Thirsties Sized Diaper Covers Review & Comparison To Duo Wrap

To go along with my Thirsties Fab Fitted vs Duo Fitted Review & Comparison, I decided I needed to compare the Duo Wraps to the Covers also!  As I mentioned before, I won a cover and fitted in a Dirties on Diapering backer giveaway
 


Pictured here in green (celery), I have a Thirsties Cover in Extra-Small.  These are sized covers with XS fitting 6-12 lbs, Small 12-18 lbs, Medium 18-28 lbs and Large 28-40 lbs.  



They have hook & loop closures, laundry tabs, double leg gussets and a 1 mil wipe-able PUL inner.  They retail for $11.50 each.

Here is the XS measured folded and stretched:



Check out my full Thirsties Duo Wrap Review for all the details on that, but here are just a few photos for comparison.




The duo wraps of course have rise snaps to adjust from 6-18 lbs for size 1, and 18-40 lbs for size 2.  Here is the Extra-Small Cover vs the size 1 Duo Wrap (smallest setting on the left, largest on the right):



Here is a Small cover vs the size 1 duo wrap on the largest setting (size 1 seems to be XS & Small with 1 additional setting between, size 2 seems to be medium & large with 1 additional setting in between.)  



Finally, here's my newborn "model" again, also pictured in newborn and size 1 disposables for comparison:







The duo wraps are a little more expensive at $12.75 for solids and $13.75 for prints vs. $11.50 for the covers.  According to Thirsties, the covers are a bit roomier to fit over fitteds, while the duo wraps are better suited for prefolds or the stay dry inserts.  I really didn't notice this, but I'm sure it would be more apparent on an actual baby rather than a squishy "bear" bottom (har har.)
 

 
Which ever you choose will give you a great, versatile diapering system that's made in the U.S.A.!
 
FTC compliance: The above products were won in a giveaway and purchased at normal retail prices.  I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Smartipants Smart-Fit Cover Review and Giveaway (CLOSED 2/1)

I ended up really liking my Smartipants diaper.  I initially didn't think it was anything special, but my opinion changed, and after using it for 8 months, it landed in my favorite things.
 



Though fitteds/covers or prefolds/covers aren't my favorite, I was very interested to try the Smartipants Smart-Fit Cover, which retails for $13.95.
 

One thing that's pretty unique about the Smartipants cover is the waist adjustment.  There are snaps at the rear on each side, allowing additional sizing customization.
 


The covers are available with Aplix closures, while the one-size diapers are not (newborn diapers are).

The cover has a wipeable inner, so it can be reused for multiple diaper changes.

The diaper cover has 5 rise settings.  That combined with the waist snap adjustment and overlapping tabs, gives you a lot of options to find just the right fit.

That said, the cover is quite large overall, considerably larger than the smart sleeve diaper.



I do not think this cover would fit newborns or small babies.  The smallest setting seems similar to the medium setting on one-size diapers.  For simplicity, I'm labeling the size settings 1/smallest through 5/largest.

Here is the smallest setting (first snap) folded and stretched:




Setting two:



Setting three:



Setting four:



Setting five/largest setting/fully unsnapped:




While the cover can be used with inserts, it seems to be sized to better fit over bulkier systems like fitted diapers.



Here is my 21ish pound son in the Smartipants cover, smallest setting (waist and rise) with a Flip stay dry insert:






It also fit over my fluffiest fitted, my Heartland Dreams.





If you are looking for a highly adjustable cover, that will fit your larger baby for a long time, this is it!

Giveaway: Smartipants is offering one winner their own smart fit cover, in their choice of color!  The covers are available in Clever Clover, Aqua Breeze, Think Pink and Bright White; the diapers have even more color options!


Here's how to enter: All entries go in the form below.  I love your comments (leaving a comment is a good way to remind yourself you entered), but comments don't count as entries!  Mandatory entries include name, email address and what other Smartipants product you'd like to try (or what you'd like to see them add!).  You can receive a bonus entry if you "like" Smartipants on Facebook.

I will accept entries until Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 9:00 P.M. Eastern. I will select a winner using random.org's true random number generator and notify him/her by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen. View my giveaway rules page for complete details. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only. 

# of entries received as of Giveaway close: 181




FTC compliance: I received the pictured item at no cost in order to write my review.  Smartipants is also offering an item to a giveaway winner.  I was not otherwise compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

Using prefolds with a snappi and cover

This is an awesome (and short) video tutorial on how to use a prefold with a snappi and cover!



If you're looking for a snappi, Abby's Lane has them for $3.95 ($4.55 for toddler size).  This is a dollar or so more than some other places, but the shipping is free.  I'm not a fan of paying $6 shipping for a $3 item!

Econobum

I got this free with an order by using a coupon code.  Not a fan.

It consists of a nice prefold.  I mean a really nice prefold.  Not even in the same neighborhood (or country for that matter) as those Gerber diapers people use as burp cloths.  Really. 

and an extremely thin, cheap, one size cover.  It comes in white only.

The prefold is unbleached cotton, so it had to be "prepped" by washing 3-5 times, which I did.  Supposedly, you are able to trifold the prefold, and place it inside, rather than pinning or using a snappi, so that's what I did.

Leaked instantly!  I suppose I should give it another chance, but I really don't care to.  I believe the intention is to re-use the cover, only changing the prefold (unless the cover gets really dirty).

At under $10 retail for a set of 1 cover and 1 prefold, this would be a very economical method of diapering, especially if you were to buy just a few, and fill in with plain old (decent) prefolds.

However, I feel that you'd be much better served to buy a few BG 3.0s (approximately 2x the cost of an econobum set) and wash twice per day, adding to your stash as you could (this is pretty much what I did).

I definitely do not see an econobum lasting through more than one child (I'd be surprised if it lasted more than a few months) nor would I expect it to have any resale value.

I'd definitely put this is the "penny wise, pound foolish" category.