Babes and Kids: December 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Offline

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 9:19 PM

Hi All! As many of you know, we just bought our first home. We don't have internet hooked up and life has been a little crazy to say the least. I will try to get on and post reviews when I can. Thanks for being patient and watch for an update!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Tendercare Diapers

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

Tendercare diapers are another eco friendly diaper. We decided to give them a go.

Pros: These diapers have great coverage and seem to run a bit big. I bought them in a size 4 which is supposed to be for babies that are 22-35 lbs. After comparing it to a few different diapers, I realized it looked more like a 5 and decided to use them on Chandler and Rowan. Although they are a plain white diaper, they don't use a chlorine bleach but a non-chlorine bleached woodpulp. They really seem to breathe well and we had no issues with any sort of diaper rash. Both boys wore these diapers overnight and didn't leak out of them. The outside of the diaper seems quite soft too. The tabs hold tight and we didn't have any problems with them coming off.

A few more pros of this eco diaper:

*Non Toxic

*Latex Free

*Perfume Free

These are all great for babies with sensitive skin.

Cons: This is yet another diaper that doesn't have the stretchy tabs, but the diapers were large enough and covered well enough that it wasn't too much of an issue. We did have one blowout with Chandler, but I figure that wasn't bad either as he was wearing a size 4. Actually, he wasn't EXACTLY wearing a size 4. It was actually a size "large" diaper. I find that weird where most diapers are categorized by size, that these aren't. Although the outside of the diaper felt soft, it was also a bit stiff, which I didn't like. These diapers are also quite expensive. We ordered a jumbo pack in a size 4 for $8.99 and only got 22 diapers. That doesn't last very long.

The Bottom Line: Great, reliable eco friendly diaper. Recommended for sensitive skin, although a bit expensive.

Price: (As noted on Diapers.com) $8.99 per jumbo pack

Price Per Diaper

Small (6-14 lbs) - $.26

Medium (12-24 lbs) - $.37

Large (22-35 lbs) - $.41

Extra Large (27+ lbs) - $.50

Where to Buy: Diapers.com

Rating: Great

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 6:24 PM

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with great memories for you and your families.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Pampers Swaddlers

3 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 2:00 PM

Pampers Swaddlers are the perfect name for what Pampers was trying to achieve with this newborn diaper.

Pros: This is an extremely soft diaper and is perfect for delicate skin. I worked on a Mom/Baby unit in a hospital for over a year and these are the diapers they carried. The swaddlers we had in the hospital had a line on the outside of the diaper that changed when the baby had wet the diaper. Pretty great for taking the guess work out when you have a fussy baby. I used these with Rowan and Chandler and was not disappointed. One thing that I had wished they had was a cutout for the umbilical cord so I didn't have to fold the diaper down. After reading a comment from our reader and doing some research, I found out that the new Pampers swaddlers sensitive has the notch for the umbilical cord which makes this diaper that much more perfect. They have the soft stretchy tabs which are very sticky and stay put! They have a mesh liner on the inside like the Cruisers that pulls wetness away from your baby, thus helping with diaper rash. They liner also has a gentle care lotion in it thus keeping your baby's skin nice and soft. They have a cute sesame street design and offer great coverage. They come in a variety of sizes as well: Premie, Newborn, Size 1, Size 1-2, & Size 2-3.

Cons: These diapers are one of the most expensive newborn diapers, but the quality far outweighs the price. The only other con about buying a newborn diaper that is more expensive is how often you are changing it. I know we averaged 9-11 diapers per day until the boys were a month or two old. I also wish that they carried this swaddler in a size 3. Chandler was a 9 lb baby and Rowan was close to 9 lbs so they outgrew the swaddlers quickly. I wished that they could stay in them longer, but they were both out of them by 3 months.

