Monster Pants Cloth Diapers

With so many breeds of cloth diapers available, choosing a style can become overwhelming. Here we will take a close look at PUL covers, fitted diapers, pockets, all-in-two diapers, and all-in-one diapers so you can better decide what would suit you best.

PUL Covers are the most basic of the modern cloth diapering movement. PUL is permeable to air but not liquid, meaning the fabric is breathable while still keeping clothes dry. PUL is not absorbent, and so covers must be paired with something that does absorb. You have a wide range of choices for absorbency: prefolds, flats, inserts, and fitted diapers are common. Frugal cloth diaper users might use old t-shirts, cotton pants, or sweatshirts. Prefolds and flats can be pinned onto baby or folded into the cover. Inserts are laid into the cover. Fitted diapers snap on just like a PUL cover, and then the cover is put over that. Especially for newborns, any diapering system employing a cover is the most surefire way of avoiding leaks. Prefolds and PUL covers is one of the most cost effective cloth diapering options. Though it is less convenient than some of the other choices.

 PUL cover with an insert laid in, ready to be put on a little monster.

Fitted Diapers are made from absorbent materials with no waterproof layer. They can be used with a cover to make them waterproof, or without so you know when your baby goes and can change immediately. Monster Pants fitteds feature a stay dry fabric and pocket opening. The stay dry layer keeps baby from feeling wet; the pocket lets you customize the absorbency for a diaper that is as useful all day as it is at night. Also quickens drying time!

 Fitted diapers offer slightly more convenience than prefolds, as they snap (or velcro) on, but do require a separate cover for waterproofing.

Pocket Diapers are a waterproof diaper with a stay dry liner. Absorbent inserts are stuffed into the diaper’s pocket, and the diaper is easy for anyone to use, even if they are unfamiliar with cloth diapering. The entire diaper must be changed each time (unlike an insert & cover or AI2, where only the insert is changed) but the pocket can be stuffed with anything absorbent. Microfiber is a popular choice for use in pockets because it is inexpensive and trim. Since microfiber has strong wicking capabilities, it cannot be used in a diapering system that puts it against baby’s skin. It wicks moisture so effectively, it will wick moisture right out of the skin, leaving baby chapped. Other easily accessible, affordable inserts for pockets include washclothes and old towels or t-shirts that have been cut up. Of course, bamboo and hemp inserts made for pockets are also fabulous choices!

 Monster Pants pocket diapers feature a pocket opening in the front. The advantage of pocket diapers is they can be stuffed with just about anything.

All-in-Two (AI2) Diapers are a waterproof shell with snap-in absorbent inserts. The insert can be swapped out until the shell becomes soiled, usually giving you 2-4 changes for one shell. Since inserts cost less than shells, this can help make convenient cloth diapering more affordable. If you don’t have enough snap-in inserts, you can use the AI2 shell as though it were a PUL cover. But the snap-in inserts maximize the convenience of this diapering system.

 AI2 diapers have inserts that snap into place. Change the insert when wet and reuse the waterproof shell through several changes.

All-in-One (AIO) Diapers are the height of convenience, though they aren’t necessarily everyone’s favorite. These can have a lot of variety depending on the brand, so I will highlight features of the Monster Pants AIO (we call them All-in-Pockets here). These have a stay dry lining and an attached insert. The insert will usually shake free during washing, but since it is attached the diaper stays in one piece (unlike a pocket diaper, where the insert and pocket are two separate pieces that must be reunited). Tuck the insert back into the pocket opening and snap it onto the nearest little monster. These are very easy to use, even for people who are unfamiliar with cloth diapers. The Monster Pants version is called an all-in-pocket because it has a pocket that adds versatility to the diaper. The attached insert is there to stay, but you can add an additional insert, flat, or prefold for added absorbency overnight. So why are they not the unanimous favorite? Primarily because they are the most expensive. They also tend to take a little longer to dry than diapering systems that use completely separate inserts. The Monster Pants AIP improves this flaw slightly, but even so the AIPs in my personal stash take about fifteen minutes longer in the dryer than AI2′s and prefolds.

 An AIP has an attached insert that will usually agitate out during washing. Arrange it into the pocket opening after drying and it’s ready to use.

Cloth diapering has so many options it can feel overwhelming! The good news about having so many choices: There is an option that fits your budget and lifestyle. If you’ve read through all of this and are still not sure where to start, ask me! I love to talk cloth!

