Thirsties Fab Doublers: A Review!

I'm so excited to share this review with you! I love it when I buy something and when I try it out it exceeds my expectations. This is one of those products. I bought these thinking they would work, but I didn't expect them to be so awesome! Whenever I find something I love I want to share it with everyone because you never know when someone is looking for the same sort of thing.

 

Thirsties Fab Doublers

 

These doublers are so cute. I know it doesn't really matter as they are going inside your diapers, but I just love the bright colors! I also love the fabric they are made of, They are made of 4 layers of cotton velor. This is great for two reasons, it's so very soft, and it can touch baby's booty. There are some fabrics, such as microfiber, that shouldn't be put against baby's skin, but these can go right up against the bum. They are also the perfect size for any Thirsties diaper, but still such a great universal size so that you can use them in any diaper! I've used them in Thirsties Fitteds, Thirsties AIOs, OsoCozy Fitteds, Alva Pocket diapers, and more. They are 4 layers thick which means they have a lot of absorbency and can hold a lot of liquid! Perfect for that extra boost for nap time, overnight, out and about, or a heavy wetter.

 

Bottom Line
 

These are fantastic doublers. I've already bought two sets and plan on buying more because they work so well, especially at night. You can even use two at a time if you need to but I haven't had issues with just one and I have a super heavy wetter. These are so soft I love how they feel so I know they are comfortable on my baby. I like that they aren't too bulky yet they still soak up a lot. These are perfect for anyone looking for some extra absorbency, especially out and about or overnight. You don't have to use them with Thirsties diapers but I do suggest you try some Thirsties because they have awesome diapers. Their AIOs are my favorite.

 

Where They Can be Purchased

 

You can find these awesome doublers at Mama's Emporium, Diaper Junction, or pretty much anywhere else that sells Thirsties products!



Thirsties AIO: A Review!

As you all know, I am constantly posting cloth diaper related giveaways to my facebook page and tweeting about them on my Twitter. Well I don't just post about these giveaways, I actually enter them too! I usually am not a lucky person, but somehow I won! I won 2 Thirsties AIOs from Diaper Junction! I was so pleased to win this as I'd never tried Thirsties AIOs. Now that we have used them a few times I decided to write a review. Diaper Junction didn't ask me to write a review but I figured you can always use others experience on what works and what doesn't.

Thirsties AIOs

Let me just say I love these diapers! They are so soft and so absorbent. I like that the insert is only partially sewn in so it makes sort of a tunnel pocket so you can easily stuff a doubler in it. Since then I have bought the Thirsties brand doublers and love them as well, but that's another post all together. I love that if you want to use these for nights you can just very easily stuff some extra inserts into the tunnel and voila! It's also super easy to shake the inserts out into the wash so you don't have to touch the nasty inserts. Yet they don't seem to move around much at all when your child is wearing the diaper.

Absorbency

This is big. If I buy an AIO I expect it to be pretty absorbent. Some AIOs are and some really aren't. Well these ones were very absorbent. I haven't had any leaks or anything. We like to use AIOs when we are out and about and boy have we loved these for out and about! I don't even need a doubler unless we plan on using them overnight and that's probably just because my son is a heavy wetter, especially at night time. I just put them on him as is and have never had issues, he loves them too! But I also like that it is very easy to add extra absorbency if it is needed, which makes it a great easily customizable diaper with the ease and convenience of an AIO.

Dry Time

One con about most AIOs is the long dry time. This comes with absorbency, if it holds a lot of pee, it's going to hold a lot of water from the washer, and therefore will take longer to dry. These diapers are really nice in that the soaker is sewn in but not completely so while it is still very absorbent it is quicker to dry. Most of my AIOs take 2 or more runs through the dryer to completely dry, but these are just fine drying with the other diapers in one run. You can even turn them inside out for easier drying!

Fit

We were able to get an excellent fit with these diapers. I like that they come in two sizes. Size one fits 6-18lbs and are perfect for younger infants, while size two fits 18-40lbs. I got size two because my little one is a year old and about 20lbs. We were able to get a great fit with no trouble at all. We got the aplix version so I'm not sure about snap placement but they do have adjustable rise with snaps that we enjoy because it is easier to get a more customizable fit.