The Bottom Line: The BEST diaper for newborns

Price:

preemie - $.32

newborn - $.24

Size 1-2 - $.18

Size 2 - $.23

Size 2-3 - $.28

Where to Buy: Diapers.com, Amazon

Rating: Excellent

What other readers had to say about Pampers Swaddlers

For newborns: pampers swaddlers-they are have the little groove cut out for umb. cords like other newborn diapers, but they are SOFTEST on their precious new skin. The material feels softer and they elastic isn't uncomfortable around their legs. Downside-they aren't really thick. - Becca, mom to Christian

We like Pampers Swaddlers for NB size. - Christine, mom to Belle

We used Pampers swaddlers until Mady outgrew size threes, then we started trying out generic brands. - Cassandra, mom to Mady

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Pampers Cruisers

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

Pampers Cruisers are one of the more expensive diapers on the market. Worth it? Keep reading and you'll find out.

Pros: Pampers Cruisers are an extension of the swaddlers. They start in a size 3 (16-28 lbs) and go up to a size 7. It's nice that they offer them in a size 7 for larger children, or those who are in diapers longer, as many brands don't offer this big of a size. Pampers doesn't disappoint when it comes to coverage. I think the cruisers run a tad bit bigger than most brands meaning that your little one can stay in a smaller size longer, saving you money. My 3 year old is fairly tall for his age and these diapers have GREAT coverage in the front and back. They are incredibly soft on the inside and out and move really well with your child. They have an absorb away liner which pulls pee and poop away from your child, thus helping with diaper rash. Pampers has a cute sesame street design which my son gets excited about wearing too. The sides are extremely soft and stretchy creating a snug fit. The tabs are sticky and I have NEVER had them come undone in the 18 months that we have been using them. You can fasten and unfasten them, and they are still just as sticky. I can count on my hands the number of times my boys have blown out of the Cruisers which is ALWAYS fixed by going up a size. I can't rave enough about these diapers.

Cons: These diapers are pricier than most but I feel that can be quickly outweighed by the fact that you will be doing less laundry. I've heard some don't like the pampers because they are thinner and they seem soggier. I like the fact that they are thinner as it means there is less bulk on your child, allowing them to move more freely. They do seem a little soggy in the morning, but hey they DON'T leak. Worth the extra money? Absolutely.

The Bottom Line: My favorite diaper and the one I would choose if I were a baby/toddler. :)

Price: $11 for a jumbo pack, $21 for a box (Price per diaper is based on a box, which is what I usually buy them in. I almost always have a coupon too. Watch for them in your Sunday paper. They also have pampers coupons on the back of cheerios boxes right now, and if you shop at Walgreens or Albertsons, coupons print out at the register when you buy them for a future purchase.) Price per diaper is before coupons.

Size 3 - $.27

Size 4 - $.31

Size 5 - $.35

Size 6 - $.43

Size 7 - $.47

Where to Buy: Target, Diapers.com, Walmart, Most Grocery Stores

Rating: Excellent

What other readers had to say:

We've tried Huggies, Pampers, and a couple others and we had problems with the pee leaking through all the layers, with the cottony stuff sticking all over her bum, with the pee leaking out the front (if she sleeps on her tummy), etc. -Christine, mom to Belle

Pampers - I feel like Pampers are much better for baby girls than they are for boys. I love their texture, and they seem more comfortable, but they just do not hold up to a lot of liquid in the front. Tristan was constantly leaking out of his Pampers diapers - on him, on me, on the furniture - from birth. We tried them again at every size change, but it was the same situation over and over. - Jayme, mom to Tristan

"I have three children. For my first child and last child the very best diapers are Pampers. " - Fran, mom to 3

"We normally use Papers baby dry. they are nice and trim and what I like best is i can fasten and unfasten then a lot and they stick stick.. no other brand I have tried does that ( ok not many people need this feature but it is nice for us:) )
Also if you use an alberston card you always get a ton of pampers coupons!" Holly, mom to Arora

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Luvs

2 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 7:00 AM

Catchy name for a diaper, isn't it? When I bought these diapers , I was sure hoping I'd "luv" them more than the last time I used them for my 3 year old. These diapers tend to be cheaper than Pampers and Huggies, but a dollar or two more than generic store brands or white cloud.

