A: So you’re new to wool and you have lots of questions. It just doesn’t seem possible that this knit wool “thingy” will work as a diaper cover. Well I always say (and for those who have met me in person know this is true), “think of the Little House on the Prairie days. What did they use?” They didn’t have rubber pants or plastic pants but they did know and understand the beauty of wool, even if they weren’t aware of the science behind the function of the fiber. They did know that wool kept a wet diaper from getting clothes and linens wet. They also knew that wool could absorb and this is why wool diaper covers came to be known as “soakers”. So they would knit up little wool diaper covers that functioned better than any synthetic cover on the market today. But you still have questions…

1. Isn’t wool scratchy?
There are more than a 1000 breeds of sheep worldwide, 40 of which can be found in the US. With that many breeds, there is bound to be many types of fleece. So yes, some wool is scratchy but the wool we use in cloth diapering is buttery soft. One touch of a quality knit wool diapering product and you’ll know that it will mean comfort for your baby.
2. Isn’t wool hot?
Wool is a natural fiber and provides for airflow. Any breathable clothing item is much more comfortable than those that are not. Because wool is breathable it is a good choice for any weather.
3. Isn’t wool bulky?
Certain wool covers can add bulk but others can be quite trim. So there can be a cover for every situation. Choose the Clover™ Wool Wrap to go with contour and prefold diapers. Choose the Clover™ Wool Pant to go over fitted diapers. A cute top, wool diaper cover, and a pair of BabyLegs is the perfect lounge outfit!
4. Isn’t wool difficult to care for?
Not at all. Wool has antibacterial properties so that it doesn’t need to be washed every day. Provided it only got damp, turn it inside out and allow to air dry between uses. Depending upon how often the cover is used in your rotation, let it take a bath in wool shampoo weekly to once every couple of weeks. You’ll know when it’s time. :) Just let it soak in a warm water bath and walk away! Gently squeeze the water out a couple of hours later, wrap it up in a towel, and stomp on it to get all of the water out. Allow to air dry and you’re good to go!! To keep wool water resistant and soft, give it a lanolin soak when you first purchase the item and again when you feel the cover needs the lanolin replenished. Wool is sheep hair so it should be cared for as such. Use wool shampoo to clean and lanolin to condition.
5. But wool is more expensive than a polyester cover. How can I justify that?
Because wool has longevity, better functionality, increased comfort, and is more eco-friendly. Knit wool is stretchy so it will span more than one diaper size. The properties of wool that make it a good diaper cover are intrinsic within the fiber. Those properties will never go away, unlike how the laminate of polyester will eventually break down. These covers are a fabulous choice for passing down from one baby to the next. Wool can pick up the slack when a diaper gets flooded. No other cover can do that. Wool can fit on baby without binding elastic and is often less irritating to the skin than synthetics. And let’s face it, the making of polyester and laminating it is a chemical process. Woolen diaper covers are heads and tails more eco-friendly than anything else.

A: Of course not. Soft, natural cotton fabric does not cause rashes. Rather, irritants cause rashes. From the moment you put a clean diaper on your baby, you are exposing your child to irritants from disposable diapers not found in cloth diapers. Disposable diapers are synthetic and have a chemical make-up. Cloth cotton diapers are a natural fiber. Using cloth diapers gives your baby a better chance that he/she will be rash free from the start.

So does this mean cloth diapered babies never get rashes? No, there are other irritants that are not caused by cotton and not solved by disposables. For example:

1. Urine and stool are irritants. Frequent diaper changes are essential. Babies that are breastfed can stool even just a little with every diaper change so it can be difficult to keep these body fluids off the skin. You can be proactive and use the best diaper cream we can recommend- Aquaphor with Maalox. This is a diaper cream that you make in a 1:1 ratio of Aquaphor healing cream and liquid Maalox antacid. It’s like mixing oil with water but with a little patience, you can mix these two ingredients together to get a white, creamy protectant. The Aquaphor will function as a wetness barrier and healer. The Maalox will neutralize the acid in urine and stool that irritates baby’s skin. Another way to keep urine off baby’s skin is to opt for stay-dry liners and doublers. Specifically, polyester fleece does not absorb and can allow urine to pass though to the absorbent inner layer. This functions as a stay-dry layer when placed closest to baby’s skin.

