Heartland Dreams One Size Pocket Diaper (Tester) Review!

 

I've had my Heartland Dreams Fitted for about 10 months.  Fitteds aren't my favorite, but Heartland Dreams (HD from here on out for lazy me) were recommended to me as an very absorbent fitted, and I turned to fitteds and wool when my son was a night time super soaker!
 
As it turns out, HD aren't just absorbent, they are incredibly well made as well.  I love a lot of work at home mom (WAHM) made diapers, but HD are amazing.
 

I found out that Heartland Dreams was working on a one-size pocket diaper (my favorite!), and I got a little excited.  I put myself in the running to be a tester, and crossed my fingers and toes.  For those who aren't familiar with "testers," usually a diaper maker will try their diapers on their own children, and babies that belong to their friends and family, then make tweaks to their pattern.  Prior to selling for the first time, trying a new pattern, style or making tweaks to an existing one, they usually want them tested on lots of different age, size and shape babies.
 
If someone is brand new to making diapers, they may offer the tester diapers free for the cost of shipping, or the cost of shipping + materials.  Prices vary based on where they are in the testing phase, and typically when a known diaper maker is just tweaking a product they've been selling, testers may just receive a small discount, or coupon for their next order, in exchange for their feedback.
 

I was excited when I found out I was one of 6 randomly chosen testers!  We didn't get to choose our colors, but I actually received the diaper that I liked best out of the pre-made tester diapers.
 

Heartland Dreams is great to test for because she is truly looking for feedback, including constructive criticism.  She's not just looking for pats on the back about how great her diapers are (even though they are.)
 

 
The pocket diapers are one-size via a snap down rise, and have a 4th setting to fit extra-small babies.  I do not know the estimated weight range for these diapers.  Rather than just arbitrarily say they fit 8-35 lbs (or whatever) Tina will probably compile tester feedback to set the estimated weight range.
 

 
The diaper has snap closures, one row of snaps with 2 snaps on each wing, and two snap overlaps.
 

The stay dry inner is buttery soft, and has stayed soft after several washes.
 

The pocket opening is in the front of the diaper, and there is a flap to completely cover the insert, and prevent wicking.
 


I received both an organic insert and a microfiber insert (which are both made by HD).  The organic insert is super soft, and is pre-washed three times, so you can use it right away (it will continue to gain absorbency as you wash it.)
 


The microfiber insert has snaps to adjust the size and keep it secure.  I love this!  Not many diapers have this feature, which makes it much easier to stuff the diaper.

When I was taking pictures of this diaper, my husband said "someone MADE that?!"  OK, I'm quoting, but paraphrasing a little.  He might have said "THAT's homeMADE?"  In any case, it was said in an incredulous tone!

I'm pretty sure Tina isn't a robot or a machine (LOL) but her stitching is so even and neat, it puts most commercially made diapers to shame. The first two pictures are of stitching along elastic, so any unevenness is because the elastic is gathered. I couldn't keep it stretched and take a picture at the same time. A third hand would come in very handy at times like these. Har har.

Here's the diaper on the smallest (extra-small) setting both folded and stretched:

Small:

Medium:

Large:

My son is around 21 pounds, and wears the medium setting of most one-size diapers, so that's what I put on him.  I tried it with the microfiber insert first. 





The diaper is cut with an intentionally narrow crotch, so it's very trim.  This is of course one reason Tina was testing the diaper, to make sure it still provided enough coverage for larger babies.



Even with the organic insert, it was still very trim, and also very absorbent.  Some people say they don't have to unstuff their pocket diapers before washing.  For me, they just end up bunched up at the bottom of the diaper, unless they have openings on both ends.  So, when Tina asked testers to indicate if the insert would agitate out in the wash, either as is, or with the flap flipped up, I tried it just to humor her.  To my surprise, both inserts agitated out completely without unstuffing!

Prices haven't been set for the diapers and inserts yet, that's another reason for diaper testing, so the testers can give feedback on what they think a fair price would be.


FTC compliance: I paid the normal tester price for this diaper, I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

Mailbox Mondays 12/6/10 Fitted diapers

It's Monday again (How does that keep happening?  Where does the weekend go?) so it's Mailbox Mondays time!  If you'd like your question to be answered in a Mailbox Mondays post, send an email to maria at change-diapers.com with "Mailbox Mondays" in your subject.

Courtney says:

Hi Maria,

What are your favorite fitted diapers? We only have 2 (a Thirsties Fab Fitted and a Muttaqin Baby) so far. If my Thirsties is clean, it is the first diaper I grab for! I love fitteds and covers! I am looking at buying more to replace some pockets I recently sold. I would love to have your opinion because I also have a very small 1 year old who is only 18 lbs!

Thanks!
Courtney

Hi Courtney!  I'll be honest, fitteds aren't my favorite.  Mostly because I'm lazy and I might die if I have to snap 4 extra snaps (kidding).  That being said, fitteds are awesome for their absorbency.  Plus, the elastic of the fitted combined with the elastic of the cover is fantastic for containing messy uhhh...messes.

