Babykicks 3G Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway / Comparison To Bumboo Pocket (CLOSED 3/15)

Mar 8,2011 / By Maria / 25 Comments

I posted my Babykicks Bumboo pocket diaper review about 9 months ago, and I was curious about how they compared to the new Babykicks 3G pocket diaper. I purchased several with a CSN gift card to both compare and review, and to give away and donate!

I like the Bumboo pocket, but the 3G has minor changes that make me like it even more. They still retail for $18.50. One noticeable change is the addition of the newborn snaps.

The newborn snaps are two male snaps on the wing, next to the closure snaps (this is a side snapping diaper.) It took me some hunting to figure out how to use them, so I actually made a video demonstrating how, in addition to photos below.

If you don’t care to watch videos (or if you’re “NAK” like I often am, LOL) here is a photo demo:

First, you fold the pocket into itself:

Then bring the tab with the newborn snaps over the front.

Then, you fold the other tab over to snap it to the newborn snaps.

fold other tab & attach to newborn snaps

This is a side snapping diaper, but when you’re using the diaper on the newborn setting, you snap the tabs to each other. They do not actually attach to the rest of the diaper at all. Since the newborn setting is for new babies (a week or two old) they aren’t exactly mobile, and the pressure will hold the diaper in place.

It really gets very tiny! The inner of the diaper is quite absorbent, and you should be able to use it for a brand new baby without an insert, though you can also fold the insert and stuff the diaper if you wish.

Like the Bumboo pocket, the 3G has 4 size settings via a snap down rise. Above is the smallest setting. Babykicks estimates the diaper will fit 7-40 pounds, but I’m not sure if they consider the sizes XS-L or S-XL. I’m referring to them as XS-L based on the size compared to other diapers I have.

Here’s another video comparing the two diapers, and pointing out the differences between them. I’m also doing the same in photos below.

It’s difficult to show in photos or videos, but the 3G has a slightly wider pocket than the Bumboo. In all the photos below, the Bumboo pocket is in white and the 3G is in blue.

The front panel of the 3G is also a bit wider, and the tabs/wings are slightly narrower.

The 3G is also a little bit narrower through the crotch for a trimmer fit.

The wing and front size changes give a bit more leg room on the largest setting.

I love the wider pocket, and I love the new insert. The Bumboo pocket came with a medium Joey Bunz insert, which is contoured on both ends. The 3G comes with a new one-size Joey Bunz, which is tapered on one end, and also has lines to guide you in folding it down.

My old insert is a funny color because it was accidentally thrown in with a load of microfiber inserts and bleach. Oops!

I think the tapered insert fits much better in the pocket, and the front of the diaper is much smoother on smaller settings. I had a hard time getting the Bumboo insert in there just right, and I had tried putting the folded portion of the insert both in the front and the back without great results. Stuffing the 3G with the contoured portion in the back, then folding the tapered portion in front (this is a front opening pocket) seems to work very well.

The Bumboo pocket only came in white with multicolored snaps. The 3G comes in Azure (blue), Poppy (red), Meadow (green) and also the white with multicolored snaps. They both still have the 4 rise and snap settings, natural fiber inner with fleece around the edges (to prevent wicking) and the fleece gussets.

As always, my measurements are not an exact science, but just to give you an idea.

Extra small folded and stretched:

Small:

Medium:

Large:

I had been putting my son in the Bumboo on the large setting, since the insert fit better that way, but he really needs the medium. Here he is in the 3G on the medium setting. He is 21 months old and weighs about 21 pounds.

Here he is in the Bumboo pocket (medium setting) on the same day:

babykicks bumboo pocket medium 21 lb baby

See this on my newborn.

Giveaway: One entrant will receive one Babykicks 3G Pocket diaper in his/her choice of color (ARV $18.50.) The rest of the diapers will be sent to The Cloth Diaper Foundation!

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. I love comments (great way to remind yourself you entered) but comments do not count as entries.

Mandatory entries include your name and email address.

I will accept entries until Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 at 9:00 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.

# of entries received as of giveaway close: 174

https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dG5rV1JXMkF3U2Vra3RYR2REcFVyQVE6MQ

FTC compliance: I purchased these diapers with a gift card provided by CSN stores. I was not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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Tiny Tush Elite Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 2/10)

Feb 3,2011 / By Maria / 13 Comments

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I received a Tiny Tush Elite one-size pocket diaper to review.

The diaper is one-size via 4 snap down rise settings, and is estimated to fit 7-35 pounds.

The Elite Pocket Diaper is available in both snap and aplix closures; I chose aplix.

