Flip Hook & Loop Closure Diaper Cover and Organic Insert - Photo Review and Giveaway (CLOSED 11/27)

In April, I reviewed a Flip cover with stay-dry insert.  I'm less a'skeered of snaps now than I was then, but I was still happy to learn that Flip Diapers was coming out with a hook and loop (a.k.a. Velcro or Aplix) closure diaper cover!  Right now, they are only available for purchase separately for $13.95, but Cottonbabies plans to sell them packaged with inserts, and in day packs in the future.  Lucky for one of you, I also bought an organic insert ($7.95 retail) to send along to the winner too!
 
The other Flip I bought came with a cardboard "wrapper" so I hadn't planned on taking photos of the hook & loop Flip, since I didn't want to give away an opened item!  I was a little surprised to find that both the diaper cover and the insert came without tags, wrappings or packaging, so I've done a little photo review.  The winner will receive the butternut color cover and organic insert pictured in this review however, we do not have pets (unless you count the kids) and the items were only on my laundry room counter, which is very clean, and my hands were clean as well!
 

Some of us were wondering whether the hook & loop would be the "old" Bumgenius 3.0 style, or the "new" Bumgenius 4.0 style.  Fortunately, it is the new style!
 

 
The "new" style laundry tab velcro is actually grippy, instead of just the fuzzy fabric of the 3.0s.  If you haven't had the pleasure of trying the 4.0s, the laundry tabs will touch baby's skin, but they are very soft, and haven't caused my son any irritation.
 


The hook & loop cover has the same, easily wipeable PUL inner as the snap closure Flip.  My snap flip has the same white fabric, but only over the closure snaps, not the rise snaps.  I assume it's to keep the PUL from leaking where it was punctured to attach them.

Here it is on the small setting, folded and stretched:
 


Medium setting folded and stretched:



Large setting folded and stretched:



The organic inserts are made from 100% Oeko-Tex® certified organic cotton.  Cottonbabies sells them for $7.95 each; $6.65 each if you buy 3 or more.  Buying a cover with an organic insert adds just $6 to the cost of the cover alone.

I was surprised by how soft this is!  Granted, it is new and hadn't been washed but wow, it is baby blanket soft!  Since this hasn't been washed/dried/prepped, you can definitely expect it to shrink a bit.  You simply fold the insert along the long or short side to fit inside the insert.
 
Here it is measured along the short side:
 

 
Measured along the long side:
 

 
In the cover on the small setting:
 

In the cover on the large setting:

As you can see, the hook & loop and flip covers are very much the same.  Of course, mine was purchased 7 months ago, so small changes wouldn't surprise me anyway!  One difference is that the Hook & Loop cover stinks!  I noticed a very strong, plastic-y/chemical smell that gave me a headache, as soon as I opened the mailer it came in.  I have never noticed this with any other diapers I've purchased.  My guess is that others begin with the same smell, but they've sat in warehouses and been shipped back and forth enough to air out before I get them!  Hopefully it will do the same before I ship it to the winner!



Here's a side by side of the small organic insert (remember, it hasn't been washed/dried so it will shrink!) compared to the small stay dry insert, and the same for the large.



Hooray for hook and loop!  Now when it Cottonbabies going to come out with newborn versions of their pocket diapers and flip covers?  Hmm?

Giveaway: One winner will receive the Butternut (sorry, boring, but I wanted it to be gender neutral!) Hook & Loop Closure Flip Cover (ARV $13.95) and Organic Insert (ARV $7.95) pictured.  Combined value $21.90 if my brain is working.


Here's how to enter: All entries go in the form below.  Mandatory entries include Your name and email address.  I always email winners, and I do try to look for them before giving up on them!  However, if you want to be sure it's you when I announce the winner, please use a middle or last initial, or nickname, so you'll know it's you.  I do announce names just as you enter them!  I'm offering a single bonus entry for following this blog.  You may choose GFC, RSS feed or email.  If you prefer, you can elect to "like" me on facebook or follow me on twitter instead.  Whatever will bring you back!  :-)


I will accept entries until Saturday, November 27th, 2010 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.


I'd love for you to leave a comment (also a great way to just remind yourself that you entered) but comments don't count as giveaway entries.  I will update the post daily with the # of entries received!