2. Heat and lack of breathablility causes rashes. Cotton is a breathable fabric and most of the covers on the market today are breathable as well. Wool covers are very breathable and a great option for any child, in any weather. You can even opt to go coverless when the conditions are right.

3. Every now and then a baby may not tolerate the wash products that are used. Be sure to start with eco-friendly laundry products. Don’t overload your washer with detergent. It’s not necessary and is difficult to rinse out. Occasionally the “free and clear” versions of your favorite detergent may be necessary to avoid irritating baby’s skin. The most simple approach that gets diapers clean is the best approach. And lastly, be sure all of your laundry aids have been rinsed out of the diapers. An extra rinse and a little white vinegar will help to ensure that your diapers are completely rinsed clean.

There’s nothing wrong to use diaper cream proactively, especially for newborns that are breastfed. Why wait until the rash has developed? Stop it before it starts. But should baby develop a bad rash, raw silk liners have healing properties and can help baby recover more quickly

A: At one time a diaper was a diaper. Now there are so many styles of diapers it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choices. No one diaper is better than another. The diaper that works for YOU is the best diaper choice.

Flat Diapers: The most conventional diaper. This diaper is like a large sheet of a single layer of fabric. It’s the most verstaile diaper available, most economical, easiest to wash, and super quick to dry. The best part of this diaper is that you can fold it into so many great configurations for every age, for every shape, and for each gender. Check out www.gumbush.com to learn everything about flat diapers.

Prefold Diapers: The diaper you think of when you think of your mothers diapers. These diapers are called “prefolds” because they have been sewn into the most popular fold configuration. There is still folding to be done with these diapers but it’s really quite simple. They are super absorbent, provide a gentle fit, are easy to launder, and are very economical. They can be made of many different kinds of fabric, most often diaper twill and birdseye.

Shaped Diapers: These diapers are cut into an hourglass shape and generally have long wings to wrap around baby’s hips. They generally cost more than prefold diapers, do not have a fastener, and may or may not have elastic at the legs. Like the prefold and flat diaper, they generally can be folded down in the front or the back to accommodate the growing rise of the baby, making it a one-size diaper.

Fitted Diapers: These diapers have elastic at the waist and legs and fasten on the baby with either snaps or velcro. Fitted diapers can come in either front snapping or side snapping versions. They also come in either a variety of sizes or one-size, intended to fit from birth to potty training by different fold and snap configurations. Fitted diapers require a cover and because they fasten on their own can be paired nicely with pull-up covers. Fitteds can provide a nice snug fit with ease but they are more expensive.

All-in-One Diapers: These diapers are the most expensive but can be the most convenient to use. They will have a built-in cover, a fastener (velcro or snaps), and elastic at the waist and legs. All-in-One diapers have benefits and limitations but it can be helpful to have a few in your stash for alternative caregivers or as diaper bag diapers. A subset of the AIO is the pocket diaper. The pocket diaper will have an opening in which to stuff an absorbent pad of your choice. This allows for customization and can make laundering a little easier.

A: The most simple answer to the question as to which diaper is best is that there is no one answer to that question. One thing for certain is that diapers made of organic cotton are a better environmental choice than conventional cotton. The best diaper for baby and his/her caregivers is the one that WORKS and that you enjoy using. When buying diapers it’s best to take into consideration your budget, your washer and dryer, and your lifestyle. Sometimes it’s good to buy a variety of styles- something for every situation.

