Several questions...

Rebekah - posted on 01/25/2010

hey Rebekah, you don't even need to knit them, you can get old woolen jumpers from second hand stores, and sew them up after you wash them in hot water to felt them... much cheaper and time efficient! And they work so so well! Especially if you find machine knitted jumpers, as the knit is so much closer...Although I did knit three or four for my first born...

Rebekah - posted on 01/21/2010

I sewed cloth diapers for my kids after using terry cloth squares. I made flanelette and suede cloth or micro fleece pocket nappies. They were super easy to make (after I was happy with the final fit of my pattern). I decided to use separate covers (PUL covers which I bought) as it was cheaper to buy them than make them. Although I have never sewn nappies with fleece as a cover, I understand it has to be top quality fleece. Wool is great. I'm thinking about knitting my own covers (when I find a good pattern)! It the nappies get too wet, the outer clothes will feel damp.

I've never bought Bum Genius nappies (I use Baby Beehinds or Green Kids for my out and about stash), but the information I got with my nappies would probably be the same for Bum Genius (as I'm sure they're made of similar materials). I was told to wash the covers/shells and the inserts (if made of hemp or bamboo) were to be washed 7 - 10 times (increases absorbency).

PUL covers are expected to last about 8-9 months according to a lady I spoke to at Baby Beehinds. Mine have lasted about 16 months before the elastic went on the sides. The PUL itself was OK.

Hope this has helped a little!

Rebekah - posted on 01/20/2010

I have found that woolen covers work the best, and I don't even worry about the lanolin thing, so I imagine that with it it would work even better. They breathe, don't leak, don't smell like other ones (esp pul ones...) and even look so much nicer. I try to be nice to them at the beginning, washing by hand etc, but in the end they end up in the washing machine with the other nappies...

Lisa - posted on 01/19/2010

Fleece depends upon the weight. If you buy a fleece such as Malden Mills, you will only need one layer. Other types of fleece, test by pouring a tablespoon or so of water and see how it absorbs to see if you have to double it up or not. I have heard from some moms that they are lanolizing their fleece as they do wool covers. Wool is great. My son is a heavy nighttime wetter and I put him in a microfleece inner with a single layer of regular fleece fitted diaper with a pair of wool longies and he will go all night long. Seems like overkill but it is the only combination I've found that will make it through the night with him.

PUL covers, just like AIOs, can last years depending upon the type of PUL. I had some Kushies that after 6 months were horribly cracked. My own AIOs and covers are on my second child and still look brand new.

Jennifer - posted on 01/19/2010

I made double layer fleece covers for my son and they work well for light pees but not for really big pees. His clothes get wet when he pees big time. When I make his under-roos I will probably use bamboo fleece for the inside and wool for the outside. I have heard good things about wool soakers, they would be worth looking into.
I think a PUL cover could last for at least two children if cared for well.

Danielle - posted on 01/06/2010

If it's a thicker fleece- you'll only need one layer for a good cover. 2 layers of a thinner fleece should work just fine IMO. Wool is fantastic as a cover- we rarely experience leaks. I use wool "soakers" (they're pull on covers) underneath clothes without problems. We also use wool shorts and pants instead of regular clothes sometimes. I would think a wool wrap style cover would also be completely fine underneath clothing.

I would wash everything before using it to get all the stabilizers and other chemicals out of the fabrics. Also, run everything through the dryer before use to seal up any holes in the PUL created by sewing.

A PUL cover should last through multiple children depending on the length of time each child uses it. My Logan has been in size mediums for almost the entire time he's been in diapers (he grew into mediums at 4 months and is seriously still using some of the same stuff 3 years later!) and he has a mudpie babies PUL cover that is still in AWESOME condition- no cracks in the PUL or anything. Some of our pockets though (like our Haute Pockets for example) did not fair as well and the PUL has cracked. So mostly I'd say that it varies from cover to cover based on the length of time it's used.

Katie - posted on 01/06/2010

I only know a little about wool. Here's what I know; You can make covers/soakers from recycled wool sweaters. You need to felt the wool first. This is done by washing and drying in hot. Then once you've sewn your cover you'll need to lanolize it. There is wool wash that contains lanolin called Eucalan. I use that to wash my covers and then I use a lanolin balm after washing and I apply that by rubbing a pea sized amount in my palm and patting the inside of the cover (mainly focusing on the crotch area and the sides). Hope that helps.

R - posted on 01/05/2010

P.S. My LO just turned 5 months old.

Sarah - posted on 01/05/2010

I washed everything before use, but not sure if you really have to wash the covers to prep them like the inserts. I just did, since I was washing the inserts anyway. I'm pretty sure a properly taken care of cover will last through more than one child. I'm on my second child with my bumgenius diapers and they still have plenty of life left, although I didn't start them right away with the first. I also have some used prowraps and bummis covers that are still great too. Hope that helps!