GroBaby's Just Not Working For Us

We have been through many washes now and the GroBaby diapers are just not working for us. They still tend to leak and we rarely have the opportunity to reuse the shell which is the whole reason for buying them. Also the velcro tabs keep coming undone and getting all tangled which results in the where of elastic in the waist. So I went back to researching and ran across another diaper I want to try. The Smartipants diapers are pocket diapers and the inserts are supposed to agitate out in the wash, so you don't have to mess with dirty inserts!

In my researching I found a few more CD sites that I found helpful:

Jillians Drawers: http://jilliansdrawers.com/

They have trial packages available for $10 and I found their product reviews very helpful and have more pics for most their products than Kelly's Closet. However, Kelly's Closet seems to have more cloth diapers.

I also found Mommy's Milk Boutique: http://www.momsmilkboutique.com/

They also offer trial packages & have a great variety of products in addition to CDs. Mommy's Milk Boutique also offers free shipping in the United States!

I wish I had discovered these sites earlier. I could have purchased a trial pack to figure out what diapers I like best before purchasing a greater number of them. Like I did with the GroBaby diapers. I have also found Kim with the Dirty Diaper Laundry: http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com. She has given many helpful cloth diaper reviews on a variety of cloth diapers.

GroBaby's Pros and Cons

Pros:

1) Depending on the how wet the diaper is or how messy the pooh the shell may be able to be reused for the next change.

2) Shells dry quickly; usually you can hang dry them and they are dry before the inserts.

3) Easy to adjust

4) Easy to change

5) No rough velcro touching baby's skin

Cons:

1) Inserts take while to dry

2) Velcro tabs often come undone in the wash and get all tangled up

3) The fabric was very soft at first but now is rough and gives my LO a rash often

4) We rarely have the opportunity to reuse the shell

5) You have to remove dirty inserts before washing & then velcro shell (like you would when placing it on baby) and turn it inside out in order to wash it & not get a tangled mess

GroBaby in Use

We got our GroBaby package in on the 19th! I put them all in the wash (it is suggested that you wash CD at least once before use) as soon as we opened them. They did not come a moment too soon! We had 4 disposables left, I was about to go out and get a small pack when the UPS guy showed up.

The first couple of times I used them there were a few leaks until I got the right adjustment. Also it will take 3-5 washes for the inserts to become more absorbent and about 10 to reach maximum absorbency. My daughter is 20 months old but is small for her age and I have to use the medium setting. There have been a couple more leaks since the first night but they are getting less and less.
I am washing diapers once a day as opposed to every other day like I had hoped. The package included 10 shells, 24 snap in soakers (inserts), and 14 boosters. I am not going through all 10 shells every day but usually between 4 and 6. However, the diapers are new and have not reached their full absorbency. The shells dry very quickly, can hang dry them and they are dry in no time. The snap-in soakers take awhile though.

I have changed a few diaper while we were out and about, I made sure to take the wet bag. It was surprising easy. The inserts and the boosters are very soft and my daughter seems to like them much better. She was getting diaper rashes fairly regularly, but since we switched the rashes are gone within only a couple of days. So far I am really liking these diapers. I am a little unsure that even at the smallest setting they will fit our newborn son, but we will see.

GroBaby It Is

After sharing my research with my husband he felt that the GroBaby diapers would be the best course or action and easier adjustment. I will admit I want to get a sample of three or four kinds and then decide but we went with his decision and purchased a GroBaby package from Kelly's Closet. I really like the GroBaby System. It has a water proof outer shell (cover), with an insert that snaps in and a booster for nights, of long trips. This means that depending on the wetness of the diaper, you can snap out the insert and re-use the shell! It is also one of the more affordable diapers. Another plus to GroBaby diapers is that will fit newborns up to potty training. We will use them on our daughter (who is quite ready for the PT yet) and can use them when our son arrives in February. We will not have to buy anymore at all, unless it looks like our supply is short stacked.

Our package includes a wet bags for outings and a dry diaper pail and should be arriving on the 18th. Since we decided to go cloth we haven't bought anymore disposables, I hope the GroBabies arrive in time other wise well have to get another disposable pack. We are looking forward to trying out the GroBaby system.

Findings on CD

Cloth diapers obviously have better for environment stamp on them, but they also can save you a great deal of money. Many types of cloth diapers fit babies from infancy to potty training, so you don't even have to worry with sizes. I read where cloth diapering can save you into the thousands within the first two to three years. In my house hold I estimate that we spend about $480 a year on disposable diapers, and that's with one toddler. We will soon have a new born, who will be using more diapers.

Here are a few quick tidbits I have learned:

Cloth diapers save you money and are good for the environment

Disposables take about 500 years to decompose in landfills

5% or less cloth diapered babies get diaper rashes but more than 50% of disposable diapered babies get diaper rashes

Four Main Types of Cloth Diapers (CD):

1) All In Ones (AIO) - no diaper cover needed, considered most leak proof

2) Fitted CD - require diaper cover but dry in less time than AIOs

3) Pre-Fold & Flat Diapers (old fashion CDs): require cover and use of pins or snappies; also can be used as burp cloths, or cleaning rags

4) Pocket Diapers - a water proof outer barrier is sewn to am inner moisture-wicking fabric, these two form a pocket for an absorbent insert (it sounds more complicated than it is);

The following sites I have found to be very helpful in anyone is interested:

http://www.Kellyscloset.com

http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com

http://www.diaperpin.com/

http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/

Considering Cloth Diapers

This month my husband and I have been toying with the idea once again to go cloth. We discussed during my pregnancy with out first child, but just didn't have the money for the start up cost. We have found that we like Luvs diapers and we typically buy the box with about 100 diapers (for size 3). It seems every time we turn around we are having to buy another box, it ends up being about twice a month which totals about $40 per month on diapers.

I have a few friends who use cloth and they love it. So I decided to research the cloth diapers out there. I was amazed at the selection and variety. The Blueberry diaper seems to be a favorite by many mommies out there but they are one the more expensive diapers. I am considering purchasing GroBaby, SmartiPants, and/or Fuzzibunz diapers.

Cool Princess Potty...or so we thought!

Since my daughter almost 19 month old seemed willing and interested in the potty, we went out and got what we thought would be a really fun and cool potty. It was a Fisher Price Princess Potty that made "royal sounds" when it was peed in. There is a sensor in the bowl. Unfortunately, I think the sounds freaked my daughter out and now she doesn't was to sit on it. She almost acts scared of the potty. Though, 19 months is still early for many toddlers to start the potty training process, I did have high hopes. I suppose we'll have to put it off for a little while.

It's Been A While

I got busy being a Mommy and attending undergrad. school. I recently graduated with a teaching certificate in May, however, due to the current economy and budget cuts was unable to get a job. This has shown me that you can do anything you set your mind to, whether you are a mom or not. Finishing school with an infant was difficult but worth it and made me very proud of myself. I am thankful for the great amount of support I had from my family and especially my mother and husband.

I also recently found out that our family will be growing by two more tiny little feet! I will soon have a two year old and a new born! I had hoped to have my little ones a little further apart but everyone tells me that I timed it perfectly.

My daughter is beginning to be interested in the potty so maybe I'll get lucky! :-)