Cloth Diaper Choices
Wool diaper covers - naturally water repellent.
Wool has been the outdoorsman fabric of choice since the days of the early explorers. It is also the choice material for today’s cloth diaper covers; wool’s unique properties still provide unsurpassed insulation, even when wet, without becoming damp and clammy.
What’s So Great About Wool Diaper Covers?
Wool cloth diaper covers, although highly breathable, can absorb up to 30% of their weight in moisture. How does wool do that? Wool fibers have an inner core made of protein - the part that absorbs the moisture. This protein core is covered by hard overlapping scales that repel liquid water and protect the elastic fibers from wear and tear. Wool also contains lanolin, a natural water-repellent grease.
What does this mean for the cloth diapering parent interested in using wool diaper covers? It means that wool, while being a better insulator of moisture, will also keep baby’s skin drier because the core proteins absorb moisture from air that is “caught” between the diaper cover and baby’s skin.
Caring For Wool Diaper Covers
Wool diaper covers require special care when washing and will need to be lanolized with prolonged use. Although wool cannot just be popped in the washing machine and drier, it offers characteristics you will not be able to find in any other fabric.
Tags: absorbent wool, cloth diaper covers, diaper cover, lanolin, lanolizing wool, washing wool diaper covers, water repellent diaper covers, WOOL, wool diaper coversCloth Diaper Blog is published by www.diaperjunction.com.
Discussion
2 comments for “Wool diaper covers - naturally water repellent.”
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I love wool diaper covers, I think that the “special care” is a little over rated though and keeps new comers from using them, thinking that wool is hard to take care of. This is not the case though, yes you can not just toss your wool covers in the washing machine with the rest of your diapers, I have never found it hard to take care of the diapers though. Being a mother of 6 with a full time job if I can do it anyone can. Don’t be intimidated by the “special care” as it is quite simple really. Also, I have found that a lot of people are concerned about using wool during the summer, this you would think might make your baby hot but I find the opposite, it’s such a breathable cover so it’s great for any time of the year. wool is cute too, in the summer I use a wool cover and a t-shirt on my baby and it’s too cute.
Wool covers are fantastic, especially for overnight! I use an cotton prefold with an aristocrats wool soaker and so far the baby has not wet through her pajamas at all. I agree with Erin, the care is not that difficult at all.