EZ Squeezees Review & Giveaway

I like that it gives you the basic things you should know on the back of the box.

        I’m sure many of you are familiar with the disposable pouches of baby food you can buy at the stores now, right? Did you know that there are companies who actually make pouches like these but they can be REUSED? They are great for those of you who like to make your own baby food and taking other pureed snacks on the go. The best part (in my opinion, at least) is that you’re not creating as much trash!

        I recently had the opportunity to try out some EZ Squeezees reusable food pouches. These could not have come at a better time either. My husband and I have been lazy since our disposable pouches ran out and have not been back out to get more. The closest in person store we can get those is an hour away. And to be honest, I really didn’t like the idea of throwing all of those pouches away. What a waste!
        So, since we have been lazy and like to make large batches of purees up ahead of time, we have been portioning out Myka’s food into plastic baggies. Please just trust me on this one: DON’T TRY IT. They’re a pain in the butt and are leaking or sweating or God knows what and making an absurd mess in the refrigerator. Needless to say, I’ve never been so excited in my life to receive little zippered bags in the mail. ;)

        First of all, here are some basic things you should know about EZ Squeezees:

1)     Rest assured-EZ Squeezees are BPA and Pthalate free and completely safe for food consumption. (Which should just go without saying, right?)

2)     They are safe to put in the freezer AND (one of my favorite things about them) dishwasher safe!

3)     Most pouches (that I’ve seen, anyways) are around 4 oz. but the EZ Squeezees hold up to 6.5 oz.!

4)     EZ Squeezees are a little different than other refillable pouches in that the zipper opening is on the side instead of top, which actually makes filling a lot easier!

        I’m sure the first thing you are wondering about is the zipper being on the side instead of the top of the bag. “Won’t it leak?” No. It is very durable and I don’t foresee having any problems with it. We have so many other pouches, bags, containers, etc. of baby food in our fridge door that we stand these up like normal and I haven’t seen any leaking. Plus, if you’re paranoid like me, you can always check it after you fill it up by holding it with the zipper side facing down.

Look how big that opening is!

        Speaking of the zipper being on the side, this, of course, makes it to where the fill opening is bigger. This is by far my favorite thing about these bags! (Besides being reusable, of course. ;) ) The large opening makes it so much easier to fill. This comes in especially handy if you are trying to fill the bags by yourself. (Trust me on this one too. Ha!)
        Another great feature of EZ Squeezees is the large gusset opposite of the fill opening. This is what helps the pouch to hold so much food! (It also makes them easier to rinse out/wash.) This is great for us since Myka is quickly approaching her first birthday and eating a lot more “real” food now.

To give you an idea of how the EZ Squeezees pouch size compares to that of a store bought one.

        I also like that these are safe to put in the freezer since, like I said, we generally prefer to make up large batches of fruits and veggies at a time. While we enjoy making baby food for her, we don’t want to have to do it once a week. So, we simply stick one in the refrigerator and the rest go in the freezer until we need one. You can also thaw them out in hot water, but they are NOT microwave safe!
        To wrap up, EZ Squeezees are great because you don’t need any special equipment to fill them. (Like certain disposable pouches.) It would be easiest to fill these with a buddy so you can attempt to make less of a mess. If you’re doing it by yourself the best way would be to use a container with a spout (like a measuring cup or blender) so it’s easier to control the flow with one hand. The only thing I would suggest improving upon these would be a fill line marker somewhere on the package. But, you could always mark a line yourself after figuring out where the best place to stop is.

I love that there is a place on the back to label what's inside! 

        If you would like to try some EZ Squeezees reusable pouches for yourself, please visit their website by clicking HERE. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, you can enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a 3 pack of EZ Squeezees. Good luck!

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Getting Green with Baby did not receive monetary compensation for this review/giveaway. I received one or more products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own. If you have any questions or concerns in regard to this giveaway, please email Alicia at AliciaOwen6814 @ yahoo dot com

Wordless Wednesday

DIY Wednesday: Tutus (Illustrated with lots and LOTS of pictures!)

            Do you know a little girl who enjoys playing dress up? Maybe you’re looking for a simple, affordable DIY costume for Halloween? Or perhaps you’re looking for a cute idea for a photo prop? If any of the above applies to you, then I’ve got a fun, easy DIY project for you!

