Yes, I know it's been an eternity since I've blogged.
From my family to yours, we wish you a very happy new year!
May 2012 bring so much happiness into your life!
Thanks for reading, and as of right now, I am working on some NY resolutions. ;)
I'm so sad. Had a supply going on for days, and I gave W a 9oz BM bottle, and I went to start the laundry... Only returning to both of my girls in hysterics, and 2oz left in the bottle... Yup. 7oz spilled. Don't know how because when I gave it to her, the lid was tight (just like always). Changed them (C was asleep when W did it), put them in the other crib. Just so sad. I work so hard to pump, and I've done it for over 10 months, and this. Yes, it's one time and an accident learned, but that's almost an entire session. :(. Plus, I'm trying to wean them and myself, and this doesn't help my situation. Now, I'm set back, having to retreat back to every three hours to rebuild. Meanwhile, it'll be formula if needed, which I try to steer away from whenever possible. I feel worse when it happens to me because I should know better... Am I the only one who feels like this?!
it's taken HOURS to tinker with it here and there, but i finally got my customized fonts back! better than ever! not sure what happened with my last ones, but... had to do the process all over again per Kevin and Amanda's site again... i LOVE these fonts that she customizes based on REAL handwriting!
one of the things on my bucket list that i'm not sure if i'll ever get around to doing is... make a font! (based on my handwriting would be even better.) so, this is as close to that! (note: if you do want to have a superific layout like this one, then visit Allie Brown's Layouts!)
(note: this took place/was written two weeks ago on 9/15/11)
OMG.
the girls had finishedBaby Signing Time (absolutely LOVE it; definitely, keeps my girls engaged!), and i look down to see Willow... covered in RED.
she spilled out my red sorbet smoothie (complimentary of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, some juice concentrate, a bit of apple juice, and ice) all on the ground (didn't even hear it spill, and it's right by me, lol), and did i tell you i was in the middle of PUMPING? yup. so, in between pausing my pumping time (and, i was wearing that bra), grab some wet washcloths to wash her down (she still smells so fruity) and clean up the mess. she kept attempting to roll back into the mess and make it worse... of course, she succeeded in between my running to get more washcloths. YAY! lol.
so, i clean it up, and obviously, decided to change her... let's do the diapers, too, shall we? let's just change the whole outfits! got new outfits (so cute by the way... the ones that they wore getting their ears pierced), and i was stoked that they still fit into them since they're 6mo. and the girls are "technically" in 12mo. clothes. :)
i change Willow's (wet) diaper/clothes and meanwhile Bliss is making an escape for the exit(i had opened the door because it was INCREDIBLY nice outside (for AZ in sept.).
i gave W the bottle while i was changing her, and she was content.
Bliss' turn. i change her (poopy, with just one chunk of solid poop) diaper, and use two cloth wipes (they work wonders compare to the four i'd probably use with disposables). meanwhile, W kept trying to grab for her dirty diaper (even though that was a good few feet away and she was drinking her bottle). i kick that away... of course. her bottle was just about empty, so i grabbed the diapers, went to the kitchen to grab a BM bottle that i had just heated up in the bottle warmer (i've been able to pump a lot lately storing at night- more about that later).
i return, and lightly (not as bad as last time, but in a calmer tone) shriek...
no, Willow!
she had that chunk IN HER RIGHT HAND, playing with it like play-doh! i tried to grab it, but it split into two chunks, so i was trying to pick up the chunks as fast as possible, put them with the diapers in my hand, see that Bliss has ONE of the wipes in her hand, so i grab that, too (she HATED that, of course, shocker, right?) and take W into the bathroom, put the diapers on the toilet, wash her hands (so sudsy and thoroughly, lemme tell you), and i return for sissy to do the same thing again.
they were pretty upset with me. i wonder why. and, now homegirls are napping away... :)
this post has been a long time coming. so, please forgive me that i'm only writing now... 9 months in (well, my girls are almost 10 months). :)
when i started CDing, it evolved into this amazing quest to find the best type of diaper for my baby girls... which has turned into many Saturday nights, browsing/salivating (haha) at the new adorable prints/redesigned diapers out there on the market. a dumb, yet exciting hobby this has turned into. :) as you've read, my babies tend to have a bit more "sensitive" skin, although they have never broken out into a rash like i hear about some sposie babies... yet, the ones that i loved so much-- the FuzziBunz's fabric was man-made and therefore my girls developed some reactions to it... as they did to any that had fleece on the inner layer of the CD.
