Why wool? {cloth diapering with natural fibers}

I admit it: I was a reluctant cloth diaperer. After a brief investigation of cloth prior to the birth of our first baby (quickly nixed by my hubby, who found the whole idea “gross”) I was a happy disposable user who rarely gave a thought to where all those handy little Huggies went after I tossed them in the trash. I certainly never wondered about what made them so darn absorbent. And while I knew we were literally throwing money away multiple times a day, I didn’t stop to consider that there was another way.

It wasn’t until we started fostering that I gave the idea of cloth diapers another look. If you’re open to receiving a child on your doorstep at any hour of the day or night, there’s a chance diapers might just be involved. And frankly, you can plan on making a nappy run at midnight, you can keep a bag of every size on hand, or you can invest in some one-size cloth diapers and know that whatever you need, you’re covered.

Right around this time, a friend sent me the gift of some adorable flannel wipes (only recently retired after six years of use, believe it or not!) and set me on a crash course with the world of cloth diapering.

My first cloth was the Try It Kit from Cottonbabies– a bare bones introduction that taught me that yes, I could do this. A couple of prefolds, some covers, and a snappi. Hooked, I jumped into the world of pockets, stocking up on the ever-popular bumGenius 3.0s. Eight months later, I was diapering two babies full-time and wondering why in the world I hadn’t done this whole cloth thing with my first babies. By then, Christopher was well over the “yuck factor” and was advocating cloth to new parents on his own.

Enter Birdie, a whole lot of pink, and requests to write reviews of some of the cutest, girliest diapers ever. We were awash in patterns, prints, and pastels. A minky fabric diaper with strawberries. Purple kangaroos. At one point, we even had a diaper with sock monkeys on it. Sock monkeys. Does it get any cuter? Go back to boring white Huggies? Never!

We had premium pockets, hybrids, AIOs, AI2s, the whole alphabet soup of cloth diapering.  I tried it all– for free. I found my favorites, and dealt with the inherant downside that each method brought with it. Namely, I learned how to deal with detergent build-up, insufficient rinsing, and stinky microfiber issues. I assumed this was the trade-off in cloth–or at least, in the new kind.  Because let’s face it: most cloth diapers these days are man-made materials. It’s how they offer a nearly stay-dry experience for baby bums … with the benefit of reusability.

Then Birdie began showing signs of what we’d eventually learn was an all-encompassing allergy to plastics and a sensitivity to just about anything that comes into contact with her skin. It started with what looked almost like a burn on her bottom after using bumGenius flips with microfiber inserts. Eventually, the only diapers that didn’t produce red whelts on her were GroVia AI2s, with their organic cotton inserts.

At which point it occured to me. The only thing that’s not bothering her is cotton. A natural fiber. Let’s look into this.

I hadn’t thought about those Try It Kit prefolds for years, but suddenly, they were back in rotation, rescued from obscurity by a new-found interest in all natural fibers. I was back where I’d started.

But there was just one problem.

Cotton diapers need covers. And the covers are, almost universally, PUL. The more I read about PUL, the less I wanted it in my house, let alone on my baby. By this point, Simon was on the way, and I was looking at two more years of diapers. What’s a girl to do?

Now, I had heard of wool covers. I had even been gifted with an adorable pair of (pink!) longies handmade by a dear friend. I loved them. But let’s just be honest with one another: your average wool cover lacks the cute factor of, say, roses on a bed of pink minky (yes, we had a diaper like that). And then there’s that weird twist that die-hards tout as some kind of up side: You let them air dry. Say what? You don’t wash them after every use? How is that supposed to be hygenic?

I knew some cloth diapering friends who swore by wool covers, so I peppered them with questions. How often do you actually wash them? What brands are the best? Do they REALLY not stink? Aren’t they hot in the summer? Do they REALLY work?

Still somewhat skeptical despite their reassurances, I felt like a newbie all over again as I learned to diaper my babes with nothing but prefolds (and an occasional cotton fitted), a snappi or some pins, and wool.

To my utter amazement, it worked.

I don’t mean “it works as well as you can expect when you’re willing to compromise.” I mean it worked.

It worked to the point where now, despite having a “back up” up two Thirsties PUL covers for car trips (wool can get compression leaks when smashed up against a buckle for an extended period), I loathe using them. I’ll take my wool any day of the week.

All that stuff I doubted? True.

Properly lanolized wool really does air dry back to an odor-free, naturally anti-bacterial state. It’s also naturally fire-resistant. Go figure! Wool is easy to wash, breathable, and a whole lot softer than the image you might have in mind. It’s also a thirsty fiber that absorbs 35% of its own weight in addition to providing a water-resistant barrier … which translates to superior dryness in diapering. And, contrary to popular belief, it’s very rare to be allergic to wool. Most people who have issues with it are actually sensitive to the chemicals used in treating cheap, low-grade fibers.

If you’re considering making the jump to full-time diapering with all-natural fibers, here are my top picks:

Green Mountain Diapers I can’t say enough good things about these diapers. They are, hands-down, the thickest, most absorbent prefolds I’ve ever used. Their organic, unbleached diapers are a steal at $45 per dozen. That’s 12 diapers; the same amount of typically priced pockets would easily run you $200. Don’t be afraid of prefolds! You can do this! Check out my pinterest board for folds, and if you’re a pocket-diaper user, be prepared to be stunned by the ease of a care. These babies can take a little abuse; you don’t have to handle them with kid gloves. Throw them in the wash and hey, if you want to, you can even (shhhh!) slip a little bleach in there from time to time. Just be sure to rinse extra well. If you’re looking for something even heartier, check out their Workhorse diapers. One of these is essentially two prefolds, thanks to a sewn-in doubler. Starting at $5.95 for a newborn size, I think these are the best diapers of any kind that I’ve ever used– and keep in mind … I’ve used a lot!

BabeeGreens wool liners. These are so versatile. Put them inside the diaper as a stay-dry barrier, or between the diaper and cover as an added absorbent layer.

Disana covers. I had heard these covers referred to as “bullet proof.” Now I know why. Disanas, once they’re prepped, are simply amazing. I’ve seen that some folks handle them gently, but I’ll be honest, I am purposefully rough with mine. The resulting felting just makes them better, in my opinion. These are my go-to covers, and the only one to use for nighttime diapering. They are pricier than a PUL cover, yes … but they get better with age! No worries about delaminating, curled velcro, or bum snaps. As a matter of fact, my favorite Disana was handed down and has now been through four children.

Loveybums wool wraps. These are the most trim covers I own; they fit under pretty much every outfit. Win!

Gerongirls wool on etsy. Custom made by a homeschooling mom (and sometimes her daughters, too!) these aren’t just covers. Longies double as pants, eliminating the need for a separate cover. No, I’m not joking. See this?

 

Those adorable pants (handknits by GeronGirls) are covering a prefold. It doesn’t get any easier than this!

Check my pinterest board for more tips, tricks, and some DIY options in natural fiber diapering. And I’d love to hear your experiences. What’s worked for you? What’s been a bust?

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