G is for Green Sponsor Spotlight:Smart Snugs PLUS EXTRA ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

As you may have noticed, I review a lot of cloth diapers here at Newly Crunchy Mama Of 3. I adore cloth-diapering, and feel very passionate about the benefits of making the switch to cloth, both for baby and for the environment as well.

Disposable diapers contain chemicals, dyes and fragrances that can be quite irritating to baby's delicate skin. These same chemicals also make their way into our soil and water supply when they're thrown into our already overflowing landfills. This effects people and wildlife in negative ways. Oh, did I mention that disposable diapers can take up to a whopping 500 years to fully biodegrade? Yikes! So naturally, cloth is a more eco-friendly choice.

On top of being free of harsh chemicals and being reusable, cloth diapers also save the average family thousands of dollars over a baby's diapering career. Or even more, if you're like me and have more than one baby in diapers at the same time! Our initial reason for making the switch was in fact for economic reasons. Our youngest children are only 12 months apart in age, so the cost of keeping them in disposables would have been astronomical! Since doing my research and making the switch, I have never looked back. Cloth-diapering is one of the absolute best decisions I have made as a parent. Not only am I being a good role model by doing my part to reduce my family's carbon footprint, I am also being gentler to my babies and keeping them safe from potentially hazardous ingredients. It's really a win-win situation, and one I wish more families would consider.

Like I said, I review a lot of diapers. Many are quite similar in design. I am so excited about Smart Snugs because these diapers bring something fresh and different to the table. Yes, Smart Snugs are your basic pocket diaper. Yes, one size will fit from birth (or soon after) all the way to potty-training. But Smart Snugs feature something that's a bit different than other major brands. It's all in the inserts!

But before I go into too much detail, let me tell you more about this amazing company, from the Smart Snugs website:

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-Our brand mission is offer an affordable and reliable solution to busy families who may not have otherwise considered cloth diapers.
-We are family owned and operated.
-We were founded in 2011
-Our experience in retail and knowledge of the industry motivated us to start our own brand, geared towards creating a cloth diaper for regular people.
-We donate a large amount of diapers and diaper covers to different organizations each year
-We support small and local businesses.
-We pride ourselves in a great warranty and exceptional customer service
-We are working on "onshoring" our production. This is an effort that is extremely important to us, although we are not quite there yet and need to increase our volume before we can take this step.
-All of our packaging is produced in the United States by a small local printer

"On a more personal level, we are a married couple and have two children who were born 15 months apart. We are passionate about the outdoors and more than anything, celebrating our hobbies with the whole family. We love to go hiking with our kids strapped to our backs, or cross country running pushing a double stroller. Wherever you find us, chances are you will find our little ones along for the ride- we are always on the go! Both of our family businesses are located in small communities where we have strong ties and relationships- we wouldn't change it for the world.  We believe in treating other people how you want to be treated and have an extremely high standard of integrity for both ourselves and the people we connect with."

Part of what I love about Smart Snugs is that this is a family owned business with integrity and a great big heart. They really care about the community they live in, and want to make the world a better place through cloth education and advocacy. Smart Snugs also donates very generously to various causes. On top of that, Smart Snugs provides phenomenal customer service and their staff treats each and every customer as if they were a friend rather than an order number. This personal approach is something you just don't find with big business. Now that's something I can feel good about!

The awesome Smart Snugs family generously sent me a Red One Size Pocket Diaper for my review. When it arrived, I immediately saw a few obvious differences from the pocket diapers I am used to. For one, the snaps all match the diaper. I love this, since it gives the diaper a sleek, streamlined look.

The Smart Snug also features different snap-down rise settings, which allows the diaper to grow with your child. There is even a cross-over waist snap to accommodate newborn babies. I wish more companies would offer this! Finding cloth diapers that fit newborns properly is a hard thing to do. Trust me here...When Xander, my 1 year old was born, he couldn't wear most cloth for the first 2 months because I simply couldn't get a good fit. He was very small at birth, though, at a tiny 6lbs 14oz.

The inside of the Smart Snugs is a soft, luxurious micro-fleece that is gentle against baby's skin. There is also a gentle elastic at the legs and waist to help ensure a proper fit and keep messes inside of the diaper where they belong.

But the thing I love the most about Smart Snugs? The inserts! These are not your typical, run of the mill microfiber inserts. No, siree! Smart Snugs feature a thick, plush 5 layer insert. These inserts contain 2 layers of soft bamboo cotton and 3 layers of microfiber on the inside. Why is this so awesome? Because bamboo is literally a wonder-material that has naturally occurring anti-microbial properties. Bamboo is also incredibly absorbent and helps to control diaper fun (odor) issues. I love bamboo, and was so excited to see these inserts!

Take a look at the Smart Snugs Pocket Diaper!

