My Experience with GroVia BioSoakers and Hybrid Shells on a 4 DayTrip!

So I have been MIA for awhile! But here I am doing a post once again on diapering! We just got back from a 4 day trip to visit my family for a little post-Christmas celebration! I took 3 GroVia Hybrid Shells and a 50 pack of GroVia BioSoakers with me. (I only actually needed half though!) I was a little worried about using them, especially at night, because I always use cotton cloth diapers and I was afraid of leaking problems. But I have to say that I used 22 of these babies and only had 2 slight leaks.

GroVia biosoaker and shells review.

       First I have to say that they both were in the carseat on an over ride to and fro our visit. The first one I needed to have the cover tighter- so learning curve to blame! The second was from an overloaded diaper that should have been changed sooner- user error! (He went like 6 hours in the same diaper AND pooped in it. Probably any disposable diaper would have leaked, right?)
       All in all these are absolutely fabulous and I hate disposables so this says ALOT! Very user friendly. Great fit in the shells. Much cleaner ingredient list and biodegradable. I especially love the 2 things that stand out the most from the design of GroVia versus other brands of disposable soakers: First, the side gussets. This totally helps to keep things tidy. Even when he did that enormous poop in the carseat, no poop got on the sides of the cover! That was pretty impressive! Second, the adhesive on the back. This keeps it in place and makes putting it on a wriggly baby so much easier. Now, I used these with snap shells because that is what I had in my stash. But if you are getting some shells especially with using biosakers in mind, I highly recommend getting a couple of hook and loop. I believe that you will give a better fit. I believe that I would not have had that first leak if I had been using the hook and loop.

Some of the adhesion is stuck beside the snap.

       Now, I loved my experience with the biosoakers. But I do have to be honest and share what I consider a small problem. And it is the adhesive. I think it is too sticky. It was even difficult to get the adhesive cover strips off. In fact if I didn't carefully peel them off it would completely rip the entire adhesive area off! So use caution when removing those strips. Slow and easy does it. Second it would sometimes leave residue on the shell. Now I could work with it and get it off, but we all know that is one more annoying thing for a busy mom or dad to do! BUT, all that aside I will definitely use these again and recommend them. Hopefully GroVia can keep on improving the adhesive and one day they will be perfect. And to end on a happier note, these kept my baby's skin dry and he had absolutely NO irritation from them. My children tend to have sensitive skin so this says alot. I also really enjoyed his super trim bum!
       If you are thinking about trying these I say give 'em a whirl!
Disclaimer: I purchased these products myself and this is my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated by GroVia for this review.

3 Month Cloth Diaper Update

Whew! I've been busy day and night at my house. I don't know how some of you moms do it all. Take care of little ones and bigger ones and husband and homeschool, cook, clean, laundry, buy groceries...  Yeah I know the list keeps on going.

Little Man is a little over 3 months and I think he is close to 14 lbs.!! He is quite chubby LOL!

Small ClothEez Workhorse

Small ClothEez Workhorse

Small ClothEez Workhorse with Thirsties Duo Size 1

Small ClothEez Prefold

Small ClothEez Prefold with Thirsties Duo Size 1

Small ClothEez Prefold with Blueberry Coverall One Size

Simplex Medium

Simplex One Size

ClothEez on a 2 1/2 Year Old

I was looking for a night time option for our 2 year old. (now he is potty learning at night-fun) I had a lot of trouble finding reviews and pictures so I thought that I would post this. He is very thin and long. Lanky would be the word to describe him. Like a child Abraham Lincoln.
So I went with XL Cloth Eez Workhorse and a Thirsties Cotton Hemp Insert covered in a Blueberry Coverall OS. A Thirsties Duo Size 2 would not cover all of this. So a couple of pictures for you:

Also how a Large Prefold would fit with a Thirsties Duo Size 2:

Baby Carrier Stash

I love baby carriers. They can be quite beautiful, especially woven wraps. I only have one though. But, I do want to try a short one eventually... Anyway here's what I have:

How I store them

Ergo Organic Original in Lattice

Ergo Organic Original in Navy

 Ergo Sport in Blue

Handmade Paisley Blue and HAVA Chic in Aubrey

Ellaroo Woven Wrap in Maija

(I guess you can tell that I really like Ergo Baby!)

The Many Colors of Simpex Newborn Diapers...

Simplex Newborn Elephants

Simplex Newborn Tweets

Simplex Newborn Butter

Simplex Newborn Giraffes

Simplex Newborn Meadow

Simplex Newborn Monkeys

Simplex Newborn Swirls

Simplex Newborn White

Simplex Newborn Blue

Simplex Newborn Owls

Swaddlebees Simplex OS vs. Newborn

Little Caden will be 11 weeks tomorrow. He is at least 10 lbs. and about to outgrow the newborns in my opinion. His thighs are quite chubby. A thinner baby would probably get a couple of more weeks. But I still feel like this is a good life for a newborn diaper. Especially since it fit great from birth! I ended up with 12 of these diapers and they are all going to be saved for next time. (Lord willing) I would describe the size as in between a Cloth-Eez Workhorse size newborn and small.
I currently have 2 of the OS diapers and I use them for night time so that I don't have to change him until we get up for the day. I have 1 medium which will not fit for a while yet. I am waiting to see which I like best before getting more Simplexes.
The OS is in Owls and the Newborn is in Blue. There is quite alot of bulk on the OS at this little setting. But that is usual. I wouldn't use this under an outfit for going somewhere. It just wouldn't work for a boy. If I had a girl I would go for it. I will see how I like the middle setting and compare that to the Medium Simplex as soon as he can fit into it.

Simplex OS vs Newborn

Spaghetti Sauce Recipe- Sweet and Savory

getting together ingredients

1 lb. cooked ground beef 
1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 29 oz. can of tomato puree
1/4 C. diced sweet onion
1/4 C. diced bell pepper
1/4 C. diced mushroom
3 T. Italian seasoning
4 T. cane sugar

Combine everything in a big pot. Bring to a boil. Simmer for an hour or more. Or cook in a crockpot. 

2 Month Cloth Diaper Update

Little SweetCheeks is approximately 10 lbs. now! Where is the time going? He is getting bigger and bigger! He out grew the newborn workhorses at about 7 weeks. So here he is in everything that fits him now:

Cloth-Eez Workhorse Small

Cloth-Eez Workhorse Small under Thirsties Duo Wrap Size 1

Snappied Cloth-Eez Prefold Small

Cloth-Eez Prefold Small under Thirsties Duo Wrap Size 1

Swaddlebees Simplex Newborn

Swaddlebees Simplex One Size

I will do a comparison between the fit of the Swaddlebees Simplexes next.

6 Week Cloth Diaper Update

So Caden is 6 weeks and weighs a little over 9 lbs.
He still has growing room in the Simplex Newborn AIOs and in the Thirsties Duo Wraps Size 1. He is about to outgrow the Newborn ClothEez Workhorses.

Simplex NB AIO

ClothEez Workhorse Newborn

Thirsties Duo Wrap Size 1