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Monster Fluff Embroidered Fleece Soaker/Diaper Cover Review and Giveaway Open to the U.S. and Canada (CLOSED 11/6)

Oct 30,2010 / By Maria / 8 Comments

Long ago and far away, I asked (on Facebook) what you guys would like to see me review, and Monster Fluff was mentioned! I had found Monster Fluff myself on Hyenacart quite a while ago when searching for monster stuff, but I hadn’t pulled the trigger on a purchase yet! So, I was excited to get to do this review!

I love monsters but honest to goodness, it’s not just me! My son grabbed it from me when I opened it, just like he did with my (err…his) ooga diaper!

I received the Archie monster, embroidered on a size medium soaker. The embroidered soakers retail for $22, and while the size chart doesn’t give weight estimates, the medium fit my 18.5 lb guy just fine.

The soakers are made with 100% polyester anti-pill fleece and each monster averages 14,000 stitches. The soakers have an additional layer sewn into the wet zone, which also covers the embroidery backing.

Monster Fluff products are made by mom & daughter team Debbie and Amber. Don’t let the name fool you, they don’t just have monsters. They have tons of embroidery options available on soakers, shorties, longies and matching sets.

The craftsmanship of the soaker is really amazing. I turned it inside out and inspected it, and the fleece is cut neatly and sewn impeccably.

The embroidery is clearly done by an embroidery machine, rather than by hand (Can you imagine? Yikes. Hand cramp!) Even so, it takes skill!

The monster was centered and straight on the soaker, and there were no loose threads!

First, I tried the soaker on over the trimmest fitted I have, the Little Beetle Little to Big Diaper.

My son is about 18.5 lbs here and the diaper is on the largest setting.

I didn’t have trouble getting the soaker over the diaper, and it fit very well. The first time I changed his diaper when I was using the soaker, the fitted was wet on the outside, but the soaker seemed clean. Gross maybe, but I sniffed it and used it again! If I were exclusively using fitteds, I would perhaps use 2 soakers per day and air them out between uses, of course washing them if they got smelly or soiled. Otherwise, I’d just wash them at the end of the day!

fleece cover over trim diaper standing front

Next, I decided to try the soaker over one of my fluffiest, most absorbent fitteds, my Heartland Dreams Fitted.

It wasn’t difficult to get the soaker over the diaper, but I did have to work it a little, it didn’t just slide right on. Fleece isn’t as stretchy as wool, but it fit really well over both a very trim fitted, and a fluffy one!

The suggested care for Monster Fluff fleece is: Turn inside out, machine wash warm, delicate cycle. Tumble dry low. They suggest washing their fleece items with your regular laundry. Oops. I saw this after I washed, used and washed it again! I didn’t turn it inside out and I washed it on the regular cycle with my diapers, so cold, then hot. I hung it to dry with my shells/covers. I’ll be more careful in the future!

I think the Monster Fluff soaker is awesome. Not only is it a well made, very functional soaker, but it’s adorable too! I’d love to have a custom with longies and a matching shirt!

Giveaway: Monster Fluff is offering one reader a soaker in his/her choice of size, gender and monster!

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. I’d love for you to leave a comment (great way to remember you entered!) but comments don’t count as entries. Mandatory entries include name, email address and your favorite ~~Monster Fluff~~ ~~item. You may receive a bonus entry if you are a new or current “liker” of~~ ~~Monster Fluff Studio on Facebook. Post will be updated regularly with the # of entries received.~~

I will accept entries until Saturday, November 6th, 2010 at 9 P.M. Eastern. I will select a winner using random.org’s true random number generator and notify him/her by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen. View my ~~giveaway rules~~ ~~page for complete details. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Monster Fluff Studio also offers~~ ~~free shipping to Canadians~~!

