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.

Designs by Cace AIO Diaper Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 10/30)

Designs by Cace is another WAHM brand, making sized fitteds, all-in-ones (AIOs) and covers, as well as nursing covers and slings.



I received a size medium AIO, which is estimated to fit 10-22 pounds.  Small fits about 5-10 pounds, and large about 20-35 pounds.





The diaper has a soft minky inner, a 3 layer sewn in soaker (very trim, but probably best just for daytime) and velcro closures with laundry tabs.  I really like the black velcro closures, it's a nice contrast and it's different than other diapers.  I did notice a few areas where the stitching could have been a little tighter/neater, but it didn't affect the function of the diaper at all.

The diaper is a smidge smaller than some other mediums I have; here it is compared to a one-size diaper on the medium setting:

Here it is measured folded and stretched:



It fit my 18.5 pound guy just fine with plenty of room to grow.



We didn't have any leak or fit issues, and though it looks like it was digging into his belly, it's just the way he was sitting.



A solid color medium AIO like I received, is just $10!  Wow!  Medium prints are $10-12.   A large AIO is $12, with prints ranging from $12-$15.  Smalls are a little less at $9 each.  Fleece covers are just $5-8!  These are very Daddy friendly and affordable enough to buy several and support a WAHM.

Giveaway: Designs by Cace is offering a winner any one in-stock item!


Here's how to enter: All entries go in the form below.  Mandatory entries include name, email address, and your favorite Designs by Cace item.  Please feel free to leave a comment, but comments will not count as entries.  Post will be updated daily with the # of entries received.


I will accept entries until Saturday, October 30th 2010 at 9 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 U.S. residents only.

Entries as of October 30th, 2010 at 9:00 P.M.: 97

FTC Compliance: I received the above diaper at no charge in order to review it.  I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

The Eli Monster AIO Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 10/27)

I bought my first diaper from The Eli Monster about 6 months ago; a size medium creme speedypants AIO.  When it started to seem kind of small on him, I got a little panicky, because I love it so much!!



I had "spotted" it on The Eli Monster Hyenacart store seemingly forever, and I was really surprised when it was still in stock when I had the money to buy finally.  Learn from my fail here..."in stock" doesn't mean ready to ship.  It simply means she has the materials to make the item; all items are made to order!  Her about me page is kept updated with current turnaround times.  Since I have impeccable timing (ha!) I placed my order just as her daughter arrived.  Despite just having had a baby, Steph gave me excellent service and an amazing diaper.  She doesn't send out a diaper that she doesn't think is her best work!

What I love about The Eli Monster is that they are totally unlike any other diaper I have ever seen.  They have hand sewn appliqués and hand applied screenprinting.



The screenprinting isn't "perfect," but it's not supposed to be.  It's an incredible, hand made diaper, and no two will be exactly alike, unlike if a commercial company tried to copy this with a factory made diaper!

But anyhoo, the medium diaper I bought before is the speedypants, which was $19.50.  This time, I bought the "special edition miracle diaper" for $25.50.  For each one she sells, she donates a diaper to The Cloth Diaper Foundation (formerly Miracle Diapers.)  The other items I am just dying to have are: the Punk Rock AIO, Anchor's Aweigh AIO, Tattooed Baby Longies, and the Nautical Star Tattoo diaper.  I also need one of her camera wrist straps and a Large Speedypants!  She makes nursing pads, covers and embellished prefolds too.

It sounds ridiculous but OMG.  For realz, yo.  I want one of everything.  I love, love, love Eli Monster stuff.  Totally my style and so different than everything else.



In my opinion, you may want to consider sizing up in The Eli Monster.  Above is the large Eli Monster, compared to a medium Bumgenius.  My son still has lots of room in the medium Bumgenius, but has pretty much outgrown the medium Eli Monster.  The Eli Monster's Size Chart gives weight estimates of 10-22 pounds for the medium, but I would probably suggest going with her more general guidelines of medium=baby and large=toddler.  My guy is only 18.5 pounds now, and the medium seemed smallish when we got it when he was a year old.  Since my guy isn't even on the CDC's growth charts, a larger baby would probably grow out of it even sooner.

Yappity yappity, here it is measured folded and stretched:



Here is The Eli Monster large compared to the medium:
 

 
The most noticeable difference to me between the medium and large, was the soaker thickness.  I've tried to photograph it, but it's tough to show.  I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in me pinching diapers with calipers.    ;-)
 


After using the large, it is definitely a better fit for my son.  It makes sense to me.  The smaller diapers have trimmer soakers, since you're likely to change more often and/or have lighter wetters.  The older babies tend to wet more at once, so you need more absorbency even if you change diapers as soon as they're wet!

The first photo is him in the medium, taken the same day as the other photos.
 



I love Eli Monster diapers, and so does my husband.  They are one I reach for if I know that my son's diaper might be hanging out of his pants.  They are such cool and unique diapers, I'm always hoping someone will notice it, and I'll be able to bring them over to the dark side get them interested in cloth!



Giveaway: The Eli Monster is offering a $20 gift certificate towards anything in her shop!  Most items are under $20 so, woo hoo!
 
Here's how to enter: All comments go in the form below.  Feel free to leave a comment, but comments do not count as entries.  Mandatory entries include name, email address and your favorite Eli Monster item from The Eli Monster Hyenacart Store or The Eli Monster Etsy Shop.  You may "like" The Eli Monster on Facebook for a bonus entry.
 
I will accept entries until Wednesday, October 27th 2010 at 9 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 U.S. residents only.

Entries as of October 27th, 2010 at 9:00 P.M.: 213

 
FTC Compliance: I paid normal retail prices for items reviewed.  I was not compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.