How to Use Wool Diaper Covers
If wool conjures up thoughts of scratchy sweaters and scarves, take a closer look at wool diaper covers designed to cover cloth diapers. Wool has positive features that make it an ideal fiber for diaper covers. Wool fibers breathe naturally to keep a baby comfortable while wearing the wool diaper cover. Wool also repels moisture to minimize unpleasant leaks. Use and maintain your wool diaper covers correctly so they keep your baby dry and comfortable in cloth diapers.
Things You'll Need
- Solid lanolin
- Wool diaper cover
- Absorbent cloth diapers
- Diaper doublers
- Liquid wool wash
Instructions
Lanolize your wool diaper covers prior to using them for the first time. Lanolizing the wool fibers creates a waterproof barrier that will minimize diaper leaks. Turn the diaper cover inside out and work a pea-sized dollop of lanolin between your hands. Pat your lightly coated hands carefully over the wool fibers of the diaper cover to apply the lanolin, concentrating on the areas of the diaper cover that need waterproofing -- the crotch, and the areas extending to the front and back where wetness will occur. After you apply the lanolin to the surface of the wool, massage it in evenly with your fingers until you coat the fibers thoroughly. Diaper your baby with a thickly absorbent cloth diaper. If your baby is a heavy wetter, use diaper doublers in conjunction with the standard cloth diaper. Diaper doublers are narrow strips of absorbent fabric that you place in the center of cloth diapers to add more absorbent layers to the diapers. Pull the wool diaper cover over the cloth diaper to cover it. Wool diaper covers pull on and off easily and they look like snug shorts. Change your baby̵7;s diaper often to prevent the cloth diaper from becoming so wet that the wool diaper cover leaks. Wool can absorb moisture and keep it from passing through to the outside of the cover, advises SheepyTimeKnits. However, if a diaper becomes completely saturated, leakage will likely occur. Set the damp wool diaper cover aside after taking it off your baby, and place a fresh diaper cover on him. Hang the wool diaper cover until it air-dries. Reuse the wool diaper cover after it dries and continue using it until the wool fibers begin to emit an odor, advises Woollybottoms. Wash the wool diaper covers after you notice the odor. Rinse dirty wool covers with cool water and gently squeeze the fibers to remove the excess water. Fill a large bucket with lukewarm water and add liquid wool wash according to manufacturer instructions. Swirl the water around lightly with your hands, add the wool covers and push them under the surface of the water. Allow the covers to soak for about 15 minutes and then drain off the sudsy water. Squeeze the excess water out of the diaper covers and refill the bucket with cool, clean water to rinse the covers. Pour off the water and squeeze out the covers carefully. Roll each diaper cover up in a towel to remove more moisture. Unroll the diaper covers, shape them flat on a towel, and allow them to dry completely. Refresh the lanolin in your wool diaper covers when the wool stops repelling water effectively, which is usually two to 12 weeks after the last application of lanolin.
