The day is finally here to review the Lilly & Frank Fitted Cloth Diapers – Y’all have been asking for this diaper review for years, and finally sat down with Heather to make it happen. This is by far one of my most requested reviews because you want to know if the Lilly & Frank Diapers are worth the investment.
The short answer – totally.
The long answer, I’m so bummed that I don’t have a baby to put this on. Don’t worry, I dropped it off with a new mom friend today and she’ll give me some feedback in a few weeks to help you know if this is a must-have overnight cloth diaper, or just another fitted by another work at home seamstress.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored review. That means that Lilly & Frank has paid and provided by product to be featured on this blog. This doesn’t impact my thoughts or feelings, it just helps cover the cost of doing business, including hiring assistants, maintaining servers, and ensuring that I can continue to dedicate time to the cloth diaper space. Thank you Heather for your ongoing support of the Cloth Diaper Community.
About Lilly & Frank
Lilly & Frank Diapers is a Canadian cloth diaper brand that is made in Canada. This is considered a WAHM brand, or a small-shop operation. You can learn more about Heather, and why she got into cloth diapering on the Cloth Diaper Podcast. I had the pleasure of interviewing her last year to share her story.
Lilly & Frank mostly sews one type of diaper – a fitted cloth diaper (and a few flat options). They are available in four sizes with options. It’s probably the options that will get you feeling a little topsy turvey, but what I can tell you is to stop overthinking and just buy the diapers!
About the Dragonfly OBV One Size Fitted
Let’s start with a few definitions. And if you need help with more cloth diaper definitions check out this free download over on the Cloth Diaper Podcast — or pick up a copy of my learn to cloth diaper book available on Amazon and maybe more.
Fitted Diaper: a fitted diaper is a cloth diaper that is made of absorbent material and sewn into the shape of a diaper featuring leg elastics and wing tabs, and sometimes snaps or fasteners. Fitted diapers need a cover to be stay-dry and keep pants dry.
OBV – organic bamboo velour which is the type of material used in the diaper. Some choices are OBF which is an organic bamboo fleece, similar different material based on feel and weave.
Serged – this refers to the seam along the edge of the diaper. The fitted diaper is composed of multiple layers of OBV which gives the absorbency. To keep these layers together the diaper is serged along the exterior edge. Other options include a comfort serge or turned and top stitch option where the seams are inside. Serged is one of the more popular choices due to ease and affordability, but some families prefer to avoid raw edges for comfort or style preference.
Now that we have a few definitions out of the way, let’s talk about the Lilly & Frank OBV One Size Fitted Diaper – which is a phenomenal nighttime diaper, and probably the reason you are here (or should be here).
The details about the OBV Fitted Diaper
- One Size for babies 10-35lbs
- Fold Down Rise System adjusts length of the diaper
- Cross over snaps for a full-size range including big and small bellies
- Snap In Insert that snaps into the back of the diaper
- Sold with matching booster for heavy wetter status.
Absorbency of the OBV Fitted Diaper
- Double Layer Snap In Insert (this is a long insert with snaps in the middle that is composed of 2 layers of heavy organic bamboo fleece with matching velour)
- Matching 2-layer OBV topped booster
- Body of the diaper is composed of three layers with 2 layers of velour and OBF inner.
When assembled you get 12 layers of absorbent material! That’s almost 27 ounces of absorbency. Learn more below, and see how it compares on this absorbency list.
How to Use the OBV Fitted Diaper
If this is your first fitted cloth diaper, it might be a learning curve. Fitted cloth diapers are a multi-step process that requires a cover and some assembly. Once assembled, it’s a pretty easy to use system that gives you all over coverage for an ideal fit and function. Many families choose fitted diapers because the absorbency is all over and reduces the risk of leaks with belly sleepers, side sleepers, or wiggly squirmy kids.
Do I need to fold down the rise?
A lot of people give a weight category for folding down the rise, but you really are going to judge this based on personal preference for the fit on your baby. Fold the rise down as far as you want to get the length of the diaper just right for your baby’s shape. With a fold down rise you’re changing the length of the front to fit your baby instead of the length of the elastics. This is a great choice for this style of diaper because the overall design that gives you a nice snug fit along baby’s body.
Do I need the booster?
Yes, no, maybe-so. The amount of absorbency that you need really depends on many different factors including how much your child pees, if you’re using it for day or night, nap or play, and the preferred fit.
If you need more absorbency, add the booster. If you need less, don’t use it. If it leaks, add it next time. The list of options is endless, and that’s part of the beauty of cloth diapering that you get to choose how your diaper works for your child
Do I need a cover?
Yes, no, maybe-so. You can use Lilly & Frank Diapers without a cover. With over 12 layers of absorbency, these diapers take a while for the outside to get wet. But if you want to protect clothing, couches, or maybe nighttime, they can be paired with a cloth diaper cover for optimal performance.
A great choice for the Lilly & Frank Fitted Diaper is the Thirsties Duo Wraps, or a wool cover such as HumBird Wool. You can shop covers at Lilly & Frank Online Shop with options including Thirsties, Bumpy, and more.
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Will this really work for nights?