so, as i mentioned, i begun a quest to find a more affordable diaper (seriously, the cost quickly stacks up!), but one that is bamboo. why bamboo?read more hereabout why i decided to further my addiction with CD and go with bamboo.
meanwhile, i "liked"/"subscribed" to many CD business pages, including Kawaii. from time to time, people ask which is everybody's favorite CD and why... so, the OCD person that i am, i always google every type of manufacturer that i've never heard of... which is what brought me to BubuBibi.
i haven't made a purchase since (albeit, gifts count for others, right? :)- which was about four months ago. my husband and i are very happy with these diapers. they are AFFORDABLE, ADORABLE, and COMFORTABLE. now, these are an "off-brand" (not the FB, bumGenius, Blueberry)which are manufactured in China, but who cares? they are BAMBOO with BAMBOO inserts, and my girls have NOT had a problem with them.
- pockets.
- one-size diaper.
- snaps.
- two bamboo inserts (much more durable than the Kawaii ones).
- BAMBOO on the inner part of the diaper.
- easy slot to stuff the diapers like these Kawaii diapers.
- fun prints/solid colors.
- easily holds any type of blowout, restraining the waste within the diaper.
- QUITE affordable.
- shipping charged per diaper... so, if you only want to buy one, then you don't have to spend a huge amount. most places prefer you spend at least $30 for free shipping.
- we got the BubuBibi Bamboo Pocket Minky Diaper in Cow and Zebra (both are so cute... my girls are wearing a cow shirt to match).
- the fabric feels a bit sturdier/flexible than the Kawaii Mom Label diapers.
- would i recommend these? absolutely. the bamboo is such a soft alternative to man-made fabrics.
- the ONLY thing about these is... they can be bulky (due to the minky exterior) when both inserts are placed... and, by bulky, i mean your kid's butt will look a bit large. :)
- we got the plain ones in purple (as seen above), white, peach, (below) red, and yellow. i think that's all. love them! they are quite lightweight considering all.
- everything applicable about the other CD applies except this diaper isn't as bulky and doesn't have a minky exterior.
- we have two types of this diaper (this one above, obviously), and another that is a beautiful purple color. it's not listed on the site, so it's like a lighter grape-version of this diaper.
- these are like the Kawaii Jeans' Print... no triple snap to hold in any side leaks. now, have i had a problem? never. these diapers are just so cute!
- the insert is different than my other diapers. you can snap it into the diaper, which sounds a bit strange. :) half of the insert is made of microfiber whereas the front part of the snap is bamboo. look here for what i mean.
- these diapers don't have an extra snap for the legs, but i haven't had an issue with these diapers coming undone. they still have held in any type of waste.
- the slot in the back of the diaper allows you to stuff more diapers inside. :)
to faithfully compare, the hardest thing is that hardly anybody makes bamboo pocket diapers... through my research, i only found a few who deal with bamboo, let alone if they are pockets. some diapers are just AIO Bamboo CD- not pockets. but, for comparison's sake, i did come across Blueberry Diapers, yet they do not come with bamboo inserts.do you see the price comparison???
now, lemme say something... we paid SO LITTLE compared to other companies. i roughly spent the same as buying 8-10 FB CD! would i recommend this company to anyone? absolutely yes. its products are such a diverse selection, as well as quite durable. going with what i know now, i probably would only look at bamboo (these diapers) from now on. we have found our diapers that best suit everybody's needs. :) plus, they haven't broken the bank! look at the prices! are they worth it to you? they were for us. the quality is that superb!
NOW, let's say that you want VELCRO instead of SNAPS. here's an affordable solution(again, found this through a CD forum on FB), however, i do know that BubuBibi also offers velcro, so you'd have to ask about that when inquiring about diapers.
- i've tried many types of cloth nursing pads (tried the disposable ones- not enough coverage), including cotton Uddercoverones, cotton ones my mom made, and two types of bamboo pads. these by BubuBibi are AMAZING. nothing quite like them.
- my nipples don't dry/bleed/stick to the (disposable) pad when removing it... i've never had a problem with them bleeding- unlike from what i've heard with other women.
- also, never had a problem with these at all. LOVE them. they are so soft.
