Cloth Diaper.... HELP!

[alnoodle]

Ok, so I had this sudden Idea that I would make cloth diapers for my daughter since she has terribly sensitive skin that disposables are making worse. PUL is IMPOSSIBLE to find here in Iowa. I need something that will work as well. And I'm sure this is a crazy question... but is there a reason why no one uses rubber sheet material as the waterproof layer? I'm totally new at this (I don't even know anyone who uses cloth diapers... and there is no stores that sell them here... so I can't even go look at one to see what it is supposed to be like)! So, I need some ideas of waterproof material asap! It has to be something I can find at Walmart, JOAnn's or Hancock... help please!!!!! Oh, just so you know... I'm making AIO diapers... it just sounds easier to maintain!

[ReneeC]

Hi, and welcome to the addictive world of diaper sewing

You won't find PUL locally--it is a specialty fabric that is available online. The first sticky in this forum (the first real sticky, not the announcement that's up there) has a list of places online that sell diaper-making fabrics. If you want water *proof*, that is the best place to start looking for PUL

You can also use wool and polyester fleece for diaper covers. Both are water *resistant* and work by dispersing moisture over the entire surface so that it can evaporate. They are both breathable, unlike PUL. The trade off is that if the diaper underneath gets *really* saturated (and honestly, it shouldn't get to that point before getting changed) you can have some wicking onto clothing (or carpets or furniture). BUT: you can get fleece at Joann's, Hancock's, and WalMart

The "rubber" and vinyl materials aren't the best for diapers for two main reasons: they don't stand up to being washed, and they are more reactive forms of plastic. Vinyl especially raises concerns about lead and phthalates.


The second sticky in this forum has links to free patterns and diaper-sewing tutorials. I suggest taking a look through there so that you can get an idea of the materials that are used for diapers and for how they're constructed.

AIOs are easy to *use*, but they are not the easiest to maintain. Because the whole thing gets changed each time, and because the "cover" doesn't separate from the absorbent layers inside, the outer material wears out faster, and it can be harder to get the insides totally clean. The very easiest system is to tri-fold a prefold (or use a contour diaper) and lay it in a separate cover that fits well. That way, the parts can be washed separately (covers that aren't saturated or poopy can be hung up to air out and used several times before being washed), everything gets cleaner, and you don't have to have as many covers

If you'd like more help with sewing dipes, I highly recommend this group:
http://diaperdivas.proboards57.com/
A lot more people frequent that group than this section of MDC, so you will get plenty of help there!