Cloth Diaper History. . .
Pages
The History of the Diaper:
American Indian mothers once collected the soft insides of milkweed to pack around their babies before strapping them into a papoose board. Eskimo moms gathered moss during the short summer months and placed it inside the animal skins in which they carried their babies.
Over the years, mothers have relied on a variety of methods to diaper their babies. From prairie plants to plastic-covered paper to all-natural cotton, busy moms have tried to balance what's best for their baby with what's convenient for them.
When Babies Wore Diapers For Days:
It's hard to believe, but in Elizabethan times, babies were treated to a fresh diaper every four days! Little sons and daughters of royalty were more fortunate - and changed once a day. The diapers themselves were squares of cloth held on with string tied around the baby's stomach.
When the pioneers pushed westward in covered wagons, mothers made all their children's diapers, carefully rolling and hand-stitching the edges. Wet diapers were seldom washed, just hung by the fireplace to dry.
The first all-cotton diapers were made in America. A 21- by 40-inch rectangle was folded and tucked and pinned. Mothers might buy 6 to 7 dozen diapers to keep up with their baby.
Mothers Declare War on Diaper Washing:
Diaper services grew all over the country during World War II. Many mothers were working in defense plants making airplanes, tanks and submarines instead of washing diapers at home.
Back in the 1940's, fresh cotton diapers were delivered wrapped in blue paper. In the evening, the family gathered around the radio to listen to the news and Fibber McGee - and fold diapers.
Diapers Shrink and Grow
During the Eisenhower era (1950's), there was another big change in the diaper. Mrs. Hellerman, owner of a diaper service in Milwaukee, went to the Kendall Company, which made Curity TM brand diapers, with a new invention. It was a fold that put extra cotton layers in the centre of the diaper and made it about the right size for most babies. The fold was sown shut, and the prefolded diaper was born. No more family folding parties!
A few years later, Kendall Company began making the prefolded diaper in a smaller size especially for diaper services. They fit newborns from a "premie" to a baby 10 pounds.
The Plastic Generation
In the 60's, "use it and toss it" and "heat and eat" sold a lot of new products. Plastic was "pop" and "mod". Plastic-covered paper diapers were a big hit. As the years went on, reusable tab closures and gathered legs were added to the diapers. One of the most recent technologies is the addition of acrylic acid polymer salts, a chemical that turns to gel when wet, to absorb moisture.
Hospitals Put Babies Back in Cotton
Environmental issues are one reason why hospitals are taking another look at all-natural cotton diapers. But what's really convincing hospitals to switch back to cotton is its softness and ability of accredited diaper services to surpass hospital standards of cleanliness.
No More Rinsing, Pins Disappear
And today's diaper services offer convenience to parents too.
Clean cotton diapers are delivered to the home every week. At the same time, soiled diapers, which have been placed in a special deodorizing hamper after use, are whisked away to be washed with environmentally friendly products, including a bacteriostat that helps prevent odour. Most diaper services offer waterproof diaper covers which simply wrap over diapers and close with tabs, no pins needed. The convenience of diaper services has created a viable alternative to the disposable.
(Reprinted with permission from Diapers Unlimited, Cotton Diaper Service, Kalamazoo, MI)
HOW TO WASH CLOTH DIAPERS:
1. Shake any excess soil into toilet. This is not necessary with babies who are breastfed, until they begin eating solid foods.
2. Place diaper in diaper pail until ready to wash. Soaking is not necessary.
3. Machine wash diapers in hot water with the detergent of your choice.
4. To deodorize and freshen the diapers, add 1/2 cup of white vinegarto the rinse cycle. This will balance the ph level of the daipers, and help remove detergent residues.
5. You can rinse twice to further remove residues, if necessary.
6. Dry on high heat or hang dry.
TIPS:
Using bleach will shorten the life of your diapers.
For maximum absorbency, wash and dry new diapers 2 - 3 times before first use. Most new diapers look thin and flat, but will quilt up after washing.
Natural fiber diaper covers usually need to be wash separately from diapers. There are some covers that can be washed together with your diapers. If you notice redness in your baby's diaper area, it is likely that she/he is having a reaction to detergent residues in your diapers. Try a mild soap instead, or try double rinsing the diapers.
Book Review:
Recommended reading for the parent wanting to learn more about both sides of the cloth diaper decision. The book is called "Diaper Changes" by Theresa Rodriguez Farrisi. The book is published by Homekeepers Publ., P. O. Box 439, Richland, PA 17087 in 1997.
Free Diapers?!?:
Too many receiving blankets? Make a couple of dozen of them into great prefold cloth diapers.
Here's how: Cut one receiving blanket down to about 20" x 36"-40". This should give you a second strip about 7" - 10" wide. Fold this narrow strip in half or thirds to about 20" long. Place this down the center of the large piece, as shown: [ [] ]
Fold in the sides of the larger piece about 2/3 of the way across. Overlap them on top of the folded strip down the center, leaving the diaper about 15" across: [ < []>] = [[]]
Zigzag stitch across the top and bottom raw edges of the folded diaper, making sure to catch in all layers. Stitch down the center pad about 1/2" in form the edge of the center pad.
All measurements depend on the original size of the blanket. Don't be afraid to experiment!
Inexpensive Form-Fitted Diapers:
If you find that your prefolds or shaped diapers are leaking, but you don't want to invest in more expensive form-fitted diapers, try this!
Get some bathing suit elastic, which will last longer than the regular elastic, and cut two strips about 9" long per diaper (1" less for small diapers, 1"-2" more for larger diapers). Center one piece of elastic on each side of your shaped diaper along the leg, or along each side of the center panel on your prefold. Stretch out the elastic and zigzag-stitch into place.
Now you have form-fitted diapers to help stop the leaking problem. When using these diapers, always place the elastic side of the diaper away from your baby's skin to prevent irritation.
Inexpensive "Pinless" Diapers:
Do you wish you could afford pinless diapers, but all you can afford is prefolds? Add some Velcro to your diapers for a great pinless fit!
If your baby is already born, just fold your diapers to fit your baby and try one on for the velro placement. Pin a 4"-6" strip of loop velcro across the front of the diaper, and 1"-2" strip of the hook velcro on the top-inside of the diaper, coming around from baby's back -- one strip on each side of the waist. Make sure this will hold the diaper on your baby snugly and securely, remove diaper from baby and then sew the velcro in place. Use this diaper as a sample to mark the rest of your diapers.
If your baby isn't born yet, fold your diapers down about 1/3 and place your loop velcro across there. When baby outgrows this, you can simply unstitch and move the velcro about 1"-2" above or, for longer use, add another strip of loop velcro that is 2"-4" longer above the first strip.