Personal Posts Potty Training

I Swear I’m Not Avoiding Potty Training Just Because I Love Fluff

Since we use cloth diapers, blowing money on disposables isn’t a factor in my desire to potty train my almost 3 year old son. So my potty training “method” didn’t lead to quick training like it did with my daughter, but I still stand by it. I don’t think there’s a “one-size fits all” method for potty training, and I think when people swear that xyz had their child trained in a weekend, it was simply because the child was ready & the method was right for them & their personality.

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All In One Diapers Cloth Diapers One Size Diapers Pocket Diapers Snap Closure Velcro/Aplix Closure

NEW Style – Tots Bots Easy Fit Cloth Diaper (From Bummis) Review

bummis easy fit 1

I had never used a Tots Bots Easy Fit diaper, but I did use the newborn version, a Tini Fit. Like the Tini Fit, the Easy Fit is made by Tots Bots in Glasgow, Scotland, and distributed in the U.S. by Bummis.

bummis easy fit 2 side bummis easy fit 3 back

Bummis sent me one of the new version Easy Fits to review, although they won’t be available to purchase until April. I don’t have an old version, and I’ve already sent along my Tini Fit to a new home (it would still fit my son, but I wanted to send all the newborn diapers to my friend at once!) So, I don’t have a side-by-side comparison for you, but I will point out the features that have been changed (including the wider back elastic, which you can see above!) I’m not sure if this is new, but I noticed that the PUL is really soft. It definitely has a different feel than all my other diapers.

bummis easy fit 4 velcro closures bummis easy fit 5 rise snaps

Whether you choose hook & loop or snaps (poppers) for your diaper (nappy), they are now color matched. Tots Bots are made in the U.K. so the Tots Bots Facebook page is full of “popper” and “nappy” talk. Tee-hee! The closure tabs are rather stiff on the Tini & Easy Fits, so I really wondered if they’d stay folded back and attached to the laundry tabs. Both the newborn and the big version didn’t give me any trouble. They have a snap down rise to fit babies 8-35 pounds, and the rise snaps are color matched as well.

bummis easy fit 6 leg elastic and fleece liner bummis easy fit 7 inner
bummis easy fit 8 soaker

Above left, I’ve pictured the fleece liner that was included with my diaper. The Easy Fit still has a half sewn-in soaker and brushed polyester side guards to prevent compression leaks. However, instead of a 2 layer soaker made of microfiber & rayon from bamboo, the soaker is 3 layers of color matched minky. This gives you more absorbency with less bulk.

bummis easy fit 9 soaker tucked in bummis easy fit 10 materials

The soaker is super easy to tuck in. It comes out on its own in the wash, but it doesn’t bunch or turn the whole diaper inside out. It gets cleaner & dries faster than an AIO with a completely sewn in soaker, and it’s quicker to stuff the soaker back in than it is to match and stuff pocket diapers. The pocket also allows you to add additional absorbency if you need it. The flap covering the pocket opening on my Tini Fit was the same brushed polyester as the side guards, but this Easy Fit is a different, even softer polyester.

Here is the small setting measured folded & stretched:

bummis easy fit 11 small folded bummis easy fit 12 small stretched

Below, I closed the left side of the diaper first. You can overlap the tabs (both of them,) and if you notice, the right tab extends further, allowing you to close the diaper even more tightly if you close the left tab on top of it.

bummis easy fit 13 small bummis easy fit 14 small side
bummis easy fit 15 small back

Medium:

bummis easy fit 16 medium folded bummis easy fit 17 medium stretched

You can better see what I mean about the overlap in this picture!

bummis easy fit 18 medium bummis easy fit 19 medium side
bummis easy fit 20 medium back

Large:

bummis easy fit 21 large folded bummis easy fit 22 large stretched

bummis easy fit 23 large bummis easy fit 24 large side
bummis easy fit 25 large back

My older son is 2 years, 9 months old and in the neighborhood of 29ish pounds. I put him in the large setting, and he looks like he has room in this one.

bummis easy fit 26 on 2 yr 9 mo old bummis easy fit 27
bummis easy fit 28 on 29 lb toddler

My little guy had just turned 3 months old last week when I took these pictures. He’s around 11 pounds (guessing…he was 10 lbs a month ago) and he’s somewhat slender since he’s a bit taller.

The small setting fits him with no leg gap, without struggling or double checking that it’s snug enough. This is what it looks like all the way closed, with that entire overlap being used.

bummis easy fit 29 on 3 mo old bummis easy fit 30 on 11ish lb 3 mo old

The Tini Fit was one of my favorite newborn diapers because it gave me the absorbency I needed (with the booster, it was as absorbent as (if not more than) a one-size diaper, but fit far better. The Easy Fit fits my little guy with no gapping or readjusting, and fits my big guy too. Plus, it’s absorbent enough for both of them! My younger son can soak a one-size microfiber insert in 2 hours, and so far the Easy Fit has lasted longer than that without a hint of leaking. That said, I have a hard time comparing the absorbency of inserts since both boys can really have a wide variation in their wetting habits. Since I can’t remove this insert it’s not as easy to tell how wet it is as it is when you yank a sopping wet microfiber insert out of a pocket. I’m still trying to find a good way to test insert absorbency “scientifically,” but Bummis says the old style Easy Fit can hold 17.6 oz (wow!) and I believe this is more absorbent.

