AppleCheeks: The Skinny on Fit, Absorbency and More

A giant kudos to the ladies at AppleCheeks for continually reaching out to their customers, offering education on everything from supply chain and sourcing to continually updating product materials! As a retailer, it is so helpful to have these tools I can then pass along to you. They recently published two amazing visuals, which you'll find included below (to view either in more detail, click on the image and you will be taken to a zoom-able view). Also included below, my two-minute take on these diapers, as well as a short AppleCheeks shopping guide.

New to AppleCheeks? My two-minute take:

• Fit: Super-soft leg and waist elastics offer a nice fit, particularly on babies with sensitive skin or chubby legs.
• Sizing: The two-size system offers a fit from newborn through large toddler.
• Functionality: Use as an All-in-Two or Pocket.
• Customize! The shells and inserts are sold a la carte, so you can mix and match just what you need! Natural fibers, synthetics, stay-dry, bamboo, lots of absorbency? light absorbency? yup, they have it all!

Ready to give AppleCheeks a try? Here's what to purchase:

• Using as an All-in-Two? Purchase a shell + a couple of inserts (unsure on which insert you'll like best? get a 2pli and a stay-dry). This will let you see how you like using the shell back-to-back. 
• Using it as a Pocket? Purchase a shell + insert (unsure of your preferred insert? try both the stay-dry and 2pli bamboo - OR - already have a bunch of inserts? just buy the shell and stuff your favorite inside the pocket) 
• Want to dip your toe further in the water? Try a Starter Kit! This gives you a day's worth of diapers. 
• Want a full stash of AppleCheeks? Check out the Full-Time Kits! A full stash of AppleCheeks, just ready and waiting for a new home.  

Cloth Diapers & Babywearing: The 411

The carriers are coming, the carriers are coming!

Boba baby Wrap in Dark Green

Now that our new website has launched (have you visited yet? we'd love to have you by!) we are expanding our assortment. hello Sophie! welcome Jellystone! have you met Driline diapers? And with these small surprises scattered through the store comes one big change - baby carriers! Babywearing is such a natural option for both parents and baby, and we couldn't be more excited to offer this option for IBB families.

Jellystone Owls

There are several brands coming, most of which I'm keeping under wraps (harhar, wraps) until we have confirmed shipping notices. First additions include Ergo and Boba. And stay tuned to Facebook, where we'll announce the latest and greatest.

Ergo in Mystic Purple

Now that you have the skinny - let's turn our attention to the topic at hand - cloth diapers and babywearing! Yes, believe it or not, there are specific types of diapers that work best when babywearing.

Got Compression Leaks? 
If you're baby has ever unexpectedly leaked out of his or her synthetic fiber diaper (typically a Pocket), you've likely experienced a compression leak. Imagine a saturated washcloth sitting beside the sink. Sitting on the counter it is fine, not much excitement. Pick up that washcloth and give it a good wring. Suddenly you've got a decent amount of water in the sink.

This is the same thing that can happen in a synthetic fiber diaper. Microfiber (the usual stuffers in a pocket style diaper) is the most susceptible to compression leaks. The diaper can be decently saturated while your baby plays on the floor and you don't have any issues. Put baby in a jumper seat, car seat or baby carrier, and the direct pressure against the microfiber will squeeze out urine. As the insert is already fairly saturated, there is no where for that urine to go but onwards, upwards and outwards.

Pockets Aren't the Only Culprit
If you are using a synthetic fiber All-in-One or All-in-Two this might also happen. Essentially any time microfiber is at work as the main absorbency material compression leaks will be more common.

So, what now? 

There are a few ways to go -

• Rather than having to invest in a new stash, consider switching out your diaper's absorbency. If you are using Pockets or All-in-Twos, trade out the microfiber inserts for cotton, bamboo or hemp prefolds/inserts. 
• Using All-in-Ones, and cannot change the inserts? Add a hemp or bamboo doubler in to the diaper. These natural fibers are great at backing up microfiber, picking up the compression leak before it escapes the diaper. 

I haven't purchased my stash yet? Anything specific I should look for when shopping? 

