Can I make diaper covers???

[Happeesupermom]

I'm NEW to the whole cloth diapering thing.... and still trying to figure out how I'm going to do this!

I bought some Gerber brand pre-fold cloth diapers the other day. I've ordered diaper pins (had to get them online; couldn't find them in ANY store!). I bought a diaper pail (still need to decide whether I need to use it wet or dry!).

I'm thinking I'll probably need some diaper covers, right? I mean, won't the cloth diapers LEAK??? I don't know-- never used them before... but they're just layers of cotton, right? So-- I've heard of diaper covers. After looking them up online, I find they're SOOOO EXPENSIVE! So-- can I MAKE some? How? What do I need? (I'm still learning to sew, too!)

Can anyone help or offer advice? Please use plain-English... I'm still trying to get used to the terms & abbreviations around here. :P

[andisunshine]

Yes, you can make diaper covers. That's how I started with cloth diapers that actually worked for my kid. My first cloth diapers brand-name store-bought fit horribly and leaked. I couldn't take it any more and since I owned a sewing machine I bought a pattern and some PUL, which is the most common diaper cover fabric. PUL stands for polyurethane laminate and it's very waterproof. I used fold-over elastic (FOE) on the edges and had a cover in no time for very little cost. I bought my first supplies at www.verybaby.com . For basic pull-on covers you will need PUL, FOE or some type of elastic, polyester thread (use no cotton thread or expect wicking), and a pattern. If you want a cover that you can open and lay out you will also want hook-and-loop for fastening. Snaps also work but the initial investment to apply snaps is higher. If you are serious about diaper making snaps are really nice but be warned! Once you get into diaper making it can be addictive and you end up not saving so much money. It is fun, though.

I use a dry pail for cloth diapering. It's much easier to lift into the washing machine. I started wet pail with a newborn but I never really noticed any difference in cleanliness after I switched to dry pail. I just make sure to do the initial pre-rinse before the wash cycle.

As for pins, I used pins once or twice but I like a snappi diaper fastener better. I call it "the claw," lol! Snappis are great for using on prefold diapers and some knits that have a looser gauge. They're really inexpensive and make diapering quick. Here's a link to what it looks like, just scroll down a bit:

http://verybaby.com/tutorials/sew-a-...fitted-diaper/

[Happeesupermom]

Andi-- Thanks! I have a couple more questions now...

Can I get this PUL at Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby? Or do I have to order it special-- like online from somewhere?

So-- I can make diaper covers from fabric I like + this PUL + elastic, right? I mean, I don't need more layers since I'll be using the cloth diapers underneath, right? This will make the diaper covers pretty thin, not bulky-- I like that!

If you use a dry pail, how do you control odors? I've heard people say "use baking soda"... but does that mean you just toss in a bit with each diaper? Or keep some at the bottom of the pail?

I'm sorry to sound so ignorant! I'm pregnant with my fifth-- but I've NEVER used cloth diapers! So I don't know any of this! My husband is still a little leary of the whole idea.... but he knows it'll save us a ton of money!

Thanks to any and all suggestions! I appreciate it when someone is willing to teach me something!

[andisunshine]

Hey, you're welcome. Learning cloth diapering can be overwhelming especially when there are so many choices.

PUL- unfortunately this is a pretty specific type of fabric that most stores don't carry unless they are a diaper supply shop. I have read of moms searching fruitlessly for PUL at Joanns, Hancock's, Wal-mart. So you will have to order it online. Same thing for FOE, you will want diaper FOE which is plush, thicker and wider than FOE for lingerie which is thin and narrow. I like 1" FOE, it folds to about 1/2". If you order PUL online most likely the store you buy from will also carry FOE suitable for diaper covers. Single layer covers are pretty trim, I like them best over a prefold diaper. As long as you have something absorbent under the cover it will be good.

As for dry pail odors, I guess there's really no way to be completely odor free. I wash about every other day. That helps the diapers from becoming too stinky. I use a lid on a five gallon bucket so it doesn't smell until you open it. Some people do use baking soda. Some people put it in after every diaper or so that gets added to the pile. I would use the bucket without a lid so that the diapers kind of dry out and lose the smell but my husband doesn't like that. You just have to do what works for you. I've read of using a large bag made of PUL to hold dirty diapers until washing, with the opening cinched up just enough fit a diaper through. If you like that idea and have somewhere to hang it that could be your dry pail.

