Winter Baby Birthday Blog Bash Giveaway 2: Twin Cities Diaper Co: Thirsties Fab Fitted

When I found out a few months ago that the root of Buggie's rashes were from PUL, I wanted to love prefolds, but honestly they weren't always feasible. I have a nice simple prefold stash on hand that gets used at home, but  my biggest love right now is for fitteds! I was thrilled to finally be able to try Thirsties Fab Fitteds thanks to Twin City Diaper Co. in Columbus, OH.

The Thirsties Fab Fitted is very easy to prep. Being made from polyester and cotton blends it only requires 1 wash to be cleaned of any residual oils from the manufacturing process. I ran it through with a regular load of dirty diapers and we tried it out. I was immediately re-aquianted with my lost love for Thirsties! I had been in love with their Duo Wraps  when Buggie was born, but over the months he developed a PUL sensitivity and I had to de-stash ALL our diapers and covers with PUL :( Bug is a tall and somewhat slender baby. Now being 12 months old, he is 23 pounds, but 34 inches long! Wowsa! :) Many people (myself included) like the idea of a one-size system that will more than likely last from birth to potty training. Thirsties makes a two size system. Size one of their duo system fits most babies from 6-18 pounds, and size two of the duo system fits most babies from 18-40 pounds. Some parents might cringe at the thought of still having to buy 2 different sizes, but I personally think Thirsties are worth it. You really do get an incredible fit on almost any baby by having just 2 different sizes (each size complete with a set of rise snaps and available in both snaps and hook and loop).

My only issue with the Thirsties Fab Fitted is absorbency. With a single microfiber insert, this alone just isn't enough for Bug. We were changing him after about 30-60 minutes. However, with Thirsties amazing "tunnel" system in their fitteds (and also in their new all in ones) they are very easy to stuff and allow you to skip "un-stuffing" and allowing your extra insert to just agitate out in the washer.I added a trifolded newborn prefold and we were good to go for about 2.5 hours!

All in all, this is a diaper I would buy more of. They are easy, they'd be great for grandma and daddy if I buy some with hook and loop.
Twin City Diaper Co is also offering one as part of the Winter Baby Birthday Blog Bash! Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below.



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Winter Baby Birthday Blog Bash Giveaway 1: Bummis Beautiful Basics Review and Giveaway

I contacted Bummis about their prefolds and covers and they generously offered me a BeautifulBASIC set as part of the Winter Baby Birthday Blog Bash!

The Beautiful Basic set consists of 3 organic cotton prefolds and 1 Super Whisper Wrap. The set is available in 2 sizes, infant (8-15 pounds) and baby (15-30). As well as the option of a "boy," "girl," or "unisex" cover. I chose the baby package with a boy cover, and received the rocket print.

My first impression of the set was that the cover appeared very durable compared to others I've tried. The material seemed much thicker, while still pliable, and wouldn't be so easy to wear down or get holes. There is a soft polyester layer on top of the PUL so no laminate touches your child's skin. The only down-side to this is that you cannot really wipe the cover clean, but I personally don't mind just tossing it in the wash. Bummis advertises the Super Whisper Wrap as the "workhorse" of diaper covers, being able to withstand even industrial washing. I instantly loved how soft the prefolds were! I felt like they prepped very easily, after 3 washings they absorbed instantly, though I know they will get more absorbent the more we use them. I hang dry our diapers to save money on our apartment laundry, but I was completely amazed at how soft the Bummis prefolds stayed even after hanging to dry. Our other prefolds become stiff and crunchy, while these were just as soft as when they first arrived. Of course by not drying them in a dryer I cannot comment right now at how well they quilt up.

I was very impressed by the fit of the prefolds and the cover. I usually use GMD (Cloth-eez) or Diaper Rite prefolds which have the average dimensions of 15" wide x 17" long. After prepping the Bummis prefolds they measured at about 13.5" wide x 19" long. That inch and a half made a noticeable difference on my skinny little man. I always struggled getting prefolds tight enough around Bug's waist, but never thought that "maybe our prefolds are too wide." I had to fold down the back a couple inches to get a good fit on the rise, but these fit perfectly around his waist! I also found that they wash up nicely, as to not get stained as easily, but this could also be that the rest of our prefolds are bleached, and these are organic (so also unbleached) so the light brown color could just be masking stains too.

The cover I found fit nicely, but seemed too big depending how I folded the prefold. If I pinned or snappi-ed the prefold on, I had no gaps at the legs, I saw comfortable fit around the waist, but the crotch seemed a little baggy. If I tri-folded the crotch filled out nicely, and still got a good fit around the legs, but the waist was almost too big! The medium cover included in the Beautiful Basic kit fits 15-30 pounds, but if my 24 pound son were any thinner I don't think it would fit him if I were to tri-fold exclusively. I am very impressed with the hook and loop on the Super Whisper Wrap, being sticky but easy enough for mom to open or pull apart. The laundry tabs I found to work better than on any other hook and loop cover I've tried. It is the soft side of the hook and loop, holding the tabs very nicely through the wash, but also being soft enough to not irritate Bug's skin if it happens to touch.

Since I don't find a generously sized cover to be a deal breaker (lol) I think the Bummis Beautiful Basic cloth diaper kit to be an incredible value at only $20.95! Bummis has so kindly offered one kit up for grabs to one of my readers! Please enter on the Rafflecopter form below.


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A new giveaway for the Winter Baby Birthday Blog Bash will be opening next Sunday!

Maple Hill Dryer Balls Review and Discount Code Giveaway

About Maple Hill Dryer Balls
Maple Hill Dryer Balls was started by Rebecca, a stay-at-home-mom of 2 little girls. Rebecca named her shop after her dads farm, Maple Hill Romney's in Lafayette, Indiana. This is also the source of all the wool she uses to make the dryer balls. All her dryer balls are made from 100% wool, also meaning they are 100% naturally colored, no dyes added! They range in size from 9" to 10" in circumference, and will shrink a little after using.

How Do Wool Dryer Balls Work?
Wool dryer balls are made to work in the same way as a dryer sheet you would purchase in a store. They will reduce, but not eliminate, static cling. "The dryer balls circulate and separate the clothing and get the warm dry air right down to the core of the laundry load! The more you add to your dryer, the faster the drying time, softer softness and money saved. They speed up the drying time and soften up by gentle friction of the felted wool fibers against your clothing fibers. Not only do they save money by lessening your drying time, you also will not have to purchase conventional store bought, chemical-filled fabric softeners or dryer sheets." It is recommended that you use 4-6 for a full load of laundry, but when I was sent 2 to review, Rebecca assured me that they should make a difference in even a small load of laundry.

I was a bit skeptical, but these dryer balls really made a difference for us! I've had a problem with our clothing not drying in the cycle time provided on our apartments dryer, and ending up hanging clothes around the apartment to finish drying. I was amazed and quite delighted after using these balls for the past 3 weeks and having almost, if not completely, dry clothes after just one dryer cycle! What a money (and in my case ~ space) saver!

You can find Maple Hill Dryer Balls on Etsy, Facebook and Twitter. You can also use the follow links to visit her most popular items: Essential Oil Scented Wool Dryer Balls and Scented Wool Dryer Balls.

Rebecca is offering one of you a 30% off coupon code to Maple Hill Dryer Balls Etsy shop to get you on your way to a more natural and effective dryer experience :) Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below.




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