Smartipants Cloth Diaper Review

After trying bumGenius cloth diapers and being a little disappointed in the leakage factor, I decided to try Smartipants diapers.  I love the color options and they often run sales or promotions on their website that make the diapers even more affordable. Buy them in larger quantities and the prices get even better.

What I like about Smartipants cloth diapers:

• The insert. I love that I don't need to pull the insert out of this diaper when I wash it. It comes out on its own! This makes for a happier husband as well since he is not on the cloth diaper train.
• The snaps. I like that this diaper doesn't close with velcro. My toddler can't get this diaper off on her own, which helps me avoid unnecessary messes.
• Color options. You can get these diapers in just about any color possible!
• One size fits all. I really appreciate that this diaper can be used for my kids even as they grow. The snaps are great for adjusting sizes at anytime, and the fit is great on both my kiddos

What I don't like about Smartipants cloth diapers:

• Leaks. My toddler pees a lot, and if I don't catch it right away and she pees again, this diaper tends to get a little wet. I haven't had any issues with poo blow-outs, however.
• The snaps. As much as I love them, I also miss the quickness of the velcro on other cloth diapers. The velcro is great for younger children because they don't know how to take their own diapers off yet. I like the snaps for older babies and toddlers. This is more of a convenience thing.
• Lack of designs. I love the diapers that have cute patterns and designs. These come in great color options, but I wish they had pattern options too.
• Lack of insert options. With this diaper you get one insert option. I really like that with other cloth diapers you can choose a heavier insert for night-time or when you have toddlers like mine who pee a lot (at least she is well hydrated!)

Overall, I am very satisfied with my Smartipants and would recommend them to anyone looking at cloth diaper options. The ease of washing is wonderful and these definitely make it easier to get my dear husband on board when it comes to the cloth diaper train.

Hygeia Enjoye LBI Breast Pump Review

After reading all about the differences between open and closed system breast pumps, I decided it was time to try a closed system pump that would be more environmentally friendly and safer for my son. After a few recommendations from friends and from online sources I purchased the Hygeia Enjoye LBI breast pump. I was so impressed with the fact that this pump can be shared. Yes, it is true! This pump can be used by multiple women for multiple children safely. I have been using it for about two weeks now. This is the third breast pump I have tried, and though it has some cool features it definitely has some downfalls.

What I like about the Hygeia Enjoye LBI breast pump:

• Closed system: I LOVE that this is a closed system pump. It makes it eco-friendly, and easy on your wallet. I also love that I can share this with my friends safely when they have babies.
• Warranty: This pump came with a 3 year warranty. I love this! If it breaks in that time period, they will fix it. I haven't had to deal with customer service myself, but I have heard they are wonderful
• It runs without being plugged in: This pump charges while it is plugged in and can run without being plugged in. This feature has come in handy many times when I don't have access to an outlet or when I am pumping and have to tend to a child across the room.
• Comfort: I found this pump to be very comfortable. The pumping tends to feel much better with this pump than my others, however I may be sacrificing efficiency for comfort.

What I don't like about the Hygeia Enjoye LBI breast pump:

• Milk back-up: The second time I used this pump, milk backed up into the tubing and I had to replace the filter. The fourth time I used this pump, milk backed up into the tubing again, and once again, I had to replace the filter. It has become a bit of an issue for me, but Hygeia has been amazing to work with! They are genuinely concerned and have done a wonderful job trying to make it better. It is clear that this is an issue with just my pump and isn't common with all of their pumps.
• If milk gets in the filter, the pump won't work. I got milk in my second filter (the pump comes with two) and thought I could get through a day or two while I waited for my second spare parts kit to arrive. I was wrong. The pump wouldn't work properly without a clean filter, and I had to leave work and go home to pick up my Medela. I recommend buying an extra kit to have just in case - though I recommend this with all pumps!
• The recorded baby noises: The feature to be able to record your baby is a cool one, until you realize that these buttons are big and it is really easy to accidentally set them off at the most inopportune times. I never recorded my baby's noises, but the pump has accidentally recorded everyday noise. It is very embarrassing when I am walking around with my pump bag at work and I accidentally hit the buttons.

Overall, I am very happy with this pump, and even happier with Hygeia. The safety of the closed system means a lot to me. However, the milk back-ups and replacing the filters is getting pricey. Besides the silly little filter issue, Hygeia has been working with me to make sure the problem is solved and that I don't have the issue anymore. Amazing customer service makes me one happy customer despite the small issues.

The pump itself comes with a nice diaper bag and matching cooler. It retails for about $320, so about the same as Medela, except you can split the cost between women and share it. You can also resell it for more. I purchased mine brand new in the package for about $220 from a dealer on eBay, so the price isn't too bad.