Stroller Blanket From Nikki’s Little House – Review

Mar 22,2011 / By Maria / 4 Comments

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Nikki’s Little House sells all kinds of fabulous products, from cloth diapers to Melissa & Doug toys. Nikki also has a Hyenacart store where she sells her hand made items. You may or may not remember the custom Birthday Monster shirt and I Heart Dad shirts she made for me.

I had been eying her stroller blankets for a while, and when the monster print was on sale for $15 (regularly $20), I grabbed it!

It even has loops to attach toys for little ones!

The blanket snaps on to the stroller to keep it securely attached. When my daughter was little, I ran over her blanket many times, and occasionally she’d toss it out without my noticing. That would mean backtracking my 4 mile loop to find it!

The blanket snaps at the bottom to form a boot to cover tootsies.

You can also use it unsnapped for bigger kids.

The blanket I bought is a super cute monster print on the front, with green trim and backing.

Here it is all snapped to the stroller:

Here you can see how the “boot” covers the foot thingie on the stroller.

I’m able to take my son out for a walk and have him tucked in snugly the whole time! The blanket is very well made and nice and soft and thick!

I am getting ready to order new I heart Dad shirts for both kids, my daughter wanted to wear them to pick up Daddy from the airport (business trip), and she was sad that she & her brother both were outgrowing them!

FTC Compliance: I paid normal retail price for this item. I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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Designs by Cace Pocket Diaper Tester Review

Feb 10,2011 / By Maria / 1 Comment

I reviewed a Designs by Cace all-in-one diaper last year, during my “year of fluff” event. One thing I had mentioned was that a “heavy wetter” style diaper would be a nice option. Sara at Designs by Cace decided to test a brand new pocket diaper pattern, to make absorbency customizable for heavier wetters.

Keep in mind that this is a tester diaper, and changes and improvements will be made based on tester feedback!

The diaper looks very much like the AIO, with aplix closures and laundry tabs.

Except of course, it has a pocket opening rather than a sewn in soaker.

The medium is estimated to fit 10-22 pounds. My son is about 21 pounds and he’s definitely getting close to outgrowing the diaper, but he still has some room.

It took me a while to get my feedback to Sara. I generally get a diaper, wash it once, then use and wash it at least 3-4 times before providing feedback. Well… The first three times I put the diaper on my son, he pooped in it almost immediately! I joke about him and pretty new white diapers, since he always seems to do that. Never three times though! Maybe the super soft inner relaxed him, I don’t know, ha ha!

In any case, I was finally able to give it some really good use, and it has been washed 7+ times. Sara included a microfiber towel to use in the pocket; she is planning on making inserts for the diapers, but wanted to focus on the diapers for now. The last time I used the diaper, the towel was pretty soaked, and I had a little bit of wicking at one of the legs. I think this could be corrected by using an insert in the pocket, and I’m going to try stuffing it with one of my spare inserts next! I’m looking forward to seeing photos of round two testers or the final product!

DBC sells her AIOs from $9 (smalls) to $15 (large prints) and I’d expect the pockets to be fairly similarly priced. Designs by Cace diapers are a great value and are work-at-home-mom made!

FTC compliance: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

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Heartland Dreams One Size Pocket Diaper (Tester) Review!

Jan 27,2011 / By Maria / 5 Comments

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I’ve had my Heartland Dreams Fitted for about 10 months. Fitteds aren’t my favorite, but Heartland Dreams (HD from here on out for lazy me) were recommended to me as an very absorbent fitted, and I turned to fitteds and wool when my son was a night time super soaker!

As it turns out, HD aren’t just absorbent, they are incredibly well made as well. I love a lot of work at home mom (WAHM) made diapers, but HD are amazing.

I found out that Heartland Dreams was working on a one-size pocket diaper (my favorite!), and I got a little excited. I put myself in the running to be a tester, and crossed my fingers and toes. For those who aren’t familiar with “testers,” usually a diaper maker will try their diapers on their own children, and babies that belong to their friends and family, then make tweaks to their pattern. Prior to selling for the first time, trying a new pattern, style or making tweaks to an existing one, they usually want them tested on lots of different age, size and shape babies.

If someone is brand new to making diapers, they may offer the tester diapers free for the cost of shipping, or the cost of shipping + materials. Prices vary based on where they are in the testing phase, and typically when a known diaper maker is just tweaking a product they’ve been selling, testers may just receive a small discount, or coupon for their next order, in exchange for their feedback.