It has a rear, reverse envelope pocket opening, and included a full size and a small microfiber insert/doubler.

Extra-small folded and stretched:

Small:

Medium:

Large:

My son is around 21 pounds, and I put him in the medium setting. It seems to fit him a tiny bit larger than some other diapers, but still fit well and did not leak. He has quite a bit of room to grow in it.

The Tiny Tush Elite pocket diaper retails for $17.95.

Giveaway: Tiny Tush is offering one reader an Elite Pocket Diaper in his/her choice of color and closure.

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. I welcome your comments (leaving a comment is a great way to remind yourself that you entered) but comments do not count as entries.

Mandatory entries include your name, email address and what item you’d love to have from ~~Tiny Tush~~.

~~There are three opportunities for bonus entries. 1. Receive a bonus entry if you “like”~~ ~~Tiny Tush on Facebook. 2. Receive a bonus entry if you follow~~ ~~Tiny Tush on Twitter. 3. Finally, receive a bonus entry if you sign up for the~~ ~~Tiny Tush mailing list~~.

I will accept entries until Thursday, February 10th, 2011 at 9:00 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.

# of entries received as of giveaway close: 374

https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dEVYeldEY3hyZVN5QnBJVldZNWlnQlE6MQ

FTC compliance: I received the pictured item at no cost in order to review. I was not otherwise 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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Smartipants Smart-Fit Cover Review and Giveaway (CLOSED 2/1)

Jan 25,2011 / By Maria / 10 Comments

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I ended up really liking my Smartipants diaper. I initially didn’t think it was anything special, but my opinion changed, and after using it for 8 months, it landed in my favorite things.

Though fitteds/covers or prefolds/covers aren’t my favorite, I was very interested to try the Smartipants Smart-Fit Cover, which retails for $13.95.

One thing that’s pretty unique about the Smartipants cover is the waist adjustment. There are snaps at the rear on each side, allowing additional sizing customization.

The covers are available with Aplix closures, while the one-size diapers are not (newborn diapers are).

The cover has a wipeable inner, so it can be reused for multiple diaper changes.

The diaper cover has 5 rise settings. That combined with the waist snap adjustment and overlapping tabs, gives you a lot of options to find just the right fit.

That said, the cover is quite large overall, considerably larger than the smart sleeve diaper.

I do not think this cover would fit newborns or small babies. The smallest setting seems similar to the medium setting on one-size diapers. For simplicity, I’m labeling the size settings 1/smallest through 5/largest.

Here is the smallest setting (first snap) folded and stretched:

Setting two:

Setting three:

Setting four:

Setting five/largest setting/fully unsnapped:

While the cover can be used with inserts, it seems to be sized to better fit over bulkier systems like fitted diapers.

Here is my 21ish pound son in the Smartipants cover, smallest setting (waist and rise) with a Flip stay dry insert:

It also fit over my fluffiest fitted, my Heartland Dreams.

If you are looking for a highly adjustable cover, that will fit your larger baby for a long time, this is it!

Giveaway: Smartipants is offering one winner their own smart fit cover, in their ~~choice of color! The covers are available in Clever Clover, Aqua Breeze, Think Pink and Bright White; the diapers have even more color options!~~

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. I love your comments (leaving a comment is a good way to remind yourself you entered), but comments don’t count as entries! Mandatory entries include name, email address and what other ~~Smartipants~~ ~~product you’d like to try (or what you’d like to see them add!). You can receive a bonus entry if you “like”~~ ~~Smartipants on Facebook~~.

I will accept entries until Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 9:00 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. only.

# of entries received as of Giveaway close: 181

https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dDExbUFlZ29Td3gxZ21xS0xrdDVCUXc6MQ

FTC compliance: I received the pictured item at no cost in order to write my review. Smartipants is also offering an item to a giveaway winner. I was not otherwise compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

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Babykicks Newborn/Small Hemp Prefold Photo Review

Jan 20,2011 / By Maria / 2 Comments

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It’s no secret that I’m more of a pocket diaper type Mama than a prefold Mama, but I’ve heard great things about Babykicks hemp prefolds. I wanted to something to go with a newborn wrap I bought with a gift card (I know, I know…it’s an illness!) so I snagged a newborn/small size from sewcraftybaby for $6.59, less a new customer discount, and got free shipping too!

Babykicks are hemp and organic cotton, and are 2 layers on the sides and 3 in the middle.

Here it is before prepping (washing and drying about 3 times to remove the natural oils and fluff up the fibers.):

Here it is after prepping (you can see how much fluffier it got):