Pros: These diapers are actually quite soft and remind me of the pampers baby dry. Although they feel thin, I've come to realize that thin doesn't necessarily mean bad as the pampers brand tend to be thinner. They have the stretchy tabs which are very soft. The tabs are very sticky and hold in place well. Their bearhug stretch is a step up from how they were made before....with no stretch. They also have a cute Blue's Clues design on them.

Cons: I wanted to believe in this diaper, I really did. When I first pulled them out of the package, I couldn't believe how strong they smelled like baby powder. Holly, a reader featured in a comment below also complained of the smell when she used them on her daughter. I thought I could get over the smell if they worked well. I put one on my 3 year old (Chandler) and let him run around in just a diaper for a while. Not even an hour later, I saw him squat down on the kitchen floor to play on a toy and poop oozed out the side, down his leg, and onto his sock. I know you all appreciate the plethora of information I've just bombarded you with, but at least you'll start to get the drift of how I feel about these diapers. Chandler has worn pampers cruisers for over a year and has had MANY horrible poopy diapers. He has never once pooped out of a diaper like he did that day. It was horrible, and made a big mess. I also noticed after an hour the diaper was starting to leak a little bit. Fast forward to the next morning. Chandler has had a luvs diaper on overnight and comes to climb in bed with me after his dad has gone to work. We lay there for a few minutes and I decide to get up and go get some breakfast going. I go back to make my bed and notice Chan has leaked all over the sheets I had just washed the day before. I went to change his diaper and right in the tub he went. His whole tummy was wet and he smelled terrible. I wondered if it was just a small fitted diaper and held it up to a pamper's cruiser diaper. It is actually about the same size, maybe a tiny bit smaller. Now I just have to resign myself to use the rest of the package and hope he doesn't poop out and leak again. Will I ever buy luvs again? Absolutely not. If a diaper isn't going to do it's job, why buy it?

The Bottom Line: Sometimes you GET what you pay for ;) I probably wouldn't recommend this product to anyone! To get a second opinion, read the comments at the end of this post. It seems like they really do work for some moms.

Price: $8 for a jumbo pack (#'s of diapers vary by size)

Where to Buy: Any major retailer or grocery store.

Rating: Terrible

"We also tried luvs but the smell was so bad I hated putting that much perfume on my kids bottom." - Holly, mom to Arora

"I used the Luvs brand for a while too, and they were fine." -Lila, mom to Calvin

"Luvs - Another diaper that I feel is better for some babies than others. They didn't really form to Tristan's waist, and a lot of times he leaked through the top of his diaper. They are a value money-wise, but didn't really work for us." - Jayme, mom to Tristan

"With two kids in diapers I will buy anything that is on sale. Luvs have been the best for my 2 year old boy." -Jamie, mom to Isaac & Isabella

"Our little angel wears Luvs size 4. I've tried them all and have found I like these the best for the money." -The Ball Family

Monday, December 15, 2008

Pampers Gifts to Grow

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

If any of you participate in the Pampers Gifts to Grow program, they are offering free shipping on all rewards through December. It's a great time to cash in! For those of you who don't know about the program, you sign up for an account at pampers.com. Then you collect points by entering in codes found inside the diaper packaging, and redeem them for rewards. It's a nice perk if you already buy Pampers. You can also enter the code: WEAPPRECIATEU08 for an extra 10 points. Not sure how long that code is good for.

Friday, December 12, 2008

White Cloud Diapers

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

White Cloud Diapers are a generic type diaper that are specifically made for Walmart. So how do they measure up? (Image from whiteclouddiapers.com)

Pros: I was pleasantly surprised at how much these diapers hold. After 3 night time feedings and 12 hours, they didn't leak. We went through a whole package without one leak, so I was quite impressed! They have a cute cloud design all over the diaper and accordian type tabs on the sides. The price is pretty good on these diapers too. Around $8 for a jumbo and $15 for a big box. These were by far the best store brand of the ones that we tried. They also have a wide variety of sizes which start at newborn and go up to a size 6. They are also hypo-allergenic and Latex free.