I just remembered something I thought of last night. You mentioned buying Gerber prefold diapers. I had some when I was first cloth diapering and I noticed they didn't absorb much. I found that the thick pad down the middle was actually a core of polyester batting. I'd try to find some 100% cotton fiber prefolds for best performance. I remember my son standing with a Gerber prefold on and no cover, with pee just dripping through a few minutes after I had just fastened it on him.

After having reread through your questions about PUL covers, I gather you would like to use a print on the outside of the cover? This can work if you use FOE and 100% polyester thread. This minimizes the risk of wicking through to the outer layer. If you can find a print that is polyester that will be even better. PUL comes in cute prints, too, if you want to skip adding the decorative outer layer.

[Happeesupermom]

Hmmm--- you've given me some things to consider. Thanks again!

Do you have any suggestions on where online to buy the PUL and FOE? And possibly cotton pre-folds? I bought a pkg of a dozen Gerber's.... but maybe they won't really work well, huh? Ugh.

But I appreciate you taking the time to help me!

[Bokonon]

I would highly recommend looking on Craigslist for some used cloth diapers. I've gotten hundreds of dollars worth of cloth dipes for very little money this way. I just bought 30 fitted diapers and 20 covers for $75, which was an amazing deal. You can probably find a good deal on quality prefolds on Craigslist as well.

[Babina's Mommy]

I like Ebay for deals on PUL

[Happeesupermom]

Which cloth diaper pre-folds are good to use?

If the Gerber ones I bought are going to leak, then where do I look for better ones?! I thought I was getting a good quality buying the Gerber brand... but maybe not? What do you suggest?

[Lineymom]

Originally Posted by andisunshine

I've read of using a large bag made of PUL to hold dirty diapers until washing, with the opening cinched up just enough fit a diaper through. If you like that idea and have somewhere to hang it that could be your dry pail.
.

I have one, not homemade, but the fuzzibunz brand. It has a zipper on the bottom so its easy to dump into the wash and throw it in as well. Only have odors once it is really full/time for wash. I wash every 3 days. We haven't started solids yet though...

I wanted to add that I love my homemade fleece covers. I am not a seamtress, my MIL made them for me. They say you should use a special brand of fleece to be water proof, but mine came from fabric.com. I am sure it is no different than what you'd get at hancocks or joanns but I don't have one near me. We used the rita's rump cover pattern it is free at the website. It'll show up if you google it. Mostly we did single layer covers. I just use the double layer ones at night. On her site se even says you can use fleece from walmart, it is cheap. I think when I need more I will try it. It really is amazing how the fleece repels water. For an outer cover you just want to not use microfleece. I purchased 2 pul covers to start with along with my fleece ones. She used 1 of them once, and outgrew them, I liked the fleece so much better!


I got my infant prefolds from cottonbabies.com. Any that say the are diaper service quality are supposed to be better than gerber. Of course you could make them too!

[nia82]

I highly prefer unbleached Indian cotton prefolds. I started out with Dappi (which is like Gerber), but those have polyseter cores and are not completely made of cotton. You can get really cheap seconds (all I own are seconds, and they are just fine!) at littlelions or clothdiaper.com. I was very happy with their service.
After experimenting around I have come to love the New Conceptions Diaper Cover Deluxe pattern. You can make pull-ups, side snapping or velcro covers (with gussets!). It was $12 for the pattern.
The supplies are way cheaper at kidsinthegarden than verybaby. Plus she gives you discounts for buying larger quantities, e.g. on FOE. Her service is super fast and selection is vast.
Hancocks DOES have PUL, white only and for a whopping $12 per yard. Sometimes they put it on sale and you can order it online for 50%, last time they did that in December. Google their coupons and you get free shipping too

[lalemma]

Gerber prefolds are just super-thin. You might have to double up unless your baby is a really light wetter.

Green Mountain Diapers and Little Lions Diapers both sell thicker diapers (sometimes people will call these "diaper service quality") for good prices. Little Lions has cheap seconds that are apparently really good quality (I don't have any myself, but this is what I hear).

The difference between these diapers and Gerber PFs is obvious if you can touch one of each. The thick prefolds are just really... dense, I guess? The Gerber PFs are much lighter and thinner.