Entries as of November 6th, 2010 at Giveaway close: 205

https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dHkxeHFNSGhESDQ0c2hhWVdlWnRZMVE6MQ

FTC Compliance: Monster Fluff sent me the pictured soaker at no charge, for review purposes. I was not requested or required to write a positive review, I was not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

All In Two Diapers Cloth Diapers Diaper Covers Giveaway Hybrid Diapers Natural Fiber One Size Diapers Prefolds PUL

Econobum Giveaway (CLOSED 8/13)

Aug 10,2010 / By Maria / 120 Comments

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.

Cloth Diapers Diaper Covers Fitted Diapers Made in the USA Natural Fiber Diapers One Size Diapers Review Snap Closure Velcro/Aplix Closure Wool

Little Beetle Little to Big Diaper and Wool Cover

Apr 19,2010 / By Maria / 12 Comments

I’ve been really getting into using wool and fitteds at night, so when betterforbabies.com told me they were sending me a Little-To-Big Beetle diaper and a Little-To-Big Organic Wool Cover, I was really anxious to try them.

No doubt what I pulled out of my mailbox was what I’d been waiting for!

Better For Babies sells natural and organic baby products including diapers, covers, soaker shorts, trainers and other accessories.

Better For Grownups sells reusable facial rounds, sateen tissues (really want to try these!) and family cloth, all crafted from fair trade organic cotton.

As the package says, the diaper is 100% organic, fair trade cotton, and is sweatshop free! They’re actually made in the U.S.A. wow!

That’s the first time washing instructions have made me giggle. Tee hee!

The orange is adorable, and the diaper is super soft and squishy.

Nice velcro closures. Thus far, they are actually easy to get off of the laundry tabs, but still stick to them in the wash. I have too many that I struggle to free from the grasp of the laundry tabs, but in the washing machine they’re all like “Meh, whatever, we don’t like you anyway,” and become besties with 3 other diapers. Gah.

The velcro strip on the front of the diaper had that funny, stiff feel/sound like the Rumparooz. I actually debated taking a video of me crinkling it, but decided that would be a little weird, ha ha. Once I put the diaper on him though, it wasn’t stiff and didn’t dig into his belly. I think it must just be whatever the velcro strip is backed with making that sound.

This diaper is a one size (6-36 pounds) and it’s the first one size fitted I’ve owned that has the snap down rise for sizing. Love this.

The diaper comes with a soaker and a foldable “beetle booster.”

One thing I found really unique is that the soaker is sewn in, just at one point on each side of the middle. So, no matching up soakers or snapping them in after washing, but it’s not sewn all the way into the diaper, allowing for better cleaning & easier drying. You can slip the booster out to fold it and place in where needed (wet zone), or you can tuck it under the soaker to be held in place.

At first glance, it seems a lot smaller overall than other one-size fitteds, even all the way unsnapped.

Actually though, it just seems that way because the elastic is drawn a bit tighter.

Fully stretched, they are just about the same size.

Snapped on the smallest rise setting and unstretched, they are quite small. I don’t doubt they really would fit on a 6 pound baby!

I used it on the medium setting on my little guy (who is about 16.5 lbs and 27.5 inches). It fit wonderfully, and I think he could wear this setting for a while.

This was so easy to put on him. I love my other fitteds, but this is so much more Daddy friendly. My hubby gets really frustrated by the soakers to pull up and fold over and adjust, rises to fold over and rows and rows of snaps.

I folded the booster in half, placed it in the wetzone, and used the diaper coverless the first time. It was the last diaper before bed and he hadn’t uhh, “used the facilities” by the time I put his night time diaper on him.

Because the soaker is in the middle of the diaper (it’s very trim too!) rather than being snapped into the back, his tush wasn’t fluffy like I’m used to. I actually joked that it was weird to be able to feel his hiney through the diaper instead of a mound of fluff!

The next time I used it, I put fleece pants over. He wore it for a good two hours and it was fabulous!

I also tried it with the Little-To-Big Organic Wool Cover.

The cover is 100% organic merino wool and fits 6-36 lbs.

It’s mamajammin, yo. I feel like I’m looking for Waldo. I don’t want to miss anything funny on the packaging.

