Original BumGenius Elemental Diaper Trial Results

I put the New BumGenius Elemental (NBGE) through my diaper trail and reported the results at the beginning of the year.  BumGenius redesigned the Elemental diaper a few years ago but people that love BumGenius are still obsessed with the Original design (OBGE) and frequently they sell online used for more than retail.   Since trying the NBGE I have been dying to try the OBGE.  There are a lot of blog that compare the styles (Haute Clothed Buns does a great one) but I needed to know how they performed compared to each other.  If you remember from my trial of the NBGE, the performance was pretty much bulletproof, so I was excited to see how the OBGE performed.

 



Number times of uses: 12
Number of leaks: 0
Longest wear without a leak: 3 hours
Big Booty factor: 3
Best Use: Daddy/babysitter, out of the house, nap time
Favorite Features: sewn in soaker, trim, bamboo soaker

Pros:
* AIO style  makes it very easy to use
* Double absorbency: attached and a semi detached soaker
* Bamboo inserts are absorbent and trim

Cons:

* Attached/semi attached soaker makes it so you cant customize washing
* You can't buy them new anymore :(

Overall I loved this diaper!!!  With zero leaks, this obviously performed amazingly and consistently lasted more than two hours.  The fit of the diaper is great with the stretchy BumGenius Tabs and trimness of the bamboo inserts.
Of course the big question is how does it compare to the NBGE??? I love both diapers but I actually like the fit of the NBGE better.  The NBGE is trimmer across the bum although the OBGE is narrower in the crotch.  This was a welcomed conclusion for me since you can't buy OBGE anymore except through buy/sale/trade groups online or local.  If you can get my hands on a OBGE for a decent price though, I will definitely be buying more.


 

 

Mom and Toddler Matching Ring Slings

We are more than half way through International Babywearing Week and I have another fun post today.  When my second daughter was a baby a friend shared a tutorial with me on how to make a ring sling and I even did a tutorial review on the one I used.  Every year between June and September my daughter has 5 little friends that have birthdays and I love to make them fun presents.  Last year I made them babydoll diaper bags and diapers and this year I decided to make them baby doll ring slings. 

 

I found this tutorial by sleepingbaby.net and I love the pocket it creates and the Velcro safety feature.  This was also a really easy project, so that is always a plus.  But my FAVORITE part of this project is that you can use leftover material from your own ring sling to make a ring sling for a child.  This would be a perfect gift for a mom that has a toddler: mommy gets to carry baby with ease and the toddler gets to mimic it with their own sling.

 

 

To make matching ring slings you will buy 2.5 yards of your selected materials (I like a solid and a matching print).  For the adult ring sling you will cut the sling 30 inches wide by 2.5 yards long.  When you cut the width so that it is 30 inches this will leave you with a piece that is 14-30 inches wide depending upon the original width of your materials (44-60 inches).  The majority of the material I use is 44 inches wide so I will assume that as I write these instructions. 

 

Using the 14 inch wide by 90 inch long remnant, cut the piece in half length wise so that you have two pieces that are each 14x45.  Placing right sides together sew or serge them together.  This will give you a 28x45 inch piece, you can either use this piece or cut it down to be 20x45.  From here you can follow the instructions for the baby doll sling. 

 

 

Easy as can be you have matching mom and toddler ring slings!!!



 

 

Muffin Stop And Utility Belt Tutorial and Giveaway

This week is International Babywearing Week 2014 and I am excited to bring you a few fun posts related to baby wearing.  The first I am REALLY EXCITED about as it is one of my more favorite inventions (a quick Google search didn't show anything like this) the Muffin Stop and Utility Belt!!  

  I love to used my Ergo babycarrier whenever we are out and since my daughter is a little older now I love to put her in a back carry.  One of the benefits of using a carrier is that I don't have to lug around a stroller and we are normally feeling really carefree and don't want to deal with a diaper bag either. On a recent trip to the aquarium I found that while I didn't want to take all of these things with me I did have a few items that I needed to carry (like keys, phone, ID and money) but I had nowhere to put them!   While walking around the aquarium I kept thinking about how I could make a slip on pocket to go along the waist strap of my carrier. Originally this was just suppose to be a pocket for my items but when I tried it on I noticed that the normal muffin top that the back carry give me was significantly reduced by the addition of my "utility belt" and thus the Muffin Stop was born. For all of my crafty followers out there I have put together a very simple tutorial below.  I am so excited about how well my Muffin Stop works that I will also be giving away a custom Muffin Stop to one lucky Naturally Crafty Mom follower (see rafflecopter entry form below).   Muffin Stop and Utility Belt Tutorial Materials: 1/6 yard quilted fabric 1/6 yard canvas  9 inch zipper Start by trying on your carrier and measuring approximately how long and wide you would like it to me.  I wanted mine to cover the majority of the carrier nylon strap and then extend 1/2 to one inch above and below.  My finished belt was 4x12 inches with a pocket that is 4x9 inches.  I will provide measurements below based on those finished dimensions but shorten or lengthen based on your individual needs. Cut the following pieces: Two pieces of the quilted fabric (mine is black) 5x13 inches Two pieces of the canvas fabric (mine is pink) 5x11 inches

Set your quilted fabric to the side and begin by installing the zipper in your canvas.  Take one of your 5x11 pieces and cup along the 11 inch length about 1.5 inches.  This will leave you with a 1.5x11 inch piece and a 3.5x11 inch pieces.  Install the zipper using the same method that I use on my wetbags by turning and topstitching.    

 

Once you have your zipper installed face your canvas pieces, right sides together and stitch along the short ends. 

 

 

Turn right side out (note that the top and the bottom should be open).

 

 

Now take your quilted pieces and make a sandwich with the canvas pocket in the middle (centered).  Pin all the way around and then stitch along three sides leaving one of the short ends open.

 

 

Turn right side out (this part took me the longest, just keep working on it.)

 

 

Once you have it turned right side out, turn under the open end and topstitch to close.  I also topstitched along the opposite side just so that they looked the same.

There you go, you now have your own Muffin Stop and Utility Belt.  I am able to fit my phone, keys, ID and a few cards and cash in mine with ease and I am just tickled about how easy it was and how well it worked.  I just slip the nylon belt between the back padded part and the pink pouch, buckle and I'm ready to go!

 

If you aren't crafty, you are in luck because I am giving away a custom Muffin Stop!!!  Use the Rafflecopter entry form below.  (If you don't win but are interested in buying one, contact me at the "e-mail me" link above.)

 

Enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway