REVIEW: Rumparooz Pocket diaper

Details	Cost: $23.50 solids and $25.50 prints from KangaCare.
	Fits 6-35+lbs
	Pocket shell outer made from TPU with microchamois inner with double gusset.
	Available in snap or H&L closure; Rise adjusts snap down rise in 4 positions
	2 microfiber inserts (1 newborn size and 1 full size) that can be used separately or together with 6 overall options. Hemp and bamboo inserts available for additional cost.
Likes	The soft inner gusset keeps poop in without leaving red marks on chubby thighs.
	The double gusset makes a large pocket that is very easy to stuff. It is possible to add quite a bit in the pocket which is especially helpful for overnight. A PF fits easily.
	The outer TPU is smooth and soft. It seems to be a higher thread-count than other pocket diapers. The microchamois inner has held up without excessive pilling.
	The smallest rise setting means that a newborn can wear this, although it will be a bit bulky.
	Personally, I love the lower rise as it works well for my daughter's shape. She has a buddha belly and baby booty, but has a smallish waist. Diapers need to be able to snap under her belly and have generous cut rear to provide full coverage.
	No issues with leaking.
Dislikes	Low rise can mean plumber butt on chubbier babies, or babies with a longer rise. For a month or so (10-11 months old) these didn't fit my daughter terribly well. Once she started walking, she slimmed down and these fit even better than they had previously.
	The microfiber inserts were were absorbent but I had issues with stink. The hemp inserts are very absorbent and I have had no stink issues yet but they become misshapen with washing. The layers of hemp twist and it is difficult to get them to lay flat.
	The large pocket opening is located in the back of the diaper and, with particularly messy poops, poop ends up inside the pocket.
	The inner gusset is great for keeping poop in the diaper. They also end up being a bit hard to get clean because poop is caught in the gathers. Overall this is not a huge issue as I always manage to get them clean and stain-free but it's still worth mentioning.
Comments	These seem to be pretty hit or miss with people. Some love them and others hate them. The main issue seems to be the fit- these still fit my daughter at 18 months but I know mamas who stop using them after just a few months.
Overall	These are well made and easy to get. They are not as generous in the rise as some diapers but for certain babies this is not a problem. The materials are good quality and has held up well. I'm excited to try these with our next little one in the smallest settings.

Whale Tale on left shown in third snap position. Root Beer on right shown unsnapped.

Microchamois inner with double gusset.

Diaper with Hemp insert. Newborn insert snapped into full size soaker.

Third snap position @ 13 months.

Third snap position @ 13 months.

Unsnapped rise @13 months.

REVIEW: Monkey Snuggles OS fitted

Hand dyed OBV on left; knit print on right.

Details	Cost: $24 from Monkey Snuggles Occasionally offered by the dozen; also available in overnight, XL and NB sizes
	Fits 10-35lbs
	From website: 'made of a layer of organic bamboo fleece... sandwiched between a layer of organic bamboo velour... on the inside' with a cotton print or cotton velour on the outside.
	Cross-over snaps (front snapping); Rise adjusts snap down rise
	2 velour topped inserts (regular absorbency is 4 layers)
Likes	The design of the diaper shell allows it to wash well and dry quickly. It is very easy to remove poo from the shell. Always the first to dry when line dried.
	The inserts snap in front and in back and provide great coverage for messy diapers. It is not uncommon to only have poop on one insert, as opposed to all inserts and the inside of the shell. While I don't mind dealing with the dirties, it's always nice to have to deal as little as possible with what a solids-fed baby can produce.
	Available in cute prints and hand dyed OBV.
	Fit around the waist is generous. I can consistently cross the tabs when closing on my daughters waist and I still have several snaps on each side before I will need to use a hip snap cover.
	Personally, I love the lower rise as it works well for my daughter's shape. She has a buddha belly and baby booty, but has a smallish waist. Diapers need to be able to snap under her belly and have generous cut rear to provide full coverage.
	Wash well with no staining issues.
	Diapers are stocked weekly and are pre-made. They are also stocked in a large enough quantity that it is easier to purchase your desired prints than with some WAHM stores.
Dislikes	Low rise can mean plumber butt on chubbier babies, or babies with a longer rise. For a month or so (10-11 months old) these didn't fit my daughter terribly well. Once she started walking, she slimmed down and these fit even better than they had previously.
	The soakers provided in the regular absorbency diaper are not quite absorbent enough on their own to go coverless. I remedy this by using a night time soaker in front and a daytime soaker in back.
Comments	Customer service is excellent- quick response time and a willingness to work with the customer are two pluses.
Overall	These are well made and easy to get. They are not as generous in the rise as some diapers but for certain babies this is not a problem. With the added night time soaker, my daughter can go coverless for an hour or so. They provide a trim fit and have always contained messes.

Inside diaper: One insert snaps in front (snap shown), second insert snaps in back.

Hand dyed OBV @ 11 months

Low rise under belly

Great bottom coverage @ 17 months

My Stash Organization Scheme

I obviously enjoy cloth diapering. Hence the blog. This means I have a rather large diaper stash that needs to be organized in such a way as to be use-able.

On top of our dressers are all of the AIOs, AI2s and pocket diapers. Everything is pre-stuffed so that it can go right on the bum. This makes it easy for infrequent diaper changers. On top of the dresser means stuffed, waterproof and ready-to-go. Also on top of the dresser are wool clothing items such as longies and skirties. Cloth wipes are at the far end, as well as wipe sprays and diaper ointments. Not shown is the hook beyond the dresser for a hanging wetbag.

Fitteds are in the first drawer. Again, it's easy to explain that what's on top of the dresser is waterproof and what's in the dresser is not. Organized by color with the night time diapers on the right (in the foreground of this shot).

The shelf next to the dressers is organized into cubes. Top shelf left cube holds PUL covers and wool soakers. The top right cube contains prefolds and waterproof changing pads. We change our daughter's diaper on the floor or our low platform bed after a bad fall from an elevated changing pad resulted in a trip to the ER. The middle shelf has a cube for blankets and back-up diapers (GMD Workhorse fitteds and Under The Nile fitteds). The bottom shelf has a bin for shoes and a spot for wool that needs to be washed.

Extra items such as wipes spray concentrate, Babylegs and diapers/covers that are still too big are located in the bottom drawer of the dresser. And yes, those are newborn diapers on the left. No, there is no newborn on the way. Yet.

The basis for the organization is having everything within reach when I've got a squirmy baby trying to escape diaper change time.

Won Second Place in TT contest!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote! We didn't have enough comments to take first place but we were awarded second place by the contest judge. The prize was the option to purchase a custom diaper with free shipping- a hard thing to come by!

We've got a pair of custom diapers coming to live with us in this awesome print from Spoonflower:

I'm not gonna lie- we're a bit nerdy in this family... :)

Thanks again!

REVIEW: Charlie Banana OS Pocket Diapers

Charlie Banana Pocket diapers are the go-to pocket diapers in our stash. They offer a great fit and perform well without excess bulk. They are not as well known as some diaper brands but they are available at familiar stores such as Target, BabiesRUs and Amazon.com.

Details	Cost: Singles for $19.88 solids; $20.88 prints at charliebanana.com Also available in 6 packs for $109.99 (sale price)
	Fits 7-40lbs
	PUL outer; Fleece (polyester) inner with front loading pocket
	Cross-over snaps (front snapping); Rise adjusts via leg elastic
	2 Microfiber inserts (12" short; 13" long); disposable inserts available separately
Likes	Adjustable leg elastic and cross-over tabs provide an excellent fit without leaving red marks. I haven't had the opportunity to try these on a newborn but I feel like the adjustment in the leg elastic (as opposed to a snap rise adjustment) would allow the diaper to provide a relatively trim fit.
	Microfiber inserts are trim and absorbent. During the day we can use 1 insert but even with two, the diaper not too bulky. Leaks are extremely rare and usually a result of forgetting to change the diaper in a timely manner.
	Microfiber inserts was well and are the most smell resistant of our MF inserts.
	The front loading pocket are great for poopy diapers as you remove the insert away from where the mess is.
	Easy to stuff pockets. I pre-stuff and they pack small for the diaper bag or into the diaper bins.
	Wash well with no staining issues.
	Manufactured by an eco-friendly company that was nominated as an Earth Champion for waste reduction. A large part of our decision to use cloth diapers was to prevent tons of disposable diapers sitting in a landfill for the next half millennium.
Dislikes	Fleece inner is starting to show wear on the diapers that have had poop scraped off more vigorously with the spatula. Not more wear than usual for the material but I prefer to be able to scrub a bit to avoid staining.
	The cut of the front wing is squared off on the bottom and leaves an extra flap of material that is unnecessary. This doesn't affect the function of the diaper but I feel the fit would be better without it. (See image below)
	Relatively narrow through the crotch so finding alternative inserts (such as hemp) takes a little more work.
	I purchased 4 diapers on Zulily and, after one wash, the stitching on the elastic leg casing of one diaper came partially undone. I have not had problems with the other three diapers or the inserts.
Comments	The design of these diapers has been compared to FuzziBunz. There was even some big ol' drama where the owner of FB accused the owner of CB of copying the design. Apologies were issued to the Charlie Banana team for the libel and life continued. There are definitely similarities but I prefer my CB pockets to the FB for several reasons. These include the front loading pocket and crossover tabs. I also prefer the shape of the front wings. The CB wings are rounded and the FB are squared, which leaves extra fabric below the snaps that I feel is unnecessary bulk.
	Alternate inserts that work well for us are: Thirsties Hemp Inserts 2 pack. I have size small and use both inserts.
Overall	I recommend these for general daytime use and nighttime use for infants or light wetters. They are my favorite pocket diaper as they are a straightforward option that get the job done. They provide a good fit and reliable leak protection.

From left: 6 months use with vigorous scraping; 6 months with little scraping; one wash

Shown: Two microfiber inserts and shell. Arrow indicates extra flap.

Twinkie Tush Diapers: Photo Contest

Twinkie Tush is a favorite brand of fitted diaper. It has a great soaker design, as well as many layers of bamboo fleece, making it highly absorbent. My daughter can wear her Twinkie Tush diapers for a couple of hours without a cover during the day. I love the option to go coverless to let her bum get some fresh air.

Twinkie Tush is currently holding their first ever photo contest and we're a part of it! Please consider following Twinkie Tush on Facebook and voting. You can find the pictures in the March 2011 Photo Contest album.

Here are our entries:

Test

This is a test of the diaper broadcast system.