Nappy covers?

[tickle]

Hi there,
Just after some advice about your experience with covers.
Wondering if the PUL are better than the wool...
I like the idea of the wool better as they look more comfy, but I've heard they leak.
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks:)

[rebeccamum]

Naturally wool covers are more breathable than PUL so recommended to use at night. However, they aren't ideal to use for long period of time during the day especially in a pram or car seat because air flow is restricted. I'm not sure about leak problem though but someone else may give you comments on that :)

I want to try wool covers too but DD has eczema so I have to be careful when choosing fabric for her. I've heard that pure wool or lanolin can irritate sensitive skin.

[Mor]

Ying... I know someone else who has wool alergies and similarly avoids wool covers on their baby... they loved the idea of wool soakers being so breathable... and ended up having a soaker knitted in acrylic yarn. I suspect that a nice tight knit would be fairly effective, at least for day time use. you might want to search/ask at Nappycino.com about it?

[H&B'sMum]

You do have to lanose (sp???) the wool cover every 6 weeks or so. But they are best for night time as they are more breathable than PUL. As Mor said have alook on nappycino there are heaps of WAHM's who knitted beautiful soakers.
If you like PUL covers just have a look on your fav cloth nappy wbsite and look under their covers section, there will be heaps to chose from. ALso try ebay there seem to be a heap on there atm I won one yesterday for $16.50 it's a Sesame Street one, and for SS fans like us I'm very happy with it.
Good luck searching, just something else to become additcated too E!!!!! ;)

[sopolicha]

Karena - I was bidding on the stripey one and the cow one from the same seller. I went out and forgot about them. Anyway I am going to have a go at making my own very soon.

[jarrahsmumma]

I use wool covers all the time...i have a Possum pouches one for nights and then some little wool shorts for days. I wash them when they get smelly (about every 2 weeks) and lanolise them if they need it.

I have never had a leak from them, and even an emergency set i used (which hadn't been lanolised) didn't leak overnight.

I love that they are natural, breathe better than PUL and you can still get funky colours from them.

hope this helps some one

[LucyE]

I'm a huge fan of wool covers. I loved the fact that they are natural and breathable. We have never had a leak with wool but then we've always used pretty good quality fitted nappies underneath with reduces the chances. I actually went against the trend and used them from newborn. I found them to be not much work at all - 3 or 4 in rotation so only had to wash every 8 weeks or so.

I have a frontloader so just chucked them in there with any other woollens going and used a wool wash (Softly I think is the brand). I personally like to lanolise them after each wash because the detergent strips away the lanolin which reduces their performance. Lanolising is really easy too - just dissolve some Lansinoh (you know, the nipple cream) with boiling water in a bucket, mix in enough cold water to get a 'warm' mix suitable for wool. Put in your wool covers, give them a bit of a swish and swirl and leave overnight. I would then tip most of the water out of the bucket and put them back into the machine on a spin cycle only (don't rinse out the lanolin). Dry them as you would any other woollens, I put mine flat on our airer out of direct sunlight.

These days we use mostly pocket nappies but I still had to buy a gorgeous embroided New England wool cover for his current size. It's been dyed a aqua marine colour and has little fishes swimming around some marine grasses.

The benefits of PUL over wool are that they: are trimmer; you can throw them in with your normal nappy wash; they dry in no time; and don't need airing between uses. If you plan on using cloth on subsequent children though, PUL won't last as long as wool.

For those who like the idea of wool but can't use it, check out the many fleece covers available. They have the benefits of breathability like wool but don't need any of the special care.

[sundaymum]

I remember reading somewhere that often people who think they are allergic to wool, are actually allergic to the chemicals used to extract the natural lanolin from wool.
My daughter was allergic to the chemicals in disposable nappies, and I tried cloth nappies, with much success. I use an untreated wool nappy cover, by Lanacare (a Danish company, using Australian wool) sold online here in Australia.

From my understanding, the untreated wool retains the medicinal properties of the lanolin, and that most wool covers are notmadefrom this untreated state of wool. My daughter has hadno reactions to this particular wool cover, but does have reactions to fleece and other synthetic fibres.

I'd enjoy hearing more about the properties of untreated wool, if anyone has any more information...

In the mean time, the Lanacare cover is very nice, light, so my DD wears it by day and night. It is a pull up style cover, and allows her lots of freedom to move.