We all wish for something lovely and cushy for our new baby’s bottom. When it comes to cloth diaper fabrics, there are many to choose from. Some might say that there are too many. It’s a wide, wide world of diaper fabric out there, with so many choices that it can boggle the mind of new parents. What are the options?
Cotton fabric is the most common diaper fabric. Cotton terry is a plush fabric that can absorb a lot of water. Conventional cotton does use a lot of pesticides to grow, so look for organic and unbleached cottons if at all possible. If you’re making your own diapers, cotton is the easiest fabric to find and is generally the least expensive. Organic cotton has a very good environmental track record, too.
If you’re looking for something a little different and very durable, look at hemp. Hemp fabric is made out of the stalks and seeds of the hemp plant, a study fiber that does not require chlorine bleach to become lighter in color. This makes it a very eco-friendly fabric. Hemp fabric is similar to sweat shirt fabric. It is soft on one side with a knit pattern on the other side. Hemp fabric is good for rough-and-tumble applications – a hemp diaper is more absorbent and has approximately three times the average life of the typical cotton diaper.
Bamboo fabrics are relatively new to the market. The rayon created from bamboo is a very soft and absorbent fabric. Bamboo grows quickly and does not need a lot of pesticides to thrive. While bamboo has been branded as more natural than cotton because it grows very quickly, it does need to be imported and heavily processed, so the jury is out on the eco-friendliness of cotton versus bamboo. Ethical Consumer recently rated bamboo as second to organic cotton.
What about the diaper cover? Cloth diaper covers for prefolds are often made of nylon or wool. Nylon is a fairly inert and nontoxic plastic that prevents a diaper from leaking. It is breathable, but it doesn’t leak. Felted wool diaper covers are a fabulous and natural fabric and they can take a beating over the long term. They can also be crafted from old sweaters or hand-knitted in funky patterns, making your baby’s bottom the most stylish one in town.
If you cloth diaper, have you made your own diapers? What fabric did you choose?