Cons: These diapers are pretty bulky. After watching Rowan crawl around and pull up and cruise along the couch, I decided they don't move quite as well as other diapers we've tried. Of course Rowan isn't complaining, but they just don't look as comfortable. I'm not a huge fan of how the diapers stretch. Most diapers that have the stretchy tabs have stretch to the whole tab. These diapers only have stretch on the front 1/3 and it is an accordian type stretch which seems a little weird. I didn't think these were very soft either, and don't look like they have quite as much coverage up front which could pose a problem for tummy sleepers.

The Bottom Line: Not my favorite diapers, but they seem to do the job and are cheaper than a lot of brands

Price - $8 for jumbo pack $15 for a box

Price Per Diaper (If bought in a jumbo pack)

Newborn - $.12

Size 1 - $.14

Size 2 - $.17

Size 3 - $.20

Size 4 - $.24

Size 5 - $.27

Size 6 - $.30

Where to Buy: Walmart

Rating: OK

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Diaper Giveaway!

19 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

Don't we all spend way too much on diapers? It probably doesn't help that it is Christmas time, and we'd love to spend our money elsewhere. Since I am doing diaper reviews I thought it would be appropriate to do a diaper giveaway! Up for grabs is a $15 Walmart gift card you can use for a few weeks worth of diapers. You know the drill - leave a comment to enter and let me know what kind of diapers you last bought. Winners will be announced the day after my last diaper review....sometime in January.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Pampers at Albertsons

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 4:48 PM

If you spend $20 on Pampers at Albertsons right now you get $5 off for a future purchase and 5 redbox rentals! So if you have an Albertsons close by, it might be worth going! (Thanks Holly for the deal.)

Monday, December 8, 2008

Baby Basics Supreme (Albertsons Brand)

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

I've started to notice a trend with store brand diapers so I didn't want to try anymore. However, one Saturday night I realized I only had a few diapers left for each of the boys so we made a quick stop at Albertsons to pick some up. I decided to try the Baby Basics brand - the supreme kind.

Pros: I try to keep an open mind with each diaper that we try. I thought they had a cute print on them when I pulled them out of the package. They didn't seem extremely soft, but weren't too bad either. And....that's about all the pros ;)

Cons: Where do I begin? First of all, these diapers don't have the size printed on the front. Chandler wears a 5 and Rowan is in a 4 right now. Their diapers may look close in size but I can tell a huge difference if I accidentally put a 4 on Chandler and a 5 on Rowan. There is no differentiation in the patterns either which doesn't help. We keep the diapers on a shelf in the laundry room and I try to keep Chandler's on right and Rowan's on the left. However, if I've just gotten both boys out of the tub and grab diapers to put on them, I have to hold them up to one another to remember which on to put on Chan and which one to put on Rowan. The sticky tabs on these diapers are horrid. They came off multiple times on the boys, or slipped, making their diapers sag down. And NO stretchy tabs, which I think should be standard in a diaper. We've had blowouts, and a ridiculous amount of leaks from both of the boys. Rowan even developed a pretty bad rash for a few days. I wasn't sure it was the diapers, so I decided to use a different brand for a few days. It cleared up. I then tried the Albertson's brand again and the rash started coming back. I really think it's due to the fact that they don't breathe very well. Let's just say I was VERY happy when these diapers were gone.

Price: $8 for a jumbo pack

Where to buy: Albertsons

Average price per diaper (based on the jumbo pack)

Size 3 - $.22

Size 4 - $.26

Size 5 - $.30

Size 6 - $.36

Rating: Terrible

Friday, December 5, 2008

Vicks VapoRub

7 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 7:21 AM

I know I am supposed to be focusing on diaper reviews, but I had to pass info about this product along as we are nearing cold and flu season.

