I have or have had several FMBG products: 1) a side snapping AIO, 2) a front snapping AIO but an older model; 3) a side snapping fitted hemp diaper; and 4) a couple of pairs of pants. All of her products use beautiful and quality fabric and are beautifully sewn and I have thoroughly enjoyed using all of them.
I gave away the front snapping AIO in a swap because the fit wasn't good on my tall skinny toddler. There was too much excess fabric in the front of the AIO shell (cotton outer, micro inner) and the soaker always bunched up and slid around. The placements for the two rows of snaps seemed a bit too far apart because when snapped, the fabric between the snaps got a bit bunchy and looked odd, like the fabric was pulling in different directions. It certainly didn't affect the performance of the AIO but the fit was bulky on him anyway. I also had trouble with the AIO leaking around the legholes, I think because the soaker would bunch up strangely and not catch the river of pee. The soaker would be barely damp while the outside of his pants around the legs was wet. Again, I bought this AIO new from another mama but it was right at the time that Teri introduced a new model of front closing AIO's, so I have no idea if these issues would still apply now.
The side snapping AIO that I have I have used for around 10 months. It has a beautiful print outer, coordinating snaps and microfleece inner, and a snap in soaker and lay in doubler. Like all her AIO's, it has lovely fold over elastic binding around the legs and waist. To match the print outer which has some gold in it, she serged the soaker and doubler in a gorgeous gold thread. It is truly lovely. Unlike the front snapping AIO, this size large side snapping fits wonderfully on the smallest snaps for both waist and legs on my 3 year old. I like that the soaker snaps in front, because soakers that snap in back have a tendency to slide down inside an AIO shell, which is kind of disastrous if you have a boy. Given the construction of the AIO shell, the placement for the soaker snap head has to go right in the middle of the front of the AIO. Even though this external snap coordinates well with the print, I wish it didn't have to be there although I understand its utility. The foldover elastic gives me problems with wicking occasionally (right around where the edge of the soaker, if wet, bumps up against the FOE. I have worked really hard to follow Teri's washing instructions and not wash the AIO shell with any Velcro (which can snag the FOE), but I occasionally slip and there are some snags on the FOE. Obviously, this is not a problem with the AIO but with my own carelessness, but I feel the shell is just a bit too high maintenance and I've never been tempted to acquire more AIO's because of this.
The side snapping fitted diaper is one of my favorites and it is composed of a shell and a soaker. The shell has a gorgeous laurel burch elephant woven in black and the inner shell is a substantial diaper flannel. The snaps on the wings are hidden and there is a small section of elastic around the top front of the diaper. The serging and snaps look gorgeous with the fabric. There are three snap adjustments for the waist and three for each leg, spaced 1” apart. The cr0tch is a bit wider than many of my other fitteds but I still consider this to be a trim diaper both between the legs and around the body. I can get a good fit on my son on the tightest settings for both waist and legs. I think that for average and larger bellied babies, you would get an even better fit because the shape of the front is rounded to accommodate a belly. I also like how the snaps are placed almost at the very edge of the diaper, because then you don't get that scoop of fabric that pokes out between the waist and leg snaps on the side. The lay in soaker is substantial: it barely fits into the front of the diaper shell and thus it provides excellent coverage for a front wetting boy. I wish that I had had the option for a snap in or sewn in soaker because lay in soakers aren't my first preference (and I see on her website that snap ins are what she offers now). I also like that I can add extra doublers and use this diaper overnight-I think that the rounded shape of the front of the diaper allows for that. This diaper has held up so well over time that I find it hard to believe that it's almost a year old-the outer print has barely faded (and it's black, so I would expect it to have), there has been no uneven shrinking of fabrics, the soaker is still nice and flat, the edges around the serging are not fraying, no threads have come unloose and no snaps have fallen off or loosened. For construction and versatility (being able to use it during the day and night), this fitted dipe gets top marks from me. Even though I get a very good fit with this diaper, I think it could be better if there was 1 more snap placement each place and they were spaced just a bit closer together than 1” apart.
Finally, if you are looking for clothing for your cloth diapered babe, FMBG pants are fabulous. I have one stretch knit pair and one reversible pair that my son is still able to wear. They are cute full in the bottom and high in the rise and look great.
Karla
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