Cloth diapering can be a great option if you want to keep baby clean and dry while protecting the environment as well. However, buying readymade cloth diapers can be expensive, so if you’re good with a sewing machine, you can always buy diaper fabric and make your own cloth nappies. Here are the different types of fabrics to choose from and where to find them.
Cotton is the First Choice for Diaper Fabric
Cotton is an easy and economical way to get started with cloth diapers. Cotton is absorbent, easy-to-care for and is relatively inexpensive as well. However, if you’re concerned about the pesticides and chemicals used in cultivating cotton, you can go green and choose organic cotton for baby’s diapers. You can also choose options such as organic cotton fleece that is not only softer, but also more absorbent than regular cotton fabric.
Eco-friendly Cloth Diaper Fabric: Bamboo and Hemp
Bamboo terry and velour are great options for cloth nappies. While terry does tend to get rough with use and therefore, can be used for diaper covers, bamboo velour is soft, thick and more absorbent than cotton. Gentle on baby’s skin and the environment, bamboo fabric is a great choice for green and eco-friendly families. Hemp, too, is an organic option of cloth diapering parents. Hemp is usually a mix of hemp and cotton and that makes the fabric durable yet soft and absorbent.
Use PUL or Polyurethane Laminated Polyester to Make Cloth Diaper Covers
PUL or polyurethane laminated polyester is popular with cloth diapering parents since it is a waterproof option and can be used for cloth diaper covers. In addition, this fabric is soft, flexible and can withstand rough use and high temperatures in a dryer. Similar to PUL, but without the lamination, is microfleece. Microfleece is completely polyester and has very good wicking properties which keeps baby’s skin dry. In addition, it is soft and almost stain-resistant.
Where to Buy Fabric for Cloth Nappies
If you’re wanting to get started with sewing a stash of cloth nappies, diaper covers and doublers, you can check out Sewing Cloth Diapers and Very Baby to get patterns, find fabric and accessories, and follow tutorials to sew fitted, all-in-one and pocket diapers or diaper covers. Alternatively, you can check out local stores and sales to pick up bolts of fabric since buying it from a store will allow you to actually see and feel the fabric to gauge its softness, absorbency and durability.
Cloth diapering is not only eco-friendly but also economical, and if you decide to buy diaper fabric and sew baby’s nappies, you’ll be saving more money as well. So, choose a material that’ll suit your budget and baby’s bottom and get started with sewing cloth nappies.
Prerna Malik - Prerna Malik is a professional freelance writer, business blogger, social media expert and obsessive organizer.
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