Home made diapers

[knee_deep_with_1]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if there was an easy way to convert towels or receiving blankets to diapers without or minimal sewing as I cannot sew for the life of me. My daughter is 7 and still wets the bed and I am looking for a cheap way to manage it till she stops. The 2 things I am looking for are snugness (if thats a word lol) and absorbancy. I have tried towels before in the past but I failed miserably because when she stood up, they basically fell off of her or had major saggage. As I said, I am looking for the easiest, cheapest solution till she outgrows this which at this point, wont be for quite some time as she hs showing no signs of getting better. Thank you and I hope to get some helpful advice or suggestions.

Mary

[knee_deep_with_1]

Anyone? Can anyone help me?

Mary

[lalemma]

Hmmm... Without some kind of waterproof layer (your choices are basically PUL, fleece, or wool) the wet is just going to go right through the cotton unless you have a LOT of layers. So, you could make flats with receiving blankets (you probably wouldn't even have to sew them, just use them as the size they are), but for a seven-year-old, it seems like the number of layers of flannel you'd have to have for any kind of decent all-night absorbency would make it prohibitively bulky.

How about, instead of making diapers, making a waterproof mattress protector? Something like this: http://hazelnutgirl.blogspot.com/200...-mattress.html

[knee_deep_with_1]

Thanks, I didnt take the bulkyness into consideration but I didnt think it would be TOO bulky to work and allow her to sleep comfortable. I do have a mattress protector so I dont have to worry about that thankfully. I was just looking for something easy and cheap so she wouldnt have to wake up in a wet bed in the morning, and prevent me from having to strip the bed. Thank you again.

Mary

[lalemma]

Maybe try a receiving blanket as a flat, and use one of these folds, secured with pins?

http://www.borntolove.com/folding.html

[JTA Mom]

I would just take a length of fabric the size of a bath towel and 'pad' fold it. Pretty much fold it into a rectangle.

For less bulk, I'd get some microfiber towels and pad fold those, then cover with a cotton cloth. You don't want microfiber touching skin directly since it's so absorbent it will pull oils from the skin.

If you want to give her a 'drier' feeling, place a rectangle piece of thin cheap fleece between her and the 'pad'.

You could also do the t-shirt diaper. Just a couple pins should do it (cheap at baby's r us or Joanns).

The only issue is waterproofing.
from frugal diapering (http://www.borntolove.com/frugal-diapering.html) is this

Cut a T-shape out of a grocery bag for a baby under about 16 lbs., or a garbage bag for a bigger baby. Cut the bottom part of your "T" about 10" (25cm) wide on the bottom fold of the plastic bag. This is the crotch part of your emergency "diaper cover".
Cut the top part of your "T" across the width of the plastic bag. This will be the waist ties. Make your "T" about 8" (20cm) high for small, 10" (23cm) high for medium or 13" (33cm) for large. Cut the sides of your "T" curved, for better coverage. Cut open the waist ties, so you can tie it on over baby's diaper. Ties can be about 20" (51cm) long for small, 23" (58cm) for medium or 27" (69cm) for large. Trust me, it sounds more complicated than it is . . .
When you open up the cover, you should have a giant "H" shape. Place a folded prefold diaper inside, place baby on top, and tie at each side of baby's waist.
If you really like this style of diaper cover, you can cut some more out of waterproof, rip-stop nylon for no-sew, indestructible, washable tie-on diaper covers.

Or you can do this with thick fleece or two layers of thinner fleece. To increase the water-proofness, toss these fleece covers into the dryer with some fabric softener.

Ami

[knee_deep_with_1]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

I would just take a length of fabric the size of a bath towel and 'pad' fold it. Pretty much fold it into a rectangle.

For less bulk, I'd get some microfiber towels and pad fold those, then cover with a cotton cloth. You don't want microfiber touching skin directly since it's so absorbent it will pull oils from the skin.

If you want to give her a 'drier' feeling, place a rectangle piece of thin cheap fleece between her and the 'pad'.

You could also do the t-shirt diaper. Just a couple pins should do it (cheap at baby's r us or Joanns).

The only issue is waterproofing.
from frugal diapering (http://www.borntolove.com/frugal-diapering.html) is this


Or you can do this with thick fleece or two layers of thinner fleece. To increase the water-proofness, toss these fleece covers into the dryer with some fabric softener.

Ami

Thanks! I will definatly give this a try. It really doesnt look complicated at all so I dont think I will have a problem getting something like that to work. I have about 2 dozen older towels laying around that I am not even using, thats why I was asking if it was even worth trying. Heck, at this point, I am willing to try just about anything. My only problem is the folding and or pinning as I am leaving a good size gap and it almost falls off when she stands up. I will tell you we both got a pretty good laugh at that lol. She isnt that big so I cant figure out what I am doing wrong. Well that and the fact that I have never used cloth before so I dont know all the tips and secrets. Thanks again and I am all ears if anyone else has any suggestions for an older child.

Mary

[Pinoikoi]

I had this problem through age 6. Turned out I had chronic UTI's/bladder infections.. I still do.. but I don't wet the bed anymore.

Good luck mama, I am sure your daughter is hoping for a resolution as well.

[JTA Mom]

Originally Posted by knee_deep_with_1

Thanks! I will definatly give this a try. It really doesnt look complicated at all so I dont think I will have a problem getting something like that to work. I have about 2 dozen older towels laying around that I am not even using, thats why I was asking if it was even worth trying. Heck, at this point, I am willing to try just about anything. My only problem is the folding and or pinning as I am leaving a good size gap and it almost falls off when she stands up. I will tell you we both got a pretty good laugh at that lol. She isnt that big so I cant figure out what I am doing wrong. Well that and the fact that I have never used cloth before so I dont know all the tips and secrets. Thanks again and I am all ears if anyone else has any suggestions for an older child.

Mary

Are the towels thin? If not, they could be really bulky. I would just fold them or several receiving blankets into a pad shape and use the fleece cover tied tightly to keep them up. Then put on a pair of pjs or underwear over them. That should keep them in place. Not for running, but definitely while sleeping.

I wouldn't try pinning them around her, since it doesn't seem to hold them in place. It's not like they have to be on all day.

Ami

[knee_deep_with_1]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

Are the towels thin? If not, they could be really bulky. I would just fold them or several receiving blankets into a pad shape and use the fleece cover tied tightly to keep them up. Then put on a pair of pjs or underwear over them. That should keep them in place. Not for running, but definitely while sleeping.

I wouldn't try pinning them around her, since it doesn't seem to hold them in place. It's not like they have to be on all day.

Ami

I have a variety of towels, some thick some not. Some of them are just old bath towels and a few hand towels as well. The main reason I tried to pin them on is because either it would shift in the middle of the night or she would "adjust" them to the point it was pointless that she wore one to begin with. I think I am/was afraid to pin it too tight as to make it too uncomfortable for her and I am thinking thats why it wasnt snug enough. Seeing how I have never used cloth before, I was experimenting with it. Thank you, I will give the fleece a try and see how that goes.

Mary