[goddessbubblies]

between a soaker and a wool cover? Why isn't a soaker called a cover? I never really "got it" and DH asked me last night and I just couldn't answer LOL Also, those BJM soakers on ebay, do you like them? They are so inexpensive ~ are you getting what you pay for? And, how does one go about getting a "Bridget soaker"?

 

[lena_girl]

I'm assuming these are the Bridgets soakers you are asking about

http://woollensoakers.easystorecreator.com/store.asp

No experience w/ bjs, sorry

 

[JohnnysGirl]

Soakers are pull on style and are usually knitted, but sometimes are made from a cut up wool sweater. There are no buttons or velcro or any way to close it, other than just pulling it up and maybe tying the drawstring.

A cover usually has snaps or aplix/touch-tape , and you lay the baby in his diaper onto it and wrap it around and snap (or whatever) it shut. It is normally made with wool fabric, cut and sewn to the shape of the finished design.

BJMarketplace soakers are popular with many MDC mamas--they reportedly are extremely soft and work wonderfully.

To get a Bridget's Soaker, you visit her website and/or contact her.

 

[goddessbubblies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterflymom Soakers are pull on style and are usually knitted, but sometimes are made from a cut up wool sweater. There are no buttons or velcro or any way to close it, other than just pulling it up and maybe tying the drawstring. A cover usually has snaps or aplix/touch-tape , and you lay the baby in his diaper onto it and wrap it around and snap (or whatever) it shut. It is normally made with wool fabric, cut and sewn to the shape of the finished design.

Physically, I know the difference between the 2 styles, I guess what I should have asked was, is it a "soaker" b/c it soaks? More than a cover? And, thanks for the link!!! I've never been able to find it LOL

 

[JohnnysGirl]

I think it's just kind of a nickname for those kinds of pull on woolies. It doesn't mean it's necessarily more water resistant than a wool cover. There are lots more that play into it like whether or not the wool has been fulled, whether or not there is sufficient lanolin content at the time, etc....

 

[Azadeh]

I guess the question is: How did soakers get their name? Does anyone know? Who was the first to call them soakers and why?

azadeh

 

[lifetapestry]

You can trace the use and name of soakers back to the 1940's, but I think they might go back further than that. Maybe Theresa or another knitting mama knows about them from the history of knitting?

See some more about diaper history here.

Karla

 

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

Bridget's soakers are awesome! I have 1 already and 2 more on the way.

 

[allformyboys]

Yeah as Karla said it is an old fashion name for a diaper cover, I assume that it was called a soaker so you didn't get soaked! it does soak up moisture which helps prevent leaking, a big reason why wool is so wonderful for a cover! Anyway ti is confusing I know because we also call the absorbant middle part of a diaper a soaker too, but if it is wool 'soaker' it is a cover!

 

[mehndi mama]

Wool soakers have been around almost as long as diapers - ask your grandma, chances are she wore wool soakers over her own diapers!

They're called soakers because that is what wool does - it soaks up the extra moisture, and disperses it through it's fibers to evaporate some of it off. Since wool can hold 30% of its' weight in water without feeling damp, it can go a long time gradually soaking up what's on the outside surface of the diaper before it will start to feel wet.

So, that's why it's called a soaker. It soaks. It's not meant to be "waterproof" - soakers never will be waterproof! A baby could pee right through a soaker no problem, if there isn't enough absorbent diapering material between the baby & the soaker. That's why a good diaper is so important for getting a soaker to work well.

A soaker *is* a diaper cover. But back before there were any other diaper-covering choices, soakers were invented, and that's why they're still called soakers. We could call them knitted pull-on diaper covers, but that's a big pain. Soakers it is.

 

[Azadeh]

Wow. Those replies were full of great information... Thanks so much ladies!

Azadeh

 

[pamelamama]

Interesting!!

:

 

[goddessbubblies]

Yeah, thank you so much!!! I started CDing in November and never even considered wool UNTIL WendyLouWho sent me some in a trade months & months ago and it had been sitting around until about a month or so ago and now I'm hooked!!!!! I've just got to figure out how to really clean it (been washing on gentle w/a touch of baby shampoo

: ) and how to effectively lanolize *sigh* So much to learn, but oh the fun!!!!