- these pads are SO comfortable it's not even funny. the bamboo on both sides is the one i like the best- not the one that has a backing liner on one side and bamboo on the other. i use these every day. if you were to buy these, i'd buy 5 sets.
- throw them in the wash with other CD or the kids' laundry. :)
- switch them to the other side to get extra usage out of them. one set will last for two days if you do it that way. :)
- [why not disposable pads? i tried and didn't like those nursing pads. your nipples are going to be quite sensitive and always ready to BF...from when your milk comes in until you stop pumping/BFing. with the disposable pads, it wasn't enough coverage (can still see them through the shirt) and didn't comfort me.]
- i'd recommend theseat BubuBibi. other ones that i have tried aren't as soft and are more expensive. i've also tried the Viscose Disposable Liners, but i like the Bamboo Liners the best. either way, definitely an affordable solution for those messy diapers.
- when i could "predict" my girls' poopy diapers (around 3mo.-6mo., they'd poop from 12-3p.m.), i'd put a liner on, and it was an easy fix. otherwise, i used my Diaper Sprayer to clean up any messes.
- perfect for any family, CD or not. WHY? wet diapers, out and about, travelling, bathing suits, swimming, camping, hold dirty baby utensils/baby food storage containers...
- i have three from this company: a medium-size one in Giraffe (is quite cute) for travelling/out and about/contain any CD; a large-size one in Butterflies that holds all my girls' frozen teethers/toys in there, which are perfect for 2mo. of age+; and, an extra-large-size one in Yellow (GREAT zipped up bag for when you are travelling and continue to CD. great alternative to a pail liner.)
- i recommend having at least three (one for frozen food, one for dirty diapers, and one big one for travelling)- and they are quite inexpensive if you choose to buy them through BubuBibi.
one more thing... i see that JackBeNatural now carries these BubuBibi products... albeit for a higher rate.
so, what do you think? you ready to exclusively CD now? :) is it affordable as you once hoped/ imagined? :) what do you think you'll try out first?
my friend who is expecting B/G twins asked for my advice on a double stroller. here's what i wrote her with some parts edited, of course:
stroller necessary? anyway, for the first six weeks, we didn't go ANYWHERE with the girls let alone by myself. i mean, we ONLY went to dr. appt. (mine and theirs) and i had help each time (i either scheduled it around my husband's schedule or i waited for my mom to pop into town from CA). most of the time, we just carried the carseats because it was much easier.
until i remember when they were six weeks old that i decided to go to Kid to Kid with my friend, her daughter, and my girls when they were wearing these outfits. it took me two hours to get them ready/put them in the car, and by the time we actually got there, my hubby had met up with us and helped me take them out of the car. lol. i didn't have to do any tremendous heavy lifting/sorting out the crazy stroller situation:)
first stroller regardless, the first stroller was not the original one we wanted. however, it was one that my fellow mom friend of identical twin girls suggested and we bought it from her for $50. it was the Double Snap 'N Go and it served its primary focus: strap my babies in, and take them somewhere. it wasn't bad, and we definitely got the usage out of it, however... i had a few complaints that turned out to be major:
1. no diaper bag room: once the babies are strapped in, there's NO/little room for you to gather something from your diaper bag (which will be full for two babies). it's virtually unreachable. i hate that. now, it's reachable ONCE the babies are out of the stroller or at least one baby is. see. 2. its wheels: if you're active, then this stroller isn't for you. with the wheels it has, it isn't developed well enough to go over rocky terrain. i mean, it's suitable for everyday use, but if you want to have a stroller that you'll plan on taking on walks, for a jog, on a hike (yah right, lol), etc..., then it's not for you. i struggled with this stroller just going around the block on walks because a rock would get caught in the cheap wheels, it wouldn't go over the dirt correctly, a curb/concrete bump would catch it, and if your babies are sleeping, then the jerk might wake them up. 3. fold it: to close it, i felt as if it was a bit tricky and heavy (neither of which you want when your babies are screaming for you!). it also didn't fold down very well and took up a lot of room, unfortunately. HOWEVER, it was good. it's a GREAT starter stroller. :) 4. pushing:i found it was difficult to steer because it was so long/straight, as well as it was HEAVY to push. 5. short-term: you won't use this stroller forever. it's only suited for carseat accommodation. so, once your babies start to grow long enough to touch their toes in the others' carseat while in the stroller, they have then grown out of this. this happened to my girls (who are extremely LONG) around 6mo. so, this stroller is short-term. yes, yours might not grow as mine did, however, the most you'll use this is one-year. they do now recommend that infants be in carseat carriers for two years, however, it depends on how long your baby is in this stroller.
