Author Archives: Maria

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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.

Knickernappies Superdo and Loopydo Inserts

Mar 23,2010 / By Maria / 8 Comments

> superdo

My quest to keep my son dry through the night led me to try several things. Our Bumgenius 3.0s were working well for a while, but I was having to add so many doublers to the diaper that it was creating a leg gap. Since my son recently started rolling over on his side at night, this was a problem!

I started reading reviews of inserts on diaperpin as well as many online stores. The reviews led me to Knickernappies.

The LoopyDo 2G prewashed inserts have 2 layers of hemp french terry as well as 2 layers of microfiber.

Hemp usually requires prepping to remove the natural oils and make it absorbent, but these inserts are prewashed so you an use them right away, though they will continue to become more absorbent with subsequent washings.

Those 4 layers are sewn in a loop so they dry more quickly, saving time and energy costs.

They come in 3 sizes: Small measuring 12″x5.5″, Medium measuring 14″x5.5″ and Large measuring 16×5.5″. I should have purchased a medium, but I bought a large instead. I simply folded a portion of it over and stuffed it into the pocket diaper (like a bumgenius one size insert, minus the snap). It worked wonderfully, though obviously a little bulky. Not a big deal for me since I was using it at night only.

It was wide enough to fill the whole pocket as well. I have a problem with a few of my pocket diapers where the included insert is narrower than the pocket, allowing for gaps and shifting, which always leads to leaks for us.

I used the LoopyDo in a Bumgenius 3.0 pocket diaper on the medium setting, along with the BG insert and a hemp doubler. I had no leg gap and no leaks, though all of the inserts were saturated in the morning. I would definitely use a LoopyDo in any pocket diaper for naps, car trips and so forth, but I’d buy the appropriate size. It’s too bulky for daytime when folded over.

I also bought a SuperDo 2G prewashed insert. These have SIX layers of hemp terry and two layers of microfiber. This insert is made for heavy wetters and overnight, and is more absorbent than two microfiber inserts together.

Other than the # of layers, it is the same as the LoopyDo.

Here it is in a Drybees Fleece night time diaper.

I bought a large in the SuperDo as well and I definitely should have bought the medium. I am able to use it in my medium diapers but it is much, much too bulky and creates gaps. I should buy a medium but with a $12.95 MSRP, it will have to wait. I’ve spent way too much money on my night time diapering quest over the past month!

Here you can see how much thickness the extra 4 hemp layers in the SuperDo (bottom) add over the LoopyDo (top).

Here you can see both Knickernappies inserts compared to a Bumgenius insert.

The only thing I don’t like about these is that they are sized. Well, I like that they are sized, it really reduces the bulk. My wallet doesn’t like that they are sized!

In short, if you are looking to purchase an insert, buy one of these! I bought mine from Abby’s Lane. Good prices and fat and free shipping!

Prefolds

Using prefolds with a snappi and cover

Mar 21,2010 / By Maria / 1 Comment

This is an awesome (and short) video tutorial on how to use a prefold with a snappi and cover!

If you’re looking for a snappi, Abby’s Lane has them for $3.95 ($4.55 for toddler size). This is a dollar or so more than some other places, but the shipping is free. I’m not a fan of paying $6 shipping for a $3 item!

Giveaway Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Winner of the Fuzzi Bunz Mama Cloth Giveaway!

Mar 20,2010 / By Maria / No Comment

>Random.org has a very neat service for drawings. However, the minimum fee is $4.95, so definitely not worth it for a giveaway this small!

Rather than go old school by putting names in a hat, I used the “true random number generator” on their home page. I entered 1 as the “min” and 11 as the “max” since that was the number of entries.

The lucky winner is entry #5, or LaughterHugs!

Congratulations! Be sure to contact me to claim your prize!

Stay tuned for reviews of Loopy Do and Super Do inserts, Guerilla Fluff, Dypes By Dixon, KK Designs, Snappi, Heartland Dreams and more, as well as several giveaways in April!

Cloth Diapers Giveaway

Five months!!

Mar 18,2010 / By Maria / 2 Comments

I’ve been cloth diapering for five months now! I’m loving it so much and I feel so dumb for hesitating before finally diving in! That photo was one of the first 3 BumGenius 3.0 diapers I bought, “just to try.” Little did I know I would end up addicted!

I’m really excited about my current giveaway, and I’m reading all of your comments. I’m already looking into reviewing some of the suggested products.

Next month marks what I’m calling my six month “clothiversary;” in honor of that milestone, I’m planning more giveaways!

Please stay tuned, and invite any friends who might be interested in following my blog or facebook page.

