Why Use Wool For Diaper Covers?
by
Marc Pehkonen
fuzbaby.com
Wool keeps sheep dry. Why? Wool's structure produces an elegant
combination of water repellence, breathability and moisture absorbency.
100% Wool 25x Magnification (left side) | 250x Magnification (right side).
Copyright © 2000 Marc Pehkonen of fuzbaby.
Used by permission |
At a microscopic
level wool consists of a series of overlapping scales
(called cuticles) which have a tendency to repel water droplets. This
structure, in combination with a thin coating of lanolin (an oil
secreted from the sheep's skin) causes water to run off the fibers. (The
duck's back effect is also a sheep's back effect.) Natural water
repulsion makes wool a good candidate for a diaper cover.
But there's more. Many artificial fibers also repel water, but that
alone does not make them a good choice for a diaper cover-a plastic bag
would fill this condition. It is important that the fabric also be able
to breathe, or the temperature next to baby's skin will rise.
Breathability (and hence reduced skin temperature) is an important
factor in preventing diaper rash. When a woven wool fabric is boiled,
the fibers become entangled and they form a lofty mesh with many tiny
air pockets. This process is called fulling. Fulled wool is a highly
water-resistant, breathable fabric.
But there's (yet) more. There are artificial fibers that both repel
water and breathe-Goretex is one such fabric. The third important
property of wool is that it also has the ability to absorb moisture at a
microscopic level. Beneath the water-repellent outer cuticle of the
wool fiber is a highly porous core. The voids in this core can store
minuscule water droplets-up to 30% by weight of the fiber itself-so that
wool is able to both absorb and transmit moisture simultaneously. This
is a very elegant, balanced mechanism, and there is no artificial fiber
that can do this.
This threefold combination of water-repellence, breathability and
moisture absorbency make wool unparalleled as a choice for diaper
covers.
It is also worth noting that even if an artificial fiber could be
manufactured that exactly duplicated the properties of wool, it would
still be a less desirable choice. Without exception, attempts to mimic
nature are highly energy and resource intensive, even if they achieve
their goal. Simple wool keeps sheep dry. It will keep your baby dry
too.
Would you like to try wool diaper covers on your baby? Wool soakers
(pull-on covers) are easy to make. Knit or crochet your own wool
soakers from the Down Under Diaper Cover pattern at Born to Love.
If you are looking for ready-made wool covers, many family-owned
businesses make them. The fabric for
AJ's Wonderful Wool Soakers is
machine knitted, and these wrap around covers are finished by hand.
WoollyBears
are old-fashioned, crocheted soakers.
JoBos offer side snap, wool jersey covers.
And finally, our family business, fuzbaby, has the fuzbomb, a wrap
around cover made from fulled wool fabric.
copyright © 2000 fuzbaby
About the Author:
Marc Pehkonen is a Materials Scientist and an enthusiastic supporter of the
family business, fuzbaby, run by his wife, Lori Taylor. Marc has worked
on sheep farms in New Zealand, sheared sheep, spun wool, and he is a knitter.
He is the father of two cloth-diapered, wool-covered children. They love wool
diaper covers, wool coats, wool blankets, wool sweaters, wool hats, wool shoes.
This family loves wool.
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