stroller we use i blogged about it here and here. as i wrote, the stroller that i REALLY wanted was a Baby Jogger City Select (originally, i wanted a different one but turns out that didn't accommodate two carseats like i would need). - see all the variations? - does show a demo video. - didn't go with BJ or BuyBuyBaby (the only place around where you can test it out) because we found it cheaper through an online distributor that i found through CraigsList. now, i was skeptical at first, but it turned out to be legit when i saw the distributor was endorsed by BJ under their Internet Retailer section. :) - this stroller is MUCH pricier than a regular one you'd see at Babies 'R Us, however, you'll see why. before i tell you WHY, i'll tell you how much WE paid. the retailer we went through has to advertise it for much more expensive than the price we paid per BJ policy. yet, we saved HUNDREDS going through her (a mom in PA owns the stroller company) because she bundled the prices at the end. her site is: JoggingStrollers4Less.com. i decided here's what we paid after all the "discounts":
stroller w/ one seat: $400
extra seat: $128
carseat attachments: $48 x 2 = 96
parent console (to hold drinks, a MUST!): $26 = $650
WITH FREE SHIPPING AND NO TAX!
at BBB or BJ, tack on another $300 or so including shipping (through BJ) and/or tax, and the price is MUCH higher in the store.- originally, i was going to go with onyx or ruby (definitely not the diamond one, lol... in AZ), but once i saw that there would be a amethyst one available mid-march 2011 (around when i would need it), i desperately wanted it. however, what got me was... what if i had another child? a boy? surely, not a purple stroller... the BEST part about this stroller: it's originally a ONE-seater. :) which means, IF i had another child (boy), then i could buy an additional seat (black or red) for $128, and voila! (you could also do that if you have a B/G- two different colored seats.) don't have to buy a new one-seater stroller. unless you plan on having twins + one kid less than two years apart, this stroller could definitely serve its purpose to seat many children to come! lol :) this will be the ONLY stroller you'll ever need.- based on THAT is why i went with the amethyst color, which i was absolutely thrilled with, and still am! it's a showstopper. where else do you see beautifully-colored purple strollers? :)- with this stroller, people stop and gawk at us while we pass on through. some think that there's a third baby in the underneath compartment, often asking me if i have triplets. lol. whenever i'm out with the girls, i usually get asked where i got the stroller, and it's my chance to tell them the same thing.- with ordering it online makes it difficult to test-drive it before you buy. so, i went to BBB, and did just that. i asked them how this stroller compares to other double strollers, and they said, "this is the best double stroller we sell." i couldn't believe it. i asked if there was any complaint about them, and they told me the 2010 seats used to be smaller, and the 2011 version fixed that (roomier). so, definitely get the 2011 version for that reason (especially if you want amethyst!)! here's what i LOVE about my stroller: 1. versatile seating arrangement(as the BG website/demo video shows).
2. steers/drives like a million bucks: SO easy to just push. pushes like a charm (hence "drives like a charm"- lol).
3. great for any type of terrain: can set it up to only steer the wheels straight and not swerving. PERFECT for those who are active/joggers...4. designed for one, but accommodates two: as i already said. however, it doesn't FEEL like you're pushing "two." it's that easy.
5. accommodates TWO carseats/roomy seats: already said. however, not many strollers accommodate TWO carseats in a roomy fashion. it isn't claustrophobic for the babies or you. for example, look at this similar priced stroller. the baby on the bottom? mine would freak out. i understand it's a jogging stroller, however whoever designed that is an idiot. at any time, your baby can (around 6 mo. as mine are) reach out and touch the wheel. i tried these out, and was flabbergasted they were so expensive and so poorly designed.
- either way, the carseat adapter allows for you to adjust/position the babies' carseats easily. we started (around 6 mo.) started using the actual amethyst-colored seats AND they are SO roomy!tons of room to grow. plus, you can just tell how well made the seats are. the umbrella part of the seats (over the babies' heads) is quite roomy, too. they are made of GREAT quality, and quite durable. they have a lot of overhead, which is GREAT now for my girls in the sun. plus, it has this peek-a-boo feature on the top of their heads where i can peek through and see if they're sleeping/what they're doing without waking them up. sometimes with my carseats, if i fold back the umbrella a bit, it disturbs my girls. :( so, that's a great feature.