            My newest crafty obsession is making tutus. While this may seem like a no-brainer since I have a little girl myself, I am far, FAR from being a “fufu” type person myself, so I was really surprised that I enjoyed making these so much. However, I’m all for saving a buck so when I decided to dress Myka up as a fairy for Halloween this year (Have I mentioned that I’m a Halloween FANATIC?) my hubby suggested making her tutu skirt instead of buying one. (Although there are some REALLY cute ones on Etsy!) So without further ado, here is my tutorial on how to make your own tutu for your little fairy princess. ;)

What you’ll need:

-elastic band (you could also use ribbon if you would rather tie the skirt on)

-tulle, mesh, nylon blend, etc. (Tulle is commonly interchanged with mesh and certain types of nylon blends, in case you’re wondering. REAL tulle is the finer, more closely weaved, and softer stuff like you see used in wedding and prom dresses. It’s also a helluva lot more expensive!)

-needle and thread or sewing machine

-scissors

Note on how much fabric you’ll need: Depending on the size and how many different colors you would like to use, you will likely need anywhere between 3-5 yards of fabric. On Myka’s I used one yard of each of the 3 colors. Although it looks like I ran out, the band actually stretched out more than I meant. (Don’t ask.) On the Halloween one I used a yard of each color again (size is larger than Myka’s) and I ended up having extra.

Myka's Halloween tutu

1)     Decide (or measure if you’re anal) how long you want your strips. Double the fabric over and cut to length.

2)     Unfold and roll from the one side to the other. (It doesn’t really matter how big or small the roll is, although I would recommend doing it on the smaller side so you can cut it in one fell swoop on the next step.)

3)     Being sure to keep it rolled up, cut strips along the roll. You can make them different sizes or all the same. It’s up to you. For the Halloween one I cut them at angles to give the strips a more jagged, raggedy look.

4)     Repeat steps 1-3 for each color.

5)     You don’t have to, but I like to unroll all of the strips at this point. Either way, if you want to go random, mix all of your strips up at this point. If you’d rather do a specific pattern, don’t.

6)     Measure how long you will need your elastic. Overlap the ends some and sew it up tight! My husband stitched ours several times with a zigzag and cross-hatched type stitch. Just remember: You’re not going to see it when you’re done so it doesn’t have to look pretty. ;)

7)     It is easiest to stretch your elastic over the back of something, like a chair that has slats. However, beware of stretching. A little stretching is likely bound to happen, but I suggest taking your elastic off every now and then so it doesn’t stretch TOO much.

8)     Now to start on the actual fun part! Fold a strip in half.

9)     Where it’s folded in half, make an opening.

Not that you probably would have noticed had I not said anything, but those are lots and lots of mosquito bites on my ankle. I don't have some gross skin condition. lol

10) Place your strip behind the elastic.

11) Keeping your loop open, pull each end towards you and pull the bottom tails UP through the loop.

12) Pull/yank on this until it is tight enough against the elastic that it will not come undone easily.

13) Repeat this until your elastic is completely covered. That’s it! It may seem like a lot of steps, but it’s really not.

Myka helped too. :)

Tips:

-You can cut your strips as wide or narrow as you want, but I suggest not cutting them too thin. Less risk of ripping.

-Wider strips are going to give you a fuller, fluffier skirt. Thinner strips are going to be easier to get to “lay down”. (From my experience, anyways.)

-There is a lot of room for “error” in this project. Don’t worry if your strips aren’t all the same width or same length.

-If you want to save a little time, you can complete steps 1-3 all at the same time by laying all of your tulle on top of each other.

-If you have some leftover tulle after you’ve cut everything to the length you want, you could make a little decoration to stick on a headband like my husband did for Myka’s or at the top of the tutu etc.

-Having a helper on steps 1-3 can really help!

Also, be sure to click that lovely little Tutorial Tuesday button on the side to be directed to more fun, creative, and easy tutorials and DIY projects. New ones every week!

Wazoodle Blogger Opp

What is Wazoodle?!

Wazoodle sells cloth diapers that are already made as well as cloth diaper making supplies, fabrics and notions!

Sign-up, offer your readers the chance to win and help me promote this awesome giveaway!
Prizes: 1 $50 Wazoodle Gift Card! & 10 winners to receive a free yard of fabric w/their next purchase!
Event Dates: August 7th through August 21st (Updated on 7/11)
Sign-ups will close on: August 5th

Open Worldwide

Bloggers

You will receive 2 Free links w/announcement post OR for a small fee w/o post. 