Marshall (my DH) came home with an e-mail the other day about Vicks VapoRub.

The e-mail stated this:

"How to stop cough in 5 minutes!!! This is a must try... We have all been kept awake by our own or someone else's cough. Try this and pass it on. The tip and not the cough. ANYTHING is better than antibiotics. Even babies could benefit from this and the parents wouldn't worry about the safety of their child. And of course, it is harmless and free from any type of side-effects. WOW! I was raised, and raised my kids with Vicks. How come I never knew this? I can't wait for my next cough. Amazing!"

Treatment:
To stop night time coughing in a child (or an adult, as we found out personally), put Vicks Vapor Rub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime and then cover with socks.

" Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about five minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. This works 100 percent of the time, and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly."

As many of you may already know, my 10 month old has asthma. He's been on steroids, singulair granuals, and a few different albuterols for breathing treatments. Some nights when he has a cold he doesn't get a lot of sleep due to coughing and wheezing. (I don't get much sleep either.) When Marsh brought this e-mail home, I read through it and decided to give it a try. I am so pleasantly surprised with how well it works! Rowan did stop coughing in about 5 minutes. About 4 hours later, he was up coughing again. I reapplied the rub to his feet and again he stopped coughing and slept restful the rest of the night. We've now done this a few nights in a row and it has worked like a charm. Pretty incredible, huh? We are using the baby rub too which just has soothing ingredients and is safe for babies 3 months and older. I might get some of the regular vaporub just to keep on hand though. It gives me peace of mind to use something like this to calm Rowan's wheezing and coughing rather than an albuterol with a steroid in it. I'm sure if we used the original vaporub it would stop his coughing for the entire night.

Supposedly this works on adults too, and I am definitely going to try it the next time I get a cold with a cough.

Ingredients in Original VapoRub
Active Ingredients (Purpose)
Camphor 4.8% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic)
Eucalyptus oil 1.2% (Cough suppressant)
Menthol 2.6% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic)

Ingredients in BabyRub
Petrolatum, fragrance, aloe extract, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil

You can buy this in most grocery/retail stores. I will usually buy the generic brand from Target.

Hope this helps!

Gymboree Sale

1 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 7:05 AM

Gymboree online is having a 25% off sale and free shipping on any order. The free shipping is great in and of itself!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Target Brand Diapers

4 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

I must admit, I love Target. Love their store, love their stuff! I remember buying Target brand diapers when Chan was little and using them for a while. I stopped using them and couldn't remember why, so I bought another pack and decided to give them a go.

Pros: These diapers are extremely affordable. I got a jumbo pack in a size 5 for Chan. It had 30 diapers and was less than $6. Right now there is a cute frog/bug design. The top part of the diaper is stretchy in the middle, both front and back giving a snug fit to your baby. The inside also feels quite soft. They aren't as bulky as some of the generic diapers and actually hold quite a bit.

Cons: These don't have the stretchy tabs like a lot of diapers do now. I really don't like that because that means the diaper doesn't give as much and move with your child, and therefore you might have more leaks. They also seem a bit smaller than the leading brand diapers in a size 5. In using 1 pack of diapers, we had three bad experiences with this diaper. #1 - No matter how tight I fastened this diaper, it seemed to sag down, even with a diaper that isn't very full. I caught Chandler flashing his little bum a few times :) #2 - One day I saw Chandler grabbing at his pants and walking funny. He kept saying, "Oh no!" When I went to change his diaper, the tab on the left side had completely torn off, meaning his diaper was hanging by one tab and not doing it's job. Need I say more? #3 - On another occasion I noticed Chan had brown on his hands. Then I realized he had blown out of the back of his diaper halfway up his back. It was obviously bothering him, so he put his hand on his back to figure out what was going on. 1 crappy diaper (pun intended) resulted in poopy clothes, poopy hands, and a much needed bath. Personally, I'd rather pay 10-15 cents more for a diaper that works than do that extra laundry and give an extra bath. I don't remember the target brand diapers performing this poorly. I should probably go up to a size 6 and give them another try, but I'd rather use a better diaper in a size 5 that performs like it should.