- the actual seats fold/lay many different ways, which is nice for a sleeping baby, an awake baby, a fussy baby... can almost flatten out the seat to where it serves sort of as a bassinet.
6. diaper bag compartment: it's HUGE and you can minmize or maximize the space. sometimes, i take my reusuable shopping bags, put them in there, and do my grocery/shopping... yes, with my girls. unless you go to Costco, there isn't a place in town that has dual sitting in a cart for twins. so, until somebody tells me i can't, i do. i push my stroller around instead of my cart.
7. fold down:it's EASY. seriously, yes, it takes me now < 5 min. to take them out, put them in the car, take off the carseat adapters (when i still use them) or seats, and break it down. it folds so easily into this 8" width space or so. SO easy and doesn't take up much room. is it heavy? no. not a back killer; that's for sure. at Babies 'R Us, i tried to break down MUCH heavier strollers and couldn't!!!8. quality: super great quality. the wheels are air, which is the best to get, and quite reliable. everything about stroller is great. as a mom of twins, i wanted something durable. i know some moms who have gone through 5 strollers, and still aren't satisfied.
9. brake: super easy to use. a hand-brake. not rocket scientist at all. you'd be surprised the way some people designed double-stroller breaks and the fold down methodology. it's so stupid and my husband couldn't even break down some strollers. lol. you want something quick and easy.
- obviously, when people asked what we needed, we just said that we need to buy a stroller which would be pricey. it shipped here fairly quickly... since i had pre-ordered it, it took longer, obviously. yet, it shipped here within a couple of days. - this stroller needs a specific carseatfor it. again, i knew what stroller i would want, so i chose the carseats based upon that. i went withGraco Snugride 35 Laguna Bay per this. why not pink ones? i found them ugly @ B 'R Us. lol. i didn't know about BBB at that point. now, it's better to go with an infant carseat carrier and not a convertible seat because #1 reason: if they're sleeping, then you don't disturb them.with a convertible seat, you can't do these strollers. also, with a convertible seat, you have to get them OUT of the seat even when they're sleeping. :( now, w/ mine, i think the "35" means 35lbs., which is nice. my friend recently mentioned that she wished that she got the bigger carseat for her baby now that she's a year. also, they just passed a law where the babies have to be in these carseats for 2 years or whenever they reach a certain weight. whichever comes first.
so, what do you think? what's your favorite stroller and why?
i love pockets. i know that i've written before about how much i love pockets. i really do love them as they are suitable for anybody and everything:
- dry fast because of separate pieces
- can stuff more inserts in for maximum absorbency
- prepping the diaper takes hardly any time at all (i usually do them during a tv show)
- they are quite inexpensive
since i last blogged about when the girls were three months, i had ordered more FB diapers (in apple green, this sky blue color, and cotton candy pink), and some other pocket diapers. why did i go another brand? well, two reasons- i heard great reviews on mama blogs AND they were cheaper. so, i thought, let's try it...
- ONE-SIZE diaper.
- i got two (burgundy and rose- colored). beautiful colors!
- the outside (minky) is incredibly soft and breathable for their skin (doesn't matter what season it is; my girls wear them in AZ, and they're fine).
- definitely not an overnight or long-period-of-time diaper... as my girls soaked through these in a few hours.
- bamboo inner layer with two bamboo inserts (which are quite flimsy if you ask me).
- they washed fine and dried fine (line-dried).
i did like the introduction to bamboo diapers, and i also ordered two of these Mom Label Diapers (in peach red and gold yellow).
- did i like them? yes and no.
- snaps.
- the colors are GORGEOUS in person. they are quite stunning.
- definitely not made of a stretchy fabric, which makes it hard to pull for a truer fit.
- haven't had any blowouts. held in leaks fine. :)
- quite bulky once both inserts are placed in the diaper.
- do last at least 8+ hours for great absorbency!
- other than the colors, would not buy these again.
- ONE-SIZE diaper. - snaps.
- laced with fleece inside.
- comes with two microfiber inserts.
- wide enough space to move the inserts in and out [for stuffing], BUT they also agitate easily in the wash. almost too much space, though, if you ask me.