There will be two additional link options for a small fee each. 

Referral program!!

The blogger who refers the most sign-ups for this opp will be one of our co-hosts! Co-Host will receive 2 additional free links into the RC form as well as 2 follow pages! Refer as many bloggers as you know to this sign-up form and remind them to let me know Getting Green with Baby sent them! Why be a co-host? It helps boost your follow base as well as your page views!

SIGN-UP HERE!!

Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy-Mommy & Me Giveaway

        Hey folks! Summer is far from being over and I have another great giveaway for you! As hot as it has been pretty much across the entire country, it would be silly NOT to be spending at least a little bit of time in the water! That's where Swimways comes in...
        Swimways provides all kinds of fun and useful products for playing in the water, such as pool floats for babies, kids, and adults, swim vests, pool games, and much, much more. They even sell decor for pool parties! Be sure to visit their website HERE and browse through all of their great products.
        I recently had the chance to try out one of their Mommy & Me Baby Spring Floats with Sun Canopy and highly recommend it for anyone with children under the age of 2. It is a high quality, durable product that will last for years. It includes such features as a detachable sun canopy for baby, a detachable float for mommy or daddy to use to float along with baby, and a convenient carrying case. If you would like to read the full review of this float, click HERE.
        Swimways and Getting Green with Baby are offering you the chance to win a Mommy & Me Baby Spring Float w/ Sun Canopy of your own! The only mandatory entry is your email (only used to notify you in the event you are the winner), but remember that the more entries you have, the better your chances of winning are!

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Getting Green with Baby and all other participating bloggers are not responsible for prize shipment. That is the sponsors responsibility. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this giveaway, please email Alicia at Getting Green with Baby at AliciaOwen6814@yahoo.com

Egg-cellent

        Do you hate having to worry about busting the yolks when cooking eggs? Or maybe you're just extremely lazy? Either way, I thought I would share a handy little tip from "Good Eats" with Alton Brown on how to cook eggs without the worry of busting the yolks. 

1) Start cooking your eggs like you normally would.

2) Once your eggs are in, put a lid on your pan and set a timer for 5 minutes. 

3) Tada! 5 minutes later (roughly) your eggs are cooked and you didn't even have to flip them! 

Note: I have noticed that if you cook with butter or margarine, it sometimes takes a little longer for them to cook. I use olive oil and mine actually take LESS time. It all depends on how you like your eggs and everyone's stove is different too. 

Baby Bullet Giveaway

Welcome to the Baby Bullet Complete System Giveaway!

Hosted by: Everything Mommyhood & Fun With Four Co-hosted by: Mommy Knows What's Best & Tunica Mama

Sponsored by: Baby Bullet

If you are interested in making your own baby food, definitely be sure to enter this giveaway! This package pretty much has everything you need to get started. Baby Bullet makes it super easy and less of a daunting task to make homemade purees and snacks for your child. You can use it to make grown up favorites as well! 

The Baby Bullet Complete System comes with a batch bowl, power base, date-dial cups, short cups, stay fresh lids, blend blade, milling blade, nutrition guide, the pocket nutritionist and the user manual.

You can make Stage 1 foods, Stage 2 foods, Stage 3 foods, or even smoothies! I used mine to make salsa once too! Check out Fun With Four's Baby Bullet Review.

One lucky winner will win a complete Baby Bullet System, valued at $59.99. Must be a US resident, 18 and up. All winning entries will be verified. Giveaway begins 7/28/2013 at 1am CDT and ends 8/12/2013 11:59pm CDT. Good Luck!!!

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Disclosure: This blog, Fun With Four, and Everything Mommyhood is not responsible for prize shipment, as this is a sponsored prize. We were not compensated in any way for promotion of this giveaway. Fun With Four/Everything Mommyhood received the above mentioned item, in exchange for an honest review. Our opinions are not influenced in any way. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and any other social media are not affiliated with this giveaway. If you have any questions please contact the host of this giveaway at EverythingMommyhood@gmail.com.

