A little cloth diaper history for ya!

The History of the Diaper:

American Indian mothers once collected the soft insides of milkweed to pack around their babies before strapping them into a papoose board. Eskimo moms gathered moss during the short summer months and placed it inside the animal skins in which they carried their babies.

Over the years, mothers have relied on a variety of methods to diaper their babies. From prairie plants to plastic-covered paper to all-natural cotton, busy moms have tried to balance what's best for their baby with what's convenient for them.

When Babies Wore Diapers For Days:

It's hard to believe, but in Elizabethan times, babies were treated to a fresh diaper every four days! Little sons and daughters of royalty were more fortunate - and changed once a day. The diapers themselves were squares of cloth held on with string tied around the baby's stomach.

When the pioneers pushed westward in covered wagons, mothers made all their children's diapers, carefully rolling and hand-stitching the edges. Wet diapers were seldom washed, just hung by the fireplace to dry.

The first all-cotton diapers were made in America. A 21- by 40-inch rectangle was folded and tucked and pinned. Mothers might buy 6 to 7 dozen diapers to keep up with their baby.

Mothers Declare War on Diaper Washing:

Diaper services grew all over the country during World War II. Many mothers were working in defense plants making airplanes, tanks and submarines instead of washing diapers at home.

Back in the 1940's, fresh cotton diapers were delivered wrapped in blue paper. In the evening, the family gathered around the radio to listen to the news and Fibber McGee - and fold diapers.

Diapers Shrink and Grow

During the Eisenhower era (1950's), there was another big change in the diaper. Mrs. Hellerman, owner of a diaper service in Milwaukee, went to the Kendall Company, which made Curity TM brand diapers, with a new invention. It was a fold that put extra cotton layers in the centre of the diaper and made it about the right size for most babies. The fold was sown shut, and the prefolded diaper was born. No more family folding parties!

A few years later, Kendall Company began making the prefolded diaper in a smaller size especially for diaper services. They fit newborns from a "premie" to a baby 10 pounds.

The Plastic Generation

In the 60's, "use it and toss it" and "heat and eat" sold a lot of new products. Plastic was "pop" and "mod". Plastic-covered paper diapers were a big hit. As the years went on, reusable tab closures and gathered legs were added to the diapers. One of the most recent technologies is the addition of acrylic acid polymer salts, a chemical that turns to gel when wet, to absorb moisture.

Hospitals Put Babies Back in Cotton

Environmental issues are one reason why hospitals are taking another look at all-natural cotton diapers. But what's really convincing hospitals to switch back to cotton is its softness and ability of accredited diaper services to surpass hospital standards of cleanliness.

No More Rinsing, Pins Disappear

And today's diaper services offer convenience to parents too.

Clean cotton diapers are delivered to the home every week. At the same time, soiled diapers, which have been placed in a special deodorizing hamper after use, are whisked away to be washed with environmentally friendly products, including a bacteriostat that helps prevent odour. Most diaper services offer waterproof diaper covers which simply wrap over diapers and close with tabs, no pins needed. The convenience of diaper services has created a viable alternative to the disposable.

(Reprinted with permission from Diapers Unlimited, Cotton Diaper Service, Kalamazoo, MI)