Yeah, Mother Nature is a smarty pants, but who figured out we could shave the wool off the sheep and make diaper covers out of it, huh? Who’s the smarty pants now, huh?

100% USDA certified, organic wool.

I received a cover with snap closures, though both the diapers and covers come with your choice of snaps or velcro.

I think velcro on the diaper and snaps on the cover are the perfect combo, especially since my son has figured out how to open velcro! Better For Babies said “we find it’s good to pair one closure with the other…snaps and aplix lining up exactly against one another can cause a funny fit.” You can overlap the snaps for a smaller baby.

The cover has the same snap down rise size adjustment that I love. It’s especially nice on a cover since you may need a slightly bigger cover to go over a diaper with a higher rise.

The first time I used the cover, I used it over my Licorice Lane Fitted.

It’s so nice to be able to adjust the rise on the fly, depending on the diaper you have on under it.

The cover didn’t really add any bulk.

So cute!!

I of course also used it over the Little Beetle Little-To-Big diaper as well.

The snaps are so easy to do. With some others, the snaps can be really “sticky.”

Better for Babies told me that the “snaps do have to be opened and closed gently (since the 100% organic Merino wool doesn’t have any synthetics), but it’s easy to do so.” That makes me wonder if these are intentionally easier to undo, to avoid yanking on the wool.

I do wish the rise snaps were just a tiny bit “stickier” though. I sometimes inadvertently pop a rise snap on any diaper, usually when I am pulling the diaper to adjust it as I’m putting it on. With the cover, I did it about 3 times in a row and really annoyed myself. I’m sure it is just a learning curve with that. I also popped one somehow with him on my hip. That seems to be my only “complaint” though!

This was really trim over the super trim diaper!

I love that both the diaper and cover will fit babies from “Little-To-Big.” They may be a bit of an investment, but they will last. I also love that they are completely natural, with no synthetic materials at all and that they’re socially conscious as well. See this diaper on my newborn.

Thank you so much to Better For Babies for sending them to me to review! Of course, my love can’t be bought with diapers, so the freebies in no way affected my review!

Check out Better For Babies and Better for Grownups. I’d love to hear what products interest you, and what else you’d like to see me review.

(also see BFB on Facebook, BFG on Facebook, BFB on Twitter and BFG on Twitter!)

Edit August 2010: Although fitteds aren’t really my favorite (I prefer pocket diapers) this is so, so trim, and soft and squishy, I can’t help but love it!

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Mobums Wool Interlock “Night Night” Soaker

Apr 15,2010 / By Maria / 6 Comments

I really like my Kissaluvs wool cover, but I wanted a spare for when it was being washed. I also wanted to get a medium, since the large was a bit, well, large.

I managed to win an auction for a mobums “night-night” wool interlock soaker, for about half the price of the Kissaluvs. The night night soaker has a double layer of wool through the whole soaker body, wider waist and leg bands, and all seams are serged for durability.

The size medium I purchased fits a 17″ rise, 15-17″ waist and 9-10″ thighs.

Monique at mobums ended up refunding my shipping (all of it) because there was a slight delay in shipping my soaker out. I didn’t even notice a delay; it came in about a week. Still, that was my first hint that mobums has excellent customer service and really values their customers.

The soaker was shipped lanolized with cucumber melon scented lanolin. I’ve become very sensitive to smells lately and this was a little strong for me. I contacted Monique and got help washing the scent out. She was very apologetic, receptive and sweet. This was nice, since she had no way to know the scent would bother me.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to show you my wool washing routine!

I fill my utility sink with some lukewarm water and a teaspoon or so of Eucalan, then swish it around before adding the wool.

I squeeze the suds into the wool a bit, then let it soak for 15 minutes or so.

In the meantime, I get four towels out, and stack them in sets of two.

When the wool has finished it’s soak, I drain the water, then gently squeeze some of the water out of the wool. Then I lay it on top of a set of towels.

