MyGreenNest, Author at MyGreenNest.com

Charlie Banana Organic Cotton vs Regular OS – Review!

by MyGreenNest | Jan 13, 2016 | Cloth Diapers

I’ve been a fan-girl for Charlie Banana for quite some time. They are definitely one of the easiest brands to work with and I’ve been lucky enough to try several of their cloth diapers, pads, other products over the last several years.

Today I’m going to compare their organic cotton cloth diapers with their regular ones.

I’ll show off the advantages/disadvantages of both types of cloth diapers and demonstrate how they look and function.

Update: This blog has been updated after 2+ years of using these products!

Click the image above to play the video.

Charlie Banana One-Size Cloth Diapers

Before we get into the differences in both types of diapers let’s go over their basic One-Size (OS) diaper.

OS Cloth Diapers (aff link) from Charlie Banana fit your child through multiple size ranges. They can fit around 6-35 pounds give or take.

They don’t have the typical snap-down rising but instead feature Adjustable Elastics. These elastics have the sizes printed on them so you can pull them evenly on both sides and keep track of the sizes.

The elastics are comparable to pulling the elastics inside of your toddler’s jeans to fit their waist.

These diapers are in the “pocket style” and have the pocket opening in the front. They are normally lined with fleece unless you purchase the organic cotton option.

Each Charlie Banana diaper comes with two inserts, usually a small and a larger size. You can use the second insert as a doubler or if you need extra absorbency.

Charlie Banana diapers are also considered to be Hybrid Style Cloth Diapers, meaning they offer disposable soaker options as well as reusable.

Charlie Banana Cloth Diapers - Organic Cotton vs Regular Cotton

Image from CharlieBanana.com

Charlie Banana – Organic Cotton

Charlie Banana has a new line of diapers lined with 100% organic cotton. They each come with two inserts that are topped with half microfiber and the bottom is a hemp/cotton blend.

The CB Organic Cotton Diapers (Aff link) apers are a little more expensive than regular diapers. The inner lining doesn’t wick away moisture as the fleece does but it’s a little bit of a cooler fabric for the summertime.

The inserts are a little more absorbent than your standard Charlie banana inserts. This is because hemp is the most absorbent material but it absorbs more slowly.

For this reason, you will want to have the microfiber side up when stuffing your pockets.

The organic cotton diapers will take a little longer to dry than your standard Charlie banana cloth diapers but they are a great choice if you prefer organic materials on your babies’ skin.

Which One Wins?

One of the issues I have with my Charlie Banana cloth diapers is adjusting the elastics! It’s really difficult for me to do so I just adjust them to medium and it usually gets me by just fine.

I also wish you could order the hemp inserts for the regular fleece lined diapers. I have a little bit of trouble with wing droop in the Charlie Banana diapers but It’s not a huge deal.

I just have to tuck the tabs back inside when I see them slipping down.

The one thing I love about these diapers is how absorbent and easy to clean they are. I always put Asher in his Charlie Banana diapers when I know he’s about to “go” because they are so easy to spray off.

I also like that these cloth diapers have an option to use disposable inserts when you are traveling.

Honestly, it’s a toss-up.

I like both the organic and fleece style diapers. The fleece keeps baby dry but the organic cotton seems to wear better over time. I think it’s a matter of personal preference.

Also, I love supporting products that strive to be more sustainable.

Overall these are fantastic and absorbent diapers to start out with and you have a lot of color options to choose from!

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AnneLorie Maternity Sleep Bra – Review & Discount!

by MyGreenNest | Jan 12, 2016 | Breastfeeding

Post may contain affiliate links. Looking for a good quality maternity sleep bra that doesn’t break the bank? In this honest review, I will show you a very supportive and comfortable nursing bra made by the AnneLorie brand. I will also provide you with a 40% off coupon code! Now am I awesome or what? 😛

Click the image above to play the video.

AnneLorie Maternity Sleep Bra

This maternity bra is made from nylon and spandex with a 100% cotton lining. There is no underwire and the straps are nice and thick. It connects in the back and has three hook settings. This nursing bra is simple as it doesn’t have your typical snap down straps. You will simply move the bra over to breastfeed. This bra is meant to wear around the house or during sleep while continuing to offer support without sacrificing comfort. You can find this bra on Amazon and it comes in three different colors. They currently offer nude, baby blue, and a soft purple in several size options. You can purchase your own bra HERE!

My Review

I found this bra to run a little smaller than my other nursing bras. It fit me like a glove and seemed to offer a lot of support. I’m a petite person and was afraid it would be too big but the straps fit perfect. I really like this maternity sleep bra and would recommend it to anyone looking for a supportive and comfortable option.