# of entries received as of November 27th at Giveaway close: 241



Please note: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, approved by or affiliated with Cottonbabies, Flip or any cloth diaper retailer.

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

Mailbox Mondays 10/25/10

{{tumbleweeds and spooky abandoned ghost town noises}}

Well, since I didn't get a single Mailbox Mondays submission for this week, I'm going to ask you a question instead.

{{crickets chirping}}

OK, here goes.  Has anyone noticed a color difference between the tabs on their bumgenius 4.0 compared to the body of the diaper?

I didn't notice this with my 3.0s, or my "sweet" or "grasshopper" 4.0.  So, I was wondering if this is just how they are, if I got one with two different dye lots, or if maybe I received a "second" since this was a replacement of a 3.0 under warranty.

Anyone?  I know it doesn't matter but it bugs me darn it!!

Bumgenius Elemental (A.K.A. Organic AIO) Review

I purchased this Bumgenius Elemental, Organic One-Size All-in-One with the $20 Abby's Lane gift certificate I won from Show Your Amor the day after my Birthday.  Happy Birthday me!

The elementals come with snap closures only, and the price is a little steep at $24.95 each.  They are very similar to the Flip or Bumgenius 4.0 in size and shape, but it is certified organic cotton on the inside, and it's an all-in-one style.  Since it's organic cotton, it does need to be "prepped" by washing 5 or more times, to gain maximum absorbency.  I think I may have washed it 3 times before using it the first time, knowing that it would gain absorbency with further washes.

The soaker is sewn in a loop style to dry a bit faster, and wash a bit more thoroughly, but I found it still took quite a while to dry.  While the soaker is all organic cotton, there will still be PUL touching the baby's skin at the front and back (which will serve as a stopper to prevent leaking and wicking.)



The size is very similar to the Bumgenius 4.0, but I prefer the leg elastic style of the 4.0.  The elemental is one-size via the same snap down rise the Bumgenius 3.0 & 4.0 Pocket diapers have.

Measurements are of course a wee bit subjective, since you can eke out a little more or less depending on just how you hold it.

Here is the small setting, folded and stretched:



Medium folded and stretched:



Large folded and stretched:



Here it is on my son, who is in the medium setting, at about 18.5 pounds and 30":

It did fit well, and did not leak (even before it was fully prepped) but I did have to roll the leg elastic in a bit.  My personal preference (which you know if you've been reading for a while!) is a pocket diaper with a stay dry inner and Velcro closure.  However, if you are looking for an easy to use all-in-one with an organic soaker, this may be your ticket!

FTC Compliance: I paid normal retail price for this item, which was purchased using a gift certificate I won.  I was not compensated for this review.

My Bumgenius Warranty Experience

So, for anyone who inevitably says "tl;dr," (that is, too long; didn't read...and I don't blame you if you do!) here's the cliff notes version: I big puffy heart Cottonbabies customer service.

My first ever cloth diapers were Bumgenius 3.0s.  I bought three in October 2009, and bought three more maybe a week or so later.  Those 6 diapers have gotten a lot of use, since my strategy was to wash often, saving the money I would have spent on disposables.  I used that money to build my stash gradually, and it was several months before I finally had enough to go to every other day washing!

I knew from reviews that Bumgenius aplix didn't last very long, but after a few months, my diapers started looking like this when they came out of the wash!

These two saw the worst of it.  The laundry tabs were pilly, one was rather shrunken, and the closure tabs were curled.

I know that Cottonbabies sells refresher kits, but I don't have a sewing machine.  My Mom has an older one that she would let me use, but it's kind of awful (sorry Mom!) and would probably make a mess of it.  I was thinking I could just buy some white thread and try to do them by hand, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to check first, to see if this would be covered under the 1 year warranty.

I contacted Cottonbabies customer service on Monday, August 23rd and had a response the same day.  To my surprise, it indeed would be covered under warranty.  On the one hand, a product advertised to take your baby through potty training should last at least a year without needing "refreshing," but on the other hand, it didn't seem surprising to have aplix issues after nearly a year of lots of use.  I was pleasantly surprised!

