Its always wet...

[muttix2]

Please help. I'm making ds dipes out of flannel. I'm using this pattern and these instructions which are both working well for me. Its just that with one pee (haven't made any covers yet, they're on my list) ds is wet on the outside, like to the point where if he's sitting in your lap you get wet. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do (relatively cheaply) to make this not happen? If there isn't a cheap way, is there an expensive way (on a budget but if I must, I must)? I know that a cover is supposed to hold in the wetness but I've read that people let their babies run around in just fitteds at home and we're trying to potty train him so I don't want to add a cover to the mix at home. I'm using four flannel diaper layers and 8 layers of flannel for the soaker. Thanks!

ETA: He is a very heavy/quick wetter. One pee from him is like two from my younger son.

[JennInSeattle]

Yes people let their little ones go around coverless but the expect the outside to become wet after one pee.. Nathan went coverless in Hawaii forever but all of his diapers would become wet on the outside as soon as he peed. I think you need a cover - you'd reallly have to bulk up that soaker to keep the outside of the diaper from being wet unless you used PUL.

Recycled wool sweaters that are turned into covers are inexpensive.

[earthenware]

Yeah, what Jenn said right.

Going coverless really means that you can see the pee (on the outside) and change them right away. Also, compression (like sitting or being held) will make the pee wick right through and absorb onto your clothes or the carpet or whatever. You definitely can't wear pants if you are coverless, either - they would just become another absorbant layer!

Some things you could try:

-make doublers. The most simple are squares of fabric (about 12"x12"), that you zig-zag or serge together, then tri-fold and lay in the dipe for use. You could use 3-4 layers, which would dry quickly and would still give you 9 layers when folded.
-doubler fabrics you likely have around the house: old towels, t-shirts, flannel PJs, anything with over 80% cotton is good (just remember to wash a few times with your dipes to strip out fabric softeners which cause repelling). If you have some velour, sherpa, or hemp scraps those are just awesome.
doubler fabric you could buy: see above suggestions (1 yard would make about 6 of the 4 -layer tri-fold doublers *IMO*), also a micro-fiber towel (auto section, cleaning section) could be folded and wrapped in a piece of flannel and is super absorbant (just don't put it right next to the bum), a couple of cheapie washcloths could just be laid together and folded up.
-fleece makes easy covers, but also if you buy or make some fleece pants, those work too! Might not be good for going out for the day (I guess depends on how thick the fleece is) but it does keep wetness from wicking out.

HTH!

[boscopup]

I don't let DS sit in my lap when he's coverless. If he pees AT ALL, it will go to the outside of the diaper. And if it didn't, it wouldn't be worth using for potty training purposes, right?

So if you aren't watching for pee on the outside, I say use a cover at those times - PUL is not *super* expensive really. You might be able to get a yard or less off the TP or Diaper Swappers. I can get 6 medium-long size covers out of a yard of PUL, and you probably only need like half that many at most. I bind my covers with FOE, and it takes a little less than 2 yards of FOE to bind one cover (maybe 1 2/3 yds?).

Fleece is a great cover, and you can get cheap remnants at Walmart that work great as one-layer covers (the stuff that's originally $5+/yd). I have two of these for overnight, and they NEVER leak. But I wouldn't use them for going out because sitting in a carseat will get you compression wicking with fleece.

During the day, if I'm able to keep an eye on him, I let DS go coverless. We are not actively potty training yet... I sit him on the potty without a diaper and make a "pssss" sound, which he now makes whenever I put him on the potty... He also sometimes does it during a diaper change. But we haven't actually had anything come out into the potty. No big deal. He's only 19.5 months, and really should be 17 months. So I'm in no hurry. But eventually, I will probably have to just take the diaper completely off for real potty training. This summer, we might do some outside nakey time.

[muttix2]

Ok, that makes sense, thanks. Right now I'm just trying to get enough dipes made so that I have enough to last 2 days on both boys so I'm waiting to make covers but tonight I'll make a couple for night wear at least, and maybe for the baby during the day. I have 3 or 4 yards of fleece waiting for me to get my butt in gear! Anyway, thanks again!

[Seie]

You can make an extra soaker and sew on to the inside of the diaper for added absorbancy. I like to do it this way because I am really bothered by all the loose boosters we have laying around the changing place..
Usually you will sew it onto the front of the diaper. I make them thin enough that they can be folded for added absorbancy where needed most - middle for girls front for boys.
I accidentally added it in the back for this diaper here but it doesnt matter as it is a girlie-nappy. For a boy it should definately be sewn to the front of the diaper.
This is a pic to show what I mean:
Sewn in soaker

[muttix2]

That looks interesting, I'm going to give it a try. Thanks!

[mamacitarisa]

I've just started using wool soakers & find them effective for keeping the wet in.

Their the recycled sweater type, and if you've made fitted diapers you could whip together 3 of the soakers in an hour probably

If you look thorugh some of the forums someone put up instuctions for these type if I recall correctly...with pics too!

Good Luck...

I just had a brain wave ...you could wear a PUL apron!

take care

[earthenware]

Originally Posted by mamacitarisa

I just had a brain wave ...you could wear a PUL apron!

OMG, that's hilariius! Yes mama, save yourself from sewing those dreaded covers by making yourself a PUL outfit... could you knit up some wool covers for your furniture and maybe a felted wool area rug? There, problem solved and no covers needed! :

[muttix2]

Yeah, I'll probably just stick to the covers. I'm making one right now (or supposed to be and instead am on the computer "looking for ideas..." yeah right) so I'll post a pic when I'm done. Right now I just have fleece so I'm going to just work with that but I'll probably try a sweater cover at some point.

[mehndi mama]

Check my links for my free pattern - it has instructions for how to make a full stash of diapers & covers for next to nothing!

Definitely find some wool sweaters & zip up some soakers or pants, and make some doublers for the diapers you already have.

[mamacitarisa]

Originally Posted by earthenware

OMG, that's hilariius! Yes mama, save yourself from sewing those dreaded covers by making yourself a PUL outfit... could you knit up some wool covers for your furniture and maybe a felted wool area rug? There, problem solved and no covers needed! :

I think I'm gonna put a patent on that idea...sell PUL aprons to mamas that just don't wanna use covers... hmm what can I call them..


I can see it now , aprons with and without pockets to catch the pee

[muttix2]

Originally Posted by mamacitarisa

I think I'm gonna put a patent on that idea...sell PUL aprons to mamas that just don't wanna use covers... hmm what can I call them..


I can see it now , aprons with and without pockets to catch the pee

mehndi mama, yep, I've already got your site bookmarked. Its part of what helped me decide on making fitteds and covers (and realize that I could make my first ones out of t-shirts when I needed dipes in a hurry and had no idea on how to make them!) Very good site.