Blogger Opp/Upcoming Giveaway: Chicco Travel System

Prize: Chicco Cortina Travel System $349.99 Value Requirements: You MUST have at least 500 facebook fans Dates: August 15th - September 5th Hosted by: Everything Mommyhood & Fun With Four This event will be limited to 75 bloggers. Free Twitter with announcement post (or pay $5 waiver): FOUND HERE Paid Options available, extra links $3 Most referrals receives a daily comment on entry form.

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Craft Fever!

        I feel like I've gone a little crazy with the crafting lately. It's like I put some stuff off for so long that now I've gone overboard! Do you ever do that? Put off so many projects for so long that once you finally do one of them you just go nuts? What's even scarier is that I keep adding things to my craft "to do" list.
        I have been meaning to work on some more Crappy Scrappies for months now. I finally made the first one the other day. I'm wanting to try to sell them at some point soon, but they still need some work. You may have seen on my Facebook page last night that I made the tutu skirt for my daughter's Halloween costume as well. (She's going to be a fairy.) I'm starting to wonder when I became so girly, but I'm thinking of making and selling those as well because I really enjoyed making it.
        While I'm proud of myself for finally getting some things done, my to do list still feels like it's a mile long. I still need to make a boy Crappy Scrappy, attempt at making wings for my daughter's costume, and play around with making some receiving blankets into cloth wipes and pre-folds. O.o
        What kind of crafty things have you guys been up to lately? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Girl Crappy Scrappy (aptly named, huh?)/toddler pillow (the back is the purple fleece you see on front)

Myka's tutu for her fairy costume. Cute, right? The extra in the back actually works out because it will need to be pinned. (I look at it as a learning experience. ;) )

Diaper Pre-Wash

        I know everyone does their cloth diaper laundry differently, but at our house we like to wash our poopy pre-folds out BEFORE they go in the washer. My husband has come up with a pre-wash solution of sorts that I wanted to share with you all, especially if you like to rinse your yucky diapers out ahead of time too! This is a pretty simple recipe with inexpensive ingredients, some of which you may already have!
       
Diaper Pre-Wash Solution

What you'll need:
-water
-washing soda
-borax
-blue liquid Dawn dishwashing detergent
-pot for boiling
-container for solution

1) Fill the container you are going to use to store your solution up with water, but leave about a cups worth out.
2) Pour water into pot, adding 1/2 Cup of borax and 1/2 Cup of washing soda.
3) Heat until borax and washing soda are dissolved. Be sure to stir it every now and then to help it dissolve.
4) While you're waiting for the dry ingredients to dissolve in the water, add a tsp. to a Tbsp. of Dawn to the container you will be using for storage.
5) Add the dissolved liquid mixture back into the container with Dawn.
6) If need be, add more water to fill to the top.
7) Give it a good shake to incorporate the Dawn.

Pretty simple, right? My favorite thing about this is that the Dawn actually helps to strip the diapers! So, in theory, you shouldn't have to do it to all of them as often if you use this. Also, feel free to use this however you like, but we use ours as more of a "spot treater" on the doody part of the pre-folds. I don't know why it wouldn't be safe on other diapers, but if you're worried I would try a little spot first to make sure it doesn't damage your diapers somehow. Again, though, I don't know why it would. We actually use washing soda and borax together to wash her diapers with, so you should be safe with all diapers unless they state otherwise!

You can use whatever kind of container you like, but old ketchup bottles work great!

Wordless Wednesday

Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy-Mommy & Me Review

            Hey folks! If you missed out on the Baby Spring Float Activity Center review andgiveaway, I have good news! Now is your chance to read up on and enter to win another great product similar to the activity center float. Read on…

Dries off super quick!!

            Swimways was kind enough to also send us a Mommy & Me Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy to try out this summer. We FINALLY had a chance to go to one of our nearby lakes recently and give this one a go.

Convenient carrying case. 

            I absolutely LOVED the Baby Spring Float Activity Center and this float contains many of the same great features. It has a low center of gravity so that you won’t have to worry about your little one tipping over, especially if they are squirmy! It’s also made of super durable material and has fabric covered inflation tubes so that it is less likely to get punctured or damaged. Seriously, it is SO much higher quality than the cheap plastic inflatable floats!  You definitely get what you pay for with the Mommy & Me float, although it is still affordable.