I roll the soaker up inside the towels.

squeeze

unroll

Then move to the next set of towels.

roll

squeeze

unroll

then lay flat to dry. Mobums soakers can be tumbled dry on low, but I’d rather just let it air dry. I’m afraid one day I will accidentally dry it on high and ruin it!

Here’s a close up of the leg openings

and the seams inside the soaker

Here the mobums medium is on top and the Kissaluvs large is on the bottom.

another angle

The Kissaluvs has that extra, extra wide waistband to fold over and cover higher waist diapers etc.

The night night soaker actually has quite a bit of stretch to it.

It fit snugly, without being tight.

It fit over that super fluffy booty!

I topped the soaker off with fleece pants. In the morning, I could feel a bit of dampness on the outside of the soaker. It doesn’t surprise me, and in my opinion, it isn’t a reflection on the quality of the soaker. My son manages to completely saturate an outrageously absorbent fitted, so the fact that the wool (which is breathable remember) was damp where his tush was compressing it all night, doesn’t concern me!

In the end, this is a great product and the fact that it comes with even better service behind it, makes it worth much more than the price I paid!!

August 2010: Still in our regular night time rotation!

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Flip Diaper Cover w/Stay Dry Insert

Apr 7,2010 / By Maria / 11 Comments

I had been wanting to try a Flip for a while. When I found out Abby’s Lane was not only honoring the Bumgenius Coupon for a free AIO, but they actually had the coupons for me, I couldn’t resist.

The only catch was that they asked a buyer to spend $25 on Bumgenius, Flip or Econobum products if you wanted Abby’s Lane to clip the coupon for you, rather than the $10 stated on the coupon. Not a big deal since they weren’t charging for the coupon (other sites were charging for the magazine/coupon, then crediting you a bit if you didn’t want the magazine) and shipping is always free at Abby’s lane. Basically, I got a lot more from them for just a couple bucks more than $10 in product, shipping and the coupon cost would have been from somewhere else. For the record, no, I don’t work for Abby’s Lane, just love them!

Anyhoo, my order came at the speed of light at usual.

The packaging had a sticker saying to wash the cover separately 6 times. I was a little confused, since I didn’t think this needed to be “prepped.” I called cottonbabies and it turns out that they had some issues with the covers running. So, I dutifully washed just the cover 6 times! You do have to hang the cover to dry.

The Flip cover has an easy snap closure.

The inside is PUL, easy to wipe clean during changes.

The Flip has the same snap down rise that the Bumgenius 3.0 one size diapers have.

Same leg casings and outer too.

The insert is one size and has wonderful seams and markings to make the folding super easy.

They make inserts in organic cotton and disposable too. The price per disposable insert seems similar to disposables, but instead of chemicals, fragrance and gel, they contain Non-woven bamboo viscose, Wood Pulp and SAP fillers, and starch based glue. They would be a nice compromise for road trips and such, since you could really just wipe out the covers and even hand wash them if they really needed it.

I prefer a stay dry liner, so I chose the stay dry insert, which has 3 layers of microfiber, and has stay dry suede on the side that touches baby’s bottom. Very soft.

There are no awkward snap attachments, the insert just slips inside. The little envelope like thingie at each end helps hold it in place and keeps it from wicking onto clothing.

The snap closure was very easy, and this seemed as trim as the Bumgenius 3.0.

He fit wonderfully in the medium setting.

We had no problems, no leaks. This was great!

I’d like to get one more cover and a few more inserts. I think this would be excellent for being out and about. One extra cover and a few extra inserts would take up a lot less space than several pocket diapers for sure!

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Category : Diaper Covers

Monster Fluff Embroidered Fleece Soaker/Diaper Cover Review and Giveaway Open to the U.S. and Canada (CLOSED 11/6)

Econobum Giveaway (CLOSED 8/13)

Little Beetle Little to Big Diaper and Wool Cover

Mobums Wool Interlock “Night Night” Soaker

Flip Diaper Cover w/Stay Dry Insert

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