- does not have a leg snap, unfortunately, so it isn't the "truest" of fits.
- holds a good enough absorbency, but definitely not an overnight diaper with just two inserts.
- can stuff more inserts in the diaper in for more absorbency.
- they washed fine and dried fine (line-dried).
- haven't had any blowouts. held in leaks fine. :)
- would i recommend these? yes and no. i love the print, but not the fleece inner layer for reasons i've previously blogged about.
- absolutely adorable print!!! LOVE them wearing these!
here's the thing about these Canadian-based Kawaii diapers: they're inexpensive. SO, they are QUITE popular on the mama blogs because everybody wants "cheaper" diapers with the similar quality that every other place is selling... and, i thought that i was going to get the rest of my stash on this site.
BUT, there arethree things that held me back:
1. they have horrible customer service (since my quest for cheaper diapers begun, i've read NUMEROUS complaints about K diapers... mainly about how the diapers are frequently out of stock).
2. theydon't always have diapers in stock since they're made in China. many times, they have listed dates as when the diapers will be available for purchase, but didn't meet that deadline. :( independent sites/stores buy them wholesale first (good and bad for the regular customers- good because if Kawaii runs out, then you can buy them through them, but bad because they jack up the price a few dollars). i got so tired of waiting for the diapers (literally for months) to become *available* for purchase that i finally started looking elsewhere...
3. if you order from CAN, you might as well order at least $70 worth of fluff OR else your shipping is at least $20.
here's a comparison between the Kawaii Blue Label and Mom Labels:
if you can't see the video, then please click here.
all in all, these are great diapers if this is the route you choose to take... and, if you cannot purchase them via Kawaii's main site, then JackBeNatural is a great alternative with fabulous, quick shipping! they also offer a credit for every purchase you make! you can definitely see the prices between JBN and K's sites, eh??? :)
what are your thoughts... did CD just become more affordable for you?! :)
after the girls turned 3 months, i remember thinking that i wanted a nighttime diaper... obviously, only used for that. i wanted to use my pockets during the day. so, i was super excited when i saw this fabulous deal on fitted diapers on http://www.babysteals.comfor quite inexpensive considering i got a two-in-one offer! just note, though: normally, i wouldn't go for a fitted diaper, but this was what i could continue to use with my covers (the Thirsties ones were sized until 18lbs.) since i already had them.
- come in two different sizes, but i purchased the size 2... since my girls were already almost the 10lb. weight limit, and it'd last longer.
- i purchased five sets of the diapers (remember, i have twins! haha)- rainbow, blue/green, pink/purple. :)
- see the colorful snaps? [if you're a velcro person, then these aren't for you! there are SO many snaps! and, at first, i'll admit... i couldn't get it. my hubby had to figure out how to snap everything together. now, it's easy. :)]. just make sure to put the TAG on the INSIDE near the back of the diaper! you'll see how that makes a world of difference! also, once it's on the baby, you'll see a tag on the front with the Earth, Mom, and Baby Tag.
- see below how to do put the diaper together (i couldn't find any YouTube videos).
- INCREDIBLY soft. heavenly soft. due to the bamboo/silk.
- why bamboo? it's a completely natural fiber, used without pesticides.4x longer absorbency than cotton. usually, bamboo diapers are at the higher-end of CD's pricing. nothing is man-made about the diapers... except, okay, maybe the buttons? ;) here's more information about bamboo diapers here. (remember when i said that my girls were having issues later on with the man-made fabric? thus, began my quest to find diapers that were suitable for their little bums... just like you would have to buy different disposables to get the "right one." it's just more of an "investment" unfortunately.... as my hubby says, "it is what it is.")
- they come with extra liners ( if you want to lace the inside of the diaper for extra absorbency, then that'd work fine). i usually lay the tongue all the way out, ready to fold, but put the extra liner towards the back (already folded over), so that way my girls have more padding in the back since that's where they need it. obviously, it'd be opposite for a boy. :)
- quite pricey once you buy the fitted diaper AND the cover.
- ideal for travelling.
- 12+ hours of absorbency (depending on the baby, of course). but, perfect for heavy-wetters.
