Hello Nesties, today I’m going to be going over my big fat stash of Charlie Banana summer gear!

It’s currently July here and it’s definitely HOT in Oklahoma. Thank goodness Charlie Banana sent my two-year-old some reusable swim diapers, training pants, a rash guard, and a jumpsuit to help protect him from the sun!

Sorry, the giveaway is no longer open.

UPDATE: After using these products on Asher and then his sibling Abram, I’ve updated the review below. Also, this blog was never sponsored but I was given these items in exchange for an honest review and feedback. 

Click the image above to play the video.

Charlie Banana Swim Diaper

The Charlie Banana Swim Diaper (aff link) was the first reusable swim diaper I tried. After using these for several years – They are still in great shape! 

This particular swim diaper was the one without the snaps. (They offer snap versions and pull-up versions)

Honestly, the green swim diaper seemed to fit too big and was a little poofy. I preferred to use the Training Diaper (Aff link) with the stars as his and his siblings swim diaper.

It was one of my favorite swim diapers I had!

Charlie Bananas’ swim diapers are made with a newer fabric called Tencel. “Lenzing Tencel” is highly absorbent, has natural antibacterial properties, and is currently the greenest celluloid material currently produced.

Does It Work As Good As A Disposable?
Both types of diapers will contain poo but not urine when immersed in water. I’ve actually done a test on this and will link the video once I’m finished with it here!

The elastic in the back actually contains the poo better than a disposable swim diaper!

There are stretchy elastics around the waist, back, and legs.

You can pull the diaper up like regular underwear or disposable. If you purchased the Snap Swim Diaper (Aff link) you can fasten/unfasten through the sides. There are two side snaps on each side of the snap swim diaper.

The swim diapers from Charlie Banana are Sized Diapers and you will need to purchase different sizes as your baby grows. The benefit to this is you are more likely to get a custom fit, especially if you have a rather small or large baby. 

How Did They Each Fit?
The Extraordinary Training Pants (aff link) from Charlie Banana fit Asher better than the green swim diaper. The green one was just too big for him at the time.

He’s always been skinny and slim-built. By the time he was able to fit into the other swim diaper he was already potty trained and in regular swim trunks.

The green swim diaper could’ve probably doubled as a trainer too. It wouldn’t have as much absorbency as a regular trainer would though.

Here are a couple pics of when my second son, Abram sported the training pants. (Mainly used as a swim diaper).

He’s a happy kid I promise, but always looks serious! 

What I Liked:
I really like that Charlie Banana has many options to choose from when it comes to prints and colors. I like that the inner lining (the part that touches baby) is made from organic cotton as some babies have very sensitive skin.

I try to look for more eco-friendly options when I shop to limit the number of pesticides that are used. I would prefer this diaper to be manufactured locally but I am also aware that the cost would go up as well.

Extraordinary Training Pants

Charlie Banana’s Extraordinary Training Pants (Aff link) are meant to help transition your baby into wearing regular underwear.

They are slightly-waterproof but offer a little padding to help with light accidents. The outside is a waterproof material and the inside is lined with organic cotton.

Organic cotton is great for sensitive skin and it also lets your child feel wet if they do have an accident.

There’s a stretchy elastic around the waist and the legs and you can pull the center drawstring for a better fit if needed.

Update: After potty-training Asher, these pants were a little helpful for light leaks.

These worked well for longer car-rides or if we were going to be out-and-about after he was freshly potty-trained. 

The diaper fit Asher perfect in the legs and in the waist but I found it to be a little bit poofy in the center.

I adored the star print trainer they sent me and it was perfect for celebrating the fourth of July! If you watched the video, I actually used this training diaper as a swim diaper and it worked just fine.

Asher had one blow-out in this diaper and everything was contained within the trainer.

I believe that it happened after he was finished swimming but I am confident the trainer would’ve contained the mess, even in the water.

Reusable training pants are so much more economical than disposable pull-ups.

Even if you don’t use cloth diapers, I would recommend these because you’ll save money and you can continue to use them as training-underwear or swim diapers.

Rash Guard & Jumpsuit

Charlie Banana also makes adorable summer clothing for your babies/toddlers to wear outside in the Summertime.

The Rash Guard and Jumpsuit Rash Guard (Aff links) are UPF 50 and will help block out a lot of the Sun’s rays and lessen the amount of sunscreen you have to use.

I like this because that means fewer toxic-chemicals you’ll have to put on your kids.

The jumpsuit and the rash guard are both are made from a Nylon/Lycra blend, and provide, warmth, durability, and dry quickly.

They are also both chlorine/fade-resistant and go hand in hand with reusable swim diapers.

Which One Was A Winner?
The Rash Guard was honestly too long in the arms for both Asher and Abram. I guess they would work if you had a very tall kid.

The jumpsuit, however, worked a lot better for us.

These little jumpsuits are perfect for swimming, going out on the lake, going for a walk, or pretty much any type of outdoor activity!

My husband and I love to go kayaking and the jumpsuit is perfect for taking the kids in.

If they get wet it’ll dry quicker and not feel so heavy like wet cotton fabrics would.

I like that it’s all one piece and easy to get on and off. The jumpsuit has a durable zipper in the back so I don’t have to mess with snaps, just zip and go!

They both feature a long neck (a mini turtleneck) which adds extra protection.

The long arms and neck coverage not only help prevent sunburns and also decrease the chance of your child getting mosquito or bug bites! Win-Win, huh?

However, I would prefer them to be manufactured in the US or Canada but I also understand that would cause a price increase.

Overall, I liked my Jumpsuit (Aff link) and recommend if you’re looking for a good outdoor activity outfit and want the added benefit of Sun/bug protection for your child!