What is your favorite diapering system?

I’m sure you are all waiting on tenterhooks to know who won March’s prize! The winner was Sarah. She is just getting back into cloth after a long hiatus, so I’m sure the wipes will come in handy.

The sewing room has been a busy place! I haven’t shown off any finished objects lately. I have several finished diapers, some ring slings, and a wool cover to show you.

Above are four pocket diapers. Elephants is at the top. Clockwise from there is Butterflies on Peach, Ocean, and Celery. Elephants and Celery got some fun mix & match snaps. I love using snaps as accents.

These six diapers are all newborn covers. They are going to good friends who are expecting their first in just a few weeks! Top left is Grape (with accent snaps), below that is Cows Afield, then Chocolate. Top right is Daisies on Lime, below that is Ocean, and finally Red & Grey Dots. Don’t you love the Red & Grey Dots? So classy! That one has alternating red, grey, and black snaps with black gussets. Daisies on Lime is super-cute too, especially with the bright green, blue, and white snaps. The gussets are blue to bring out the color in the center of the daisies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a wool cover in red & grey plaid. I’ve made three wool covers now, each one constructed a little differently. I think this is my favorite so far. The difference in each was in the way I added the gussets to the legs. The function doesn’t seem to be affected, but this has the most handsome results so far. Or maybe I’ll think of a new way to do it between now and the next cover. That often happens!

Ring slings! I love these for babywearing. I always keep one in the car. It is so quick and easy to get a baby in there. My little monster is about 22 pounds now, a little heavy for a long ride in a ring sling, but very comfortable for me to wear her for 15-20 minutes still. Both of these ring slings are 100% linen. Nice versatile fabric that breathes well in hot weather and is still cozy in the cold.

The sling on the left is in Cilantro — a lovely, earthy green. The sling on the right is in Lime. I didn’t intend to make both slings green! Apparently when I was choosing fabric, I was anticipating spring subconsciously.

Both of these slings can be found in the Monster Pants Etsy shop soon. All of the diapers were custom orders, and so none of those exact ones can be found anywhere but on the monsters to whom they now belong! But you can always put in a custom order for your little monster should you see something too cute to pass up.

Picture overload today! And I only showed you the Monster Pants related sewing. Not pictured are armbands, bridal gowns, prom dresses, and upholstery. All of which are far less adorable, I assure you.

Do you wear your baby? What is your favorite carrier?

As a knitter and cloth diaperer, I have known about wool diaper covers since early in my cloth diapering career. I had not used it until recently and I am so glad I finally got started with it! Addy, in the picture above, is obviously stoked about her new wool cover. (Or maybe it’s the fact that she’s barely dressed. But I like to think it’s because of the new cover.)

A wool diaper cover is not the same hot, itchy material as that sweater in the back of your closet. Or at least, it doesn’t have to be. Wool can be soft as silk, is always completely breathable, and can be waterproofed. Wool also does not need to be washed as frequently as other materials. A wool diaper cover only needs to be washed (and lanolinized — more on that later) every 2-4 weeks. You’ll know it’s time to wash when you notice a funky smell or get a leak.

Perhaps the biggest advantage to wool over PUL (and way over disposables) is how well it breathes. Disposables are plastic. Just like the plastic bag in which bread is stored, it is essentially airtight. Great for bread — keeps it from getting stale in less than a day. Bad for skin — gives a lot of little bums rashes. PUL is a laminate-coated polyester. PUL is permeable to air but not to liquid. Waterproof, but not airtight. And wool, being a natural fiber, is even more breathable than PUL. A lot of rash-prone babies have marked improvement with the use of wool covers.

The waterproof aspect of wool is the most amazing. Wool comes from sheep. Sheep produce an oil called lanolin that coats their wool, protecting the sheep from the weather. Sheep are waterproof in the same way ducks and geese are; water rolls right off. When wool is sheered from the sheep and processed into textiles, the lanolin is removed and the wool is no longer waterproof. Lanolin is sold as a soothing, moisturizing skin treatment for humans. It is most often specifically marketed towards breastfeeding mothers. Lansinoh is a name brand of pure lanolin you can find at just about any store that sells baby products. You will usually find it near bottles and breastfeeding gear. A pea-sized amount of this magic ointment dissolved in hot water is enough to coat a wool cover, waterproofing it for several weeks. It seems unbelievable. Especially when you feel a wool cover. It simply does not seem possible that it could hold moisture.