Front view

The back

See? These inserts are anything but ordinary, and offer superior protection against leaks and odors! My 12 year old said they look like little "booty pillows"!

These inserts are so unique!

The inner of the diaper

Here are the different rise settings. Notice the cross-over snap at the waist, too! I left it unsnapped so you could physically see them! Of course leaving the diaper fully unsnapped would provide the largest setting, suitable for older babies and toddlers.

Smallest rise setting

Medium setting

Now that you've seen how awesome the Smart Snugs Pocket Diaper looks and sounds, I know what you're wondering...How does it hold up? Well, I put this diaper to the test on both of my babies during the daytime as well as overnight. Here are my results.

TEST BABY 1:
Xander, Age 1
20lbs

I tested this diaper during the daytime first on my little man. I was able to get a great fit, and he seemed to like wearing the diaper. No really. He was all smiles when I put it on him! Since it was daytime, I decided to use one insert. I let him run, play, and chase his sister for about 2 hours. During this time, he also had about 12oz of white grape juice. (Diluted, of course!)

When it came time to change him, I realized something smelled a bit rotten. Yep, he pooped. Xander poop is always more than a little disgusting, and smells worse than any other babies' poop I have ever encountered. Don't believe me? Come babysit for a day...You'll see what I mean! Xander had left quite the mess behind, but the Smart Snugs contained it beautifully. No leaks, no sneaky poo-creepage. No mess made its way into the pocket opening onto the insert, either. Nice!

I also tested this on Xander overnight. Again, I only used one insert. Xander isn't a very heavy wetter, and I wanted to see how the bamboo-microfiber inserts held up. When he woke up in the morning, not only were his PJ's dry, so was his skin! This diaper has fantastic moisture-wicking ability, and this kept his skin from suffering from any irritation.

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TEST BABY 2:
Sophie, Age 2
28lbs

Sophie is a whole different ballgame. She is insane, and never sits still. She loves to climb on furniture, jump, spin and is always on the go. She is also a very, very heavy wetter. Even during the day!

I tested this first during the day, and again, I used only one insert. The Smart Snugs also fit Sophie like a glove. I let her do her thing for awhile, and waited for her cue that she needed to go potty. We're in the beginning stages of potty-training, so she usually lets me know AFTER the fact rather than beforehand. Hey, it's a work in progress!

When Sophie told me "pee-pee diaper potty dance" (yes, that's really what she says) I knew it was time to change her. While the Smart Snugs was very heavy, it didn't leak a single bit. Even with one insert and a heavy wetter! Fabulous!

I also tested this diaper on Sophie overnight. Now, this mama ain't no fool, so I broke out that extra insert. When Sophie sleeps, the flood-gates open. If she ever leaks, it's overnight. Without fail. Waking up to a cold, wet baby and soaked sheets is never fun! So needless to say, we went with two inserts. Better safe than sorry!

Sophie slept for about 10.5 hours. When she woke up in the morning, she was totally dry to the touch! (And so was her bedding! Woo-Hoo!) The Smart Snugs diaper must have weighed about 10lbs, but it did not leak. At all. It wasn't even remotely damp, even around the leg gussets. I love the absorbent bamboo! I swear that makes all the difference in the world!

Overall, I am thrilled with Smart Snugs. Not only do they provide superior leak protection in fun, vibrant colors, the company is amazing to work with as well. Oh, I didn't mention this, but the cost? Well, you might expect to pay $25 or more for a diaper that performs this well. Nope! Smart Snugs One Size Pocket Diapers are only $12. Yes, you read that right! I have to say, they definitely outperform other diapers at a similar price point. They even offer a 1 year warranty on their diapers! The only negative thing I have to say about Smart Snugs? That I didn't find them sooner! I plan on adding many more of these great diapers to my stash!

BUY IT:

You can check out the awesomeness that is Smart Snugs on their website.

You can also connect with them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

WIN IT!

The generous folks at Smart Snugs are offering one lucky reader a Smart Snugs OS Pocket Diaper of their own as part of my Fluffy Love Prize Package! You can enter the giveaway HERE.

WANT EXTRA ENTRIES?

Simply visit Smart Snugs and find something you love! Let me know by commenting on this post. All extra entries can be recorded on a separate Rafflecopter form on the G is for Green EXTRA ENTRIES Page, found in the header section.

This is a little different than other events. Here's how to enter:

1. Enter the GIVEAWAY.
2.Comment on Sponsor Spotlight posts throughout the month.
3.Record your EXTRA ENTRIES on the G is for Green EXTRA ENTRIES page.

Good luck! Be sure to come back often for more chances to gain extra entries into all of my fantastic G is for Green Prize Packages! I will be featuring my amazing sponsors all month!


***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

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