The Bottom Line: Terrible generic diaper, won't buy again, wouldn't recommend.

Price: $6 for a jumbo pack, $15 for a box

Approximate price per diaper:

Size 1 - $.12

Size 2 - $.14

Size 3 - $.16

Size 4 - $.18

Size 5 - $.20

Size 6 - $.22

Where to Buy: Target

Rating: Terrible

Comments from readers:

"My eldest and youngest seem to have explosive BM's (sorry for being so explicit) but my middle child did not and I could use just about anything with him. I used Target brand and Luvs mostly for him. I will add that my eldest is a girl and youngest is a boy, so I do not think the gender issue has anything to do with it." - Fran, mom to Becca, Kevin & Sean

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Pampers Diaper Deal

0 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 11:18 AM

Amazon is having a sale on Pampers diapers, up to 30% off, which is a great deal as their diapers hardly go on sale. Free shipping and you don't even have to go to the store! Click here for more info on the deal. (From slickdeals)

Monday, December 1, 2008

Huggies Natural Fit Diapers

1 comments Posted by tiff snedaker at 8:00 AM

Huggies Natural Fit Diapers are a step up from the normal Huggies Diapers. They are designed to have a more contoured fit for baby.

Pros: My favorite thing about these diapers are the fact that they have an hourglass shape rather than a straight fit like most diapers. I also like that the back of the diaper is very stretchy, helping it hug around baby's waist more snugly. The tabs are very stretchy and durable. They are very soft on the inside and out and have a cute Winnie the Pooh design. In comparison to other diapers they run pretty true to size. These diapers really hold a lot too! They seem to breathe well and they've never caused diaper rash with either of the boys.

Cons: I don't feel that the tabs are all that sticky. I've had them come undone on my boys and you don't want that as it creates a mess to clean up. (That could be a little bit my fault as well - maybe I didn't close them well enough?) I also feel like they don't have as much front coverage which you need for boys. If my 3 year old sleeps on his belly at night sometimes he will leak out of these. I'm sure if we went up a size it might fix this problem but he doesn't consistantly leak out of the top, just occasionally. I also think that Huggies are somewhat "smellier" meaning my kids smell a lot stronger of urine in the morning when they wake up then other diapers. They tend to be more expensive than generic brands but are slightly cheaper than Pampers Cruisers, which they are comparable to.

The Bottom Line: Huggies are a great diaper and do a good job for the most part.

Price: $10 for a jumbo pack, $20 for a box

Average price per diaper: (According to diapers.com and amazon.com)

Size 1 - $.23

Size 2 - $.27

Size 3 - $.30

Size 4 - $.35

Size 5 - $.40

Size 6 - $.49

(If you go to the Huggies site and sign up for their newsletter, they will send you Huggies coupons in the mail.)

Where to Buy: Walmart, Target, any grocery store, diapers.com

Rating: Great

What other readers had to say about Huggies:

"I really like Huggies. They have stretch wings so that the diaper can fit more snugly at the waist and the wings also make the diaper more "adjustable". They are really great for night, as they hold more than other diapers their size, so you don't have to wake up a sleeping baby just to change his diaper. They are one of the more expensive brands, but work well. We use these as Tristan's "night-time" diapers." - Jayme, mom to Tristan

"We've tried Huggies, Pampers, and a couple others and we had problems with the pee leaking through all the layers, with the cottony stuff sticking all over her bum, with the pee leaking out the front (if she sleeps on her tummy), etc." - Christine, mom to Belle

"After newborn stage---cheap diapers during the day (becuz you change them a billion times anyways) and huggies at night--they are softer and padded well for big potty messes." - Becca, mom to Christian

"We tried huggies a few times but they are very bulky on my daughter. " - Holly, mom to Arora