Swaddlebees Capri Cloth Diaper Cover & Inserts Review

May 1,2012 / By Maria / 9 Comments

The Swaddlebees Capri is a cloth diaper cover that serves as a trim AI2 with the available inserts, or can cover a prefold, fitted etc. The covers are available in hook & loop or snaps (they have the same “offset” snaps as Blueberry) and come in 7 solids (including the “marina” I received) and 8 prints. 95% of Swaddlebees/Blueberry items are made in the U.S.A.

The Capri is a “two size” system, with size 1 fitting approximately 6-16 pounds and size 2 fitting 12-35 pounds. The size 1 retails for $16.95 and the size 2 retails for $19.95.

The cover is pretty trim with the Capri inserts which are sold separately for $12.95-$15.95 per 2 pack.

Whether you choose size 1 or size 2 (I received size 2), you have 3 rise setting options via a snap down rise. The cover is reusable with its wipeable PUL inner, and has true leg gussets. The Capri has front and rear flaps to keep your insert or prefold in place, and it is very sturdy and appears quite durable.

The Capri inserts are all natural birdseye cotton, but have microfleece on one side, so whether you prefer natural fabric, or stay dry fabric, you have both options in one insert.

The long style allows you to fold it to get the absorbency where you need it, and since it’s not all sewn into a single thickness, it’s also easier to get clean.

Keep in mind this is the size two cover, and my measurements aren’t exact!

Small setting measured folded and stretched:

Medium:

Large:

The size 2 fit my 13ish pound 4 1/2 month old:

As well as my 30ish pound almost 3-year old (with room to grow!)

The birdseye inserts absorbed very well, and I’ve used the cover over flats also. It will definitely be the first cover I grab during the flats challenge!

Shop Swaddlebees, “like” Swaddlebees on Facebook, follow Swaddlebees on Twitter and sign up for their newsletter. They have great deals on clearance, but items go fast, so being on the mailing list lets you know about stockings first!

Giveaway: One reader will win a Swaddlebees cover only (no inserts) in his/her choice of size, color & closure, limited to stock at hand. Entries go in the Rafflecopter form. U.S. and military addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC compliance: I received a product sample for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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iPlay Ultimate Swim Diaper Review & Giveaway – Pure and Simple Baby (CLOSED 5/8) U.S./Canada

Apr 26,2012 / By Maria / 2 Comments

Pure & Simple Baby is a Mom-owned eco-baby boutique that sells cloth diapers and other “green,” non-toxic, organic and fair trade products for baby. Their offerings include toys, organic baby & toddler clothing, baby carriers and more. All orders over $49 receive free shipping.

They have quite a few swim diapers including some adorable prints, ruffle butt styles, and swimsuits with built in swim diapers.

I received a white iPlay Classics Ultimate swim diaper, which retails for $10.99.

The swim diaper has a snap opening on one side to make it easy for you to take off, but not easy for baby to take off!

I received the size small, which fits 10-18 lbs/6 months. Though Pure & Simple Baby is still replenishing their stock for summer purchases, iPlay swim diapers come in a huge range of sizes from preemie/4 lbs to 4T/38-46 lbs.

What makes iPlay swim diapers really unique is their sewn-in, absorbent layer and moisture wicking interior. The absorbent layer means you won’t get wet carrying baby on the way to the pool, but it’s not so absorbent that it will get soggy & droopy after being in the water.

The snug fit combined with the absorbent layer makes me confident to use this on my 13ish pound, 4 1/2 month old son, without worrying about breastfed baby poop escaping!

My favorite swim diaper Pure & Simple Baby sells is this imse vimse turquoise dots with frill. Too bad my daughter is too big for swim diapers!

Shop Pure and Simple Baby, follow the Pure & Simple Baby Blog, follow Pure and Simple Baby on Twitter and “like” Pure and Simple Baby on Facebook.

Giveaway: One lucky person will receive a white iPlay classic ultimate swim diaper in their choice of size. Entries go in the Rafflecopter form. Please click “view terms and conditions” at the bottom of the Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC compliance: I received a product sample for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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Affiliates Apparel & Accessories Review

Bravado Bliss Soft Cup Nursing Bra Review

Apr 24,2012 / By Maria / 6 Comments

I can hardly begin to tell you how much I despise bra shopping. Especially nursing bras. I wear an odd size, so I have no choice but to order online, and they are always expensive. Between pregnancy weight gain, weight loss, initial nursing engorgement, then gradual size change as my kids nursed less and I lost weight, I thought I had just about every size I needed.

As my children grew older, I just wore a regular bra where I could pull the cup to the side to nurse, but I stuck with soft cup nursing bras initially. However, I have never found a soft cup bra that gives me decent lift and shape, as well as comfort. Even ones with a wide band underneath tended to just roll up under my bust, and they all looked awful under tops. I had an occasion recently where I had to look presentable, so I grabbed an underwire bra from my “stash” that looked decent, but (since the band was too big) the underwire dug into my underarms. Thus started my latest, desperate, money bleeding search for a decent nursing bra.