A: Do’s and Don’ts

Do rinse poopy diapers before going in the hamper (excluding breastfed newborns).
Don’t use bleach. It eats fabric!
Don’t use fabric softener. It reduces absorbency.
Do wash every 2-3 days. Don’t dry on heat higher than medium.
Do use biodegradable, eco-friendly washing supplies.
Don’t use too much detergent. It can lead to build-up.
Do dry them in the sun to lighten stains and reduce electric consumption.
Don’t wash with polyester fleece covers. It’ll leave secondary pilling (little cotton fuzzies) all over your fleece.
Do use your Velcro™ item’s laundry fold-back tabs. The hook can snag the Wooly Nylon serging.
Don’t be afraid to email me with questions!

Our Recommended Washing Routine

Rinse poopy diapers before going in the hamper. Optional: Pretreat with Imse Vimse natural stain soap or BioKleen’s Bac-Out. There is no need to rinse the poop from the diapers of breastfed newborns.
Every 2-3 days wash your diapers starting with a cold rinse. This will rinse away to bulk of the urine and any poopy residue. Don’t use hot water just yet. Hot water will set the stains.
Wash on your washer’s hottest water temperature setting, and use a small amount of biodegradable detergent. You can also use a biodegradable bleach alternative at this time, if you choose. We also strongly recommend using Borax. It is septic and plumbing safe and will aid your detergent by making it more effective. It does not contain phosphates or chlorine. Other optional additives at this time are tea tree oil and lavender oil.
Rinse in cold water and add a little white distilled vinegar. The vinegar will soften the fabric and restore ph balance. But remember, only a little. You should not smell vinegar when the diapers come out of the wash.
A second cold rinse is recommended. It is important to rinse all soap residue which can cause skin irritation, reduce diaper’s absorbency, and make diapers difficult to get clean.

Cotton has naturally occuring oil that we all know does not mix with water. Wash your new diapers in very hot water at least once before use to dissolve and wash away that oil. Diapers will become more absorbent with time as the oil continues to dissolve with each subsequent wash.
If your diapers appear to lose their absorbency or do not seem to be getting completely clean, you may have detergent build-up. It is recommended that you “strip” your diapers by washing them in hot water, followed by a cold rinse, with NO detergent. This will eliminate old detergent buried in the fibers and bring your diapers back to life. Dry your diapers in the sunlight to naturally whiten them and reduce stains.

A: The baby’s needs will change as he/she gets older. As a general rule the newborn baby goes through about 12 diapes a day. As the child ages that number will decrease to 10-8 diapers a day. Eventually fewer and fewer diapers are needed as the child is going through the process of potty learning.

To determine how many diapers you will need you will first need to decide how often you want to wash. If you want to wash every day, multiply your daily need by two. If you want to wash every other day, multiply that number by three. It’s not recommended that you allow diapers to sit longer than three days.

You will need fewer covers than diapers. Using a basic cover, you can start the day with two covers and alternate between every other diaper change. Wash those two covers at the end of the day. You can even hand wash your covers and allow them to air dry and they will be ready by morning. With this method you will need about four covers though six would be very comfortable.

A: Well let’s pause and rethink this. The cloth is not for you, but for the baby. And let’s consider the alternative. Read what the Real Diaper Association has published regarding the facts about diapers at http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php

Maybe the real question is why would someone choose the disposable. There’s the argument that they are more convenient. But look at the chemicals you are exposing your baby to in the name of convenience.

Cloth diapers are simply the best choice.
1. The cloth diaper is a safe diaper. You can have confidence in knowing that placing soft, natural cotton next to your baby’s skin is a perfect way to help ensure your baby has a chemical free start to life.
2. The cloth diaper can save you money. See for yourself by using the Diaper Pin’s Cost Calculator at http://diaperpin.com/calculator/calculator.asp
3. The cloth diaper is the eco-friendly diaper. Choose diapering products made of natural fibers that have been organically grown. Choose laundering products that are eco-friendly and avoid chlorine bleach. Choose diapers that wash easily and dry quickly, especially if your washer and dryer are older models.
4. Cloth is comfortable!