Bottom Line

These are fantastic diapers and I will be buying them again! They are great for out and about, daddy, or lazy days when you don't want to mess with stuffing pockets, folding diapers, pinning diapers, etc. They are great because you do not need a cover with them, you just put them on and go. They are also awesome because you can very easily add more absorbency and the dry time is great without sacrificing absorbency.

Where You Can Buy Them

Thirsties AIOs can be found at Diaper Junction or Mama's Emporium! Thirsties doublers, which fit perfectly in the pocket beneath the insert can be found both places as well.

An Explanation For My Absence and an Announcement!

Oh boy do I have a lot to tell you my wonderful readers! The past few weeks have been CRAZY! As most of you know I am not a stay at home mom, in fact I have two jobs outside the home. My husband works nights and I work days, on top of that I have a home, two children, a dog, and a blog to take care of. I regret to say I have been neglecting the latter and I feel terrible about it, but I think I have a few great excuses!

The first is that we are expecting! That's right, we have another little one on the way! I am a little nervous as I've heard going from 2 to 3 is way harder than going from 1 to 2, and I've never cloth diapered a newborn before but am looking forward to that adventure! I'm also nervous because my little one is only a year old! But it'll be a fantastic adventure and we already love our newest little very much. We aren't telling anyone our due date or much other information other than we are expecting because it's been really nice having a greater measure of privacy this pregnancy. We may give more information later but for now just know we will let everyone know when he or she is here!

 The second, and the one that is more explanation than announcement is that I have been very sick. I don't mean a cold or the flu, I mean very sick. I've been in a lot of abdomen pain for a while and was ignoring it because I had work and no time to go to the doctor. I finally went to the Emergency Room and then to my doctor. They sent me for an ultrasound of my gallbladder as they couldn't find any reason for the sever pain other than stress ulcers that shouldn't have been that painful. We got the test results back that my gallbladder would have to come out right away. It took a few days to find a surgeon willing to do that surgery on a pregnant woman, and who had openings soon and took our insurance. It was a crazy week where I tried my best (and failed) to stay out of the ER and take care of myself while still going to work and taking care of my family. Finally we did the surgery this past Tuesday. The recovery has been MUCH less than easy and wonderful but we are getting by. I'm doing my best to rest and get better. Sometimes I'm in severe pain and other times I feel much better, but I tend to overdo it when I am feeling well so that is making things a little harder. The doctor said that while he knew my gallbladder HAD to come out and was in bad shape, he was not ready for the shape it was in, he said as he took it out it pretty much dissolved in his hands. Another week or so and it would've done that inside of me and not only would I have possibly lost the baby but I could've died. So I have been thanking Heavenly Father that we got help when we did and I'm so thankful to my husband who pressured me into not waiting and who has been taking care of me while I recover.

 

Anyway so that is why I haven't been nearly as active as I should be! I really do apologize but I hope you understand! Hopefully today I'll be able to write a couple of posts because I have all these ideas that I want to get written for you all! Let me know, as always, if you have any ideas you would like to see featured on this blog! You can also check out and post on my Facebook Page and Twitter to keep up on giveaways, contests, awesome WAHM brands, sales I hear about, etc. Don't forget to subscribe to the blog to be notified each time I make a new post as well! 

China Cheapies, A Comparison

One thing I have mentioned briefly in past posts are China Cheapies.  China Cheapies is a general term for cheaper diapers that are made in China. Some are very high quality and some are not, but I'll be the first to admit while they work wonderful, and if it's all your budget allows, are very worth it, but other more expensive brands can be better! I much prefer my Rumparooz or GroVia to my China Cheapies but when I started cloth diapering I didn't have enough money to buy nicer, more expensive diapers so I built my stash up with these, especially from Co-ops to get them at an even cheaper rate. I am still very happy with them and I still use them, but there can be issues like long ship times, differences in sizing etc. That being said these are GREAT for people on a budget! It's also a great way to get started for less then use what you would be spending on diapers to build a more ideal stash if you so desire!

There are many overseas brands and each have their pros and cons. Most importantly tho, each works differently on every baby. As always, I suggest you try a few different ones for yourself on your little one before investing in all one kind for your entire stash. Some popular brands are Babyland, Babycity, Alva, Sunbaby, and JCTrade. I will be comparing Alva, Sunbaby, and JCTrade.