Finding the right size is ridiculous and annoying since they vary so much by brand and style. Plus, only certain cup shapes fit me well, and a 30″ band size with a larger cup is hard to find. In the past, if I’ve found a bra I like, I will buy the same in different sizes as I’ve lost weight. (I have quite a few by Fantasie!) For me, a bra needs to be comfortable; the right band size, the right cup size, with no riding up and no shifting inside the cups. It needs to lift and separate (sounds cheesy but true), be supportive, and be smooth under clothing. A very, very tall order apparently.

Reviews for the Bravado Bliss Nursing Soft Cup Bra seemed good, it was actually a bit cheaper ($54 retail) than many others, and it came with an extender and a kit to convert it to a regular bra when you were finished nursing.

It has kind of a cheesy little thing in the middle, but there isn’t much holding it on, so you can take it off. It’s not as utilitarian looking as many, and has adjustable straps.

I initially ordered this in the next size down and instantly fell in love, but I was spilling out of the sides of the cup a bit. It does not come in a 30 band size, so I had gone up to a 32 and sized the cup down to make up for it.

Be leery of anyone who tells you to add inches to your rib cage measurement to get your band size. This will usually end up getting you too big of a band size and too small of a cup size. For someone who is say, a 30F, the old add 5 inches thing will get you in a 34 or 36 A cup!! Not happening. You want the bra to be snug (but not tight) on the loosest clasp setting when it’s new, so you can tighten it as it stretches with age. If the band is on the tightest setting, you likely need to go down a band size (and up a cup size to make up for it if the bra otherwise fit.)

Anyhoo, what I love about this bra is that it has molded foam cups, with a firm but flexible support channel underneath. The support & shape were as close to an underwire as I’ve ever seen from a soft cup. The band didn’t fold under my bust, even when I slouched. The cups provide modesty, hide nursing pads, and can catch a little “oops I forgot nursing pads” leakage. I happily chopped those tags off and wore it. And then…and then…

You have to remember that when you go up a band size, the whole bra is changed proportionately. It’s not like an inch or two was just added to the back. The cups themselves are designed for someone with a broader rib cage. Therefore, going from a 30 to a 32 band size moves the cups from the front of my chest closer to my underarms. Then what happens is that as I reach, bend, move etc., my nice shape turns into a uni-boob, which quickly turns into a quad-boob. This has happened before with molded cups and a band size that’s too big (especially with companies not known for small band/large cup sizes.) It’s never apparent in the “trying on” stage, only after I’ve cut the tags off and worn it. With a non-nursing bra, I can use fashion tape to keep the cups in place. Otherwise, I have to try to nonchalantly stuff myself back in the cups every 5 minutes. Obviously, taping myself in the bra isn’t an option when I’m nursing.

I can’t return it, and there’s not exactly a market for used nursing bras, so I’m out $50. If this came in a 30 band size, I might love it. For now, I ordered two more sizes of my favorite non-nursing, underwire bra, since I have 1 that’s a little too small and 1 that’s a little too big, but I think the right size will work for just pulling the cup to the side. For the record, out of the zillions of bras I’ve tried, used and/or returned over the past 8ish years, my favorites are the Freya Millie Balcony Underwire Bra, which I believe has been replaced by the Naomi Balcony Underwire Bra, and the Fantasie Smoothing Balcony Underwire Bra.

Finding a bra that works for me stinks. Finding one that also works for nursing double stinks. I’ve come to realize that I can only buy from a handful of brands that specialize in small band/large cup sizes. So how about you? Do you have bra issues, or are you a lucky one that can grab something at the department store for $30? If you have an oddball size, some places I’ve shopped are Her Room, Fig Leaves and Bigger Bras. Not affiliate links, just places I’ve frequented in recent years! Just be aware that a lot of brands are European, so the cup sizes at DD & beyond will be labeled differently! (Ex: Fantasie goes C, D, DD, E, F, FF, G etc. Most American sizes would be C, D, DD/E, DDD/F etc.) So, you could be an I cup in the U.S. but wear a G in a European brand!

FTC compliance: Although I paid normal retail prices for the pictured item, this post contains affiliate links. I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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BPA Free Review

Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottles

Apr 17,2012 / By Maria / 2 Comments

I posted my Lifefactory Glass Beverage Bottle review in February, and I still love them and use them every day. So, I decided to pick up a Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottle. The 4 ounce bottle I chose with a sky blue sleeve, retails for $14.99 (I snagged it for $13.72.) This is definitely not cheap, but I really only need the one (and I’m not sure if he will even take it!) They are also available as a 9 ounce bottle with a $16.99 MSRP (from $14.43 on Amazon.)