• Natural fibers - bamboo, cotton and hemp are not susceptible to the same compression tendencies as microfiber
• Two-piece diaper systems - Fitteds, Contours, Prefolds and Flats - these systems offer two levels of protection - the absorbent piece up closest to baby then the separate waterproof cover. 

Anything else I should look out for? 
Another term for you - wicking. Wicking is what happens when some of the absorbent fabric of the diaper has escaped the confines of the waterproof cover. While baby is at independent play, this bit of errant fabric might not be an issue (though if you ever notice it, use your finger to tuck it back inside). However, if baby is wrapped up snuggly to your chest and there is a 1/4" of fitted sticking out from the cover, this fabric will transmit moisture right up and out, leaving a wet spot on your carrier or shirt.

What about my Wool? The jury (at least, my jury) is still out on wool. I have several customers who report they use wool covers without issue while babywearing. Then I have other customers who report they will only use PUL covers in their carriers. I think the same principles to layering jammies over wool for nighttime applies - if the diaper underneath the wool is adequately absorbent then you can use it without issue. If the diaper's completely saturated in just an hour or two, I suspect there will be some compression leaks. Upgrading to a more absorbent fitted or changing baby more frequently should solve these problems. A sudden issue with compression leaks also can signal the need to relanolize.


So there you have it folks! Feel free to contact me if you'd like any further clarification or help troubleshooting!

Tip: Turn Your Favorite Pocket Into an All-in-Two

Love the fit of your pocket diaper, but want it to go the distance (aka - use it more than once)? Baby outgrowing some of your smaller diapers, and suddenly you find yourself a bit low on diaper changes? The following tutorial is a great way to repurpose your Pocket diaper, turning it in to an All-in-Two Diaper! 

Let's step back - What's an All-in-Two system? 
All-in-Two diapers are made of two pieces - a waterproof outer and an absorbent inner. Some of the most well-known brands include: Flip, GroVia, gDiapers (though g's incorporate a third piece). Shop All-in-Two brands here. And the term 'System?' That just to the fact that many of these brands have multiple options available, so you can build a 'diapering system' that matches your needs best (ie. GroVia offers a one-size shell and three insert choices - stay-dry, organic or disposable).

I know what you're probably thinking - wait, doesn't that definition ('a two-piece diaper') also seem to include my prefold+cover, or fitted+cover - those are both two pieces as well? Correct! I always like to say that All-in-Two systems are just prefolds+covers with better marketing. While some All-in-Two brands do have some more engineering on their side (ie. Bestbottoms or GroVia each offer snap-in inserts that fix exclusively in to their branded shells), other systems (ie. Flip or Swaddlebee's Capri) have inserts which simply set into the shell. A trifolded prefold laid into a cover - yup - same premise just less marketing.


So let's take this idea of a trifolded prefold laid into a cover a step further. 

1. Grab your favorite pocket diaper and pull out the microfiber insert. That pocket's shell has now become your waterproof cover. Wait, how does something that previously absorbed now work as a cover? Well, pocket's inner wicking layers, whether it be suedecloth or microfleece, absorbs moisture when there is a absorbency behind AND there is pressure against the wicking layer. Once you've removed the insert, your wicking layer is now pressed up against the waterproof outer fabric. No longer does moisture travel through the wicking layer, but it instead now is repelled.

2. Grab your favorite natural fiber absorbent inner. This inner (which we'll call an 'insert') can be anything - prefold, flat, folded up flannel receiving blanket, etc. It doesn't matter what that insert is made of, as long as it has been washed in cloth-safe detergent and is not microfiber (microfiber should never be placed against baby's skin!).

3. Fold the insert into an appropriately sized rectangle for your Pocket's width and length.

4. Lay onto the wicking layer of the pocket.

5. Secure diaper around baby.

6. At diaper change time, toss the used insert into your pail and hang the Pocket's shell to air out. Grab a second Pocket shell and new insert. At the next change, air out that alternate shell and reuse the one that was airing. Soiled? Pull from rotation and add in a new one.

Voila. Pocket diaper has now become an All-in-Two diaper. I like to think of this as MacGyver's version of All-in-Two diapering. 

Why Do I Love This? 