A super absorbent fitted with a wool cover is a lifesaver for a heavy wetter at night.  It's finally what got me through the nights sane, and with my son dry!  I love my Guerilla Fluff Utilitarian.  It has two soakers with 3 layers of bamboo fleece each, with optional zorb added as well, plus a doubler with 2 layers of bamboo fleece and a layer of wool!  It doesn't have snap closures, so I just use it at night.

My Heartland Dreams Fitted is also amazing.  It's incredibly well made, super absorbent, and not really as gigantic as you'd think a diaper that absorbent would be.  Plus, it came with hip snap covers!

My Ellabella Bottoms Fitted is work-at-home-mom made, just like the other two.  The Ellabella Bottoms review actually has a photo of all three of these diapers stacked on top to compare thickness.  This one is also very, very absorbent, though a little bulky for daytime.

Lastly, the Little Beetle Little to Big Fitted and Wool Cover are quite different than the others, but also great.  It is hands down, the trimmest diaper I have.  Yet, very absorbent!  I wouldn't use it at night, but it's excellent during the day, and very cute!  The elastic is drawn a bit tighter, and I think it would fit most small babies well.  My son was 20 pounds at his 18 month checkup, but he's also proportionately short, so he's not super skinny like my long & lean daughter was!

I've only used maybe 10 fitted diapers, as opposed to nearly 50 Pockets/AIO/AI2 diapers!  I definitely need to review more fitteds, but like anyone, I tend to spend my fluff funds on my favorites.  ;-)  Thirsties Fab Fitteds are definitely on my "to-try" list for newborns, if I ever get to diaper one!

How about you gals?  Do you have a favorite fitted?  Are they WAHM made?

Heartland Dreams Fitted

I'm really not a huge fan of fitteds because they aren't waterproof, but the prints are just so cute, they keep sucking me in.  I had heard good things about Heartland Dreams, and I wanted one even more after I got the doll diapers her daughter made.

I saw a few prints I liked in her store, but I wasn't quick enough to snap them up.  When I saw this fitted, I grabbed it!

Something unique I didn't even notice until the third or so wash, is that Tina seams her fabric in the middle.  This way, the print is right side up in both the front and the back.  Just another little touch, but it does bug me when the print is upside down!

The shape of the diaper and soakers, as well as the fold down rise, remind me of Goodmamas.  She also sells one size snappiable/pinnable fitteds, All-in-twos and a 2 stage fitted diapers.  I'm currently drooling over this one and this one.  Well, the second one is sold but I'm still drooling over it!  She also stocks on several congos.  She regularly posts when and where she is stocking on the Facebook fan page for Heartland Dreams.  In the past, she has also stocked sized pockets (I'd love to try one of those since pockets are my favorite!), sized fitteds, and other things I'm sure I'm neglecting to mention!

This diaper is the first HD I fell in love with but didn't pounce on.  I love that print.  *sigh*  Poor me.

I received my order really quickly after buying.  It was packaged really nicely.  I always think it's a nice touch!

She included a card with care instructions.

And business card...

with a hand written thank you on the reverse.

It's a small thing, but it's nice.

She also included a free wipe!

Very cute!

Heartland Dreams diapers are incredibly well made.  They simply don't look like a diaper that a Mom made on her sewing machine at home.  I didn't go over it with a magnifying glass or anything, but wow.  The stitching...everything is very professional.

The legs are turned & top stitched to avoid chafing baby's legs, and the front and wings are serged for less bulk.

The outside of the diaper is cotton knit, there is a hidden layer of OBF (rayon from organic bamboo fleece)and the inner and soakers are topped with OBV (rayon from organic bamboo velour).  They are so soft, and there is a signature heart on the reverse of the soaker that is so cute.

Each of the two petals of the snap in soaker has 2 layers of OBF topped with the OBV.  Also included is a booster made of two layers of OBF.

I think you can see how well made the diaper in in this photo.

She includes a set of hip snap covers for when you no longer need the wing cross over, and the third snap is no longer snapped into the diaper.

The first time I used the diaper, I just pulled the soakers up, I didn't fold them at all.  All the red spots on my son's tummy are from the snaps inside our Goodmama One, which he was wearing before this HD.  I really do prefer hidden snaps on the inside.

The rise folds down, my son is in that in between height and weight where he can really wear it either way.

All done!

Right side up on the booty too!

Too cute.

He had it on (coverless) for about an hour and a half before I noticed any dampness on the outside.  On subsequent uses, I folded the soakers and tri-folded the doubler, to get more coverage in the wet zone.  Doing that, I was able to use it coverless for 2+ hours.

I would definitely use a cover for any situation where there might be compression of course!

All in all, I love this diaper.  I am really anxious to try one of her all-in-two diapers, since I really prefer diapers that don't require a cover.  (I'm lazy, what can I say?)  Heartland Dreams are by far, my favorite WAHM diapers to date.  The diaper has been in my rotation for a month now and I've had no issues at all!

Edit August 2010: This diaper is adorable, incredibly absorbent and very well made.  It's not in my regular daytime rotation anymore just because I  don't love fitteds in general.  I really want to try a HD AI2!