Any suggestions to save diapers with dry elastic?

[Parker'smommy]

I just got my diapers down from the attic for my baby due at the end of August.

And to my dismay, a lot of my older diaper's elastic seems to be dry. I pulled just every so gently and heard that horrifying CRUNCH sound!!!! I also have a bunch of diapers that a friend sent me and they also have some dry elastic. She said that maybe they just got too DRY, and they just need to be rewashed and they'll spring back.

Do you think this is true?
Anybody get old elastic to come back to life?


I'm a little upset, but then, the diapers in question worked HARD for 4 + years and two kids starting 8 years ago. That's a lot of washing. My diapers, that I bought 5 years ago, for my dd are still in great condition. I just hate that I'll most probably have to buy ALL new large FBs for nighttime diapering

[lifeguard]

Would it be possible to replace the elastic?

[HeatherB]

I've never heard of washing refreshing shot elastic. It is my nemesis. There are some mamas (and some WAHMs) who can replace shot elastic for a small fee. It might be worth looking into that, rather than investing in entirely new diapers.

I was chuckling earlier as I was looking through some VERY old things, and found a hair scrunchie with shot elastic. At least that didn't break my heart like some of the diapers I've lost!

[westcoastlady]

It's totally possible and not that hard to replace the elastics on fuzzibunz. I just did one that had shot leg elastics (believe me... no amount of washing was bringing those things back) there are lots of tutorials on line. If you look in the sticky resources in Diaper making there is a link to a tutorial there. I bought swimwear elastic to replace the shot elastic and it only took me one naptime to fix a diaper. Totally worth it. And I'm just an amateur at sewing too.

[mumkimum]

I don't really think that washing it would spring the elastic back (but it wouldn't hurt).

A good part of the time, I do think it can get replaced (rip open the diaper, sew new elastic in - you'll get some minor stitching on places, but hey - it'll work) I've read about it but haven't had a go myself. I believe pockets are the easiest to repair - so if that's what you're dealing with you might be in luck. You might even be able to convert something to a doubler or insert instead (so you still have something that would be useful.).