• Versatile! It diversifies your stash. 
• Economical! You get more bang for your buck. 
• It's Potty Time! This is a fantastic way to change your pocket diaper from a stay-dry solution to something that feels wet to the touch - ideal for those wee ones who are on their way to using the potty. 
• Cute! I will often hear from folks they avoid pockets because they hate the idea of a single-use cute-print outer. Well now you can show off that same print several times through the day. 
• Great for larger toddlers. Finding yourself with fewer and fewer diapers that still fit your 35lb baby? But there is that one pocket diaper that does work? Rather than having to invest in a full stash of that single brand, you can now buy another two or three and two dozen prefolds. You've just grown your stash from one diaper to 2-3 days' of changes. 
• No stuffing! I really dislike stuffing pockets. I can't tell you why, but it is just a task I avoid like the plague. The ability to lay in the insert is fabulous, in my book. 

Want to Do This Full-Time? 

You'll want to match your quantities to those I recommend for any other All-in-Two system. (Note, these quantities are per day, so you'll want to extrapolate out.)

• For young infants, per day, I recommend planning on 3-4 Pockets and 12-15 inserts
• Older infants - 3 Pockets and 12 inserts
• Toddlers - 2 Pockets  and 8 inserts
• Please note - these are fairly conservative numbers. As always, the more diapers you have in rotation, the less overall wear-and-tear and the better the diapers will fare. If the budget allows, I recommend adding a few more Pockets to what I suggest above. 

Want to Dip Your Toe In? 

• Buy two pockets and a dozen prefolds. Unless your baby still has super-runny stools, this should be enough to last you through a full day. 

Does the Insert Matter? 

Short answer, not really. As long as it isn't microfiber you can use virtually anything. Like some guidance? Here are my recommendations - 

• OsoCozy Better Fit Prefold - Premium size - economical, a great length for almost every one-size pocket out there
• Thirsties Duo Hemp Prefold - incredibly absorbent, trim
• AppleCheeks Bamboo Insert - another absorbent but still quite trim option

Does the Pocket Matter? 

Because you'll want to ensure you have great coverage, I do recommend a Pocket that is cut fuller through the legs and bum. I love - 

• Blueberry Deluxe - either PUL and Minky (oh minky, how I love minky diapers!)
• bumGenius 4.0

Any Pockets That Won't Work? 

You'll want to use a pocket that is lined with a stay-dry layer, whether microfleece or suedecloth. A Pocket lined in a natural fiber (like Swaddlebees EcoNappi or Blueberry Bamboo Deluxe) will not work. Why? Their natural fiber pocket layer absorb moisture (unlike the stay-dry pockets that repel) so you'd be reusing a urine-saturated shell all day. Yuck! 

What On Earth Should I Do With All These Leftover Microfiber Inserts? 

Save them. They will make great doublers for overnights (be sure to tuck the microfiber into the pocket, or behind the natural fiber insert). In addition, when you are ready to sell your stash once baby is using the potty, it is nice to be able to sell the diaper as a whole. 

OR, if you are crafty you can also make the microfiber insert work. Grab some cotton, flannel, microfleece, suedecloth, bamboo or any other favorite fabric safe to use against baby's bottom. In other words, avoid the Shamwow, microfiber towels, neoprene (haha - I typed that one as a joke, hmmm, wonder if that would actually work). Preshrink your fabric. Cut it to match the shape of your microfiber insert, then sew to the top. You've now put a 'safe' fabric layer between baby's bottom and the microfiber, so you now can lay that into your pocket's shell. 

Just call me MacGyver Momma. We've been doing it a lot around here a lot lately - my daughter is reaching a point at which several of her Medium/Size 1 diapers no longer fit, and we are often scrambling to find enough diapers to last us between laundry days (yes, despite a store full of thousands of diapers we are still running low, haha!). I've been loving, loving the fit of her Blueberry Pockets lately, but she seems so close to using the potty that I don't want to invest in any more diapers (at least, trying really hard with all the cute stuff that's come out lately!). And we've accumulated so many random inserts over the last few years it has been fun mixing and matching to find the trim fit I love with the absorbency an older toddler requires (I've even taken the soakers out of my B4 fitted and laid them into the Blueberry shell!).

Now go MacGyver up your own combination and report back! 

