Smartipants Diaper Review and Giveaway!

Even before I was pregnant I began thinking about using cloth diapers. But thinking was really all I did for a while, after all between 2 baby showers and a huge diaper cake, we didn't end up having to buy diapers for a couple months because we had so many disposables. And I must say, my husband was not nearly as excited as I was about switching to cloth and would insist that if I wanted to use cloth, I was on my own. Nevertheless, I was determined.

 So I admit that I didn't start using cloth until Emma was 6 months old and even then I could only afford to buy a few covers, which I used with prefolds that I found at a thrift store while secretly dreaming of a big, fluffy stash of pocket diapers and AIO's.  Cloth diapering does require a larger upfront investment than disposables, and that can be really scary. Once I got over it, though, it was totally worth it!! The first pocket diapers I ever bought were a 3 pack of Smartipants, I never looked back, I was hooked.  At that time Smartipants were relatively new on the market and lots of moms were raving about them, including one of my good friends (who lovingly pushed me into and reminded me of my desire to use cloth diapers).  I checked out their website and loved what I saw, especially the price ($14.95 per diaper or $39.95 per 3 pack), so I ordered a girl color 3 pack right away. You can read my post about it here.

These diapers really stand up to wear. When I first started using them, and for about 3 months, they were pretty much my whole stash because I didn't really care for prefolds and covers, so I was washing every day! I've been using the 3 original diapers for about 10 months now and they still function perfectly and look awesome.
Here is the same pink Smartipants diaper on Emma at about 8 months old:

and currently, at 16 months old. She's about 25 pounds and still on the second snap setting, so they will most likely still fit when we start potty training. That makes them a great investment!

 


I can say with 100% honesty that the only regret I have regarding cloth diapering is that I didn't start sooner. And Smartipants are the perfect diaper for a first timer! They are so easy to use and wash, they're onesize (which means they'll fit a baby from birth to potty training), easily adjustable and the insert comes out on it's own in the wash (my favorite feature!).  Even my husband had to admit that it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.
Smartipants feature:

• Leak guard technology, a unique "smart sleeve" that keeps the insert in place and keeps moisture from seeping out of the diaper
• a super-thirsty microfiber insert that agitates out of the diaper on it's own in the wash
• a waterproof outer layer=no cover required!
• soft, microfleece lining that wicks moisture away from baby's skin and cleans up so easily!
• gentle elastic along the legs and waist, helping to contain even the messiest of "business" (and they have definitely been put to the test on Emma)
• snap closure and one-size adjustment
• a really neat wrap up and store feature which allows you to wrap up the soiled diaper, fold the wings in and snap 'em together. This is so handy for when you're out and forgot the wetbag. Just wrap it up, snap it and toss it in the diaper bag.

Soon after my initial experience with Smartipants, I bought more and they now make up about a third of my stash, I just love them, they are the perfect daytime diaper! I think every parent should be using Smartipants, so one of my lucky readers is going to win a Smartipants onesize diaper in the color of his/her choice!!


How to enter
Each action counts as one entry unless otherwise stated.  Leave a separate comment for each entry and please include your email address. You must complete the mandatory entry before you are eligible for any other entries.


**Mandatory Entry**
Visit Smartipants, then come back here and tell me which color you would choose if you won. Please leave your email address in your comment or make sure it's visible on your website/blog so I can contact you!


Extra Entries

• Follow me publicly through google friend connect-counts as 3 entries! Leave 3 separate comments.
• Subscribe to my blog through email
• Grab my button and tell me where it is posted
• Blog about this giveaway, link back to my site and leave me the URL

This giveaway will end Friday, July 16, 2010. Winner will be drawn by an online random number generator and will be notified by email.  Winner must respond to my email within 48 hours or a new winner will be drawn.  This giveaway is open to US residents ONLY. Must be 18 years old or older to win.


Good luck!!

a learning experience

So, we've been cloth diapering for a couple months now and I must say that it is going well. Not great, not terrible, but well. My for-now stash contains 3 Smartipants, 2 Bum Genius (thanks to my awesome friend, Camille) 4 diaper wraps and a TON of prefolds (thanks to my MIL). I LOVE the Smartis and BG, but since prefolds make up the bulk of my stash, that is what Emma's in most of the time. They actually work great, are simple to use and don't leak as long as they are changed frequently. And the wraps are a HUGE improvement over the old school plastic pants. If the diaper is just wet, you just wipe the wrap and put in a new prefold, easy, right! I reserve the BGs for night time because with the two inserts we haven't had any leaks. Using disposables at night, I'd say they leak about 1 in 3 times, so the BGs are awesome! I also like the Smartis because you don't have to touch the inserts, they come out in the wash on their own. So, that's why I say it's going well. I certainly have enough diapers to get the job done, but they are not my preferred ones. One day I'll have my dream stash! Just look how cute she is in her Smartis:

New adventures in cloth diapering

I must first give a HUGE shout out to my college/post college roommate and friend, Camille! She's been so supportive, informative and encouraging. I consider her my go-to girl for all things cloth!

Even before I got pregnant I thought I wanted to use cloth diapers. I really like the thought of being kinder to the environment and my child's behind, not to mention the cost-effectiveness of using cloth. But, actually getting started was a whole other thing. I started doing research and asking around only to discover that cloth diapering is like it's own world. The users are fiercely loyal, there are networks, blogs and websites totally devoted to cloth diapering and all it's accompaniments and, the most confusing of all is the language: there are all kinds of acronyms, terms and slang. AIO's, prefolds, fitteds, CD, ahhhhh, I must confess: it was a little intimidating and almost caused me to throw in the towel.

This past week, I finally put thoughts into action and ordered my first cloth diapers, a three pack of Smartipants. I was so excited and anxiously trekked to the mailbox each day until, at last, the diapers arrived. They were so cute! I washed them immediately and put one on Emma for nap time. I guess I'm brave, but I really wanted to give 'em a good try. I'm glad to report that she woke up happy and DRY! We weren't so lucky with the overnight try, but I wasn't able to double stuff (something that knowledgeable cloth diapering mamas do) and her disposables leak most of the time anyway. So, for now I'll use the cloth only during the day until I'm able to build up a better "stash".

So, I'm really glad that I've finally gotten started and wish I would have sooner! I would definitely recommend cloth diapers, they've come a LONG way since the old, scary pin/plastic pants combo that I grew up in! There's such a huge variety that anyone who wants to, can find something to fit their lifestyle. I'm now a CD mama and can't wait to try some BG's, FB's and get rid of those nasty sposies!