I've bought some of my diaper-making supplies at Kids in the Garden: she has as good of prices as you'll find, pretty much. I will say that PUL is not dirt-cheap, and if you're primarily interested in being frugal, wool covers made from recycled sweaters would probably be cheaper - close to free, if you can get old sweaters from friends and relatives!

Here's a great article on frugal diapering: http://fernandfaerie.com/frugaldiapering.html

[painefaria]

one of the easiest covers that I have made and used is a fleece one. I have been using fleece reminants from Walmart/joanne's fabric and making them. DS just decided that he will not wear the wool covers that he has been wearing from birth. I will PM you the directions...

[katieroo]

you should look into econobum from cottonbabies they are a bit bulky but there inexpensive,come with three covers, and one size

[detroitgirl77]

A really cheap and well working cover would be to use wool sweaters. I get mine at the thrift store for $1-2 with my half off coupon. You would need to felt them first--I do that by throwing them in a hot wash with a small squirt of dawn dishsoap and a warm dry. A great pattern to use is the free katrina soaker pattern. Using this, you won't even need any snaps or hook and loop--just pull on. You would need to lanolize the soaker to make it waterproof.

[averlee]

I found Gerber pull-on plastic pants at a Big Lots for $4 a package of 3. I used those with my home made rectangular diapers with no pins. I put dirty diapers straight into the washing machine, no pail to deal with.

[autumnfairy76]

I used Gerber prefolds for DD's first 2-3 months with plastic pants, a snappi and also one homemade PUL cover. The Gerbers worked fine (they did their job and didn't leak) and the plastic pants ok, but I much much much preferred the PUL cover and Indian cotton prefolds when I switched over. I wouldn't use the Gerber's much longer than I did and she wasn't even a heavy wetter, tho in a pinch I've used them on my now 2 yo with a heavy doubler.
You can buy the Indian prefolds at cottonbabies.com and they are not expensive at all. I've only had to buy 2 sizes of the indian prefolds: infant and premium, just fold up the excess. The excess can make it a little bulky at times, but I just found this to be the most economical option. I'm addicted to sewing the covers tho, like a previous poster mentioned, I end up spending a lot of money on supplies, but its so much fun and the end results are adorable.
I also buy PUL and elastic supplies from verybaby.com

[autumnfairy76]

Oh, almost forgot, great site for FREE cover sewing patterns:
http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz/diy.php

[Nicole730]

A few things to add. I did not have luck sewing PUL and FOE, I'm not very patient though. For the most part, we used Gerber diaper covers from Walmart or Babies R Us with DS, from about 6 months on. We also use Gerber prefolds stuffed between two layers of flannel and they hold up fine...I like that they are thinner, so not as bulky. We use diaper pins because snappis don't work well with flannel and keep them sharp and easy to use by storing them in a bar of soap.

You can find PUL at Hancock Fabrics, but I don't think they carry FOE.

[laughingfox]

The Gerber prefolds don't hold much at all, like the others have said, I'd look for DSQ (Diaper Service Quality) prefolds or make your own. Those ones are just sold for people to use as burp cloths, really.

For covers, I just use old sweaters and/or fleece. This pattern:
http://katrinassqs.blogspot.com/2007...r-pattern.html
is incredibly easy to make. No hooks, snaps, velcro, elastic, or special materials to order online. All you need is fleece or an old sweater, and a sewing machine. (I find pins work better than snappis with a pull-on cover like this.)

Not everyone loves fleece/wool as much as I do, but it'll certainly work well for frequent newborn changes with diapers that aren't as "full" as they will be later.

Also, the Gerber plastic pants actually work pretty well, but they can get torn easily. They're inexpensive enough that you still save tons of money in the end, though.
I know plenty of mamas who have used those (with thicker diapers underneath), and they loved them.

Oh, and check the grocery store and Target for pins, if you haven't already. They carry them around here, but Wal*Mart does not. Last time around, I even found some at JCPenney (admittedly, this was 8 years ago, but it might be worth a shot).

[nia82]

So, I have found that FOE doesn't gather that much, so I add a strip of Lastin or braided elastic to the gathered areas and put FOE over it. I'll get binding eventually instead...

BTW, Joannes now has PUL, $9.99 per yard, and they coupons all the time...