You guys, my readers, make it possible for me to do even more reviews and giveaways! Thank you!

Cloth Diapers Diaper Covers Made in the USA Review Wool

Kissaluvs Kissa’s Wool LOVER Diaper Cover

Mar 17,2010 / By Maria / 6 Comments

I am, I admit it. I’m a wool lover! I can hardly believe it. I’m having a hard time remembering all of the reasons for my paralyzing fear of wool, but they were definitely there.

Why wool? Wool is breathable and will keep baby’s hiney warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Wool is obviously a natural fiber, and has built in anti-bacterial properties. It absorbs moisture, does not retain odors, and does not have to be washed often.

Seriously, if you use wool covers all day long, you can have a rotation of 3 or 4 going. Change the cover when you change the diaper, just flip the damp one inside out and set aside to dry and you don’t have to wash every 2 or 3 weeks! If it is “soiled” you have to wash it of course!

So, on to the Kissaluvs cover I bought. (or “butt sweater” if you’re my hubby!)

I chose this one in particular because it is made with ultra-fine merino wool. I wish you could feel this because it is heaven; I would love a sweater made out of this wool! I chose it also because of the leg gussets, which aren’t as funny looking in person as they looked on their site.

According to the size chart, I should have gotten a medium, which fits 15-25 lbs. The large says 20-35 lbs. My son is only around 16 lbs, but I figured it would be better to buy a large, have it be too large, go back and buy the medium (saving the large for later), rather than ending up with one that is too small. I was worried about fitting it over the overstuffed, fluffy nighttime behind.

It is definitely big!

It still worked wonderfully though! The first night with this wool cover was the first night in a while that he woke up with dry jammies, sleep sack and sheet. I was so anxious to use it that I used it right away and washed and lanolized it the following day.

I’ve been using it for 2 1/2 weeks and aside from the initial wash, I’ve only washed it once. My biggest hang up about wool (the washing) has turned out to be one of the most awesome things about it; it’s so simple.

When I take the cover off of him and it’s a bit damp inside, it will initially have a slight urine odor. As it dries, the smell disappears. If it starts to retain the smell, it’s time to wash.

Washing is ridiculously easy. I put maybe two or so inches of tepid water in my utility sink, along with a dab of Eucalan wool wash and swished it around a bit. I placed the cover in and squeezed it a teeny bit, then let it soak for 15 minutes. After that, drain the water. No need to rinse.

Click here to request a free sample of Eucalan (SASE required).

To dry, I had ready two sets of two kitchen towels laid out on the counter (one towel on top of the other). I gently pressed out as much of the water as I could, then I laid it flat on top of one set of towels. I rolled the towels and cover up and gently squeezed, unrolled it and repeated in the dry towels. Then I laid it flat on the counter to dry (out of the sunlight).

Next time I wash, I will take photos of the washing routine.

I’m not sure how often to lanolize, so I went ahead and did it with both the initial and the second wash. I know it’s one of those “do it when it needs it” kinds of things, but you know how that goes when you’re learning! Since Eucalan is a lanolin containing wool wash, I shouldn’t need to lanolize too often.

edit: I did quickly find one good tip. When you’re washing, if the water beads up on the wool, you’re good. If it forms some “pools” where the water soaks in, you might want to lanolize soon. If it becomes saturated with water, you definitely need to lanolize. I mean when you first place it in the water. Obviously it will eventually become saturated if you are washing it, LOL

I got a bottle of liquid lanolin in the health and beauty section of my local organic market.

I’ll talk more about lanolin, what it does and what else it’s used for, later. I’ve heard some people say they just use Lansinoh Lanolin to lanolize their wool.

The routine was pretty much the same as the washing (I didn’t let the cover dry between washing & lanolizing). However, I did initially add hot water along with the pea size amount of lanolin, in order to “melt” the lanolin. Then I added tepid water, swished and added the cover.

It took a full day for the cover to dry, I wasn’t able to use it the next night. I’d really like to have a second one, and this time I think I’ll get a medium!

An interesting tidbit on storage, from Kissaluv’s site:

Before storing away, wash the cover thoroughly without lanolizing. Do not fold and put between clothes. Hang it or spread it on the top of other clothes. If WL is pressed for a long time, it may get a bit stiffer like other finer wools.

I wish I had known this. I have a sweater that I loved packed away, since it had not fit me since the winter before I got pregnant with my son. While shuffling clothing around, I handled it, and it felt really strange. Brittle almost. I wonder if there is a way to save it?

P.S. Don’t forget to enter this week’s giveaway here!

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