AppleCheeks Review and Giveaway!

FOTC was recently given the opportunity to review an AppleCheeks reusable diaper. These adorable cloth diapers, are a pocket style diaper that is proudly manufactured in Canada. After giving them a try for a couple of weeks, I have to say that these are one of our new favorite diapers. Read on to find out why.

Construction:

AppleCheeks are a pocket style diaper, with a layer of breathable, yet waterproof polyurethane laminate (PUL) on the outside, and soft, stay-dry microfleece on the inside next to baby's skin. Inserts are to be folded and "stuffed" in between the layers to create absorbency. The diaper's pocket opening is slightly larger than it's competitors, which makes it easier to "stuff." The larger opening also allows for the insert to agitate out in the wash. No more having to touch a wet insert!

A unique feature of AppleCheeks is that you can also use them as you would an AI2 system, meaning you can lay the insert on top of the microfleece, right next to baby's skin, and then reuse the cover, or "envelope" as AppleCheeks calls it.

AppleCheeks inserts are made from two layers of ultra-soft 70% rayon from bamboo and 30% organic cotton fleece. The inserts are approximately 12" x 15" and once they are folded into thirds, it gives you six layers of absorbency. AppleCheeks also offers a variety of boosters which bump up absorbency.

AppleCheeks are available in a variety of colors, most of which are bright and bold. No boring, bland colors here!

Fit:

AppleCheeks envelope covers have snug, yet durable elastic at both the waist and legs for a gentle and secure fit. They're designed to contain even to messiest of messes. There are two rows of easy to adjust snaps, allowing you to get the perfect fit for your baby. One of my favorite features has to be the extra wide tabs. The tabs help to prevent wing droop, which we seem to get with the majority of our side snapping diapers.

Envelope covers come in two different sizes. Size 1 fits from 7-20 lbs. (approximately), and Size 2 fits 18-40 lbs (approx).

Performance and Evaluation:

We decided to test this diaper right out of the package. I was a bit nervous, as the care instructions say to prep the inserts by washing them three times on hot before use (which will remove the oils and shrink them up a tiny bit). We didn't leave it on long, but it seemed to absorb just fine. After washing the insert the first time, I tossed it in with a load of towels, washed it again, hung it up to dry, and then tested it again. I put it on my son, dressed him (I have to say that it's very trim under clothes), and we went to the mall. I was very surprised when I changed his diaper, and although the front of the insert was wet, the back part was barely even wet! After the next washing, I tried it on my son during his nap. Same result! The inserts seem to absorb quite a bit!

I also tried using the diaper as an AI2, by laying the insert on top of the microfleece layer. I was nervous that since the insert doesn't snap into the envelope cover, that it might shift or bunch up. My son crawled and played all over the place, giving the diaper a true workout, and although it was slightly bunched up in the front (where it was wet), it didn't seem to affect the function of the diaper. The envelope cover could have easily been used again, maybe with a brief air dry. However, I prefer a stay dry liner next to my son's skin, so although it worked well as an AI2, I would much rather use the diaper as a pocket style.

I'm a huge fan of the elastic at the waist of the diaper! I haven't seen this with any other diaper yet, but what a great idea! My son is a skinny little dude, and the elastic at the waist really helps to keep the diaper from gaping at the top, which translates to fewer accidental leaks. The wider wings were also another definite plus. We get wing droop with some of our other side snapping diapers, but we had none with our AppleCheeks.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this diaper :)

Interested?

AppleCheeks can be purchased directly through their website, and they're also available from many of your favorite cloth diaper retailers. You can purchase the covers, inserts, and boosters separately, or you can purchase one of their MiniTest Kits (a cover and three inserts), or one of their starter kits (3 covers, 9 inserts, 1 storage sac, 3 wipes, and a free booster).

Want to win?

AppleCheeks is offering a FOTC reader a chance to win an envelope cover and insert!

To enter, simply visit AppleCheeks look around at site, decide what size and color diaper you'd like to win, then come back here and let me know in a comment.

For additional entries:

- Follow @AppleCheeksDipe on twitter

- Follow @FamilyofCloth on twitter

- Tweet about this fabulous giveaway! Just be sure to include both @AppleCheeksDipe and @FamilyofCloth and the #clothdiapers hashtag. You may tweet once a day. Be sure to leave the permalink of the tweet.

- Be a follower of my blog through Google Friend

- Be a follower of the AppleCheeks blog

- Enter my Rockin' Green Detergent giveaway

- Vote for me as a Top Mommy Blogger:

Giveaway will end 4/14 at 8 PM CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org, and will have 48 hours to respond to a notification email, or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. FOTC received a diaper for review purposes only, and was not compensated or paid for this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Fluff Mom Monday

Tell us about yourself! What is your name? How many little ones do you have?

