A Post All About Covers

It recently came to my attention that, while I've posted all about all sorts of diapers that aren't waterproof and require covers, I haven't actually posted about covers. I get A LOT of questions about what covers I would recommend, which are the cheapest, the sturdiest, etc, so I figured I'd do a post.

 

What are Covers?

 

Covers are water proof covers you put over diapers that are not waterproof such as fitteds, prefolds, and flats. Covers are not absorbent whatsoever, they just act as a waterproof barrier between the diaper that absorbs and the rest of the world! The diaper (absorbent part) goes against baby and the cover goes on after the diaper. Some diapers such as pocket diapers and AIOs don't need covers as they have the waterproof layer built right in already. Covers do not need to be fastened with fasteners such as a snappi or boingo, they usually fasten with snaps or velcro/hook and loop/aplix. They can come in sizes or one sized. They are usually made with PUL.

 

I Recommend

 

Super Green Label Covers found here

Rumparooz Covers found here

Econobum Covers found exclusively at cottonbabies.com

 

Covers May Be Right For You:

 

If you are planning on using a diaper that is not water proof such as fitteds, prefolds, or flats.

 

Bottom Line

 

You need covers if you are going to be using any sort of diaper that is not water proof such as flats and prefolds. You do not need a fastener for a cover but you may need one for your flats/prefolds, although you shouldn't need one for fitteds.

OsoCozy Fitted Diapers: A Review!

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things to read on a blog is a review! I love hearing how real people, especially real moms, like or dislike products. I love when they are able to share their experiences and I think those kinds of posts more than anything help me make decisions on what I would or would not like to try. One problem I run into though is that some bloggers get all excited about being offered something to test and they give it a positive review, or spin the review in such a positive way, even if they really don't like whatever it is or won't use it ever again after the trial period. Not all bloggers are like this, some won't even review something if they don't like it, as mama always said, if you don't have something nice...but there are some awesome bloggers who will be honest with you about a product or service's flaws, it's cons as well as it's pros! This is the kind of blogger I want to be, and plan to be. If you would like to partner with me for a review please email me at blueturtlesweetie@gmail.com or get a hold of me through my blog.

 

This blog is brought to you by the letter M...Just kidding, it's done with the cooperation and support of Mama's Emporium!

 

Mama's Emporium is a delightful store run by an awesome mama. The owner, Amanda has a brick and mortar store in Aurora, CO, but she also has an online store which I frequent all the time! I love her site because she uses customer input to decide what she will and will not carry, and she uses almost everything she carries so she stands behind her products 100%. I also love that you earn rewards points for each purchase, which can really add up! I have used my points to get a FREE baltic amber teething necklace and am currently saving up for a shark teething toy/baby toothbrush! Or maybe just a gift certificate! Mama's Emporium also has AWESOME customer service and is very knowledgeable about cloth diapering and parenting in general. She doesn't just carry cloth diapers and accessories either! She also carries teething remedies, toys, books, essential oils, cloth diaper detergents, lotions, CD safe diaper rash creams, natural cleaning products, baby wraps and carriers, and so much more! PLUS she does registries and layaway! I have never had a negative experience with her, and I swear I'm not just saying that because she's sponsoring this review. I would tell you if I'd had a bad experience because this blog is all about learning and growing in my cloth diaper journey and helping others to learn and have a positive experience in theirs!

 

So...on to the good stuff, the diapers!

 

I was originally looking into fitteds because we are still searching for a good nighttime solution. The problem is fitteds are generally more expensive. I started cloth diapering because, well, we needed to save the money! So I am very budget minded when it comes to cloth diapering. I prefer prefolds and covers just because it's cheaper. I prefer china cheapies, again, because they are cheaper. But neither of those have been working for nighttime, no matter what I stuff pockets with or how well I use the prefolds. When I got the chance to do a review, I of course jumped on it!

 

OsoCozy is supposed to be a more budget minded brand of cloth diapers. They are less expensive than other brands for sure. I've always assumed you kind of get what you pay for with fitteds. I've heard of a lot of mamas having problems with cheaper fitteds and I will be honest, I was skeptical that these were going to work. We put it on my son one night with a simple Econobum cover. Cheap but works. I'll say this, my son is a heavy wetter and he's also a tummy sleeper which makes finding a good diaper to last the night even more difficult. Even disposables don't work very well overnight and it seems no matter what we put on him he ends up waking up to wet sheets. We literally have been waking him up twice a night to change him. So back to the night we tried them. Well when he woke up the next morning he was happy and his sheets were dry! He seemed like he was in a much better mood and I was happy because I didn't have to change his sheet, and I didn't have to wake him up twice to change his diaper! The fitted and cover held it all in and were easy to take off! I thought maybe I was just lucky, so I washed a load of diaper laundry and tried again. Same results! I've now tried it four different nights with three different covers and I can say for sure that OsoCozy fitted diapers are awesome!