            There are many other features I love as well. As the name implies, this float offers a removable sun canopy, which can be used in 2 positions. This is great because too much sun for baby is a big concern amongst parents. It’s no fun being burnt as an adult, so we definitely don’t want our little ones turning into lobsters! I also like that the leg holes are nice and big because I have a chunky monkey daughter, plus it is suitable for children up to 2 years of age.

Spacious leg openings. No, this picture isn't upside down. It was just really windy!

            Although this one does not come with all of the fun toys that the activity center float does, there is still plenty of room on the mesh screen between the two air bladders for baby to splash in or put toys for them to play with there. Other than that, the main defining feature between the two is the extra detachable float that mom, dad, or whoever can use to float around along with baby. Neither one is necessarily better than the other, but I will say this: If you just have a smaller, above ground inflatable pool, I would probably choose the Baby Spring Float Activity Center. If you have a large metal sided above ground pool, in-ground pool, or like to visit lakes or other large bodies of water often, I would definitely choose the Mommy & Me float.

The detachable "mommy" float snaps together easily with the main float.

            I decided to use my husband as the “guinea pig” for trying out this float. He is a larger fella and very barrel-chested. I am on the large side too, so I’ll admit that I was a bit leery of how well OUR part of the float would work for us before we got it/tried it out. However, I’m happy to report that it works well even for us bigger folks, as you will see in the photos below.

            If you would like to purchase your own Mommy & Me Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy or peruse through the other great products Swimways has to offer, click HERE. Or, click HERE to enter for a chance to win your own!

Getting Green with Baby was not compensated monetarily for this review. I received a product in return for my honest opinion and review. All opinions expressed herein are my own. 

Baby Items: Dos & Do Withouts

            I just loved reading other people’s online lists of baby item must haves and do withouts while I was pregnant. I mostly enjoyed reading these for the entertainment value rather than getting any useful information from them. (Ok. So some of them DID turn out to be useful.) Just for fun, I decided to share a list of some of the baby items I have found the most useful…and ones that I have found are completely useless/dumb as hell for a fairly simplistic person like me. Enjoy!

Do: Pacifier clips. To be honest, I didn’t give these much thought until recently. Myka lost her pacifier on one of the first hikes we went on after we got our backpack carrier. Honestly, I’m not surprised. I would have been MORE surprised if she hadn’t lost it. So, if your baby takes a paci and you are out and about a lot, I highly recommend you get one of these. They are super cheap. (Less than $5) They come in especially handy if you wear baby in back carriers of any sort or while they are in the shopping cart seat.

Do: Bouncer and/or swing. I swore up and down the entire time I was pregnant (and probably some before and after) that I would NEVER get a swing for my child. People too often use them as babysitters in my opinion and that was my reasoning behind not getting one. Myka started teething around the time she was 3 months old (you know, the fun stage where they are teething but usually don’t end up with anything to show for it!?) and I thought I was going to pull my hair out some days because I was so used to her being the most laid back baby in the world. I finally caved when my mom offered to buy one. At that point I was willing to try anything to get Myka to chill out. I’ve heard people say that most babies won’t like them if they weren’t put in them from the get go but she loved it!

If you still don’t want to get a swing, DEFINTELY at least get a bouncer. Myka’s monkey bouncer was THE best thing EVER. They’re easier to move around the house than a swing, baby fits in it for quite some time, and they usually have toys on them to keep baby entertained if need be.

Do: Burp cloths. Lots and LOTS of burp cloths! Why? Other than using them for their intended purpose, you can use them/make them into prefold diapers and, at the very least, reusable towels to dust, clean, or use in the kitchen!

Do Without: Hats. I have a weird love of hats and couldn’t wait to put those cute little beanies on Myka when she was born, especially since she was born in the fall. Ha! What a joke those were. 1) We live in Arkansas and it was still in the 70’s around the time Myka was born in October. 2) She unfortunately got her daddy’s head size and outgrew the cute little beanies in a month tops.

Do Without: Bottle Warmer. You can yell at me all you want, but I think this is one of the most useless inventions ever. I’m not about to sit around for 5 minutes and wait for a bottle to warm up while my child is screaming her head off. Thanks, I’ll pass.

Do Without: Wipe Warmer. To me, this has got to be one of the dumbest creations ever…in general, not even just pertaining to baby stuff. We have lived on this planet for a very, very long time and have survived until now without mommy and daddy using a wipe warmer to make sure they’re nice and warm for us. I think we will get along just fine without it…Please, PLEASE, I beg you to save your money on this silly contraption!

