How to make great absorbant doublers?

[BethHG]

My friend from another board has 2 dozen flannel diapers each for her soon to be newborn and her toddler. She is very frustrated because he toddler pees once and he dd's clothes are wet. So, the diapers appearantly are not absorbant! I have given what I can, but what she needs is instructions on how to make doublers, and the fabric with which to make them. Any ideas, please?

Thanks!

[Stayseeliz]

I'm in the process of making some doublers right now..I took a doubler the size I wanted and cut around it to get the right size..Then I used three or four layers depending on the thickness of the material..I'm going to sew around the edges a couple of times then trim with scissors..

I'm using terry hooded baby towels BTW..Very absorbant! I'm just cutting up the ones we already have since we just use regular towels..Should work just fine!

HTH!

[Siana]

I made night time doublers for my little one out of an unwanted towel. I just cut to the size I wanted, zig-zagged around the edges of each piece. Put together the number of layers I wanted and then straight stitched (I found this easier than zig-zagging through so many thick layers) Because the towel was very linty, I did encase these terry pads in cotton fabric. They have kept up quite well in the past two years of diapering.

I have also made a few day time (narrower) doublers out of a good quality towel. I was surprised not only by how much pee is absorbed, but they feel almost dry against my daughters skin even when sopping wet. My advice is to use really good towelling if you want really absorbent, soft, durable doublers.

Also, for added stay-dry feel, you could put a layer of microfleece on the top. I think this is helpful with younger babies, but a toddler might get confused by the feeling of no wetness at all (I am talking on the lines on child led toilet training).

Siana.

[AinNJ]

i used an old terry/velour bath robe. OMG is that fabric just HEAVEN!!! it's super soft velour on one side and thick loopy terry on the other. i made a diaper, not doublers, but 2 full layers in the dipes *w/out* a soaker pad works AWSOME!

ITA w/using a *quality* towel (or other fabric). cheap washcloths or clean up towels aren't going to do it. it might be worth it to make a trip to the thrift store and look for old robes/towels etc.

edited to add:
there are lots of absorbent fabrics out there. i don't really recommend flannel for dipes though. i love the way it's super soft, but it doesn't absorb as much as other fabrics.

[rubidoux]

I recently made some really great trifold soakers -- the same way as described above, just zig-zagged. They are two layers of hemp fleece and hemp french terry and they are sooo absorbent. I made some wide enough that they are eight layers when folded and some that are six for daytime. They are all much more absorbent than anything I've bought. I think a lot of the hemp diapers I've bought were hemp jersey and it seems to make a big difference.

Jayne.

[Kerrie]

What about just hemp jersey? I have 4 and 8 layer doublers and them! I mostly use them for nightime and fitted CPFs.

[Slightlycrunchymama]

Any absorbant material cut to about 4x12 would do it. Or make them bigger and fold them in 3 cutting down drying time. The first thought I had though was "what kind of covers is your friend using" maybe its the covers that are not great and not the diapers? ykwim?

[TOmomma]

Yeah, my first though was ... is she using covers??? Might be good to check .

[lpmeadows78]

I used the Joey Bunz insert as a pattern because they have more surface space. Then I made it out of three layers terry and two thin flannel. It is very absorbent. I only need one at night to make it the whole night through. It is a good pattern for boys to, because you can fold it in half and put it up front where you need it. They fit into a diaper better than oval shaped ones.