Meet The Diaper Testers

Thanks for joining me for the September Fitted Diaper Event! This month we will be diving into fitted diapers.  We'll be talking brands, materials, construction, fit, and absorbency, along with lots, and lots of reviews.  Now we all know that cloth diaper reviews are partial based on the reviewer's preferences and the test subject's build and habits so I've decided to introduce you to the diaper testers.  Normally this would just be myself and Linc, but with an event this large I needed a helping hand.  I quickly realized that Linc was not a super heavy wetter when none of the diapers were leaking at night  so I decided to recruit another local mom and her daughter to really put these diapers to the test.

HOW WE TEST - Each diaper is tested during the day without a cover so I can easily gauge when the diaper gets wet and how it feels on the outside.  All diapers are also tested at night with a PUL cover.  I will normally use a Swaddlebees Capri Cover, Blueberry Coverall, or a Thirsties Duo Wrap.  They have the best coverage for me over a fitted.

CHANA (me)

My Diapering Style:  Lately I've been grabbing my all-in-ones before any other diapers in my stash.  Life gets crazy and so I want something easy.  For me that also usually means hook and loop closure although Linc is finally figuring out how to take off H&L diapers so I'm just now starting to put more snap diapers on.  I wash diapers every other day and I hang dry all PUL items while machine drying all non PUL items.

My Past Experience With Fitteds:  I LOVED fitteds in the newborn stage, but stopped using them when Linc turned 2 months.  I started using them at night again when Linc wet too much for pockets but I only had a total of 3 that I rotated between.  Other than that I haven't really used fitteds at all till I started this event.  My mind is completely open to all brands and types.  

LINCOLN (my son)

Age: 9-10 mos during testing

Weight: 25 lbs

Waist (diameter at belly button):  19.5"

Rise (without a diaper from belly button to back behind belly button):  15"

Legs (diameter where diaper leg elastic hits):  12.5"

Wetting Habits:  I think of Linc as an average to heavy wetter.  I was using pockets for awhile stuffed with a microfiber insert and a Thirsties hemp insert and I was golden.  Then at around 6 months Linc started leaking out of his nighttime diapers.  That's when I switched over to fitted diapers with a PUL cover and I haven't turned back since.  I wouldn't say he's a super heavy wetter though because I can use just about any fitted diaper with a good cover (I prefer Thirsties, Blueberry, & Swaddlebees) and he won't leak.  It doesn't have to be a super thick fitted diaper to keep his pee contained for 12-13 hours at night.  During the day he's pretty good in almost any waterproof diaper as long as I change him every 2 hours.

Daytime Activity:  Linc's just getting mobile so during the day he's crawling a lot or I'm carrying him a lot.  This means a lot of pressure on his diaper because I'm always holding him on my hip.

Nighttime Activity:  Linc is a back and side sleeper.  He never sleeps on his stomach.  We co-sleep and breastfeed so he's pretty much eating and peeing all night long.

JESSICA (Tester mom #2)

My Diapering Style: Since my precious daughter is a heavy wetter 24/7 I reach for my Booty Buns pocket diapers, Chelory AIO's, and my two Ragababes during the day.  They get the job done with minimal to no leak issues.  Before this testing session we resorted to using disposable diapers at night.  I use snaps 90% of the time because she knows how to take off the aplix, so my beautiful Ragababes are usually hidden under a dress.  I hang dry everything and in the current heat wave, I wash every day.

Past experience with fitteds: None!  I've been curious but have not tried any till now.

KAMRYN (Tester baby #2)

Age: 14 months

Weight: 26 lbs

Waist (diameter at belly button): 20"

Rise (without a diaper from belly button to back behind belly button): 17"

Legs (diameter where diaper leg elastic hits): 12"

Wetting Habits: K constantly pees.  She can soak a diaper in one shot or at the most 2 hours.  She gets four sippies total a day filled with milk (24oz) and however much water she wants.  I try to limit water after 5:30 since she goes to bed at 7 with a 5oz sippy.  In the beginning she peed through everything.  So I switched to covers and prefolds (keeping my cost down) and changed her often.  It worked great except for when we left the house.  I needed something that could last for a few hours. So I tried Booty Buns which have a micro terry insert.  They worked wonders!  Then I scored a Ragababe and some Chelory.  My favs are the Booty Buns and the Ragababes.  I only do sposies at night (until this test anyways).

Daytime: My child runs everywhere and plays constantly so I try to put my snaps on really good! 

Night: Kamryn sleeps on her stomach, side, and back.  Basically she flops around all night in her crib.  She will sleep 12-13 hrs straight.  Once in a while she wakes up in the middle of the night but a short snuggle fixes everything.

ELLIE (Tester Baby #3)

Ellie is my newborn tester baby.  She's really my daughter's doll, but just about the size of an average newborn.

Waist (diameter at belly button): 14"

Rise (without a diaper from belly button to back behind belly button): 8.5"

Legs (diameter where diaper leg elastic hits): 7"

Height: 18"

OK BABIES, LET'S GET TESTING!!!

*This post includes affiliate links*

So you can easily keep track of the September Fitted Diaper Event, I will add a link to each of the posts below.  No need to worry if you've missed one of the reviews.  I've got ya covered!