For newborns with sensitive skin, especially, cloth diapers can be a simple and affordable substitute. In addition to being practical, making them at home gives you control over the materials that come into contact with your baby’s skin.
We’ll walk you through the entire process of making gauze diapers in this article. It’s not as difficult as you might think, and with a few simple supplies, you can quickly prepare a supply of reusable diapers.
Whether you want to cut waste or save money, homemade gauze diapers are a great option to think about. Let’s get into the specifics and discover how to make them.
Features
Our mothers and grandmothers used to make cloth diapers. Many people still advise young people to use tried-and-true hygiene products that are simple to make yourself out of inexpensive, widely available, and—most importantly—environmentally friendly materials rather than getting carried away with "fashionable things."
As the name implies, gauze is used to make products, but the quality of this fabric these days is quite lacking; in years past, the material was more robust and the threads did not cling to one another or bunch up after washing. Nowadays, it’s difficult to find such gauze, so most moms who have to use cloth diapers make them out of any thin cotton fabric. Many suggest using old sheets or duvet covers, which have been washed many times and have gained the necessary softness to the touch.
The benefits of using gauze diapers are clear:
- economy – their cost is minimal, the price of a square meter of gauze does not exceed 30 rubles, and if you sew them from old linen, the costs will be zero;
- environmental friendliness – gauze is made from natural materials that do not contain harmful and toxic substances;
- hypoallergenic – children are not allergic to cotton materials, so when using them you don"t have to worry about allergic reactions in the form of rashes or swelling;
- gauze is a breathable material, so the baby doesn"t experience a "greenhouse" effect when wearing them.
But not everything is that easy; there are a number of serious drawbacks to using gauze diapers as well.
- unlike reusable analogues manufactured in factories with a special filler, gauze products absorb much less water, so they should be changed after each "surprise" – that is, about 20 times a day;
- when they absorb water, they get wet, and if parents do not have the opportunity to change them immediately (for example, on a walk), then irritations occur on the skin, and the baby himself feels uncomfortable being in a wet environment, so he becomes restless and whiny;
- cloth diapers should be washed constantly, and for newborns, ironed after each wash;
- it is quite difficult to secure fabric products to the baby"s body so that they do not slip off.
Because cloth diapers need to be changed even at night, neither the mother nor the infant can get a good night’s sleep. For this reason, such locally produced goods have been completely rejected.
We ought to ponder over the prevalent misconceptions surrounding the utilization of disposable diapers as well. Proponents of gauze products assert that the store-bought product causes leg curvature, interferes with potty training, and poses a risk to a boy’s genitourinary system and reproductive function. All of this is untrue.
There is no concrete evidence linking men’s ability to conceive to the diapers they wore as infants. The temperature of the testicles in diapers is not going to have an impact on future sexual function because spermatozoa are only produced in boys by the time they are 7 or 8 years old.
The curvature of the legs cannot be attributed to the use of diapers either, as children wearing them are in a position that is natural and does not interfere with their growth and development.
Regarding potty training, proponents of gauze diapers fail to consider that a child only starts to consciously control their bowel and urine movements at the age of 1.5. Typically, therapists and psychologists advise delaying potty training until a child is between 20 and 24 months old.
It follows that the only reasonable argument against using disposable diapers in favor of gauze ones is their exorbitant cost.
Each family chooses which diapers to use on its own, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of gauze or other soft fabric hygiene products. Grandmothers are not qualified to speak authoritatively in this situation because, in their day, gauze was the only option available, and they have nothing to compare it to.
Doctors typically advise sewing eight to ten pieces and using them for several hours each day in addition to store-bought waterproof clothing.
How to make?
Making cloth diapers at home requires careful base selection and processing. Whichever fabric you decide on, the most important thing is that it be incredibly soft, breathable, and pleasing to the touch.
It is preferable to create a blank with sides of at least 80 cm. Gauze or other fabric is cut into several squares; you do not have to cut out too big or too small ones because gauze usually needs to be folded in 2-4 layers. On the other hand, the side of the square can be reduced to 50 cm if you choose to use an old sheet as an absorbent base because this fabric is denser and requires less folding.
Try to estimate how much fabric you will need in advance. You should do this by starting with the child’s daily rate of bowel and bladder emptying, which typically occurs every 1.5 to 2 hours. However, you should prepare extra diapers in case the child freezes or his mother eats something that could cause the stool and urination to occur much more frequently.
You should practice folding diapers correctly shortly before giving birth; this is not as simple as it may seem on paper. The "Hungarian," "kerchief," and "triangle" are the most widely used techniques. Let’s take a step-by-step look at their manufacturing technology.