It really will. The inserts in this diaper offer you 12 ounces of absorbency, plus over 10 ounces in the shell of the diaper. This is a phenomenal choice for nights giving you over 20 ounces in a high performing textile. This diaper not only absorbs but holds the liquid. One thing we don’t talk about enough is that the weave and type of material impacts the experience. It’s not just that this diaper can absorb 27 ounces, it’ that it will likely hold onto as much as possible with very little compression.
Pair it with a wool cover for an additional 30% of absorbency, and you are laughing.
Estimated absorbency numbers, based off maximum saturation in the kitchen.
Booster = 4.3 ounces
Insert = 9.5 ounces
Diaper Shell = 13.2 ounces
How will I wash the Fitted Diaper?
With all of your other cloth diapers. If you you’ve used this Fitted Cloth Diaper overnight, you might want to give it a rinse out in the morning. This will help reduce ammonia build up in the diaper. Then toss it in with the rest of your diapers and wash on wash day. Its recommended to wash every 2-3 days for best results. For more specific wash recommendations, visit Lilly & Frank.
My Recommendation
This is a phenomenal diaper – and yes, phenomenal is one of my favourite words. We have really shifted from budget friendly all-purpose diapers (thinking of my previous reviews on the Cutie Patootie and La Petite Ourse ) into a luxurious high end product.
This is an exceptionally well-crafted diaper made with a passion for functionality and fit.
Is it worth $56 Canadian…. I know that’s why you are, and I can’t make that decision for you. We all see prices differently based on our needs as consumers and our budgets as people.
Statistically, it averages $2.07 an ounce. That’s actually, not terrifying for a product that is made in Canada. Sometimes, I got to break it down like that to help understand the value
Is the Sloomb Fitted cheaper?
Not really. The high quality Sloomb fitted diaper is available in sized options that are easy to outgrow. The Medium provides 20 ounces of absorbency at a similar $2.04 per ounce Canadian. This is me saying that purchasing a one size diaper that can work for nights from babyhood to toddlerhood is a much better investment than the sized system offered by a similar competitor.
What about if I just bought a bunch of cheap bamboo fitteds from Ali Express. You could do that. The velour will never be as soft, and the absorbency taps out around 18 ounces. It could work, and you really have to make a choice that works for you. I never want you go into debt for a cloth diaper. That’s the most important take away, and probably why I’m struggling with my words here.
This is an amazing product.
Yes. It’s expensive.
Yes, it’s worth it if you can afford it.
No, don’t buy it if you’ll go into debt.
Check out the second hand pages for a deal.
The biggest reason that I would recommend a Lilly & Frank over a Sloomb Fitted is quality.
Yes, I have owned many Sloomb fitted diapers, but you know what has happened to them over the years? When I went to donate them, I discovered busted out elastics from storage on my shelf. You know what diaper was still in great condition – the second-hand Lilly & Frank. I wish I still had that diaper to show you.There’s definitely a chance with any diaper that the elastics will rot or begin to fade, but in my professional opinion, the quality of build is just there.
This particular Lilly & Frank velour diaper reminds me most of the Nuggles BambooLUXE, and because that brand is currently unavailable, this is a great alternative and supports a Canadian seamstress.
Other Fitted Diaper Reviews
Tester’s Experience – COMING SOON!
A local mom, who also owns this amazing online consignment shop for kids clothes, now has this diaper. She’ll give me some feedback and we’ll check in later for a real-life experience.
Other Blog Reviews
-
Lilly & Frank Hybrid Fitted and OBV Fitted Diaper Review, This West Coast Mommy
-
Lilly&Frank OBV Fitted Diaper Review, MamanLoupsDen
- Cloth Diaper Podcast, Show 40 with Heather Seguin
- Natural Options for Baby Bums by Ashley Cribb
- YouTube, Fitted Hybrid featuring Lilly and Frank by Karla
Shopping for a Lilly & Frank Diaper
As a cloth diaper parent, I know that shopping for fitted diapers can be super overwhelming and it was one of the reasons why I always opted for the diapers at LagoonBaby because I didn’t have to make a choice. I’m learning that’s part of my executive function disorder as a person who likely has ADHD.
The best way to find the nighttime worthy Lilly&Frank Diapers is to go this page – you’re looking for the Velours.
But you might find that there are many other choices available including Petite, Toddler, Newborn, and fun prints. The different sizes give you a more custom fit for the shape of your baby. As we learnt in the Podcast, Heather started making diapers because her baby’s petite shape was not working with the products currently in production. So the petite fits baby’s 7-25lbs, and is a great choice for the smaller kids.
But what about all those fun prints? These are often a Hybrid Diaper that is made with a hidden polyester fleece layer that acts as a mild liquid barrier. These diapers are also only sold with one snap in insert. Matching boosters can be purchased. They are a great choice for daytime, cuteness, and can be used for heavy wetter’s with additional boosters.
I love that Lilly & Frank always has product available. There’s no need to worry about missing a stocking, or product drop. You can always find something, and/or check out the options for custom designs. And don’t forget to check out the sale section to save some money on last season prints, seconds quality, or other random pieces.
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