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Wool soakers

Rebecca - posted on 12/09/2010 ( 9 moms have responded )

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Okay ladies, here's what I've got. I've got a 12 month old in cloth (Fuzzi Bunz one-size) which I love, but I only have 5 of them. I've got a 2 1/2 year old still in diapers (disposables), and we don't do cloth because I don't have enough. I've got 2 dozen Gerber prefolds, and 8 diaper pins...I bought the pins at Wal-Mart just to have for emergencies, and I've needed them! And I used to use the Gerbers in my gDiapers, which leaked all the time and both boys have outgrown.

Now, if I had my druthers, I'd just get more Fuzzi Bunz, but money is my big problem...problem being, I don't have any! Ha ha! So, I'm trying to be as economical as I can with what I've got. Here's the thing, I can knit. I'm thinking of making some wool soakers for both my kids. I thought they wouldn't have to be washed as often and it would be the cheapest way to add diapers to my stash without having to shell out more money for Fuzzi Bunz (I will eventually for my next kid, but I don't have the money right now).

So, my questions are: How do you use a wool soaker? I'm assuming a fastened prefold with the soaker over it, but I'm just double checking. Even though the Gerber prefolds aren't high quality, would they be okay to use in conjunction with the soakers, since the soakers will absorb the leaks? And, how in the world am I going to use pins on two squirmy kids who don't like their diapers being changed? If I do this, I may have to get a couple of snappis...but my husband would kill me if he saw ANOTHER charge on the bank card when we are scrimping and saving!!!

Any suggestions, ideas, or encouragement would be so appreciated! Thanks, ladies!

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9 Comments

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Rebecca - posted on 01/21/2011

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GUESS WHAT??? I knitted two wool soakers and they are fabulous!!! I'm using the Gerber prefolds...I don't like them, but I haven't really had a problem with them. I'm going to get some "seconds" from little lions soon that are Indian prefolds. I've been using diaper pins, and they're working just fine. I even followed the pattern and realized that his legs were chunkier and the rise didn't need to be so high, and I was able to adjust for the next one and make it better! Thanks for all your help, and when I get more of these made, I'll probably be using them more than my pocket dipes. I can't WAIT to try them out on the next kid (no, I'm not pregnant :-( but maybe soon! We'll see!).

Lindsey - posted on 01/02/2011

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Watch a youtube video on how to fold flats and use the small baby blankets as cloth diapers. Get some fleece and velco and sew your own diapers. There are lots of patterns online. GL

Rebecca - posted on 01/02/2011

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Thanks, Lerin, those are some great suggestions! I've actually heard of using the towels, and I may just try that.

Lerin - posted on 01/02/2011

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Rebecca- my friend knits all of her wool soakers- she does longies & shorties and that's all she uses. She's CDing her 3rd child now, and is on a super-tight budget (recently divorced SAHM of 3- living with her parents so she can continue to stay home). She bought a pack of microfiber auto towels at Walmart and sews them to one side of the gerber prefolds and swears by those, just the MF is on the outside away from baby's skin and she uses a snappi. As far as liners, I don't think she uses any, but I use fleece ones that I just cut up (b/c I'm lazy) and they work great as liners.
She experimented with the fleece, microfiber, prefold & a wool cover to try to make an AIO or a pocket with the wool but never found anything workable b/c the fleece had to be washed, the wool had to be lanolized etc.
Hope this helps!

Rebecca - posted on 12/13/2010

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I bet I could try it with the one I've already got made, and if it absolutely doesn't work, then I can buy some microfleece at JoAnns. Thanks for your help!

Majaliwa - posted on 12/12/2010

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It sounds like a good idea (the pockets I mean). I've never used minky as a liner so I can't say if that would work but heck - anything is worth a shot right? :-)

good luck!

Rebecca - posted on 12/12/2010

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You know, I just remembered, when I was first getting into CD, I sewed a pocket dipe with minkee as the liner and a solid knit fabric on the outside with a layer of PUL in the middle to make it waterproof. I didn't sew it right, so it's NOT waterproof! But the thought came to me that if I just leave out the PUL and sew up some more with some velcro attached, I can have little pocket dipes with a liner already in it. Also, those Gerbers are small, and when I fold my prefold (angel wings, or something like that?) and bring the wings to the front to pin, it almost doesn't overlap at all. This way I could just tri-fold it and put it in the pocket! What do you think? I have all the materials here at home already, and wouldn't have to buy a thing!

Rebecca - posted on 12/12/2010

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Thanks! I wanted to get some Chinese (or Indian) prefolds, but can't afford them. So we're making due with what we have on hand! I love the idea of the liner, because my son got rashes in the gDiapers when we used the Gerber prefolds in them. I don't know if you're familiar with fabrics and sewing, but on one of the forums the ladies said minkee (http://www.fabricdepot.com/index.php?pag...) worked great as a liner for wicking. I have a ton of it...seriously probably 5 yards! I got it for free (yea!) from someone who didn't need it. I can make a contoured pattern and sew a double thickness of it. Do you think that would work? If not, I'd have to go buy more fabric.

Majaliwa - posted on 12/12/2010

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Hey Mama - couple of thoughts...

1. Wool soakers go over prefolds so 'yes' you would fasten the prefold and put the soaker over it

2. You're right, the Gerber prefolds aren't that great but the wool will absorb ALOT so that should make up for it. I would consider adding a liner to your prefold though - like one made from microfleece or silk - this will wick away moisture from baby's skin which you'll need since the prefolds you have aren't that absorbent. Moisture against baby's skin can cause a rash and the liner will help prevent that. To save money you can purchase some fabric from your fabric store and cut it to fit inside the diaper. You'll lay it on top of the prefold in between baby's bottom and the prefold fabric.

Hope that helps!

By the way - I think the wool soakers are a good idea for boosting the absorbency of your prefolds while on a budget.

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