I read on, and the other shoe dropped.  The email said I would need to include info on how I cared for the diapers, including detergent.  Dun dun dunnnnnn!  We went back and forth for a few days, since the insinuation was that my warranty would be voided since I used detergents that were not "5 stars" on the "safe" list.

Finally, on August 27th, I received word that it should be OK, and I could go ahead and send them in.

I filled out an easy form online, received an RMA number, and packed the diapers up with a copy of my receipt, info about what was wrong with them, and included the RMA number inside and on the label.  For the record, the RMA form did not ask me to include any info about how I cared for them.

Cottonbabies requires that diapers sent back be clean and stink free, and I think mine were.  They didn't say whether or not I need to send along the inserts and doublers, so I went ahead and put them in.  I sent them via USPS priority mail, printed online with delivery confirmation, at a cost of $5.05.

I put them in the mail on Saturday, August 28th.  I actually felt a little sad saying goodbye to these, since they are two of the three diapers that started me on my cloth diapering journey.  Am I weird or what?

On Monday, August 30th, I received an email saying that my exchange was processed, and that I'd be receiving another email when my replacement diapers shipped.  #1, hello, that was fast!  #2 how awesome that I was kept aware of every step!

On Thursday, September 2nd, I received a shipping notice with a tracking number.

On Tuesday, September 7th, I received two brand new Bumgenius diapers in the mail!! They were in the next town over the weekend, so I know they would have been here even sooner if it weren't for the holiday.

The surprise was that they are 4.0 diapers! Yay!! So that means I probably won't have any more problems with the aplix, though I assume replacement diapers don't come with their own warranty.

I am just beyond thrilled right now. Essentially for $5.05 I have two spanking new diapers, and got 10 1/2 months use out of the original diapers.

Awesome, just awesome! Especially when I think about the trouble I had with my Blueberry aplix after only a month or so, and the "too bad for you" response I received when I contacted them!

I have heard Bumgenius referred to as the "Wal Mart of Cloth Diapers" and while I do think they are a big name in cloth diapering, they didn't get there with poor business practices. They make an awesome product; I have lots of favorites, but BG are still the ones my husband reaches for (past others) and they have just been all around great for us! This is just icing on the cake for me!

Bumgenius 4.0 Review, Comparison to 3.0 & Giveaway (CLOSED)

I don't usually post giveaways on the weekends, since the internet is closed on weekends and all.  <----According to my Aunt Becky.  <----Not my real Aunt.  I'm going to be a daredevil and do it anyway!

I forewarn you that this post has a lot of yapping and a lot of pictures.  If you want to skip over all my blah blah blah and go right to winning the two diapers above, head to the bottom of the post!

So, before I get started, I'll say I'm underwhelmed.  I'm quite happy about the improved Velcro, but we'll have to see how it pans out in the long run.  I said before and I'll say it again that I think Cottonbabies shot themselves in the foot by making such a big hoopla over such silliness.  If they had just said that a 4.0 was coming out and would incorporate some of the things we asked for, great.  I would have been anxiously awaiting the announcement and ready to buy.

Instead, they were super secretive, leading to all sorts of speculation, insinuating that the "new" product was going to be totally different.  They got their wish, with over a thousand You Tube subscribers on their brand new channel before the announcement was even made.  I'm sure their sales were huge, and their website was a mess with all the ordering going on.

That said, I won't bite again.  They've cried wolf in my eyes.  The next time they say they have some great new thing, I'll just roll my eyes and go about my day.  I'll assume it's a 5.0 with a 4th snap setting and some prints or something.

So here's what was new:

1. 
   
   Slightly larger to fit bigger babies.
2. 
   
   Improved Velcro and laundry tabs.
3. 
   
   Snap closure option.
4. 
   
   More easily replaceable elastic.
5. 
   
   3 extremely pale pastels.  Noodle (yellow), sweet (green) and bubble (lavender.)

I bought myself a 4.0 in Velcro in the "sweet" color.  A winner gets the same, plus a snap closure 4.0 in the "noodle" color.  I didn't buy myself a snap closure diaper, so there's no detailed review of it.  However, as you can see above, it looks nearly identical to the Flip.

I suspected that the sizing would be very similar to the flip, and it appears I was right.

