the snap in soaker has 2 layers of OBF topped with the OBV. Also included is a booster made of two layers of OBF.

I think you can see how well made the diaper in in this photo.

She includes a set of hip snap covers for when you no longer need the wing cross over, and the third snap is no longer snapped into the diaper.

The first time I used the diaper, I just pulled the soakers up, I didn’t fold them at all. All the red spots on my son’s tummy are from the snaps inside our Goodmama One, which he was wearing before this HD. I really do prefer hidden snaps on the inside.

The rise folds down, my son is in that in between height and weight where he can really wear it either way.

All done!

Right side up on the booty too!

Too cute.

He had it on (coverless) for about an hour and a half before I noticed any dampness on the outside. On subsequent uses, I folded the soakers and tri-folded the doubler, to get more coverage in the wet zone. Doing that, I was able to use it coverless for 2+ hours.

I would definitely use a cover for any situation where there might be compression of course!

All in all, I love this diaper. I am really anxious to try one of her all-in-two diapers, since I really prefer diapers that don’t require a cover. (I’m lazy, what can I say?) Heartland Dreams are by far, my favorite WAHM diapers to date. The diaper has been in my rotation for a month now and I’ve had no issues at all!

Edit August 2010: This diaper is adorable, incredibly absorbent and very well made. It’s not in my regular daytime rotation anymore just because I don’t love fitteds in general. I really want to try a HD AI2!

Cloth Diapering

KK Designs

Mar 25,2010 / By Maria / 2 Comments

KK Designs makes one of a kind designs on T-shirts, totes, cards, invitations, birth announcements and more. (She also makes soap and wool wash bars.)

This sticker is actually another item she offers for sale. She does custom stickers, logos, blinkies and banners for WAHMs and websites. In fact, I want to have her design a logo for me! Her prices are totally reasonable, I just have to wait for a little spending money in my budget.

She offers lots of cute shirt designs relating to cloth, breastfeeding and green living. She’s incredibly creative, and I knew she would be perfect to create a first birthday shirt for my son, that would be different than what everyone else has!

Here’s just a little peek.