- not for disposable-loving people because it takes some work to put together... now, that we've done it for six months, it hardly any time. but, this diaper isn't one for your baby to go to the church's nursery in! ha ha
- on KidCrawl, moms (like you and me who buy something from BS and realize for one reason or another that it's unnecessary) sell new/used items USUALLY at the price at which they purchased it!!! so, i do see these on there, which is a fabulous chance for you to get them if you really want to. see, BS only offers deals twice a day, and once they're out... then they're out (like Groupon but for babies/mamas).
- my Thirsties' covers didn't fit too well over the diaper because they were a sized cover, BUT ONE-SIZED covers work phenomenally!!! (i'll get more into that in a bit.) try these one-sized covers, and you'll be shocked at the price and quality for just that: Kawaii Baby (were priced at $4.50, but i guess their prices went up to $4.50, however can get in velcro and snaps) and BubuBibi(priced at an incredible $4.50, only comes in snaps). why these? do they have the sophisticated design of the Thirstieswith the extra gusset? no. have i needed the extra gusset? no.
Thirsties' Baby Diaper Cover (not a one-size)- see the extra gusset to prevent any blowouts/leaks? it's at the leg of the cover.
- IF you wanted to continue with prefolds OR start with prefolds (for that matter), then buy ONE-SIZED diaper covers. otherwise, you'll have to repurchase every time your child grows out of that "size." sort of defeats the purpose of going with CD to save $.
- would i recommend the fitted diapers? absolutely. are they complicated at first to navigate? yes. are they worth the extra absorbency? yes. for a single baby, if you were to make a purchase for a Bumboo, i would recommend just two sets. obviously, i had to buy more for my twin girls. :)
- are fitted diapers/diaper covers an expensive system? yes, HOWEVER, we already had the diaper covers, and, "technically," it was just like purchasing another diaper for about $12, so it was worth it for us. they're super soft, extra absorbent, but if you don't have the covers already, they may not be worth the investment. BUT, above, i showed two new one-sized diaper covers that you could get for, seriously, cheap! (which is what we had to do because the sized diaper covers weren't quite "covering" the fitted diapers, unfortunately- BUT, the sized diaper covers would work super well with little babies... because they are sized. you could use the one-size for the same thing, though!). so, it is an option.
- are fitted diapers/diaper covers ideal for travelling? yes, absolutely. whenever we drive to/from CA/AZ, we put these on our girls, and they are great for long-periods of time (also quite comfortable!).
tell me... what are your thoughts on fitted diapers/diaper covers?
at three months, my mom and aunt came to visit. naturally, we had to make a trip to my favorite CD store, Zoolikins. i liked my Bumkinsprefolds/Thirstiescovers and only used my prefolds/covers... at home and during the day. as i already said, they didn't absorb longer than 3 hours, so i wanted something with a longer absorbency. also, they were quite bulky when the girls "tried" to fit into their carseats in an upright position. i was using the Snappis, but didn't like them. the "fit" wasn't always the "right" fit for us. obviously, my eventual goal was to exclusively CD. so, we headed over to the store, and i was so excited... could this be when i was going to FINALLY get the diapers i really wanted???
we were there for a few hours. we were in luck- the store's owner and Bumkins' founder/ownerwas there. the time flew by so fast and we learned SO much about CD, tips, preferences, tricks, etc... we left SO informed with definite new insight! such a GREAT way to have spent our afternoon!
so, i told Jakki (the owner) my top THREE needs:
- CD my twins exclusively
- maximum absorbency (last longer than three hours)
- a nighttime diaper
with that information, mind you, remember, i wanted to CD my twins exclusively, i asked her about the bumGenius CD. i told her that's the one i wanted. i had friends who had the bG and loved them, so that's also what i wanted. i thought that i had my mind made up.
now, if you're unfamiliar with CD, then i'll give you a quick update: bG is like the SONY of TVs but for CD. it's like the GEICO for car insurance but for CD. when you HEAR about CD, you first/usually hear about bG. why? it was the first, or one of the first, and it's ALL over. with the advertisements, word-of-mouth, CD stores, on blogs... that's what people first hear about when it comes to CD.