To see pictures that go along with my blog post, please like my Facebook Page and look at this album of photos. While you are at it, feel free to share it with friends and to follow me on this blog and on twitter to stay up with all my new blog posts, exciting giveaways, and fluffy goodness! In this blog I will be talking about the diapers themselves, not inserts. The reason is I buy most of my pocket diapers without inserts and instead use an infant sized prefold to stuff them. It's a little more bulky but a lot more absorbent and cheaper! Also, something else to think about is these diapers are coming from China, so shipping, customs, etc can take a while. It can take anywhere from a week or two to a month to get your diapers.

 

Sunbaby

 

Sunbaby diapers are the first diapers I ever bought that weren't prefolds and covers. Sunbaby makes onesize pocket diapers. On their site you will notice that there are two "sizes", I prefer to think of them as "series" or "models" because they are actually both onesize, (meaning they will fit from about 12-15lbs until potty training, hopefully, but it all depends on the size and shape of your baby!) they are just cut differently. The reason they are cut differently is to allow for differently shaped babies. For instant my oldest son is a skinny boy. He is 3 years old and 45lbs (and tall. I know that sounds like WAY too much but this kid is stick skinny when you see him in just a diaper, he has a really high metabolism and is as tall as some kindergartners!) and he can still fit into a size 1 diaper. It won't cut off the circulation on his legs or anything else. My youngest son, however, is a chunky monkey. He has always nursed and nursed and nursed. So he has chubby thighs and a very chunky tummy. For those reasons we get him the size two that are cut a little bigger. They still are not cut as big as other diapers such as JCTrade and Alva, but we'll get to that. You can buy Sunbaby diapers in Co-ops or online here. So, onto the short list of pros and cons!

 

Pros

Cheap

 Cute

Different "sizes" for a more customizable fit

Hip snaps for less wing droop, less leaks, and a better fit

Foldover pocket for less leaks because the insert isn't as exposed

Extra strip of PUL at the top of the tummy to help tummy sleepers not leak

 

Cons

Smaller cut than other China Cheapy diapers

No snaps on wing for a better fit

Insides can pill after a while and get not as soft, still plenty soft, just not as soft as they start out

 

Alva Baby

 

Alva Baby diapers are probably my favorite of the three we are going to talk about. They are cut bigger yet have hip snaps and snaps on the outside of one wing so you can cross over for an even more customizable fit. This way they fit chunkier/older babies but they also can fit little ones pretty easily as well. I do like that most of the inners seem to stay soft and not pill the way Sunbaby diapers do. I also love the fun prints they come in, just like Sunbaby and JCTrade. You can buy Alva diapers here. 

 

Pros

Cute

Customizable fit

Wing snaps

hip snaps

Inside doesn't pill as easily

 

Cons

May not fit as well until older/chubbier

Pocket is open to the back so inserts can be exposed causing leaks

No extra strip of PUL at tummy

 

JCTrade

 

I will be honest here. The only reason I bought JCTrade diapers to begin with were because they were SUPER cheap in a Co-op and they had cute prints such as sesame street, cat in the hat, mickey mouse, and more. I ended up loving them. I don't know if there are different ways to order them to ensure you get hip snaps but so far I haven't figured it out and most of mine don't have hip snaps so those are what I will go off of. It may just be that they are cheaper without (which is honestly probably what it is!) so maybe that is one of the ways we got a great deal! Even without the hip snaps though, we like them. You can buy JCTrades on co-ops. So far I have not found them online in an online store but I may just not be working hard for it. My hugest problem with these tho are the inconsistencies. Some have the same inners as Alva. Some have the same inners as Sunbaby. Some have the snaps on one wing, some don't. Some have hip snaps, some don't. If you get them cheap enough, it doesn't matter, but if you pay premium for them, you might want to look closely at what you are buying before you make your purchase. I prefer the ones that are more like Alvas with the hip snaps, cross over snaps, etc. 

 

Pros

Cheap

Cute

 

Cons

Inconsistent

Pocket opening is in the back so it may leak

No strip of PUL at the tummy

Lack of hip snaps on some

Lack of crossover snaps on some

 

 

Beware the Rebrands

 

Another thing that can get you in cloth diapering is paying premium prices for China Cheapy diapers online. One big reason this is such an issue is because of rebranding. Some popular China Cheapy companies will, for a small fee, put your tags on their diapers so you can resell them as your own brand. This leads to Alva diapers (and others) being sold for $10+ a piece on popular sale sites like Zulily, ebay, and other sites. This really saddens me but if you really want that print and want them now, I guess it's a good option.