My name is Jessica from The B Keeps Us Honest and I have an adorable 20 month old son whom we cloth diaper.

How long have you used cloth diapers?

I've been using cloth diapers for 19 months. We officially switched after my son was 1 month old.

What made you decide to use cloth diapers?

When I was pregnant I learned that many of my friends used cloth diapers. They introduced me to all the new designs and products available for cloth diapering. I choose to use cloth because of the environmental and financial benefits. Plus they are cute!

What was your first cloth diaper purchase?

I first bought a used diaper cover online. I think it was an Imse Vimse cover.

Tell us about your stash:

I have a great stash that ranges in size and style. We primarily use a prefold and cover but I do have a few AIO and Pocket Diapers. I won't list the entire lot from NB only my current. My current stash consists of...
24 Unbleached Indian Prefolds - Infant
12 Unbleached Indian Prefolds - Toddler (we're moving up in size.)
2 Bummis Covers
3 Imse Vimse Covers
1 GAD Cover
1 Kissaluvs Cover
4 Mommy's Touch AIO
1 WAHM Pocket Diaper
1 Kissaluvs Pocket Diaper
1 WAHM Swim Diaper

What is your favorite cloth diaper/diapering system? Why?

I prefer a prefold and cover. I feel it is less to wash. I mean to change a pee AIO that's so much material to wash when you can just change the diaper and reuse the cover. Although it does take longer to change and with an impatient toddler it's not always ideal.

Tell us about your wash routine
We wash our diapers every other day. Before bed my husband runs a cold water rinse/soak cycle with an oxy cleaner. In the morning I run a hot water regular wash cycle with Charlie's Soap. Then dryer to fluff and finish on the drying rack.

Have your friends and family been supportive of your decision to use cloth?
Very supportive. Many of my friends have started using cloth and often ask me about diapering options or tips. My husband is very supportive and a great diaper changer. Our families have learned our system too.

Any challenges you've run into with using cloth diapers? What did you do about it?

I haven't had too many issues with our cloth diaper experience. We had a build up issue and I stripped them according to an online tutorial. It was pretty simple.

Your best piece of advice for someone new to cloth diapering:
There are a lot of options. Try a few things before you buy a lot. Don't be freaked out about buying used. Borrow diapers from friends if possible. (if only to find you system)

Your favorite scripture, quote, or anything else that you'd like to add?
My favorite scripture is: Proverbs 3:3-4
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and man.

The Inside Poop on Cloth Diapers - Twitter Party!

You're invited to attend the "Get Real - The Inside Poop on Cloth Diapers" Twitter Party

Date: Earth Day – Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Time: 9:00-10:00 pm EST
Hashtag: #GetRealDiapers
Hosted by: The Real Diaper Association, Bamboo Bums Diapers, Diaper Daisy Modern Cloth Diapers, and The Eco Chic
Follow our hosts on Twitter: @RealDiapers@RDAHeatherMc @BambooBums @DiaperDaisy @TheEcoChic@EcoMomMedia

Sponsors: Diaper Shops, Snooty Booty Diapers, Sugar Dipes, Rockin’ Green Soap, Cutey Baby, SoftBums Diapers, Sweet Camo Babytique, Diaper Lab, Eden’s Baby, Goo Goo Gaia, Global Enfant, and many more to be announced.
Follow our sponsors on Twitter: @DiaperShops, @SnootybDiapers, @SugarDipes, @RockinGreenSoap,@CuteyBaby, @SoftBumsMama, @SweetCamoBaby, and more to be announced.

Event Topic: You are invited to attend a special Twitter Party all about diapers. In honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day the Real Diaper Association, Bamboo Bums Diapers, Diaper Daisy Modern Cloth Diapers and The Eco Chic would like to explain how cloth diapers are making a comeback.

Actually cloth diapers have been used since the beginning of time and are still very popular. Today’s cloth diapers can be as simple as the pre-fold diapers your grandmother used or modern with Velcro closures and stylish patterns. Cloth diapers can fit any budget from frugal to the extreme; all of which can save you thousands of dollars throughout your child’s diapering years. Cloth diapers are healthieron your baby and do not contain toxins like disposable diapers. Cloth diapers are reusable and the perfect commitment for parents who wish to reduce their child’s environmental butt-footprint.

Registration: We are so excited to be able to open registration EARLY! Go enter by filling out our Survey Monkey form. Click here to take register.

Make sure to list Family of the Cloth as your referrer!

Don't know what a twitter party is? Find out more here.

