Making it through the night!

I’ve had lots of questions about making a diaper last overnight without leaks. This was a huge struggle for us as we tested out the cloth diapering waters, but found success after some trial and error. I think some basic knowledge about fabrics will help you greatly.

First of all, think about absorbency. There are a number of different fabrics that are used in cloth diapers. The type of fabric you choose (or the combination of fabrics) can make a big difference in absorbency. Here are some examples of fabrics used in cloth diapering and some information regarding each:

Cotton: Super inexpensive, although it offers the least amount of absorbency. While cotton will absorb liquid, a basic cotton (like a prefold) is not quick to absorb and will sometimes lead to leaks. If you choose cotton, try material like flannel or terry-cloth as a topping to help “catch” the liquid right away. Remember that this fabric needs to be washed several times in hot water before use to maximize absorbency.

Types of fabric weaves-
• Jersey: a basic cotton knit fabric that has a flat surface.
• Terry-Cloth: a looped pile fabric that is either woven or knitted. Very absorbent and used for towels, etc. French terry cloth is looped on one side and sheared pile on the other.
• Sherpa: is made from a heavy knit terry that is napped, tumbled, and tip-sheared, resulting in a pebble-like, fleecey texture.
• Fleece: a pile or napped fabric with a deep, soft, woolly-style surface.
• Flannel: is plain or twill weave with a slight nap on one or both sides.

Microfiber: More expensive than cotton, but less expensive than other materials. Microfiber is very absorbent and because of it’s terry like surface it catches liquid quickly. This is a good middle of the road option and works great in combination with other materials. Beware that microfiber can be bulky on baby. A note to those looking to save money: we purchased a package of microfiber car washing cloths at Target and used them in Nora’s diapers. They were super cheap and held up well. Now that Nora is out of diapers we use the cloths for cleaning and dusting : )

Hemp: This is a great diaper material- but will not work on its own. Hemp is one of the most absorbent fabrics and multiple layers can be used without added bulk. Because not all types are quick absorbing (terry-cloth and fleece will absorb quickly, jersey will not), you will need to put a quick absorbing material on top of the hemp- ex. microfiber insert on top, hemp doubler below. One of the greatest features of hemp is that has antibacterial properties. I swear by hemp doublers for getting through the night. They can be pricy, but you will only need a few.

Bamboo: This is the “other” super-absorbent material. It is more absorbent than cotton and absorbs quickly like microfiber. While bamboo once seemed like an eco-friendly, antibacterial option the FTC is now claiming that because of the way it is processed it is no longer eco-friendly, antibacterial or biodegradable (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/08/bamboo.shtm).

Hopefully this information about types of fabrics and absorbency will help you make the right choices for overnight.

In addition to these things, also think about the cover you are using- does it fit correctly? Is the insert placed correctly inside the cover? Also note that if your diapers have built up residues on them they may have decreased absorbency. See my section about washing diapers for some info on stripping diapers.

The nighttime system that worked for us was a sized pocket diaper with a hemp doubler, microfiber insert on top, hemp doubler below. We very rarely had problems.

I have also heard great things about wool covers. These often work great for nighttime because the cover literally wraps baby’s legs in wool- it’s hard to get liquid out of that tight a closure!

I’m also including two links below, one is about detergent residue and the other is about stinky diapers. Enjoy!!
http://countrysave.com/announce.php
http://knickernappies.blogspot.com/2010/11/dont-just-accept-that-your-cloth.html