You will be able to find the new style Easy Fit (and new prints) at Bummis Retailers in April. The new Tots Bots Easy Fit diapers will still retail for $23.95. You can see new prints & colors in Tots Bots’ Facebook album and they have photos of the inners as well. I pretty much want one in every color. 😉

FTC compliance: I received the pictured diaper at no cost for review purposes. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

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Friday Giveaway Linky Giveaways Linky

Cloth Diaper Giveaway Roundup for 3/9/12 (Plus Linky for All Giveaways)

Cloth Diaper Giveaway Roundup

It’s time again for a cloth diaper giveaway roundup. This weekly roundup includes cloth diapers, accessories & baby wearing items.

If you’d like me to list your cloth diaper, accessory, baby wearing (etc.) giveaway next week, send a link and description to maria at change-diapers.com, or Fill out my contact form for readers.

cjs butter 1

My CJ’s BUTTer giveaway ends 3/15 RC

just clean wipe bits 1

My Just Clean Wipe Bits giveaway ends 3/21 and is open to the U.S. and Canada RC

The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

*Prizes from Fuzzibunz (no set end date, ends at 25k fans) Entry is through Facebook app, must “like” them on Facebook to enter

*$10 Diaper Junction GC from Earth Faerie Momma Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 3/9) RC

*Softbums Omni from Brookie’s Baby Bargains (ends 3/9) RC

Honeybuns Diaper from mama Birth Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 3/9)

*WAHMies diaper from Daily Mothering (ends 3/10) RC

*Sunbaby Diaper from Daily Mothering (ends 3/10) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Swaddlebees Simplex from Kissed by the Moon & Mama on a Green Mission (ends 3/10) RC

Thirsties Duo Diaper from Growing Up Geeky (ends 3/10) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Ones & Twos Diaper from Natural Parents Network (ends 3/11) RC

*$20 Bouncing Babies GC from So Easy Being Green (ends 3/11) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Greenchild Creations Diaper from Home Grown Families (ends 3/11) RC

*Blissful Booty Diaper from One More Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/11) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Sunbaby Diaper from Diary of a Working Mom (ends 3/11)

*Softbums Echo from Green Mama Jama Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/12) RC

*Dick & Jane Diaper from On Being a Mom Two Mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 3/12) Open to the U.S. and Canada

*Baby by Danish Wet Bag from On Being a Mom Two Mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 3/12) Open to the U.S. and Canada

*Snappi from Contemplate Cloth Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/12) RC

*$25 Oeko Popo GC from Dirty Diaper Laundry (ends 3/12) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*$20 Rearz GC from Manager to Mom (ends 3/12) RC

*Sweet Pea Prefold & Cover from inRandom (ends 3/13) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Londonware Diaper Cover & Leg Warmers from Letters from Momma (ends 3/13) RC

Rumparooz Insert from Doable Diapers (ends 3/13) RC

*Boba Baby Carrier from Under the Apple Tree Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 3/14) RC

*$20 Abby’s Lane GC from Mama on a Green Mission (ends 3/14) RC

$10 Jack Be Natural GC from Life With My Littles Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/14) RC

Lil Helper Diaper from Really Are You Serious (ends 3/14) RC

*Cloth Diaper from Eco Crazy Mom (ends 3/15) RC

*$50 Abby’s Lane GC (ends 3/15) RC

Oeko Popo Diaper from My This n That Life Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/15) RC

Sew Is Your Baby Diaper from Baby Giveaways Galore (ends 3/15) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Doopsy Diaper from Life Full of Unexpected Happiness Two Mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 3/15) RC

*Baby K’tan Carrier from A Nation of Moms (ends 3/16) RC

*GroVia Trainer from Happenings of the Harper Household (ends 3/16) RC

Fuzzibunz Diaper from Changing Diapers & Sapsmama (ends 3/16) RC

*Thirsties Duo AIO from Eco-Babyz Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/17) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Softbums Diaper from According to Jenny (ends 3/17) RC

Ones & Twos Diaper from Baby Dickey (ends 3/17) RC

Babyville Boutique Products from Nicki the Eval Gal Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/17) RC

Knickernappies Diaper from Petite Bottoms & Dibs (ends 3/18) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Rumparooz Diaper from The Green Nursery and Cloth Diaper Geek (ends 3/18) RC

Glow Bug Diaper from Diaper Deals Two Mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 3/18) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Perfect Bum Diaper from Mama Loves her Bargains (ends 3/21) RC

Incredibum Wipes from So Easy Being Green (ends 3/21) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Baby K’tan Carrier from 7 Kids & Counting Mandatory Facebook “like” and Twitter follow (ends 3/22) RC

Flip Diapers & Planet Wise Wet Bag from Abby’s Lane (ends 3/22) RC

Glow Bug Diaper from Surf Mommie Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 3/23) RC