As you can see in the above pictures, the colors (can't speak about "bubble" since I didn't buy one) are extremely light.  It almost gives me a headache to try to focus on the color because they are nearly white.  They almost look like an item made of two different fabrics that start out the same color, but wear differently over time.  Then after a while, they are slightly off. 

As you can see here, the contrast to something white (white paper, the white Velcro, white inner etc.) is what makes the diaper not look totally white.

The story is that "so many" parents were asking for lighter colors that wouldn't show through newborn clothing.  I have never heard anyone say that, just people asking for brights and prints!  I guess I don't understand why they didn't just buy white then?  This is so light, you can see the insert and the insert's tag through it!

I find the color names to be a bit confusing also.  I already had a hard time remembering which blue and green were which. I definitely agree that descriptive color names like chocolate, root beer, platinum, cherry, raspberry, watermelon and the like, are more appealing.  However, it's also very easy to imagine what color you're getting based on the name.  In fact, I would expect that root beer and chocolate may be slightly different colors!  Noodle?  Sweet?  Bubble?  What the heck!  I had to check 3 times before I ordered to try to make sure I knew what I was getting.  That was especially difficult since the website was barely working and most of the images weren't appearing.

OK now I have to apologize in advance for using a 9 month old diaper in my comparison shots, it's kinda gross.  But, it also lets you see what a Bumgenius 3.0 looks like after 9 months!  Plus, if I had bought a new one just for this comparison, the winner wouldn't be getting two diapers.

I had a very tough time photographing the change to the elastic.  it's very hard to see in the photo, but in the 3.0, there is a horizontal line of stitching at the end of the elastic.

Can you see it?  Yeah, me neither.  But it's there.  I just can't get a good photo of it.

The 4.0 doesn't have that additional stitching, which I suppose, in theory, makes elastic replacement easier.  If you do that kind of stuff, which I don't!  Phew.  That was a mouthful.

This was the improvement I was happiest about.  The biggest problems I have with the BG are the stinky microfiber, (easily remedied with an occasional dab of bleach with the inserts only-sorry to the bleach haters, but it works) the &^%^* laundry tabs and resulting curling closure tabs, and all the snagging that ends up on the front of the diapers.

A lot of people end up doing a snap conversion when the tabs bite the dust, especially since their little ones are discovering the joy of rrriippppp-ing the Velcro around that time anyway.  You can also buy refresher kits from Cottonbabies and replace them, but I'm no seamstress.  We prefer Velcro at our house because it's easy and very adjustable.  We just can't go pants-less with them anymore! 

The closures didn't stick to the old laundry tabs very well.  The new laundry tabs actually have the Velcro loop for the tabs to stick on to.  They are quite soft, so I really don't think they would irritate baby's skin.

Hanging the shells to dry seems to do a lot to preserve the life of both the closures and the elastic.  However, if the tabs don't stick well, they will still snag other diapers in the washer.

So what about the sizing change?  I think the changes are subtle.  I'm sure there will be a few people that will have problems with the new sizing, but I may not have noticed without a comparison.  The overall length/rise of the diaper is slightly larger, but it seems the front/wings of the diaper saw the biggest change.  I do think the fit seems to be very close to the Flip. 

I wondered what the size change would mean for the small setting, since a 4th/newborn rise snap wasn't added.  The changes seem slight enough that I don't think they will make much difference for most people.  We started out at about 14 pounds on the medium setting, and I've heard people say they don't start to fit well until around 10 pounds.  So, most people will need to have some newborn diapers anyway.  *shrug*  edit: It took me a while to notice, but the rise snap was moved down slightly on the 4.0, I suppose to make up for the larger size.

Next I compared each size setting on the 3.0 vs 4.0.  This of course isn't an exact science, but I measured each diaper folded, then stretched.  This is a little subjective since depending on just how you flatten/stretch it, measurements can vary a bit.  But, it should give you an idea!

3.0, small setting, folded.

4.0, small setting, folded.

3.0, small setting, stretched.

4.0, small setting, stretched.

4.0 small vs. 3.0 small.

3.0, medium, folded.

4.0, medium, folded.

3.0, medium, stretched.

4.0, medium, stretched.

4.0 medium vs. 3.0 medium.

