These Diapers Make the Transition to Cloth "Ease"-y
Written: Sep 26 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Plastic snaps, Adjustable to fit a large range of sizes
Cons: Did not fit our baby at the low-end of the weight range
The Bottom Line: With adjustable plastic snaps and soft terry cotton, cloth diapering can't get much easier. If you're new to cloth, I recommend these diapers as a great starting place.
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| tritter72's Full Review: Mother-Ease One Size Diaper |
"It's All So Confusing."
My husband and I sat staring blankly at the computer screen before us. For a combination of financial, environmental, and health reasons, we had recently decided to buy cloth diapers for our soon-to-be born first child. We didn't know what in the world we were getting ourselves into...
Because no one I knew was using cloth, I turned to the internet. There I found an almost overwhelming amount of information and a large number of brands of cloth diapers. Making a decision was not going to be easy. Interestingly enough, that day was our first experience using Epinions. We read reviews until our eyes burned, and in the end we decided to go with Mother-Ease One Size Cloth Diapers. There were many other promising brands, but many of them were Work At Home Mom diapers which required us to be added to a waiting list. We just didn't have that kind of time, and we were also intrigued with Mother Ease. A diaper that would fit from eight to 35 pounds sounded great. So we crossed our fingers and hit the submit button.
"Oh, Our Baby is Going to Be Wearing Little Towels!."
Exactly one week later, a large cardboard box was deposited on our front doorstep. We had ordered a "complete" package, meant for someone who will be using cloth diapers full-time. We excitedly opened the carton to see the assortment of diapers, liners, and covers we had requested.
Diapers--Our shipment contained 24 cloth diapers. On first sight they looked very much like bath towels, because they are made from a soft knit cotton terry material. (Each diaper also contains a small amount of polyester to help guard against shrinkage.) The material is in no way unattractive; I was just surprised because they look so different from the type of cloth diaper my mother used. The diapers we chose were white in color, but Mother-Ease also makes an unbleached (beige) version. This brand of diapers is fitted, meaning that they are roughly the same shape as a disposable diaper.
Each diaper contains elastic at both the waist and leg openings. In an effort to make the elastic gentle on little bodies, it is covered in a soft rib knit binding.
Since Mother-Ease One Size Cloth Diapers are meant to last from eight pounds through toilet training, the diapers are lined with several rows of plastic snaps. Because there will be thousands of diaper changes over the life of the diaper, the snaps are reinforced to prevent their pulling out of the terry. It is through the adjustment of the snaps that these diapers are meant to be "one size fits all." By folding the diaper and placing the snaps in a variety of positions, they transform from small to medium to large.
When purchased individually, the diapers cost $8.95 each.
Snap-In Liners
The package we ordered contained 12 absorbent liners made of three additional layers of the same cotton terry material. Liners are recommended for overnight, working more or less like a doubler. The rectangular cloth strips will fit into the diapers no matter which size you are using, but they can only be attached with the snaps when you are using the largest size. Liners cost $1.95 each.
Air Flow Snap Covers
Included in our shipment were four breathable, leakproof covers. These, like the diapers, have snaps at both the waist and leg openings, making them somewhat adjustable. Unlike the diapers, however, the covers are not one size fits all. These covers, made of polyester, are available in a range of five sizes, from small to extra large. AS standard procedure, Mother-Ease includes two white and two multi-colored whale print covers. If ordered individually from the company, covers can also be purchased in a paw print design. Covers cost $9.75 each for small (6-12 pounds), medium (10-20 lbs.), medium/large (20-27 lbs.), and large (27-35 lbs.). Extra large size (35-45 lbs.) can be purchased for $10.50.
"Look Grandma, the Baby's Wearing His Cloth.....Oooohhhhh."
We never expected the diapers to fit our baby at eight pounds, despite the literature from Mother-Ease. Next to the baby's 7 pound 11 ounce body, that diaper looked huge. When our son reached ten pounds, however, we were hopeful that we would now start using cloth. We got our the diagram (yes, instructions are required with this diaper), and were easily able to fold the diaper into the correct configuration for newborns. One problem--the leg openings were way too big. There was no way this diaper was going to contain anything. Just for fun, we took the baby downstairs so his grandmother could see the new diapers in action. No sooner had we arrived than he peed all over the kitchen floor. So much for that one-size thing...
We tried the diapers again at 12 pounds, but our little guy still couldn't fill out those leg holes. Somewhere after that, I must have gotten lazy because the diapers didn't see the light of day again until the baby weighed 15 pounds. Now the diapers fit (hooray!), but they fit in the medium size. We had somehow missed the small size all together. At any rate, we were finally in action and couldn't wait to try these things out.
