Why Polar Fleece?

[RoarsomeMum]

Hope this post makes sense

Why is polar fleece a good liner?? I know you guys say it helps keep bubs dry, but how/why? My MIL keeps saying OMG, Polar fleece would get saturated and give bubs a rash.. and other people who I have showed the nappies too go "they are not made of polar fleece are they, would not have thought that was a good material for a nappy lining" :confused:

I dont belive MIL, but wondering what the go is.. I guess I want to knwo what other types of fabric are good and is there a "word" for what makes a good liner, so I can google it? Like "waterproof or water repellent"?

[QTB]

ok, well i dont know how or why, but i was thinking the same thing (about it being wet)... but iv used it, and always use it, and its always dry, bubs bum is dry, even if the nappy is soaking wet!

[Shanaynay]

There is a good explanation of why on some nappy site... I'll see if I can find it :)

Here it is, taken from ozclothnappies.org





* Why can polar fleece be used for both covers and liners?

Thanks to Ruth for this information.
http://www.ozclothnappies.org/images/fleecefabric.jpg Synthetic fleece is hydrophobic (water hating) so it never "wants" to be near water. If you leave the corner of a terry, flannelette or hemp nappy soaking in the trough, and leave the rest of the nappy dry, hanging over the edge of the trough, and then come back a few hours later, you will probably find that the whole nappy is wet! This is because the water has been wicked up the fabric, like a lamp wick drawing up fuel. Polyester fleece doesn't do this.
Many people talk about synthetic fleece "wicking the urine away from the baby's bottom" but in fact it is forced through the synthetic fleece when the baby wees right up against it, and it is the absorbent material in the core of the nappy (cotton, hemp etc) that does the wicking, keeping the moisture away from the baby's skin. It just so happens that if the inner core of a nappy that is surrounded by synthetic fleece, is absolutely saturated, the water has to go somewhere, and because fleece has tunnels through it (hence the breathablility) some water is able to be forced through the hydrophobic synthetic fleece and into the cotton clothes that baby is wearing. This is why their clothes can feel dampish if they have been sitting in a carseat as well, because some of the water has been forced out where the belt or bottom of the car seat is pressing onto the nappy firmly for a long time (compression wicking).
Fleece covered nappies work really well - so long as you either change often enough or put more stuffing inside your pocket, and so long as you have the correct grade of fleece. A fleece cover, or fleece pocket nappy can easily last all night with your baby's clothes staying dry, so long as you boost well and have enough material in the nappy to absorb anything your baby can produce in the ten or so hours that they are in the nappy overnight. Many people personally prefer synthetic fleece (or wool!) covers or pocket nappies over waterproof fabrics (especially at night time), because if the nappy does occasionally get sopping wet, at least the baby's skin stays dry as opposed to being steamy and saturated behind a waterproof barrier.
If your fleece cover starts to wick or leak after a while - the commonest problem is detergent buildup. Follow the instructions under "How do I strip fleece? (http://www.ozclothnappies.org/info.html#strip)" to fix this. One other possibility is that the baby has grown (or you're putting more boosting in the nappy) and the fleece is overstretched and therefore wicking. Unstretched fleece works best.

[Chelle123]

I don't use cloth nappies but one day I was in Spotlight and a woman was buying polar fleece to make coats for horses because it repels water.

[RoarsomeMum]

Oh!!! Thanks Guys!! Phineas I will have to print that info off! :thumbsup: Thanks!!!

[Shanaynay]

There is heaps of good info on the ozcloth site, maybe print off the FAQ's and give them to your MIL to read :D

[Little_Toad]

why not just use microfleece?
that wicks away the moisture?

[aardvark]

There are some of us who need to avoid the synthetics, too, so we avoid fleece liners or covers.

DS's Eczema worsens if he wears polar fleece or similar, and mine worsens if I handle it.

I think the reason is that it IS so very drying - the property which makes it a good liner - makes it hell on some sensitive skins.

[becstar]

My son gets rash if I use polar fleece as a liner too often. You can also use microfleece or flannel or silk or suede cloth.....there are plenty of options.