Do AND Do Without: Receiving blankets. This one’s tricky. From my experience, receiving blankets don’t really get used all that much for their intended purpose of wrapping baby up in. However, they have a plethora of other uses. My child happens to like a good game of peekaboo with these. You can also make them into pre-folds or fitted diapers, or even reusable cloth wipes! Use your imagination!

I hope you guys have at least gotten a laugh out of this. Just remember, everyone is different so if you don’t agree with something above, try not to get your panties too bunched up. ;)

How to Easily Use Pre-folds & Flats Together

        I could be wrong, but it seems to me that unless you absolutely love and swear by pre-folds and flats for cloth diapering, they get a bad rap. As with everything, I understand that not everyone is going to like the same kind of cloth diapers. However, I feel like pre-folds and flats don't get enough credit. Maybe it's because some people are too afraid to try them or they've heard about bad experiences with them from friends or family. I don't know. I am here to tell you (or try to convince you, at least) that they are not as bad as you might think or have heard. Trust me; this is coming from someone who is admittedly ridiculously lazy when it comes to, well, lots of things. Let's just leave it at that. ;)

        I will admit that I have only tried 3 different types of cloth diapering: Ai2's, pre-folds and covers, and fitteds with covers. I loved using our covers as Ai2's as they are intended, but honestly I really like using pre-folds and flats because you can customize how much absorbency you need a lot more than you may think. Which brings me to the point of this post: using pre-folds and flats together. I've seen plenty of people say that pre-folds alone just don't cut it for their heavy wetter. I feel like my daughter wets more than average, so, once her small sized BestBottom inserts weren't cutting it any more and after trying plenty of other things, I finally found that using a flat cut in half and folded inside a pre-fold works really well! I know what you're thinking. Is it as easy as using and AiO? Probably not, but it's a helluva lot cheaper!

How to Easily Use Pre-folds & Flats Together

(Demonstrated with pictures)

What you'll need: 

-diaper cover

-pre-fold of your choice (the ones used here are the cheap Gerber ones from Walmart)

-a flatfold diaper cut in half (again, I use the Gerber birdseye cheapies)

Lay your flatfold diaper out like so.

Fold in half. (Or you can bring the edges together in the air like I do.)

Fold in half again.

Lay your pre-fold out.

Lay your folded up flat inside the pre-fold as centered as possible.

Fold one side of the pre-fold towards the middle.

Fold the other edge of the pre-fold towards the middle. It's ok if the edges do or don't overlap, although you'll probably want them to overlap some so that they will fit nicely inside of your diaper cover/shell.

Fold the top and bottom ends over so, once again, they fit nicely inside of baby's diaper. In theory (if you're using the Gerber ones, anyways), if you do these folds where the flatfold diaper ends on the inside, it should be just about the perfect length to fit inside your diaper shell. 

Voila! Easy peasy and not too bulky. ;)

Greenchild Creations Fitted Diaper Review & Giveaway

            Hey folks! I am super excited to bring you my very first diaper review and giveaway! Anne from Greenchild Creations was kind enough to let Myka and I try out one of her flannel, one size, fitted pocket diapers. I am a pocket diaper virgin, so I was especially excited to try this adorable diaper out!

            I originally came across Greenchild Creations on Etsy when I was searching for a fitted diaper to hopefully fix Myka’s nighttime leaking situation. I had bought a fitted from another Etsy store owner and was big time disappointed with it, as it was WAY too small, especially for being listed as an OS. I loved the prints used for Greenchild Creations fitted diapers, but more importantly they looked like they would fit my chunky monkey! I even messaged Anne and asked her how they fit chubby babies and she assured me she had seen them tested out on her friend’s chubby toddler and was even nice enough to send me a link to her blog post on it with pictures!

            I will be honest: I was still leery about whether or not the diaper would fit Myka before I got to see it in person. Call me a pessimist. It fits great, though! Isn’t it nice to be pleasantly surprised?