40% Off Discount Code

AnneLorie sent me this nursing bra to review and graciously decided to offer a discount code to my viewers for 40% off! You can use this coupon code even if the bra is on sale. 3GL3K8MF

You can check out my affiliate link image and use this awesome coupon to receive an additional 40% off!

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Buttons Diapers Accessories – Pail Liner, Cloth Wipes – Review

by MyGreenNest | Jan 3, 2016 | Cloth Diaper Accessories

Post may contain affiliate links. In this short video I review the Buttons Diapers diaper pail liner and their 100% cotton flannel wipes. If you are interested in learning how some of their cloth diaper accessories compare to other brands, this is the video for you.

Click the image above to play the video.

About Buttons Diapers

Buttons Diapers makes affordable, yet quality cloth diapers in an all in two (AI2) style. They come in many different prints, colors, and patterns. They also offer several cloth diapering accessories. I had the pleasure of making a demonstration video for Buttons Diapers a few months ago. You can watch it if you are interested in learning more about their diapers.

My Review

Buttons diapers pail liners are made from high quality PUL and seem to do a great job at holding in the moisture from my cloth diapers. I like that it doesn’t drip water when I go to hang dry. My diaper pail liner from Planet Wise is bad about dripping and I usually have to put a towel underneath. I would like to see brighter color options and more prints in their diaper pail liners. I also have a little trouble with the draw string. It doesn’t close all of the way very easily. It isn’t a huge issue for me because I keep my liner opened most of the time over my diaper pail. I would also like to see the beautiful leaf print on the inside and outside of the liner so I can enjoy it when it’s opened. Overall I think the pail liner is great and I notice myself grabbing for it over my other diaper pail liners. Because it has a draw string closure I like to use it when I travel to my parents house for storing Asher’s diapers.

The flannel cloth wipes from Buttons Diapers have worked well for us as we have been using them for several months now. I like that they are thin because they store well and I can clean his bum a little bit easier. The only issue I have with these is the red stitching has come undone on several of them. They still work just fine but are not as pretty. I am not a huge fan of flannel but I do like these cloth wipes and recommend these if you are looking for some affordable cloth wipe options.

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Buttons Diapers AI2 Style – Review

by MyGreenNest | Jan 2, 2016 | Cloth Diapers

Post may contain affiliate links. Are you looking for a diapering system that is affordable, stylish and easy to use? Buttons Diapers offer a wide variety of colors and prints to choose from along with different types of soaker pads that conveniently snap in. You can also use these covers with just about anything, prefolds, fitted diapers, or your own inserts!

Click the image above to play the video.

My Updated Review

Hemp Isn’t My Thing
I have found that the hemp inserts tend to hold onto stink so I prefer using the Buttons microfiber inserts instead. A lot of people love hemp and it works for them. For some reason, I have trouble getting hemp completely odor-free unless I wash it more often and use bleach.

I thought in the beginning that I would prefer the hemp because I love natural fibers so I purchased more hemp than the microfiber. Once I realized I preferred the microfiber, I didn’t have enough of them to use with all of my Buttons covers.

I now use my charcoal bamboo inserts with my flat or prefold cloth diapers in a pad fold with my Buttons covers. This combination works great and it keeps Asher from leaking. I hope that Buttons comes out with an organic cotton option in the future.

Buttons Now Offer Prefolds! (Update Dec 2017)
Amy has is now offering Buttons Diapers Prefolds and I am in love!

If you’re going to fold the prefold around your baby. I would recommend using prefolds with Thirsties Duo covers or wool covers if you want to use that type of system. Those type of covers are wider than Buttons covers and allow for more bulk. Buttons work best with their inserts or other types of inserts.

They’re Interchangeable!
You can actually snap-in inserts from Best Bottoms, their inserts are interchangeable with Buttons covers, which is amazing balls.

In the beginning, I wasn’t crazily impressed with the prints that were offered. I loved that they had an array of colors, though. Lately, Buttons Diapers have been coming out with tons of cute prints and I adore them!

I also want to note that the owner of Buttons Diapers, (Amy) has been a joy to work with and she offers fantastic customer service.

What Is an AI2 Style Cloth Diaper?

Buttons cloth diapers are what you call an all in two (AI2) style cloth diaper. Unlike the all in one (AIO) where the insert is sewn into the diaper shell, AI2’s come in two separate parts. They have a waterproof diaper shell or cover where you will snap in your insert or soaker. Sometimes the diaper shells and inserts are sold separate and sometimes they come together. The benefit of AI2 is that you can wash and dry the two parts separately which is nice if you prefer to hang dry your covers. You can also mix & match or choose your own type of soaker if you don’t like the insert option that comes with the diaper.

