Posted by: Amy Fong
This week (Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2015) is Diaper Need Awareness Week, an initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network in the US, bringing awareness to the fact that one out of every three families struggles to afford the cost of diapers. (Here in Canada, if you are struggling to purchase diapers you can apply for a free loan of cloth diapers through Cloth for a Cause - which is currently serving metro Vancouver through the Vancouver Island Chapter.) One way to address diaper need is to "think outside the box" of disposable diapers. Cloth diapering is a great alternative option -- by investing in a set of cloth diapers you can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over the cost of using disposables. To get started with cloth diapering for free or very little money, you can even re-purpose materials that you already have in your household -- such as T-shirts, tea towels, cotton terry towels and flannel receiving blankets. For example, a flannel receiving blanket can simply be pad-folded and laid on a reusable waterproof diaper cover. If you want to go a little fancier, you can turn your materials into fitted diapers. Here is a picture tutorial showing how I re-purposed my old flannel PJ pants (which I was about to throw out due to a large rip) into a fitted cloth diaper for my daughter. I think my pants are enjoying their second life!
This week (Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2015) is Diaper Need Awareness Week, an initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network in the US, bringing awareness to the fact that one out of every three families struggles to afford the cost of diapers. (Here in Canada, if you are struggling to purchase diapers you can apply for a free loan of cloth diapers through Cloth for a Cause - which is currently serving metro Vancouver through the Vancouver Island Chapter.) One way to address diaper need is to "think outside the box" of disposable diapers. Cloth diapering is a great alternative option -- by investing in a set of cloth diapers you can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over the cost of using disposables. To get started with cloth diapering for free or very little money, you can even re-purpose materials that you already have in your household -- such as T-shirts, tea towels, cotton terry towels and flannel receiving blankets. For example, a flannel receiving blanket can simply be pad-folded and laid on a reusable waterproof diaper cover. If you want to go a little fancier, you can turn your materials into fitted diapers. Here is a picture tutorial showing how I re-purposed my old flannel PJ pants (which I was about to throw out due to a large rip) into a fitted cloth diaper for my daughter. I think my pants are enjoying their second life!
I cut and sewed this fairly quickly, wonky seams and all, as I wasn't planning to enter this in any crafting competitions. I just wanted it to be comfortable and functional. The fitted diaper is intended to be worn under a reusable diaper cover such as a PUL, wool or fleece diaper cover.
Do you have any articles of cotton clothing, towels or flannel receiving blankets that have seen better days? If so, consider giving them a second life as a cloth diaper!
Do you have any articles of cotton clothing, towels or flannel receiving blankets that have seen better days? If so, consider giving them a second life as a cloth diaper!
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