            One of my biggest concerns was the rise being long enough. You wouldn’t think this would be an issue as short as my daughter is, but like I said, she makes up for it in chunk! Reading the description of the diaper beforehand, I knew that it was the kind that has an adjustable rise and will fit a wide range of shapes and sizes. Boy, I had not expected just how adjustable it is! I love that it will be able to fit her until she is potty trained. Because of the length, this would fit great on tall, string bean babies/toddlers too. Also, because you’re definitely going to have a little extra that needs to be folder under towards the inside of the diaper, this can act as extra padding for absorbency too.

            My other major concern (which had arose from the first failed fitted diaper I tried) were the wings being long enough to fit around Myka’s Buddha belly comfortably. I was pleasantly surprised with this as well! Not only did they fit around comfortable, they actually came around a lot tighter (I mean that in a good way) than I expected them too. Again, this means they’ll still be “good to grow” as Myka gets older. If you have a skinny baby never fear! You can always overlap the wings if you need to and only have to use one pin instead of two. Yay! Less pins!

            My favorite thing (as far as functionality goes) about this diaper, besides being easily adjustable for chubby and skinny babies, is that it is stretchy, stretchy, stretchy! There is elastic all along the waist in the back and along the legs, which for my daughter are the areas we need it in the most!

            You might be wondering, “Ok, pocket diaper virgin, what did you think of that aspect of it?” To be honest, it took some getting used to the first couple of times, but I think I am starting to get the hang of it! Let’s be honest, though, those of you who do use pocket diapers religiously probably took some time getting the hang of it too.

Because I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as the absorbency of the diaper alone, I have been experimenting with different types of inserts. We have been using the BestBottom microfiber overnight inserts for the past couple of months with no incidents at night. (Hallelujah! We found a solution at last!) However, I decided to stuff our Greenchild Creations diaper with what I use on Myka during the day: a Gerber prefold with half of a flat folded inside. I’m not going to lie; this made for a super bulky diaper butt and was probably overkill, but we didn’t have any leaks! Personally, I would almost rather use too much fluff than not enough and start washing crib sheets 50 times a week again!

The second night I felt like pushing my luck and trying to see how little of fluff I could get away with stuffing, so I used one of the 6 layer flannel inserts I made. This was not enough as there was a tiny little wet spot on her onesie this morning. Honestly, I had a feeling it probably wouldn’t be enough. But she wasn’t completely soaked, so I’m happy.

The third time I decided to see how well this diaper would hold up during the day (even though I'll probably just use it for nighttime use). I stuffed it with one of my fleece inserts and a hemp one. This proved to be overkill too. My daughter ended up taking a long, unusual time of the day for her nap so I didn't get to change her as soon as I normally would. In fact, she had it on for about 6 hours with no leaks! We're still playing around with different combinations for what works for her, but we'll get there soon. (Also, in case you're wondering, this diaper is holding up very well in the wash so far!)

I’d like to share with you a few more things to keep in mind and consider with these diapers. If you are afraid of pocket diapers and stuffing like I was, PLEASE keep in mind that you don’t have to stuff it. You can always just use the diaper like a cover and lay whatever inserts, prefolds, etc. you would like inside. Second, although I did get brave and tried pinning again with this diaper and it wasn’t as bad as I had expected (especially with Myka being to the stage where she tries to get away from me), you have other options. You can try using no closures at all, but honestly I think this would be kind of difficult getting it to cooperate while getting the cover secured at the same time. Greenchild Creations is now offering to add snaps OR aplix closures to any of the fitted diapers at an additional cost. Finally, if you’re more of the DIY type, you could add your own aplix or snaps. If pins don’t bother you, you can request them when you order a diaper and Anne will be happy to include two for free!

Greenchild Creations also sells super cute hedgehog pincushions, fleece diaper covers, lotions, vegan soaps, and even has a Paleo cookbook available in download and print, which stemmed from her sons special dietary needs. Be sure to check out her Etsy shop HERE to purchase one of her quality, hand-made items or just show some love!

If you like giveaways and trying before buying, you’re in luck! One lucky reader will win her own adorable, one size, fitted, flannel pocket diaper in this gender-neutral monkey print!

Photo credit: Greenchild Creations

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Getting Green with Baby was not compensated monetarily for this review/giveaway. I received a product in exchange for my honest review and opinion of it. All opinions expressed herein are my own. GGWB is not responsible for prize shipment. That is the sole responsibility of the sponsor of this giveaway. If you have any questions or concerns about this giveaway, please email me at AliciaOwen6814@yahoo.com