Cleaning with Vinegar

I have to admit that I'm not much of a germ-a-phob. Of course I try to keep things clean, but I'm not the mom with a gallon jug of hand sanitizer in every room. In fact, I very rarely use sanitizer (unless I don't have access to a place where I can wash my hands). I've been on a quest lately to use cleaning products that are more environmentally friendly. I hate cleaning with something harsh, and then having to baby gate my son out of the room and/or wash my hands before picking him up. I've been replacing some of my cleaners (as the run out) with cleaners that are plant based. I've also been making some of my own cleaners from vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, etc (not all together, of course). To my husband's dismay, I've cut out using bleach in my home. He loves the smell of bleach, and has a hard time believing it's clean if it doesn't smell like bleach. Did you know that chlorine bleach is unclassifiable carcinogen, it's highly toxic, and a high severe eye and skin irritant. It can burn the lungs if inhaled too long, which can lead to an infection. To read more about the dangers of bleach in the home, you can view this link at HealthyChild.org (one of my favorite sites).

I recently decided, however, that I needed to clean some of my son's toys. He puts everything into his mouth, and toys get dirty after a while. I gathered up everything I wanted to clean (all of the little stuff), and headed to the kitchen. I rinsed everything off, dunked them in soapy water, and rinsed. Surely that is effective, but I wanted to disinfect everything. I hit the internet looking for a "green" solution, and almost all the results I found said to dunk the toys in a solution of water and bleach. As I mentioned above, I don't do bleach, and especially not when my son is going to put it into his mouth. I eventually did find a "recipe" for disinfecting toys with vinegar and water. So here's what I did:

1/2 c. of vinegar per gallon of water

Fill sink with water (I used two gallons of water), and add vinegar. Add toys and allow to soak for 15 minutes. I got distracted and ended up letting them sit for an hour or so.

Rinse and air dry.

Allow child to resume shoving all toys into their mouth :)

Danny the Dragon DVD Review

I was lucky enough a few weeks ago to be able to review a copy of Danny the Dragon: Meets Jimmy by author Tina Turbin. You can read that review here. Along with the book, I was also sent a DVD, which contains a retelling of the book, along with sign language interpretation! My main area of research while working on my master's degree in literacy education centered around the unique literacy needs of the deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) students. Did you know that the average deaf or HOH high school graduate graduates with only a 4th grade reading level? Further, researchers believe that reading is the single most difficult academic hurdle that deaf and HOH students face. National initiatives such as No Child Left Behind mandates that all children be able to read by 3rd grade, but deaf and HOH students are consistently left behind their hearing peers. One theory on the low reading levels of deaf/hoh students is due to the lack of print rich media that is accessible to these students.

Author Tina Turbin, an advocate for literacy, created the Danny the Dragon DVD in order to give deaf/hoh students an opportunity to see the beautiful illustrations of the book along with signed interpretations. As I stated in my review of the book, Danny the Dragon: Meets Jimmy is a cute story of a little boy named Jimmy, who finds a shell on the beach that talks to him. Upon returning home with the shell, a friendly dragon named Danny (with red tennis shoes!) emerges from the shell. Jimmy and his family invite Danny and his guide Skipper to join them for dinner. After dinner, Danny and Skipper join Jimmy, his sister, and the neighborhood kids for a game of catch. After dinner, it is decided that Danny and Skipper should stay with the family overnight. Jimmy desires to know more about Danny and Skipper, but Danny tells him that he will tell him more later (which hopefully means another book is on the way soon!). The characters are polite and helpful, which serve as a great role model for young readers. The illustrations, done by artist Aija Jasuna, will help keep readers focused. And the sign language interpretation is not disruptive, but adds to the telling of the story.

Half of the proceeds of the DVD sales go to Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf, and the other half goes towards other causes which support literacy and education for the welfare of all children. Author Tina Turbin provides a brief introduction at the beginning of the DVD which provides more information about Blossom Montessori school, and gives startling statistics about deaf/hoh students. And although the DVD was designed for deaf/hoh students, I still think hearing students would enjoy it, as well. It is not distracting, and if anything, I think hearing students would enjoy getting to "see" another language. It could also serve to help hearing students understand their deaf/hoh peers.

Overall, this is a great DVD! It's the first DVD of this type that I have ever heard of, and I wish more publishers would follow suit and create signed DVD books for the deaf. And I think it's wonderful that Tina Turbin is generously donating all the proceeds. If you've never heard of Tina Turbin, I urge you to check out her website (http://www.tinaturbin.com). She is a humanitarian, radio spokes-woman, as well as an award winning children's author. She helps many people in the allergy, celiac, autistic, and gluten-free "worlds," and she works hard to make these topics more known. She is a strong supporter of families, kids, and education. She founded the website http://glutenfreehelp.info, which is an awesome site with lots of gluten free recipes and information.