You do need a diaper with the wool — it functions as a diaper cover, not as a diaper. So put your favorite fitted, insert, flat, or prefold on your monster, put the wool on over it, and say goodbye to rashes. Wool covers are especially beneficial at night, when the same diaper is worn for 8-12 hours. Some people who have had leak troubles at night have found a successful nighttime solution with wool as well.

The downside to wool is its care. PUL is so convenient; you can wash and dry it with the rest of your diapers. Wool cannot be machine washed. It must be hand washed in warm (but not hot) water, soaked with lanolin, and then laid flat to dry. The good news is this only needs to happen once every 2-4 weeks (or in the event of the cover being soiled).

Interested? Wool covers will be part of the Monster Pants line up in the next few weeks. If you absolutely cannot wait or have a rash problem that needs immediate attention, contact me for an early bird order.

Have you heard of wool in cloth diapering or used it before?

Monster Pants has two new products lined up for you! All-in-2 diapers can be ordered from their product page here. Sherpa wipes can be found under Diaper Accessories over here.

What’s the scoop on AI2′s? The most common praise I hear for AI2 diapers is that they reduce laundry since it is only the insert going in the diaper pail at each change. AI2′s also reduce wear and tear on your PUL covers since they aren’t being washed as frequently as a pocket or all-in-one. The PUL shell operates essentially like a PUL cover, except that it is fully lined with suedecloth to be soft all over. Though you could certainly use an AI2 shell with a fitted diaper, flat, or prefold. Just because there is a snap for inserts doesn’t mean you have to use it! The inserts in Monster Pants AI2′s snap in the front. I have found this helps keep the insert in place better than a snap in the back of the diaper. The inserts are a long snake of your choice between cotton, bamboo, or hemp. Snap the insert in, fold it on itself, and snap the diaper on your monster before he runs away for that much-sought-after naked time!

The other new product is Sherpa wipes. I love these. I only have a dozen made for my own stash and it is not enough. Making myself another dozen is on my list of things to do. But I have to make a few for customers first! The wipes are double-sided. Sherpa fleece is plush and  grabby. Great for cleaning up messes. I found myself looking forward to a dirty diaper today so I could use one of the new wipes. That is worth repeating: These wipes made me look forward to changing a dirty diaper. The other side is a hemp and bamboo blend jersey knit. Soft and pliable like your favorite T-shirt. Perfect for finishing up that wipe job and for drying the diaper area before putting on a fresh diaper. Want to try them? Get one free wipe in all February orders over $10!

Finally, let’s wrap up February’s blog giveaway. Mira is the winner of the AI2 snap-in insert! Congrats, Mira! Happy diapering with your new insert!

Which new item is most appealing to you and why: AI2 diapers or the new wipes?

Oh how I love a freshly finished stack of diapers! Or circle of diapers. Just as lovely to my eyes. This circle of diapers is what I’ve been sewing up all week. There are five newborn diaper covers, one medium pocket diaper, and one one-size all-in-two (AI2).

Those newborn diapers are so sweet and tiny! I love sewing up the little ones. They are part of two separate orders. One order is for a little boy due to be born in about a week. The other order is for a little girl due in about 10 weeks. These are a bit of an experiment. They have more snaps than non-experiments will have. Maybe. Unless the separate rise snaps and umbilical snaps prove necessary. I have three mamas testing the newborn covers, since they have previously only been used on my baby. I’d like to have a few more opinions! The dinos, teal ooga boogas, and robot/navy halfsies are all newborn covers.

The pocket diaper is the black and white safari. I just love that print! There is something elegant about the black and white. It isn’t often that I see a diaper I would call elegant! With black leg gussets and alternating black and white snaps, the finished diaper quite snazzy.

The solid blue diaper is one of the new AI2 diapers. I am excited to have these as part of the Monster Pants line up! We are listing those in our shop page here soon. If you can’t wait, they are now here on Etsy.

I have also made some new inserts to go with the AI2 diapers. They are 24 inches long, intended to be folded in half in the diaper, with a snap on one end. An insert made from three layers of organic bamboo fleece is the prize for February’s giveaway. Each month, the first blog post of the month will feature a small giveaway. To enter the February drawing, just leave a comment on this post that answers the question at the end. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator. Be sure to leave your email. It will not be visible in your comment but will allow me to contact you to claim your prize!

You’ve seen what I made this week.

What did you make this week? (It doesn’t have to be sewing or even crafty!)