Review and Giveaway: Nifty Nappy CLOSED

As you might know, we began dabbling in the world of cloth diapers several months ago. All of my preconceived notions about cloth have been blown out of the water. It has been so much more easy, convenient and fun than I could have ever imagined. (How many disposable diapers elicit ooh's and aah's? And how often does something make you excited to do laundry?) My only regret is that I didn't give it a go sooner! Most of my stash consists of pocket diapers - which I love - but I was longing to expand my horizons and try something new.

Thanks to my fairy godmother, a.k.a. Vilate from Nifty Nappy, my wish was granted.

With 6 children (yes, that's right...six!), Vilate knows more than a little about what works when it comes to diapers. Her Nifty Nappies feature a cotton knit shell, organic hemp fleece layer and microfleece inner. All diapers also come with an organic hemp and bamboo lay-in insert for maximum absorbency. Bonus: it also happens to be antibacterial and antimicrobial! Her diaper shape and sewing technique have been perfected over the years to include front snaps, serged edges and encased elastic for a versatile, trim fit. Nifty Nappies are one-size, fitting from birth to potty-training (approx. 7-35 lbs.). They do require a cover but have no fear - Vilate also offers custom wool longies, soakers and wraps!

In addition to her Nifty Nappies, Vilate also sells Peachy Keen pocket diapers and Snappy SwimzEase swim diapers - perfect for summertime!

Vilate generously sent me a Nifty Nappy fitted diaper and Nifty Knickers wool longies to review.

I was very impressed with the fit of the Nappy. It's designed to fit below the belly so there are no gaps or bulges. Unlike our pockets that cause bubble butt, it looks completely natural under clothes. The diaper itself is super soft and cushiony, despite being thin, and the elastic leaves no redness or irritation whatsoever around the waist, crotch or legs. And did I mention the prints are undeniably cute?! (We chose the Ooga Booga Brown Knit but it was a tough decision!)




I was skeptical at first because the rise was so low. I was sure my heavy wetter would pee right out of the top but color me surprised - our Nifty Nappy is crazy absorbent! I've left the diaper on Nate for upwards of 3 hours - without a cover - and there were no leaks. Not even dampness on the outer knit. I also love that it can keep up with my son's active lifestyle. No shifting, sagging or drooping during play.

Many diaper brands loosely claim that they can be used from birth to potty-training. But I truly believe our Nifty Nappy could fit a newborn just as well as my toddler. The overlapping front resin snaps and elastic in the back would make it easy to accommodate smaller babies, and at 28+ lbs., Nate still has plenty of room to grow.

(Here is Mr. Grumpy in all his Nifty Nappy glory. It was nearing naptime so he was in a foul mood and not cooperating for the camera. Still adorable in his dipe, though.)



The only disadvantage I could find is that the fitted takes slightly longer to dry after washing than my PUL pockets. But I know this is only because they are designed to be absorbent throughout. To prevent unnecessary wear and tear, I lay it flat until it is damp and then I dry it fully on low heat. The diaper still looks good as new!

As for a cover, I debated between longies or a wrap and ultimately decided on the Nifty Knickers. I love that they can double as pants for cooler weather. The Nifty Knickers are custom-made from upcycled sweaters, so you simply send your child's measurements to Vilate and she hand-crafts them to your specifications! This is perfect for chunky or string bean babies who have trouble fitting in standard sizes.

I had no idea that wool was so low-maintenance. Unlike fleece or other materials that need to be washed after each use, wool only needs to be washed and lanolized once a month. This is because the lanolin turns urine into saltwater. If the cover gets wet, you simply hang it up or lay it flat and reuse it when dry. Initially, I was intimidated by the thought of lanolizing the wool, but Vilate included step-by-step instructions to guide me through. And really, it's not hard at all. I finally have a use for that tube of lanolin in the back of my medicine cabinet! But Vilate sends her wool covers pre-lanolized so you can use them straight out of the package! The fabric is very gentle - not scratchy - and the longies are roomy so they should fit for a long time. The wide elastic band makes for easy on and off.

While I feel ultra-comfortable using cloth during the daytime, I had not yet braved an overnight endeavor. I had pictures in my mind of Nate waking up in the middle of the night, soaked and seething. *shudder* But as Vilate says, these things are bulletproof! When Nate woke up in the morning, his diaper was soaked through (we need to use another insert or two for my heavy wetter) but his longies were bone dry. I was truly amazed. Our Nifty Nappy and Knickers are our new overnight solution.



I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the excellent customer service I received. For being a cloth newbie, I had no idea what I was in for. I was attached to pockets and afraid to step outside of my comfort zone. But Vilate assured me, informed me of the pluses and minuses and made me feel totally at ease with my decision, which I do not regret at all. She was readily available to answer all of my questions, even at odd hours. I would not hesitate to buy from her again in the future. As a matter of fact, I'm already eyeing the Happy Lobster Swimzeaze for swim lessons this summer.

Bottom line: If you're looking for a true one-size, virtually leak-proof cloth diapering option, you will want to check out these Nifty Nappies and Knickers.

BUY IT: You can purchase Nifty Nappy diapers (ARV $22) and wool covers (ARV $20-22) online at www.niftynappy.com or from any of these fine retailers. She is also having a sale where you can pick up a discontinued flannel Nifty Nappy for just $16!

WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to win a $35 gift certificate to Nifty Nappy!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit Nifty Nappy and tell me what print you love most. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me and Nifty Nappy on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the following tweet or come up with one of your own:

#Win a $35 gift certificate to @MyNiftyNappy from @kris10chumley ENDS 6/26 http://bit.ly/bkwd6n #clothdiapers

Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) Become a fan of Nifty Nappy on Facebook. (1 entry)

4.) Follow the Nifty Nappy blog via Google Friend Connect. (1 entry)

5.) Add the Nifty Nappy webpage button to your site and comment with a link where I can find it. (1 entry)

6.) Add the Nifty Nappy blog button to your site and comment with a link where I can find it. (1 entry)

7.) Add my button to your site and comment with a link where I can find it. (1 entry)

8.) Sign up for the Nifty Nappy newsletter and tell me which email address you used. (1 entry)

9.) Tell me what diaper print/theme you would like to see from Nifty Nappy that is not currently offered. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on June 26, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: As noted above, I received a fitted diaper and wool longies from Vilate with Nifty Nappy in order to facilitate my candid review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed are purely mine. Your experience may differ.