 

I already loved OsoCozy better fit prefolds, but now I am very happy to say I think OsoCozy is a great brand. It's the best of both worlds because they obviously make quality diapers that work well but they also will not break the bank! I honestly think we have found our night time solution! I seriously cannot think of anything I didn't like about the diaper's use. I will say the laundry tabs don't keep the velcro hooked and the velcro ends up sticking to things in the laundry, but it is such a minor annoyance in a big long list of pros, it won't keep me from buying more at all!

 

 

 

You can buy OsoCozy fitteds or add them to your registry at Mama's Emporium. 

 

Don't forget, if you'd like to partner with me for a review and/or giveaway, let me know! blueturtlesweetie@gmail.com

UPDATE: OsoCozy will no longer be making velcro closure for their fitted diapers. This is really saddening to me because I love that feature, it makes it easy to take off and put on. Mama's Emporium still has some velcro, I would get in on that while you could.

A Post All Abouth Fitteds!

What is a fitted diaper?

A fitted diaper is the next step up from prefolds. It's a diaper that is literally fitted to a diaper shape so there is no folding and pinning like with flats and prefolds. The cloth diaper will fit closer to baby and close with either aplix/Velcro/hook and loop or snaps. Fitteds are not waterproof and will need a waterproof cover. They are very easy to use, more like an AIO yet not as expensive. They are very absorbent, a lot of them have inserts that snap in and you can use a doubler or extra inserts to make them more absorbent. Fitteds are the diapers most often recommended for overnight usage and heavy wetters. They take longer to dry than prefolds, but not as long as AIOs. They can be made from many fabrics, bamboo, velour, cotton, hemp, etc. The insert can also be made of many different fabrics such as bamboo, zorb2, hemp, etc.

I Recommend

OsoCozy Fitted Diapers
You can buy them here!

 

Fitteds May be For You:
 

You want the convenience of not having to fold and pin diapers
 

You want to go a cheaper route than AIOs while keeping it more convenient than prefolds or flats
 

You are looking for a nighttime solution
 

You have a heavy wetter


Some Problems You May Encounter With Fitteds:

It can be more time consuming to change a fitted because you have to undo a cover then undo a fitted, put on a fitted and fasten it then put on a cover and fasten the cover, so it's like putting on a diaper twice, which can be made more difficult with an upset/squirmy baby

It's not as easy for reluctant husbands/caregivers, mommies who are new to cloth, or when first transitioning from disposables

They can be slow to dry

They are generally more expensive than say a pocket diaper or especailly a diaper cover and prefolds/flats

Not all covers will fit over a fitted so if you have covers you are using with prefolds you may have to get additional covers for use with fitteds
 

First Things First, the Lingo!

Cloth Diapering is an awesome hobby, one that comes with lots of funny terms and abbreviations that are kind of hard to get the hang of right away. I learned a lot hanging around the boards on BabyCenter and asking questions, observing, and, I'm not gonna lie, googling! I still don't know all the abbreviations and terminology but I learn more all the time! I figured I would share what I know and I'll keep adding when I think of more!

AIO - All-In-One are fitted diapers that are waterproof on the outside. This outside water proof layer usually consists of fabric that has a PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) backing, polar fleece or wool. These are great for people who like the convenience of disposables, for daycare, the babysitter, grandma's house, etc. They are a lot like disposable diapers because they are only one piece and the soaker/insert is usually sewn into the diaper. 

AI2 - All-In-Two AI2s are a lot like AIOs except the soaker/insert is not attached to the diaper at all. Usually they don't take as long to dry as AIOs.

Aplix - Velcro closure.

CD/CDing - Cloth Diaper/Cloth Diapering.

China Cheapies - cheap (affordable) diapers that are usually one size pocket diapers that are meant to go from birth to potty training but don't fit newborns too well. They are very affordable but shipping can take a while because they are literally coming on a slow boat from China.

Contour Diapers - Contours are preshaped diapers with no elastic like other diapers have. They are held together with diaper pins, snappis, boingos, or other fasteners. They aren't waterproof, so you have to have a waterproof cover. There is no folding required and they are generally cut and sewn into an hourglass shape.

Covers - Covers can be very different. There are different styles, shapes, colors, closures, etc. The purpose of a cover is to be a waterproof layer for diapers that aren't waterproof. They usually have elastic to give them shape and fit and fasten with snaps or Velcro and some pull on like pull-ups. They are usually made from PUL (Polyurethane Laminates), waterproof nylon, fleece, or wool.

CPF - Chinese Pre-Fold. CPFs have heavy duty stitching, mostly made of twill, stay nice longer, may pill more than other prefolds, soft but not the softest,  and it takes 7-10 hot wash cycles to make them usable and absorbent. I've never actually used these.

Diaper Service - a service that picks up, cleans, and delivers fresh diapers to your door eliminating the laundry part of cloth diapering for you.

Doubler - A doubler is an absorbent soaker that can increase how much a diaper can hold. They are great for long car trips, overnight, or heavy wetters.

Flats - a big square or rectangle of material, usually Birdseye cotton, that are folded and secured with a fastener like a snappi or diaper pins. They are not waterproof and need a waterproof cover on top of them. Flats are the most old fashioned diaper, the original cloth diaper. They dry really fast and fit children basically from birth to potty training. They are one of the more economical choices.