3.0 large, folded.

4.0, large, folded.

3.0, large, stretched.

4.0, large, stretched.

4.0 large vs. 3.0 large.

I really don't mean to sound like "sour grapes."  In the end, I still like Bumgenius one-size pocket diapers.  They are always the first hubby or I reach for.  They fit well, they are super easy to use and they simply don't leak.  They have their faults like any other diaper, but nothing that would keep me from using them.

Both Rumparooz and Smartipants are coming out with new/improved products over the next few months.  Neither company has given any clue as to what the changes will be, but I'm excited to find out.  Neither has sent a dramatic email saying with "heavy hearts" that they are "discontinuing" their "highly acclaimed" diapers.  While that technically was true, (3.0s were discontinued in favor of the 4.0s) it was misleading.  Yes, they wanted to create the upset of people thinking the new product was completely different because it got them talking and tuning in.  If they had simply stated that they were 4.0s, people wouldn't have been quite as anxious to hear the news.  Alas, customers are fickle and want to be valued and appreciated, not taunted and told to "breathe" or "take a bubble bath."  Cottonbabies wouldn't so much as reassure people that the diapers they loved would still be around, reinforcing the fear that the new product was a big change.

Some people said they had to just be 4.0s.  Others said there was no way they would make such a big deal of a new product if it wasn't something really good.  In the end, we were just taken on a wild ride.  The media circus was totally unwarranted, and I know I'm not the only one who was let down by the non-news.  The whole thing smacked of the neener neener "I-I have a se-cret and I ca-an't tell youuuuu" that I'd expect to hear on a playground. 

4.0, medium setting, ~17.5 lbs

3.0, medium setting, taken the same day as the above

The only appreciable difference to me right now (since only time will tell if the new Velcro is any better) is a slight funky-ness to the elastic placement.  I guess it's from the wider wings?  I noticed it as I was photographing the diapers, but thought it might just be the way it was sitting.  If you look at the 4.0, the elastic stops much further down on his leg.  I may just need to get used to pulling the new, wider wings more firmly or something, I dunno.  edit: I think the difference might be due to the rise snap being moved down slightly.

Flip, medium setting, taken the same day as the other 2 photos.

This diaper is not white.  Okkaaaayyy...

Wait for it...

Riiiiippp...

Leaves little to the imagination, LOL

Lucky they make a good diaper because I hold a grudge.

So, want to win one two Bumgenius 4.0 diapers?

One lucky winner will receive a Bumgenius 4.0 diaper in white "sweet" (pale, pale green) with a Velcro closure (exactly like the one I reviewed.)  That same lucky duck will also receive a Bumgenius 4.0 in off white "noodle" (pale, pale yellow) in snap closure.

Here's how to enter:

You may do some or all of the below.  Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Please be sure to leave your email address in at least one of your comments, if it isn't visible in your profile.  I have to have a way to contact you if you win!  You may enter it in the format of name at host dot com.

1. Leave me a comment.  Anything you like.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

2. Follow this blog

3. "Like" me on Facebook

4. Follow me on Twitter

5. Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to link back to this post.  One tweet per day please.  Use this tweet if you like @chgdiapers has a #giveaway for two @Bumgenius 4.0 #clothdiapers ending 7/28 http://bit.ly/9hDJPE

6. Blog about this giveaway and link back to the post.

7. Share this blog or giveaway somehow.  See the stack of "share the love" icons on the left of the page.  You can use the StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit, Facebook or Delicious icons if you have account there, you can post about this in your Facebook status (@Fitteds and Pockets and Snappis, oh my! if you do that and please link to this blog post.)  You can tell a friend via email, post on a cloth diapering board or group, "Favorite" my blog on Technorati or even vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory I'm not picky, just share with someone you think might be interested!  This is going on the honor system, just leave me a comment telling me what you did to share.

This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only.  Sorry Canadians, but I don't know all the rules for giveaways in Canada, and I don't look good in stripes.  ;-)

I'll accept entries until Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 9 P.M. Eastern.  I'll choose a winner with random.org's true random number generator and notify the winner by email (as well as posting it on a blog post.)  The winner will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen.

The diapers pictured are in hand and are the diapers you will receive.