Review: AppleCheeks Diapers

One of my favorite aspects of reviewing cloth diapers is seeing the creative and innovative ways diapers are made!  In many ways, each diaper is a unique work of art; it is the result of many hours of thought, ingenuity and creativity. While some diapers are just variations of other brands, others are truly unique and in a class all their own.  Enter Applecheeks.  These diapers are unlike any other diaper I've tried so far!

The outer shell, or "Envelope Cover" is amazingly versatile, both in terms of fit as well as function.  The two size options cover babies from 7-35lbs, so this is a system you could most likely use until potty training!  The feature that makes Applecheeks truly unique however, is the ability to be a pocket-type diaper--with no unstuffing required--or an AI2!!  And that my friends, is only the beginning of the innovation!

Overview

Brand:  Applecheeks
Style: Pocket, Cover OR AI2
Closure:  Snaps
Sizing:  Size 1:  fits babies from approximately 7-20lbs, Size 2:  fits babies from 18-35lbs
Materials:  Outer is PUL, Inner is super-soft microfleece lining, Inserts are Bamboo/Cotton Viscose
Pricing:  Envelope covers $19, 2 pli insert $8.80, 3 pli insert $10.80, 2 pack stay dry inserts $8, bamboo booster $3.80, stay-dry bamboo booster $6.70
Colors and Prints:  9 vibrant colors and 2 adorable prints


Design
Shell Outer
 One look at the Applecheeks Envelope Cover and you can see that it is unlike other diapers.
For starters, the shape is entirely unique--you'll notice is doesn't have the distinct "T" shape that most front snapping cloth diapers have.  Secondly, the entire perimeter of the diaper is serged, not turned and topstitched.  This accomplishes two things:  1)serging accomodates more stretch, making the cover very flexible and stretchy and 2) serging keeps the edge as trim as possible, so you get a very slim-fitting cover!

 

The front has two rows of snaps, ensuring that you get the perfect fit in both the waist and the legs.  The front panel also has super-soft elastic gathering in the front, which acts as a barrier against leaks and prevents gaping.  The back also has the same soft elastic gathering to guard against blow-outs and contain the nasty messes.  The extra-wide tabs prevent annoying wing droop.

Shell Inner

Take a peek inside the envelope cover and you'll find amazingly soft lining and a pocket opening in the middle of the diaper.  While most pocket diapers have the opening at the front or the back of the diaper, Applecheeks places theirs in the middle, make it hassle-free to stuff the pocket even for wider hands.  This ingenius placement also means that the insert will work its way out in the wash, unstuffing itself so you don't have to!

Insert
I'm just going to slip a little personal preference in here and say that I love bamboo in cloth diapers!  It's soft and holds twice as much as cotton.  This means that you can have the same amount of absorbency with half the bulk!   Plus, bamboo is anti-microbial so it's a healthy choice for babies bottom and in my experience, resists the stinkies better than other fibers.  Naturally then, bamboo is the perfect choice for Applecheeks Inserts!  Depending on the absorbency needs of your baby, you can choose from either 2 or 3 pli inserts and if you need additional absorbency, boosters are available as well (including a stay-dry option!).

 The insert is rectangular and meant to be folded in thirds, giving you either 6 or 9 absorbent layers depending on which pli insert you are using.  Fold it lengthwise for a longer insert and widthwise for a shorter one.

Together

Below:  2 pli insert, folded widthwise and set on top of the Envelope cover to be used as an AI2.

Below:  2 pli insert folded lengthwise and set on top of the Envelope cover to be used as an AI2.

Below:  Insert folded widthwise and inserted into the envelope cover to be used as a pocket.

The following pictures have a 2 pli inserts inserted into the envelope cover

Fit

My daughter is 17 months, 20lbs and approximately 29" tall.   In the pictures below, she is wearing an Applecheeks envelope cover size 2, with a 2 pli insert trifolded inside.  Both the legs and waist are snapped to the smallest setting and are perfectly snug.  The cover fit her well, and I imagine that a size 1 would actually still fit her alright at this point, judging from how much room she has in the size 2 cover.  Because she's smaller, the cover does "blouse" a little, but under jeans you don't really notice it.  It really is a fairly trim fitting diaper.  The blousing isn't a negative issue--it just means that there is plenty of room to grow :)

Performance

The Applecheeks reusable diaper system is fabulous!  I loved being able to use it as a pocket, cover or AI2, depending on what I needed at the moment. 

