Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Curious About Cloth Diapers? Never Fear, Babyworks Is Here!
Posted by Missy W. @ 7:23 AM
This review just in from my pal AJ, mother of two, soon to be three (brave woman!). Thanks, AJ!
I embarked on the cloth diapering train to lessen the environmental impact we are making with our third kid on the way. We still don’t know what we will drive to fit three car seats, we have no idea how to pay for college for three…but, this seemed surmountable. The only flaw in my plan: I am trying out cloth diapering on my 37 lb, 21 month old boy who is old enough to complain, but not with actual words. He is the test project for G3, as we call the next installment baby.
I only know two girlfriends who use cloth diapers. When I queried my group of mom-pals after reading about Fuzzi Bunz on this site, I received some hilarious emails asking if that was something ‘special’ my husband and I were looking into.
Here is the answer for the curious and hesitant: Babyworks. This is a family owned company started by a mom of three, 18 years ago. They have an exhaustive downloadable catalog that covers everything from cloth diaper brands, cost breakdown as well as health, environmental and economic reasons for choosing cloth diaper systems. They have detailed instructions on how to handle your diapers at home, even specifics for those of us with front loading washers. You read this and you too will know the difference between Fuzzi Bunz and the ultimate Birdseye.
The best part is the Diapering Sample Kit. Each item in the kit is sold at it’s lowest discount price (e.g., the Bumkin is at the 6-or-more price), and each item is individually returnable. They choose the correct size of each product based on the weight and build of your baby (or newborn size if not here yet). The kit contains: 1 Fuzzi Bunz or Bum Genius pocket diaper with microterry insert, 1 Bumkin all in one, 1 Kissaluv fitted diaper, 1 Hemp Fleece Diaper Doubler, 3 Prefolds (1 Chinese, 1 Birdseye, 1 Hemp), 1 contour diaper, 1 Bummi Super Whisper Wrap, and 1 Poly Nikky or Niji diaper cover. As far as sizing goes, you can choose “Expecting/unknown size”, or within each weight range, choose petite (slim/smaller than average); “average”, or large (larger than average). They won’t send “girl” colors or prints unless requested. If you prefer girlier prints, all you have to do is call or email and they’ll be on it like ants on candy.
The sample kit trial period is 30 days, and your returns must be postmarked by day 30 for full refund. The kit is about $90 including shipping, and as a bonus, you can use any refund money towards a purchase, should you decide to do so. You can keep any parts you like, and send any/all back. Like back back. Fully returnable for a full refund? How cool are they? On top of this, they have the most helpful, open, easy customer service I’ve ever encountered. The only downfall is with only one of each brand you have one shot, then must wait until you do laundry (two days in my house) to try it again.
I am on week three of my kit and now have distinct preferences and choices from trying five diaper covers/systems and four types of diapers. Here are some thoughts on my experiments:
Any brand with a fold in front is magic. No fold in front means I have no idea where to place the diaper.
Favorites:
The Bumkins Cover with Birdseye diaper are best and the mesh back keeps that little bottom cooler. It has a front pocket/fold (magic!) and is lightweight so they dry faster. Add a hemp fleece doubler for night/long trips.
Fuzzi Bunz are great pocket style diapers, add an extra hemp for nighttime. Snaps slow the diapering process.
Bummi’s Whisper Wrap also has the fold and it is a great lightweight diaper.
Not So Favorite:
Bumkins All-in-One is super hot, wears very bulky, and it takes forever to dry.
The Chinese diapers are longer than needed; some people like to do a double fold in front to prevent leaking, but in my experience my son, B, can’t lay on his belly if he turns over sleeping. The only sleepless nights we’ve had in the last few weeks were due to Chinese diapers folded in front or back- too bulky.
The velcro tabs that have the reverse velcro pad to attach for washing = nightmare. Gave B a rash every time. That said, he has very sensitive skin.
The Nikky is not so impressive, not so breathable.
I really liked the Kissaluv contour diaper, but a cover has to go on top of that and that got bulky for my 37 pounder. Same goes for the Under-the-Nile organic fitted diaper.
Snapshot diaper specifics for those of us who never asked:
• Hemp is 1.5 times more absorbent than regular cotton.
• Leg gussets are necessary in my house of large thighs.
• Chinese Diapers are too big for me to figure out.
• The fold in the front of the diaper covers is magic, as is a mesh backing to help circulation.
• Snaps versus Velcro is an issue only solved by trying them out on your own wiggly kid.
I’ve actually been quite surprised at how easy the process can be. I already do laundry every other day and it encouraged us to install an outside laundry line (sun drying is also a natural bleach). I encourage everyone to jump on the train!
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September 26, 2008 @ 5:45 PM
mama_nata said:
We’re a cloth diapering family -
Started with FuzziBunz for our newborn, and stayed in that size until about 4-5 months. Loved the ease of an all-in-one (well, once it’s assembled) and had ZERO BLOWOUTS. The only leaks we had were if baby’s pants had gotten bunched in the leg to where they wicked away from the fleece inside the Bunz. Snaps took just a second longer than disposable, were very secure, and allowed us to adjust for a perfect fit.
At 4 months I started looking around for “the next size up” - a limitation of FuzziBunz, which are adjustable to some degree, but never get any longer tip to tail. Rather than invest in a bunch of mediums only to have to again buy large, I chose BumGenius, which were similar to FuzziBunz except with velcro closure instead of snaps, and that they adjust from XS to L with a snap on the front of the diaper and insert.
BumGenius had some tradeoffs vs. FuzziBunz that I regretted up front, but learned to live with. The adjustability made them overall bulkier (which is saying something if bulky was baseline), and while the velcro was faster to put on, it was also faster for my daughter to take off on her own! Fine while under clothes, but otherwise a risk. BumGenius also had more of an issue with the wicking/leaking since the fleece liner extended further to the edge of the inner fabric. Most of the time, a wet diaper meant wet or at least smell on her pants, although usually not enough to warrant a change.
In summary, I would say BumGenius are a good choice for people who only want to invest once, but if you can afford multiple sizes, maybe in anticipation of multiple children, I do think FuzziBunz edge out the competition in their simplicity and performance.
Incidentally, we always wear a disposable when a car seat is part of the picture - the cloth diapers are simply too bulky for the Maxi-Cosi (and probably other seats too).