wool diaper covers question

[vermontmomma]

i've got two knit wool diaper covers made but am still a little nervous about using them with just a prefold snappied underneath. they seem like they'll contain everything fine as they are a good fit around the legs, etc. all other diaper covers are in the wash so i'll be making the plunge to wool at the next changing today.
does anyone else use these type of covers? what do you think of them?

homesteading new momma : : green mountains : aspiring novelist and children's book author
***U.S. OUT OF V.T.***

[inky leeuhhh]

i love them. as long as theyre lanolized it should be fine. it does seem like a strange concept at first, but it works!

[vermontmomma]

what exactly is lanolizing? does it need to be done with all wool yarns? i'm using a very natural undyed sheeps wool.

homesteading new momma : : green mountains : aspiring novelist and children's book author
***U.S. OUT OF V.T.***

[MoonStarFalling]

The wool should have the natural lanolin oils on it. It should feel soft and a bit moist not super dry. If it the natural oils have been stripped off you can put more on by soaking it in a bit of water with a dab of lanolin (lansinoh breastfeeding cream works). If you find your covers aren't water resistant you may need to do this.

[vermontmomma]

perfect! i have a lot of extra from when i started bf and everyone gave me some.

homesteading new momma : : green mountains : aspiring novelist and children's book author
***U.S. OUT OF V.T.***

[inky leeuhhh]

Originally Posted by MoonStarFalling

The wool should have the natural lanolin oils on it. It should feel soft and a bit moist not super dry. If it the natural oils have been stripped off you can put more on by soaking it in a bit of water with a dab of lanolin (lansinoh breastfeeding cream works). If you find your covers aren't water resistant you may need to do this.

ok ive always wondered how this works. do you just dissolve the lansinoh in the water and gently swish it? ive always used the wool wash that has lanolin in it, but i have tons of lansinoh and this would be a good way to use some of it up.

[MoonStarFalling]

Put a bit of warm to hot water in the sink with a pea size of lanolin. Dissolve it then add luke warm water until you have enough cool water to soak your wool. Soak it but don't wring it too much. Then press it out with a big towel.

[Logan]

I have Imse Vimse wool cure, I have recently been hearing you should use 100% pure lanolin...is the wool cure not as good as the lansinoh??? It doesnt seem to get soaked up the way people say the lansinoh does, and Imse Vimse says to leave it over night....

[Michigan Mama]

I've never used the IV wool cure. I generally wash with Eucalan, then occasionally do a separate lanolization, if I feel they aren't absorbing as well as they should. My process works like this; I wash first, with a little bit of Eucalan. Fold and press as much water out as you can without ringing. If I want to lanolize separately, I refill the sink (or washer) with tepid water. In a small jar, i add a an inch or two of lanolin, with a little bit of Eucalan or baby wash, and hot water. Shake it up to disolve everything, then add it to my tepid water. Then I add my wool and soak for 30 min... When done, fold/press water out in a towel and lay flat to dry.

If I'm making a recycled cover, I always felt my wool before I sew. Same with wool interlock. If I'm knitting, I try to knit it a little large, so I have room for some shrinkage... So, that said, i do all my washing and lanolizing gentle cycle in my wash machine with tepid water. BEWARE: If your cover has not been felted (shrunk) previously, you will risk it by agitating in the washer. Water that is too hot or too cold can also shrink your wool.

Anyway, to answer the OP, my home knitted covers work great for day with a pf, not quite as great at night. At night we've been using a double layer interlock soaker I just make and it works fantastically!

[vermontmomma]

great tips! i've been using the wool covers at during the day and they have worked wonderfully, no poop leaks out the legs and baby gets changed more frequently at first hint of dampness + breathablitity=happy rash free baby.

homesteading new momma : : green mountains : aspiring novelist and children's book author
***U.S. OUT OF V.T.***

[funkymamajoy]

I use a little bit of baby wash to help emulsify the lanolin. Since its an oil, lanolin will not mix with the water by itself.

Like this http://www.sheepytimeknits.com/about/woolcare.htm