Newborn Cloth Diapers – My Opinions After a Month
Post and linked posts may contain affiliate links. There’s a picture of my real model next to my previous model. 🙂 You have probably seen my reviews of newborn diapers that I did without a baby while I was expecting my son (and I think maybe even a few before!) If you’re ever looking for one, don’t forget about my review archive.
Welcome to the second annual Merry Fluffy Christmas event! There are 36 bloggers participating in this blog hop event. Each blogger has a cloth diaper prize package worth $50 or more. Giveaways begin 12/1/11 at 12:01 A.M. and end 12/5/11 at 11:59 P.M. Each blog has their own entry methods, some are U.S. only, some are open to Canada, so read carefully. There is a “linky” at the bottom of the post so you can visit all the other blogs.
My prize package is sponsored by Bippy Diapers! Bippy Diapers is an online cloth diaper retailer that also has a store front in Bradenton, FL and offers Cloth 101 Classes for locals. Bippy Diapers carries great cloth diaper and accessory brands, as well as teething necklaces, baby carries, wraps and nursing covers.
Bippy Diapers also offers a diaper service, layaway (10% is due with remainder due within 60 days of layaway), gift certificates and a gift registry. All regular priced orders (no coupon code used) over $50 shipped to the U.S. receive free shipping every day! Other U.S. orders ship for a flat rate of $5, and Bippy Diapers will ship internationally too; just email her for rates.
“Like” Bippy Diapers on Facebook and follow the Bippy Baby blog!
Bippy Diapers is offering a fabulous prize package worth $51.15.
Giveaway: One winner will receive a gender neutral color Bumgenius 4.0 (ARV $17.95), a gender neutral color Fuzzibunz Perfect Size Large (ARV $16.95), a small WAHMies Wet Bag (ARV $9.50) and a stick of CJ’s BUTTer (ARV $6.75.) The combined retail value of this prize is $51.15. Entries go in the Rafflecopter form.
I was on pins & needles when Bumgenius announced their new products/colors. Although AIO diapers aren’t my favorite, I had to pre-order a Bumgenius Freetime one-size AIO cloth diaper. I had to. I’m sure you understand. 😉 I chose the new color, mirror.
Since the Bumgenius Sized AIO diaper was discontinued (except the newborn AIO), the only Bumgenius AIO option was the elemental organic AIO. So, no option for those of us who prefer a stay-dry inner and/or hook & loop closures (I also prefer the encased leg elastic of the 4.0s and the old sized AIOs.)
I like hook & loop diapers, but the 4.0 H&L is the first that has held up well for me. I don’t have anything against snap diapers, but my husband really prefers the Velcro, and will dig through the pile to find one. I know he’ll never complain about me buying another diaper as long as it’s Velcro, tee-hee!! The Freetime has the same hook & loop that the 4.0 diapers have. (It also has the easily replaceable elastic the 4.0 has.)
In fact, while we’re comparing, let’s go ahead and see how they look compared to the 4.0 pocket diapers.
The Freetime and the 4.0 pocket diaper shells are very much the same as far as shape, size, cut, fit and so forth. (Stretchy tabs, available in snap or hook & loop closures, one size via snap down rise, leg elastic etc.) You can see a few subtle differences as far as the PUL at the front & back of the diapers.
Obviously, the big difference is that while the Bumgenius 4.0 is a pocket diaper, the Freetime is an AIO. One of the things I dislike most about an AIO is how difficult it can be to get the soakers clean. I tend to turn my sized AIO inside out to wash it! The Freetime has two microfiber flap soakers topped with microfleece; one sewn at the front & one at the back (they look a lot like the stay-dry flip inserts.)
The soakers have lines to help guide you in folding them. You can fold them all sorts of ways to get the maximum absorbency where you really need it. There’s also an extra layer of microfiber terry sewn into the shell. The shell inner and the soakers are topped with microfleece to keep your baby’s bottom dry.
These are the same size as the Bumgenius 4.0s, so if you like their fit, you will probably like the fit of the Freetime.
Here is the small measured folded & stretched (not an exact science of course!!)
Medium:
Large:
My son is right around 28 pounds, and the medium Freetime fit him the same way the 4.0 medium fits him.
You’ve probably noticed (or you will now!) that my “modeling” photos aren’t perfect. Often the diaper is closed slightly crooked, is a little bunchy etc. etc. It’s not because I’m lazy or don’t want to make the diaper look nice. In actuality, it’s because I am changing a 2 1/2 year old who is usually moving while I do it! This is just how the diapers go on, and I want to test them as I’m likely to use them vs. trying to hold him down for 2 minutes to make the diaper look perfect, because that’s just not realistic for us!
I’ve never been disappointed by a Cottonbabies product, and I’m not disappointed with this one. Still, I wouldn’t buy another one. I, personally, find a pre-stuffed pocket diaper just as easy (if not easier) than an AIO like this, and stuffing the diapers takes about the same amount of time as making sure the soakers are folded properly. At $19.95 each, the Freetime costs $2 more than the 4.0 pocket diaper, and I love that you can easily treat/bleach the pocket inserts separately and/or replace them if needed. You can also toss the inserts in the dryer & hang the shells to dry. With an AIO, you have to either machine dry the whole thing & risk a bit of pre-mature wear & tear on the shells, or wait a bit longer for the whole thing to air dry.
FTC compliance: I purchased the pictured items at normal retail prices. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.