 

Want China Cheapies but don't want to wait?

 

No problem! Some people do want to buy from Americans so that there isn't a communication barrier if something goes wrong with their order and so they can get them quicker. If this is what you would like to do I suggest this site. There are others but I have heard GREAT things about this one. You can also find them new and used on for sale sites, B/S/T pages, and online swaps.

 

The bottom line

 

The bottom line is this: I do suggest China Cheapies but I suggest you try out a few of each (and other brands, why not!) to see which one works best for you and your little one! I try to buy from Co-ops if I am not in a hurry to get them even cheaper. You can also buy directly from the sites or from Superstash.net. You can see pictures of the different brands I compared here, on my facebook page.

 

So! Tell me your favorite brand of China Cheapy! Or your favorite brand of diaper, period!

 

 

 



CJ's BUTTer, a review.

I figured since I've recently done a review (and giveaway!) of LuSa Organics Booty Balm, I'd do a review of another one of my favorites! I know I've talked about it before, but I want to mention it again!

 

CJ's BUTTer Made in the USA

 

If you've been following me a while you know I LOVE supporting WAHMs and I LOVE supporting companies who are based in the USA! CJ's is based in Colorado Springs, CO. How cool is that? I love knowing that I'm supporting a fellow American in paying their bills and stimulating our economy!

 

Cloth Diaper Safe, But Not Just for Cloth Diapers!

 

CJ's BUTTer is a cloth diaper safe rash cream. It will treat your babies rash without any adverse effects to your cloth. Does that mean I think you should goop it on in huge amounts at every change? No, probably not. One of the cool things about it though is it isn't just for diaper rash! It can be used on dry skin, rashes of other types, mild burns, scrapes, small cuts, etc. It is also edible and can be used as nipple cream! It makes a great baby gift too! The ingredients in Original BUTTer are Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Lanolin, Vitamin E, Gluten Free Colloidal Oil, and Cocoa Butter! So you know exactly what is going on your baby's skin! This is especially awesome for people with babies who have sensitive skin!

 

If You Already Have a Favorite Rash Cream?

 

If you already have a favorite rash cream, no big deal! Try one of CJ's many other awesome products, all made in the USA! I suggest trying the lip balm and Wash & Wipe solution! Check them all out here.

 

Lots of Awesome Scents!

 

One of my favorite things about CJ's is all the awesome scents it comes in! There are some Essential Oil and Essential Oil Blends scents as well as awesome scents such as Monkey Farts, Green Irish Tweed, Pink Sugar, Cucumber Melon, Love Spell, and much more! I recommend buying a bunch of sample sizes in all the different scents that sound good so you can smell them all! I personally have never had one that I don't like and I have tried quite a few!

 

Where Can You Buy It?

 

CJ's BUTTer and other products made by them are available at Mama's Emporium. Mama's Emporium is located in Aurora, CO, so she is able to get CJ's directly from the source which is local to her. Go browse the site and tell me, what is your favorite scent, or which scent do you want to try most?

 

LuSa Organics Booty Balm reveiw and Giveaway!

I know I have talked about LuSa Organics Booty Balm before, but I've partnered with Mama's Emproium to bring you yet another giveaway, and I figured I'd finally do a real review. After you read the review, make sure to enter the giveaway to WIN a FREE .8oz tin of Lusa Organics Booty Balm! Perfect to put in the diaper bag, your purse, the car, or keep at the babysitter's house.

This Giveaway is Brought to you By Mama's Emporium

 

First, let's talk about Mama's Emporium! Mama's Emporium is owned and operated by a WAHM (Work At Home Mom!) named Amanda. She does so many great giveaways and always is having awesome sales. I love shopping at Mama's Emporium because I know I will be getting only the best quality items at the greatest prices, and that I'm helping a mom stay home with her children and still pay her bills! Plus I love to save up points and get awesome stuff like free gift certificates, free teething necklaces, and more. Amanda is also based in Colorado, so if you are local to her, go check her showroom out in person or choose local pick up to save on shipping!