"Kerchief"
According to reviews, the "kerchief" is the most basic type of diaper for a newborn. Making it is very easy; just cut a piece of fabric into rectangles that are the same size, 90 cm wide by 180 cm long.
The finished product needs to be placed on the table, folded in half, and then folded in half again, but this time diagonally. This forms a sort of kerchief. It is optional to sew along the edges with a needle and thread or a machine, but doing so will increase the product’s longevity.
The child is laid on the kerchief, which is positioned with its angle downward on the changing table. After pulling the bottom corner between the baby’s legs and up to the navel, the side sections are wrapped around the body to secure the corner that was pulled from below. The more convenient the kerchief’s side edges are; in this instance, you can tie a tiny knot to keep the homemade diapers from falling off. The edges can just be gently tucked into the belt if this is not possible.
A young mother with little experience sewing or cutting can manage such a kerchief.
"Hungarian" option
The "Hungarian" option requires a little more work:
- you should prepare a square piece of fabric measuring 90×90 or 60×60 (depending on the height and weight of the baby);
- the square is folded twice lengthwise, and the resulting rectangle is folded in half again across so that a square is obtained at the exit;
- one of the corners of the resulting workpiece should be bent so that a kerchief is formed;
- The unfinished product must be carefully turned over to the other side – a rectangle will be noticeable, which must be turned into stripes several times.
The diaper is now prepared for use; simply place it over the infant so that the rectangular strip fits precisely between the legs and the edge triangles catch it to secure the structure.
"Triangle"
To make a diaper like this for a child, you will need a piece of gauze or fabric that is one meter long and sixty centimeters wide. You will also need a small ribbon for the ties. The piece needs to be folded in half to create a 60 by 20 cm rectangle.
When folding, you should concentrate on the top portion of the workpiece if your child is a boy. The newborn should be placed on top of the resulting diaper, which should be on the table with the back edge of the gauze slightly protruding past the baby’s back. To place the gauze diaper between the legs, fold the remaining portion of the workpiece once more and place it on the child. Next, you should use the braid to secure the canvas to the infant’s body.
On the other hand, the lower portion of the prepared diaper is highlighted if the product is used on a girl. Firstly, the product’s half is folded twice, after which the baby is placed on it and the remaining edge is tucked between the legs. Lastly, just like in the first instance, a ribbon is used to secure the fabric to the body.
It is advised to process this diaper through an overlock machine, as this will facilitate product swapping.
For both newborns and older babies, this approach is thought to be ideal since it makes it easy to crawl, run, and lie in them.
And it’s not hard for a young mother to replace them.
It should be mentioned that some parents choose a more contemporary approach, where fabric products are only offered as inserts; to achieve this, waterproof underwear is required.
Cut square pieces of gauze, fold them four to six times, and center the piece of fabric—for instance, a cut from an extra terry towel—into the gauze. To achieve a pad-like effect, you can either hand-stitch the edges or use a sewing machine.
It is put on the infant together with panties. It should be mentioned that compared to the products mentioned above, this one will be a little more dependable. But after every wash, it will take a little longer to dry than straightened gauze.
In emergency situations, a regular bandage will help save the situation if there is no gauze or soft fabric available. To do this, take a roll of tape, unwind it to a minimum length of three meters, and fold it numerous times.
Such a homemade diaper does not need to be washed and ironed, as bandages are typically sold already sterilized, but it should be noted that it will not be able to be used repeatedly.
| Step | Description |
| 1. Cut the gauze | Use scissors to cut a square or rectangular piece of gauze, around 80×80 cm for a newborn. |
| 2. Fold the gauze | Fold the gauze into several layers to increase its absorbency. |
| 3. Shape the diaper | Fold the gauze into a triangle or rectangle shape, depending on your preference. |
| 4. Place the diaper | Place the folded gauze under the baby, making sure it"s comfortable and covers the right areas. |
| 5. Secure the diaper | Wrap the sides around the baby’s waist and tuck them into the front. |
A quick and affordable method to give your baby soft, breathable diapers is to make gauze diapers at home.
You can make reusable diapers that are kind to your baby’s skin with a few simple materials and sewing abilities.
By minimizing waste from disposable options, using gauze diapers also helps to create a more sustainable environment.
Plus, these diapers are a flexible option for caring for newborns because you can adjust the size and thickness.
Creating your own gauze diapers at home is an easy and affordable substitute for store-bought ones, offering a gentle, breathable, and reusable option for delicate baby skin. Gentle diapers that are both comfortable and environmentally friendly can be made at home by parents by simply folding and cutting gauze into the appropriate size and shape.