"Blow-outs Be Gone!"
I was at first convinced that I could only use these diapers at home. It seemed like a pain in the neck to cart around a bunch of used cloth diapers. Before long, though, my mind had changed. Why? Because these diapers effectively eliminated the dreaded diaper blow-out. My son had been quickly climbing the Top Ten List of all-time blower-outers. Dinner conversation often consisted of the always-popular game "How Many Outfits Did the Baby Wear Today." Mother-Ease put a stop to this; I'm proud to say that we've only had one blowout while using them. It was such a welcome change that the baby now wears them everywhere...the grocery store, on day trips, even on weekend trips. They are my diaper of choice.
Mother-Ease One Size Diapers have been very absorbent, dependable diapers. We have had absolutely no leaks while using them. Company literature states that the diaper can absorb 13 ounces and that the liner can absorb an additional 7 ounces (extremely helpful in those overnight hours when the last thing you want to hear are the cries of a wet baby). Although I have no plans to measure this myself, I'm happy with the results I've seen. I do have to change more diapers than I did when I was using disposables, and at first I was neurotically checking the baby for wetness every five minutes. At this point, though, things have settled down, and I'm getting faster at fastening all of the necessary snaps.
"He Looks a Little Poofy, Doesn't He?"
I uttered the above words while standing with my husband, watching the baby in his crib while he slept. He is a little bulkier in the diaper area than he was when wearing disposables, especially when he is wearing the whole diaper-cover-liner combination. That being said, however, I have to admit that most people don't seem to notice this at all. In fact, my parents had no idea he was wearing the cloth diapers until we told them. All of his clothes still fit him, from bodysuits to little pant-and shirt outfits. Amazingly enough, his shorts actually fit him better now that he is wearing cloth. The only thing that is a little tight on him is his Gerber Onesies.
"You Have to Do a Lot of Laundry, Right?"
I do, in fact, have to do a lot of laundry. The package we bought from Mother-Ease is meant to be a two to three day supply of diapers, and we have found that to be accurate. I haven't found this to be a prohibitive amount of laundry, but then again I've never really minded washing clothes that much. With a "high needs baby" it's one of the few chores that I can actually get done without too much of a hassle. I've also found washing the diapers to be much easier than washing all of the soiled little outfits that Blowout Baby was supplying me with!
After many washings, the diapers and liners have held up well. There has been very little staining, and I've seen no evidence of shrinkage. The covers look as good as new as well!
Washing Instructions
We use a wet pail method. The pail contains water and a little bit of detergent to help prevent odors. Wet diapers and liners go directly into the pail. Soiled diapers and liners are rinsed first in the toilet and then go into the pail.
On wash day, we pour a little of the excess water into the toilet and then carry the pail to the washing machine. Everything goes in, and we do a "rinse and spin" cycle to start with.
Diapers and liners are then washed in a full cycle, at the highest water level, in hot water. Mother-Ease suggest that you not use bleach or fabric softener so as to prolong the life of the diapers. They can then be machine or line dried. I choose line drying, since the company states that this too will assist in making the diapers last longer. I just make sure that I have a few diapers left, giving the clean ones time to dry. Line drying does tend to make the cotton a little stiff, so before I put them in the diaper stacker, I use the "fluff cycle" on my dryer.
Diaper covers are washed in warm water and can also be tumble or line dried.
Final Thoughts
Using these diapers has turned out to be a more pleasant experience than I ever expected. They have solved our blow-out problem, they are absorbent, and they have proven to be durable.
Will they fit until the baby reaches 35 pounds? I doubt it. Just as they didn't fit at the low end of the range, I don't expect them to fit at the high end either. I'll have to update this later and let you know how long they lasted.
Are these the best cloth diapers out there? I've only tried Mother-Ease, so I don't really know. I do know, however, that I am satisfied enough with them that I'm not looking for any other diapers. Thankfully, I'm very happy with what we purchased on that somewhat-stressful Saturday afternoon. Mother-Ease One Size Cloth Diapers made what was a seemingly overwhelming transition much easier.
Mother-Ease offers several combination packages for purchase, as well as giving you the option to purchase items individually. If you are interested in more information, you can call them or visit their web site.
1-800-416-1475
Monday thru Friday, 9:00-4:30 EST
www.mother-ease.com
Happy Diapering!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tritter72
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Member: Tammi
Location: Pennsylvania
Reviews written: 100
Trusted by: 91 members
About Me:
Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present. (Unknown)
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