 

LuSa Organics Booty Balm

 

Where do I start? This stuff is amazing! I wasn't even in the market for a new booty balm, but I got a Stash Surprise from Mama's Emporium, and one of the many things included in that glorious box of wonderful lovely fluff was a .8oz tin of this booty balm. I figured well, it's free, I'll toss it in the diaper bag and try it out! Then my son got a rash. The other creams we were using before didn't work. We tried this out of desperation and boy were we surprised! Within one change his butt was drastically better! I started using it as a preventative as well and he quit getting rashes all together. It has a delightful scent that is soothing. One thing I really love is a little goes a long way! You can use just a tiny bit and make a .8oz tin last months. We keep ours in the diaper bag and have a large tin for the house. We haven't had to reorder for a while. I like to use it especially at night.

Other Uses For LuSa Organics Booty Balm

You can also use it as fist aid cream, kind of like neosporin! I like to use it on minor cuts or burns. It is so soothing and I love it! My husband actually prefers it to regular neosporin because he says he can "feel" it working unlike other first aid creams.
Another thing we use it for often in our home is eczema! I have very severe eczema. I have to be very careful and once I get a patch I have to treat it fast or it gets out of control. The only way to really treat it is steroid creams and lots and lots of lotion and/or Vaseline, which I hate. Well one day I realized I was out of everything I usually use, or, more likely, since we had just moved, I had misplaced it all. I couldn't afford to go to the doctor and buy the steroid creams that I needed. That's when I remembered my son's diaper rash! I went ahead and slathered it on my hands which were the worse, right before bed. The next morning I woke up and it wasn't all gone, but it was significantly better! Another night of that and I woke up with clear, healed hands! It was so nice to have that taken care of so quickly! Now I use it on pretty much any rash the boys or I get and I've never been disappointed!

Is It Cloth Diaper Safe?The short answer, YES! The long answer, kind of. I will say I use it on both my boys, my oldest is in disposables for medical issues, and my youngest is in cloth. The only issue I noticed was when I first got it and was using WAY too much. I mean I was really globbing it on there at every change. I figured you couldn't have too much of a good thing! I didn't notice any repelling or anything, just that it smelt like the booty balm even after washing. I stripped them with GroVia Mighty Bubbles once and voila, all better. I still use it and while I recommend using a disposable liner such as EcoSprout's Eco Bottom Liners, which you can buy at Mama's Emporium as well, you don't have to. I have heard of people having buildup issues but I have also heard that they went away after being stripped and using less. I just make sure that if I'm not using a liner, I only put just enough to cover the area on, not an excessive amount. Most of the time I use the liners even with other cloth diaper safe creams just because it's easier and I'm really into making my diapers last as long as possible in great condition. So I would suggest you buy the EcoSprout flushable liners and use it at night time with LuSa Organics Booty Balm, I'd rather be safe than sorry, but at the same time this stuff is just too amazing to no have on hand when little one gets a rash! Plus since you can use it for other things, like first-aid cream and eczema, I think it's essential!

Bottom Line

Bottom line, I love this stuff. I would recommend it to anyone. If you use disposable diapers you should still try it on your little one. If you use cloth, you should try it on your little one, and maybe get flushable liners just in case. If you don't have kids in diapers you can still use it! It's great to have on hand, in the car, your purse, your first aid kit, AND your changing table!

You Can Win Some Too!

That's right! You can win some FREE LuSa Organics Booty Balm! Enter using the rafflecopter below and you may win a free .8oz tin of LuSa Organics Booty Balm from Mama's Emporium and Cloth Diapering, a Hobby!
The Giveaway opens Today, Monday 1/28/13 at 8pm and closes Sunday 2/3/12 at 8pm!

Enter to win HERE!

If you can't wait, or you don't win, you can always buy this and other amazing LuSa products such as natural baby chest rub at Mama's Emproium!

Great Blogger Opp! And a Great Giveaway is Coming!

Hosted By: My Four Littles

Sponsored By: Natural Littles LLC

Coming soon to Cloth Diapering, a Hobby!!

A Cloth Diaper Starter Set Giveaway

Diapers, Wet Bag, and Cloth Friendly Detergent from Natural Littles LLC!

Two Free Links with announcement post.

You can write your own announcement post or use the text HERE.

$2 for Additional Links (up to 2)

$4 for Daily Vote/Comment Links

$10 for Cohost 

(Up to 5 Links on Your Own Host Page)

(You Will Make the RC Form and Pick the Links)

(Back Link in the HTML)

Click here to sign up!

Make sure to let them know that Anna from Cloth Diapering, a Hobby sent you!