As an AI2, it is very easy to use and reuse!  Simply lay the insert on top of the cover and put the diaper on.  When it's time for a change, pull the wet insert out and put a dry one in it's place. 

The reason I love being able to use the Applecheeks as a pocket is because it made a great night time diaper--I just placed a Babykicks hemp insert in the center of the insert and wrapped the 2 pli insert around it, then stuffed it in the pocket!  (The 2pli insert wasn't quite absorbent enough for a 10 hour stretch).

If you prefer fitteds for nighttime, the envelope cover can also be used over flats, prefolds, fitteds or contours. 

Regardless of which way I was using the system, I never had any problems with leaks or irritations. 

The versatility of type and material (the option for natural fibers or stay-dry), make Applecheeks an ideal system for those who want to cloth diaper, but aren't sure if they need natural fibers or stay-dry and don't know if they would prefer pocket, AI2's, or covers and prefolds.

You may also be interested in Softbums Omni.

No More Microfiber!

I'm always thrilled to host guest bloggers. Their varied perspectives and experiences offer further insight into the world of cloth diapering!

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Rachel. Loyal readers will remember her DIY post from last fall. 
Enjoy! 

No More Microfiber!

Folding a Flat Diaper to Stuff a Pocket Diaper

I purchased high-quality yet inexpensive flat diapers from Itsy Bitsy Bums in the fall. As much as I tried to channel my grandmother by using flat diapers and pins on my daughter, it just didn't work out for us. I hated to waste the diapers, and I loved how easily and quickly the flats could be washed and dried, so I decided to stuff my pocket diapers with flats. I love it! 

The flats and pocket shells can both air-dry in just a few hours. Not to mention hanging your diapers on the line instead of using the dryer saves even more energy (and therefore saves you more money). Cotton is a natural fabric that doesn't hold on to smells and laundry detergent as easily as microfiber, meaning you are less likely to need to strip your diapers. 

Here is a quick tutorial on how to get that big square of fabric in to your pocket diaper. 

Begin with a clean flat diaper (clearly it doesn't need to be ironed). 

Fold it in half. 

Fold it in half the same way (horizontally) again. 

Fold it in half the other way, tugging a bit to make it nice and taut. 

Slide the folded flat inside your pocket diaper. 

That's it, you're done! You can adjust your last fold if you have the rise set higher on your one-size diapers. I recommend putting the thickest part at the front of the diaper for most babies. 

You can also use a prefold to stuff your pockets. I use an infant-sized trifolded prefold inside of mine. Prefolds will take a few more hours to line-dry, but otherwise they work well as a microfiber alternate. 

Enjoy stuffing your diapers with an inexpensive, natural material!

I also find that flats are also excellent to use in the kitchen and around the house. In fact, I purchased a dozen to keep in the kitchen and we reach for them often! They are great for cleaning messy hands and faces, wiping up the pet's water that your daughter splashed on the floor, or drying the dog's paws as he comes in on a rainy day. They are very absorbent and durable, and super easy to clean. 

Editor's note - Also consider using your pocket diaper as a cover over a flat or prefold, essentially creating your own All-in-Two system!

• Fold the flat or prefold into a rectangle as Rachel described above; aim for a size that covers the majority of the inner of the pocket diaper.
• Lay the prefold or flat into the shell, and secure diaper around baby.
• At diaper change time, simply change out the prefold or flat for a new one!
• If the pocket's inner fleece is wet, hang to dry to use at the next diaper change. Rotate two pocket shells through one day, then toss both into the diaper pail that evening. 
• If poop gets on the fleece, then toss the entire diaper 

This is also a great option if you are exclusively a pocket diaper user, but want to start the potty training process. Consider - a pocket diaper's wicking layer keeps baby feeling dry, but provides very little feedback to connect the physical sensation of wetness with the physiology of urination. By putting natural fibers against the bum, it now provides that feedback. Who needs training pants when you can buy a dozen flats for $14.95! Oh, there you are.