I was excited when I found out I was one of 6 randomly chosen testers! We didn’t get to choose our colors, but I actually received the diaper that I liked best out of the pre-made tester diapers.

Heartland Dreams is great to test for because she is truly looking for feedback, including constructive criticism. She’s not just looking for pats on the back about how great her diapers are (even though they are.)

The pocket diapers are one-size via a snap down rise, and have a 4th setting to fit extra-small babies. I do not know the estimated weight range for these diapers. Rather than just arbitrarily say they fit 8-35 lbs (or whatever) Tina will probably compile tester feedback to set the estimated weight range.

1 row snap closures, 2 ea wing w/overlap

The diaper has snap closures, one row of snaps with 2 snaps on each wing, and two snap overlaps.

The stay dry inner is buttery soft, and has stayed soft after several washes.

The pocket opening is in the front of the diaper, and there is a flap to completely cover the insert, and prevent wicking.

I received both an organic insert and a microfiber insert (which are both made by HD). The organic insert is super soft, and is pre-washed three times, so you can use it right away (it will continue to gain absorbency as you wash it.)

The microfiber insert has snaps to adjust the size and keep it secure. I love this! Not many diapers have this feature, which makes it much easier to stuff the diaper.

When I was taking pictures of this diaper, my husband said “someone MADE that?!” OK, I’m quoting, but paraphrasing a little. He might have said “THAT’s homeMADE?” In any case, it was said in an incredulous tone!

I’m pretty sure Tina isn’t a robot or a machine (LOL) but her stitching is so even and neat, it puts most commercially made diapers to shame. The first two pictures are of stitching along elastic, so any unevenness is because the elastic is gathered. I couldn’t keep it stretched and take a picture at the same time. A third hand would come in very handy at times like these. Har har.

Here’s the diaper on the smallest (extra-small) setting both folded and stretched:

Small:

Medium:

Large:

My son is around 21 pounds, and wears the medium setting of most one-size diapers, so that’s what I put on him. I tried it with the microfiber insert first.

The diaper is cut with an intentionally narrow crotch, so it’s very trim. This is of course one reason Tina was testing the diaper, to make sure it still provided enough coverage for larger babies.

Even with the organic insert, it was still very trim, and also very absorbent. Some people say they don’t have to unstuff their pocket diapers before washing. For me, they just end up bunched up at the bottom of the diaper, unless they have openings on both ends. So, when Tina asked testers to indicate if the insert would agitate out in the wash, either as is, or with the flap flipped up, I tried it just to humor her. To my surprise, both inserts agitated out completely without unstuffing!

Prices haven’t been set for the diapers and inserts yet, that’s another reason for diaper testing, so the testers can give feedback on what they think a fair price would be.

FTC compliance: I paid the normal tester price for this diaper, I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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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

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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.

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Designs by Cace AIO Diaper Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 10/30)

Oct 23,2010 / By Maria / 8 Comments

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Designs by Cace is another WAHM brand, making sized fitteds, all-in-ones (AIOs) and covers, as well as nursing covers and slings.

I received a size medium AIO, which is estimated to fit 10-22 pounds. Small fits about 5-10 pounds, and large about 20-35 pounds.

The diaper has a soft minky inner, a 3 layer sewn in soaker (very trim, but probably best just for daytime) and velcro closures with laundry tabs. I really like the black velcro closures, it’s a nice contrast and it’s different than other diapers. I did notice a few areas where the stitching could have been a little tighter/neater, but it didn’t affect the function of the diaper at all.

The diaper is a smidge smaller than some other mediums I have; here it is compared to a one-size diaper on the medium setting:

Med designs by cace vs medium one size diaper

Here it is measured folded and stretched:

It fit my 18.5 pound guy just fine with plenty of room to grow.

We didn’t have any leak or fit issues, and though it looks like it was digging into his belly, it’s just the way he was sitting.

A solid color medium AIO like I received, is just $10! Wow! Medium prints are $10-12. A large AIO is $12, with prints ranging from $12-$15. Smalls are a little less at $9 each. Fleece covers are just $5-8! These are very Daddy friendly and affordable enough to buy several and support a WAHM.

Giveaway: Designs by Cace is offering a winner any one in-stock item!

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. Mandatory entries include name, email address, and your favorite ~~Designs by Cace~~ ~~item. Please feel free to leave a comment, but comments will not count as entries. Post will be updated daily with the # of entries received.~~

I will accept entries until Saturday, October 30th 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 U.S. residents only.