[now, the last time i was at buybuyBABY(we're so LUCKY to have not one but two in AZ. why? it's a Bed Bath & Beyond, but for babies!!!), i saw that bG diapers were now being carried there!!! so awesome. same price, BUT, you can use coupons there (you know those $5 off coupons from BBB or the 20% off? yup, those. also, doesn't matter if they're expired. YUP. you're welcome. :)]
OR people hear about gDiapers because Babies 'R Us carries them (their only CD they carry, by the way). when i was looking at CD and i was at B 'R Us, i couldn't believe how *expensive* gDiapers were! all i thought was, how am i going to afford THOSE?! so, i kept looking for other affordable options.
anyway, back to my requests for Jakki to find me diapers suitable for my needs.
- below are videos to demonstrate how to use/the deets of the diaper. - i got these in Crushed Berries (a darkish pinkish purple) and Grape (purple- the color above doesn't do it justice... it's truly a grape purple!)- both BEAUTIFUL colors! - J suggested this for me for the adjustable elastic. (let's be frank: i have ONLY adjusted my *diapers* two times. yes, it's a brilliant concept that nobody else can use (she patented it), but i haven't nearly used the elastic as much as i thought i would.) also, comes with an extra elastic. - top-of-the-line product.
- i was impressed with how easy this diaper was to use. - ONLY comes in snaps (this is where i was introduced to snaps... more durability, but i'll blog about that later). - can last up to 14 hours overnight = perfect solution for a nighttime diaper!!! - a bit bulky once both inserts are in the diaper. - ONE-SIZE diaper... meaning, you can use it from NB to potty training = ONLY diaper you'll ever need to purchase! - quick drying time (the inserts are separate from the shell. often, i throw them in the washer with the inserts still in there, AND they fall out in the wash... sometimes they have fallen out, so i just pull out the inserts as i throw the diapers in the wash. so easy. takes < 2 minutes.) - this has contained the MOST blowouts of BLOWOUTS. i've never had them leak. have my girls maxed out the absorbency/ability of the diaper? absolutely. every stain has come out, and i've never had anything seep from the diapers (i had that in disposable diapers). - comes with two microfiber inserts (one short, one long), which can be dried separately (in the dryer while the diaper needs to be line-dried)! - the inner is laced with fleece, and the outside shell is waterproof. (i did have a problem and still do with the man-made fabric. my girls are quite sensitive to man-made fabric, which is why i have since then had to switch to a different type of diaper inner material. later, i'll blog about it.) - even so, this is still a GREAT diaper.
- got this one in white. :) (right, what was i thinking!? no, not at all. i remember the first time my girls pooped into it... no joke... because of the sun, EVERYTHING came OUT. can't even tell. AND, I GOT A WHITE ONE!) they do have BEAUTIFUL colors, though! we got white because i needed two, and they had other colors but just one. - this also is a ONE-SIZE diaper. - an AIO (All-In-One) diaper, which means that no inserts are needed. - J chose this one for me because even though it's an AIO diaper, it also has a "tongue" feature where the "insert" pops in/out for quicker drying time (even for an AIO!)!!! (this is my ONLY AIO diaper x2 because i don't like how long they take to dry compared to the pockets/prefolds/covers...) - the inner diaper is layered with bamboo (natural fibers which are BEST for a baby's skin) and the opposite side of the "tongue" is microfiber. - contains high-quality aplix closure (velcro), so it closely resembles a disposable diaper. - easy to use and great for people who need it be as EASY as possible (dads, grandparents, daycare, church). - not bulky at all. :) i put these on my girls when i don't want them to have a CD booty! ha ha ;) - can only last for about three hours... and, that's max. why? doesn't have high absorbency. i don't know why. if i could change one thing about this diaper, then i would change that. definitely NOT an overnight diaper. an option? you can place more inserts in there. however, i did that (placed an extra microfiber insert), and even though, it still maxed out at 4 hours. :( - have i ever had blowouts with this diaper? no. it has kept EVERYTHING in, but sometimes when i've opened the diaper, it's COMPLETELY full. :)
- would i recommend it? absolutely. is it for long periods of time? no way.
- a Planet Wise Wet Bag (medium)
(i wanted one since the last visit, BUT i didn't foresee myself going anywhere at first- traveling with CD, i mean- so, i didn't get it. i love that this bag. the fabric is adorable, and its liner separates from the inner liner... so there are two layers. i did think that this was pricey at $16.95, however i did find cheaper ones later on...)
when we left, we were SO excited to try our diapers for the first time!!! :)
we are new parents to our identical twin girls, Willow Kate and Coral Bliss, born on 12/10/10! everything about this pregnancy was a complete surprise!