Wee Pantz Diaper from Daily Mothering (ends 3/24) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Groovycheeks Diaper from Green Mama Jama Mandatory GFC follow and Facebook “like” (ends 3/26) RC

Thirsties Duo AIO from Jack be Natural & Earth Faerie Momma Two mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 3/26) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Booty Buns Diaper from Contemplate Cloth Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/26) RC

$20 Haute Bottoms Diaper from Oh the Joys of Boys (ends 3/29) RC

Tiny Tush Diaper from Padded Tush Stats (ends 3/31) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Planet Wise Wet Bag from Kissed by the Moon and 4 The Love of Sanity Mandatory GFC follow and Facebook “like” (ends 4/2) RC

*giveaways that have been listed in a prior week’s roundup
RC Entries collected via Rafflecopter
GD Entries collected via Google Docs Form

You may enter any “family friendly” giveaway in the linky below. The form Blog name – Giveaway Item – Ending date works well. Please at least include the item and end date, and link directly to the giveaway.

View my where I list my giveaways post, to find more places to link up your giveaways!

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Knickernappies Cloth Diaper Winner

knickernappies winner

548 people entered this giveaway, with 3093 entries in all!

The winning entry is #1138, which is Jennifer B. Congrats Jennifer, I’m sending you an email so you can claim your prize!

If you didn’t win, I hope you will check Knickernappies out. I love their Loopydo and Superdo inserts in just about all my pocket diapers, and I love their o/s diapers too of course!

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Diaper Cream Giveaway Review

CJ’s BUTTer Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 3/15)

cjs butter 1

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been cloth diapering as long as I have, and I’m just now trying CJ’s BUTTer. I’ve heard so much about it, that I contacted them to see if I could buy a bunch of samples to use as prizes (they are sponsoring the next few months of “top fans” runner-up prizes) and they sent a few extra for me to try too.

cjs butter 2 ingreds

BUTTer is a cloth safe diaper cream (as long as you use a thin layer!) that seems to work for just about everything! It’s available in tubs, sticks and tubes from $6.97 for a .75 oz stick, up to $19 for a 12 ounce tub. BUTTer comes in tons of yummy scents, as well as a plus formula (formerly the yeast formula) and a vegan version (shea butter, cocoa butter & sesame oil.) They also have a spray version, foaming cleanser, body lotions and more!

CJ’s BUTTer ingredients: shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, lanolin, beeswax, cocoa butter, vitamin e, colloidal oatmeal, fragrance

CJ’s BUTTer PLUS ingredients: shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, sesame oil, vitamin e, neem oil

cjs butter 3 seal cjs butter 4 texture

Most of the samples had a safety seal, which foiled my plan to sit & sniff all your prizes. Hmph. If you want to try lots of scents, you can create your own sampler of .5 oz tubs.

cjs butter 5 rubbed in

When using this as a diaper cream, I got just a tiny bit on my fingers, rubbed them between my fingers & applied. I used a lot more in these photos to show the texture. It looks greasy above, but within a few minutes, it absorbed and left my skin super soft, but not greasy. I have terrible eczema and my hands crack & bleed in the winter (you can see band aids on my hands in some videos, LOL.) Luckily, my hands aren’t bad when I am pregnant or newly breastfeeding, but I’ve had bad patches on my upper arms lately. I applied CJ’s overnight, then lightly exfoliated in the shower and they are all but gone. I also used it on my feet and wore socks to bed (yuck on the socks in bed, but it worked.) I even put a bit on my fingertips, rubbed them together, then smoothed the ends of my hair. It tamed my frizzies without making my hair gross!

Oh yeah, it’s a diaper cream too. 😉 The fragrance was pleasant but not overwhelming, and didn’t seem to irritate my sons’ skin.

cjs butter 6 lip balm cjs butter 7 lip balm ingreds

I also tried the CJ’s lip balm, which sells for $3.30 for a standard .15 oz tube. You can also get a 4-pack for $10.50 if you can’t pick just one flavor!

CJ’s BUTTer lip balm ingredients: soybean oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, apricot kernel oil, almond oil, coconut oil, vegetable glycerin, beeswax, flavor

I tried the strawberries & cream flavor (yum!) but I think they all sound fantastic, especially liptricity (peppermint), mint chocolate chip, mochaccino, lemon cheesecake & vanilla chai latte!

cjs butter 8 lip balm

I’m particular about my lip products. I don’t like anything sticky or waxy. The CJ’s slicked on smoothly (didn’t need much at all) and felt satiny. Even after it started to wear off after drinking, my lips felt soft for hours. The overall texture of the stick seemed softer than most store bought lip balms at first, but after I used the top bit of lip balm, the rest of the stick was firmer.

Browse all of CJ’s products and find CJ’s on Facebook.

Giveaway: One reader will receive a 4 oz. Tube of CJ’s Original BUTTer® in his/her choice of scent. The retail value of this prize is $9.00. In order to be a “giveaway” the prize has to be free (of course) so this giveaway is open to the lower 48 states of the U.S. only. However, if you are outside of this area and would like to enter, CJ’s would ask that you pay half of the shipping. Void where prohibited of course! Entries go in the Rafflecopter form.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC compliance: I received samples 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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