The Diaper Shell

Buttons Diapers covers are waterproof and feature double gussets. These are fantastic at locking in breastfed poop. They have a double layer of PUL and the inner lining is extremely soft. There is elastic in the front and the back of the diaper shell, allowing you to easily stretch the tabs. The front of the diaper has a three snap rise that you will adjust as your child grows. Buttons diaper shells also feature crossover snaps which are great for fitting smaller wasted babies. Buttons Diapers should fit your baby anywhere from 8-35 pounds on average. The diaper shell fits a little lower then most diaper covers. Buttons diapers come in a large variety of colors and a few stylish prints.

Buttons Diapers Inserts

The inserts are made from microfiber or hemp and come in a small or large size. They snap right into the diaper shell keeping them from shifting around. They offer doublers that allow you to snap the daytime inserts on top for extra absorbency at night. The tops of the daytime inserts are lined with a moisture wicking fleece material. Buttons inserts seem to dry fairly quickly compared to GroVia soakers. The hemp inserts take longer to dry than the microfiber ones. You can also pair a Buttons Diapers shell with a fitted, prefold, or your own insert of choice.

Why Choose Buttons Diapers?

I love Buttons Diapers because they are very affordable for the quality that you receive. These are easy cloth diapers to use and they have a lot of colors, prints, and insert options to choose from. The customer service and attention to detail is superior. Amy (the owner) has been very good to answer any questions or concerns I have had.

If you are interested in giving Buttons Cloth Diapers a try, you can check out my affiliate image link!

Accessories

Buttons diapers not only offer cloth diapers but a variety of cloth diapering accessories as well. They have diaper pail liners, cloth wipes, wet bags, and more. I was able to do a review on a couple of their cloth diapering accessories a few months ago. If you are interested in that you can click the image below to view the post.

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Poopoose Changing Pad – Review

by MyGreenNest | Jan 1, 2016 | Cloth Diaper Accessories

Post may contain affiliate links. The PooPoose changing pad is able to completely secure and soothe your little wiggly one, making diaper changes much more safe and convenient! In this review I compare the PooPoose to your standard changing pad. Learn why this product has become one of my top 10 favorite baby items!

Click the image above to play the video.

About The Poopoose Changing Pad

You can read more about Dana Fort and how the Poopoose on the Huffington Post by clicking the image above!

The PooPoose changing pad was created by Brian and Dana Fort who are currently in the medical field. The PooPoose was inspired when their own little one kept trying to wiggle away during diaper changes. Drawing inspiration from the PaPoose; a medical device designed to safely restrain children for various medical procedures, the PooPoose was created in 2012. Brian noticed a lot of children were being injured from falling off their changing table so they created the PooPoose to prevent that from happening.

What It’s Made From

The outer cover is made from a medical grade and toxin free material. It’s wipeable and features a zipper. The inside is made from 100% recyclable materials which can be dropped straight into your recycle bin if the changing pad is ever damaged. You can repurpose the wipeable cover by using it as a store bag. Currently Poopoose is manufactured here in the United States.

How It Works

This unique baby Changing mat has a very wide, soft and removable strap. When the strap gets soiled you can remove it for washing which is very convenient! The strap is secured by adjustable aplix or what is known as Velcro. The changing pad is made to comfortably secure your child so that all diaper changes will be more convenient and safe.

Accessories

PooPoose offers several different changing pad covers in a soft minky fabric. They currently offer pastel pink, bright pink, soft blue, bright blue, soft gray, and white. The removable strap is in soft white and can be replaced if your strap is lost or damaged.

Why Poopoose?

I give this product a 9/10 because of how much easier it is for me to do diaper changes. Before the PooPoose changing pad I had a standard changing mat and my child was starting to wiggle and scoot himself backwards. He would cry and throw huge temper tantrums making poopy diaper changes nearly impossible. The PooPoose’s strap not only holds him in place but soothe him as well. I think the soft strap helps the child to feel secure like the swaddling technique.

If you are interested in registering
or trying out the Poopoose changing pad,
you can check out my affiliate link image!

Improvements

The product is nearly perfect in my eyes but since it’s fairly new to the market I think it has a few kinks to work out before it’s 100% awesome. When I first reviewed this pad I found the safety tabs in the back to be just a tad too short. The PooPoose changing pad cover I was sent did not fit around the pad completely, an elastic bottom would make for a more perfect fit. The changing pad cover options were extremely limited at the time of my review. They only offered muted colors like pastel pink, blue, gray, and white. I wanted to see more bold prints and brighter colors. All of these things were discussed with the owners and they have taken steps to improve everything and have come out with new pad cover options. I’m super excited about what they will be coming out with next! A+ PooPoose, Great Product!!!