The bottles are made of borosilicate glass that is thermal shock resistant and can go from freezer to boiling water without breaking (obviously, it’s still glass, so it could break with extreme temperature change or force.) The silicone sleeve and nipple (comes with a 0-3 month slow-flow) are medicaled grade, latex and plastic-free silicone.

Like the beverage bottles, the baby bottles are dishwasher safe, and you don’t need to remove the sleeve to wash or boil.

When you’re through with bottles, the 4 oz or 9 oz bottles can turn into a water bottle buy purchasing white or colored solid caps. You can also turn them into sippy cups by adding sippy caps.

The bottle feels nice and sturdy, but it wasn’t as heavy as I was expecting. I love that they are glass, and that their “life” will continue even after we’re out of the baby stage, so my $ won’t be wasted if my son refuses a bottle like my other two did!

FTC compliance: Although I paid normal retail prices for the pictured item, this post contains affiliate links. I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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Apparel & Accessories Review

AmeriBag Healthy Back Bag Review

Apr 12,2012 / By Maria / 2 Comments

The Healthy Back Bag is made by Ameribag with a unique ergonomic shape to distribute weight evenly across your back. The bag is available in several fabrics, including the distressed nylon I received.

The bag is available in 4 sizes (Extra Small: 15″ x 8″ x 5.5″, Small: 17″ x 9″ x 6″, Medium: 19″ x 11″ x 7″ and Large: 21″ x 13″ x 8″) that cost between $55 and $78. Other fabrics, like leather and microfiber, cost more.

I received black distressed nylon in a size large, but all sizes feature a non-slip adjustable shoulder strap and tons of organization.

I don’t currently carry a diaper bag. My purse is large enough for a couple extras, like hand wipes & a small first-aid kit, and I keep a wet/dry bag in the car with cloth diapers & wipes. I just grab that if I think I’ll need to change a diaper somewhere. However, this isn’t always practical, like when we’re going to the zoo for the day. We need diapers, wipes, snacks, change of clothes etc. We typically just take a backpack, but then it’s really difficult to find things, plus you have to take it off to get anything out of it.

AmeriBag does make a baby bag ($75), with a separate area in front for the parent’s stuff, wet item bag & changing pad. The large Healthy Back Bag is perfect for us, since it’s not always used as a baby bag, and we already have wet bags & changing pads!

The double zipper to the main compartment makes it easy to get at your stuff, and the outer gusset pocket is perfect for a water bottle.

The outside of the bag has both zip and Velcro close pockets, making it the perfect place for things you need to get quickly (plane tickets etc.) The bag expands to fit bulkier items inside.

The strap adjusts to make the bag comfortable for anyone, and it actually has non-slip material on the underside to keep it in place.

The Healthy Back Bag has an amazing number of inside pockets (5-6 depending on size) to keep your stuff totally organized and easy to find. I love love love the key hook. I get so tired of digging in my purse for my keys! There’s also a handy gusseted pocket inside for your sunglasses.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and so do Healthy Back bags. The silver bag lining means your stuff is easy to find & doesn’t get lost in a deep, dark corner of a bag! The pockets are angled so they are just right to see and use when the bag is on your shoulder. Just slide it over to your hip to peek in.

I was able to fit 10, stuffed, one-size pocket diapers inside the bag, along with wallet, checkbook, keys, wipes, first aid kit, cloth wipes and spray bottle inside, with room left over and the outside pockets totally empty. Even with all the diapers in the bottom, none of the pockets were blocked, and I had plenty of space for a changing pad & wet bag.

Until we received the AmeriBag, my husband used a backpack to tote his junk back & forth to work, class (before he finished his Master’s Degree) and in airports & planes on business trips. All his stuff would get “lost” in it, and his Ray Ban sunglasses were left on an international flight after they fell out of it. It was also highly inconvenient to take off his back, and naturally if he wore it on one shoulder, the weight became painful.

The laptop was a tight squeeze, but it all fit and he was super excited about all the pockets. It actually made me laugh a little. We are polar opposites when it comes to organization, so seeing my messy, disorganized husband excited about pockets was pretty funny.

They have lots of other bags, including a Gabardine hobo that has two outside pockets, an outside zip pocket, interior organization, key hook, cell phone pocket and attached cosmetics case. Their earth collection are environmentally friendly bags made with recycled PolyEthlene Therephthalate. If buying local is important to you, they have a collection of items made in Kingston, NY!

Shop AmeriBag and receive free shipping on orders over $30. Don’t forget to check out their clearance section, and sign up for their newsletter for special offers. “Like” AmeriBag on Facebook, follow AmeriBag on Twitter and follow the AmeriBag blog.

FTC compliance: I received a product sample for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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