Sewing or making your own cloth diapers will be economical for you as they are reusable. Read on to know how to make cloth diapers for your baby.
How to Make Cloth Diapers
With the arrival of the newborn, there is a lot of joy in the air as well as lots of apprehension concerning his/her care and hygiene. For any new parent, the very thought of diapering your little one can be a scary idea. You will be amazed to see how often your baby pees and poops initially. Changing your baby after every leak is something that will command your attention most of the time. Diapers are a means to wick away wetness from your soft baby's skin, keeping him/her dry and happy. Changing your baby�s diapers may seem to be a baffling chore at the start. However with a little practice, you will discover that keeping your baby dry is just a child's play. One of the important decisions that you have to make as parents is to whether put your baby on cloth diapers or disposable ones. While disposable diapers are handier and easy to use, cloth diapers are certainly the best bet, while choosing for diapers. Cloth diapers are economical, environment-friendly, reusable, washable and quite easy to make. Read on to find tips on how to make cloth diapers.
Making Your Own Cloth Diapers
- You can begin by choosing a style for your diapers. While all-in-one (AIO) diapers are the most convenient option that comes without any pins or covers, pre-fold diapers are easy on your pockets. In case you wish to go for fitted diapers, you can sew them as per your preference.
- While making cloth diapers, picking the right fabric is an absolute essential. Fabrics like flannel, cotton knits, and terry make for great diapers. If you are willing for all-in-one diapers, opt for waterproof fabrics. Fleece can be used as water resistant diaper covers, as it quickly soaks away wetness from the baby's skin and keeps it dry for longer periods. It also reduces any chances of painful rashes. Terry could be used for the soaker, and a cute flannel print could be used as the external cover for your baby’s diaper.
- Next step is to pick a pattern for your diapers. You can use disposable diapers for designing the pattern of your cloth diapers. Trace the outlines of the disposable diaper, carefully leaving ¼ inch for the seam. While making cloth diapers for your baby make sure that the tabs are big enough, so that they can be adjusted as the baby grows. You can also check out the various Internet websites for the pattern.
- Following the pattern, cut 2 hourglass shaped pieces, each from the internal cloth and the external covering. Cut out a rectangular shaped cloth from the soaker and place it between the interior cloth and external covering. The soaker should run along the full length of the baby's diaper. Put the soaker on the wrong side of the interior material and sew it up.
- Now using the measuring tape, asses the girth of the baby’s thigh. Cut 2 strips of elastic band wide enough for the comfort of your baby and stretch them to cover the whole leg opening. Now, stitch the elastic to the wrong side of the external covering along the curved side of the leg opening. Measure the baby’s back and cut out ½ inch wide elastic piece. Stretch it, so that it covers the entire width of the diaper and then sew it to the exterior material.
- Layer the inner and the outer covering of the diaper and sew it together. Allow a small gap in the front to turn the diaper right side out.
- Using a pencil or a butter knife, mark out the seams. Fold in the seam allowance and sew it up.
- Use snaps, Velcro or other closures to secure your diaper. Velcro has a lower longevity and tends to gets frayed after repeated washes. You can use diaper pins to secure your baby’s diapers.