Fitted Diapers - Fitteds are a lot like disposable diapers, similar to AIOs. They are already fitted with elastic and fasten with Velcro or snaps. They aren't waterproof and need a waterproof cover to keep them from leaking. 

Hemp - hemp is made from the inner bark of the hemp plant. It is becoming increasingly popular for use in diapers because of its durability, absorbency and natural anti-microbial properties.
 

 Hook and Loop - Velcro closures.

GN - Gender Neutral.

IPF -  Indian Pre-folds. Indian Pre-folds are a type of pre-fold. Unbleached diapers wash up quicker (in as little as 3 washes), softer cotton, may wear out faster than CPFs, Lighter weight thread is used so the thread can wear out faster than the fabric.

Liners - Thin layer of cloth, paper, paper towel, etc that is placed in the diaper to make it easier to clean. There are disposable liners that go strait in the trash, flushable liners that can be flushed down the toilet, and washable liners such as fleece that are great for when you need to use regular diaper rash cream or something else that may affect the use of your diapers. Liners make it easier to clean up the poop and pee and protect the diapers from stains. 

Longies -  Wool Soaker that has long legs that form pants. They are very warm and absorbent so they are great for winter time. They can also be called soaker pants, soakers, or sweater pants. Can be made of fleece or wool.

NB - Newborn.

OS - One Size diaper that usually fits a from birth up until about 35 lbs.

Pre-Folds - The next step up from flats, pre-folds are rectangular or square shaped diapers that have to be folded. The main difference between flats and pre-folds are that pre-folds are thicker in the middle. They have three panels usually, the middle one being thicker than the outer two. Must be secured with a snappi, diaper pins, or other fasteners. The measurements are usually something like 3x6x3  which stands for how many layers are in the different sections: 3 layers on the left and right outside panels, and 6 layers of fabric in the middle section. Pre-Folds are more economical and are not waterproof so you need a waterproof cover over them. They are not a one size option, you have to buy different sizes. Preemie is usually the smallest and used for newborns. Infant is usually used for newborns, stuffing pocket diapers, and babies until about 15lbs.

Pockets - Diapers with pockets in them. They have a layer of waterproof material on the outside and on the inside is a stay dry material like suedecloth, microfleece, etc that wicks away moister. Inside the pocket these two layers form will be a soaker, doubler, insert, etc and the liquid gets wiked away from the skin and soaked into the insert, soaker, etc. They are similar to AIOs or AI2s in that once they are "stuffed" you can just put them on the baby. I like to stuff mine with a trifolded pre-fold. A lot of China Cheapies are pocket style diapers. They are waterproof and do not need a cover and come with fasteners already so you don't need diaper pins, snappis, etc. The absorbency of the diaper can be customized by adding more or less inside the pocket. Pockets can also be used as covers when a pre-fold is fastened on the baby and the pocket diaper is put cover the pre-fold. 

PUL - Polyurethane Laminate, a waterproof material used to make diaper covers/wraps, the outer of many pocket diapers or AIOs and the insides of wetbags. PUL needs to be sealed when you first get it and periodically to maintain waterproofness and prevent delaminating. To seal it you just have to put it in the dryer and dry it on high heat.

RLR - RLR is a

 laundry additive that softens the water and helps remove/prevent build for people who have hard water.

Snappi - a type of fastener used instead of diaper pins. You should have 1-2 at least of these. They don't get dirty and if they do they can just be wiped off with a baby wipe but they are easy to rip, stretch out, or loose!

Soaker - Either the absorbent part of the diaper that absorbs the moisture or a wool diaper cover. The first may be sewn inside the diaper, partially sewn to form a flap, snapped in the diaper, or you can just lay it in the diaper or stuff a pocket with it.

Stalking - Waiting for a product to stock. Sellers on Hyena Cart will make x amount of diapers and stock them on one day, and the more popular ones sell out almost immediately. People ask for stalking help to have better odds at scoring items on HC.

Stripping - Removes buildup of detergent, oils, minerals, and/or hard water. If you are using a cloth diaper safe detergent and avoiding rash creams, you probably won't need to strip but it is good to periodically strip the diapers anyway. Doing extra rinses to make sure your diapers get completly rinsed and using water softener like Calgon can greatly decrese the need to strip your cloth diapers. If you are using a detergent that does not rinse clean or that does not work well in your water, you may need to strip your diapers much more often.

Wagon - Going on the wagon is when you are trying to not buy anymore diapers. Cloth diapering is very addictive and can get expensive depending on what you are into so a lot of people go on the wagon to try and save some money. Not many people aer actually able to stay on the wagon long term.

WAHM - Work At Home Mom. This is usually used as "I got a great WAHM custom cover and I'm in love with it!" It describes a diaper made by a mom who makes and sells diapers.

Wet Bag - used to hold dirty and wet cloth diapers, usually when out of the house. I use wet bags in the house because they lock in the smell, zipper closed, and are completly waterproof. It's good to have 2 to switch out on laundry day! I turn mine inside out or else it will hold water.