Wool Diaper Covers 101: Newborn to Potty Training

Aloha! This video is all about wool diaper covers! I will start by sharing why I love woolies. Then I will show you a range of styles of wool diaper covers for cloth diapering a newborn through potty training a toddler. Lastly, I will answer some FAQ's about using wool as a cloth diaper cover. This video includes:
- Wool diaper covers 101 00:00
-Why I love wool diaper covers 00:22
-Styles of wool covers (side snapping, drop-flap, soaker, shorties, bubbles) 02:18
-Do wool diaper covers work in hot weather or the summertime? Yes! 06:43
-What do you use underneath a wool diaper cover? Prefold, flat, fitted, training pants 07:48
-How often do you wash wool diaper covers? 11:11
-Are wool diaper covers waterproof? Demo 11:56
-How do you wash wool diaper covers? Demo 13:44
-How do you lanolize wool diaper covers? Demo 17:11
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POTTY LEARNING RESOURCES (books, classes, supplies)
www.ecpeesy.co...
RELATED VIDEOS
Updated Wool Care Guide (Washing and Lanolizing): • LESSON 7 Wool Care: Ho...
Toddler Wardrobe Based on Wool Diaper Covers: • Minimalist Toddler WAR...
PRODUCT LINKS
Disclosure: If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase I will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! 💖
Babee Greens Classic Merino Wool Diaper Cover:
www.greenmount...
Wool Flaparap (for babies who use the potty):
www.bornready....
Update: The Flaparaps shop has closed. 😢
Truly Charis (soaker, bubble shorts, and many other styles):
www.ecpeesy.co...
⭐️ Follow my link to receive 10% off your first order! (The discount amount was changed after I filmed this video. It's still a good deal!)
Little Green Honu (shorties):
No longer stocking
Rainy Day Woolies (wool bubble shorts):
www.ecpeesy.co...
Update: Shop is closed 😪
WoolUps (wool soakers to wear over training pants):
www.ecpeesy.co...
🌟Receive $5 off with coupon ECPEESYTINY
Cloth prefolds, flats, and fitted diapers:
www.greenmount...
Snappi Diaper Fastener:
amzn.to/2M75xlX
Bandie Diaper Belt:
hyenacart.com/...
Under the Nile Organic Cotton Training Pants:
www.ecpeesy.co...
⭐️ Follow my link to receive 15% off your first order!
Buncha Farmers Stain Remover Stick:
amzn.to/2WehuuG
Eucalan Wool Wash:
amzn.to/2SEhMc9
Now Lanolin:
amzn.to/2C3ykmZ
Unicorn Fibre Wash:
amzn.to/2M5QdWV
Charis N' Ewe Wool Care:
www.ecpeesy.co...
Organic Caboose Wool Wet Bag:
www.ecpeesy.co...
Little Bunny Bear Wool Changing Pad:
www.ecpeesy.co...
⭐️ Receive 10% off with coupon ECPEESY.
CONTACT
Email Heidi at ecpeesy.com for brand collaborations. We are located in Honolulu, Hawaii USA.
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LET'S CHAT!
Are you considering trying wool diaper covers? Are you already a fan of wool?

[@ECpeesy]

As always, you can find links to the products I mentioned in the description box below the video!

[@earlgreyknits1178]

Thank you so much for making this video! It was incredibly informative.

[@ECpeesy]

You're welcome! Are you considering using wool covers? 💜 Heidi

[@jahnelcostales3960]

Aloha! I am also from Hawaii. I am having my second child and have decided to do cloth diapers. Thank you so much for this video very informative and answered a lot of my questions. Mahalo!

[@ECpeesy]

Aloha! Maybe we can meet up when I get back to Hawaii. Congratulations on your baby on-the-way! I really enjoyed using cloth diapers from birth- so comfy for my baby. 💜 Heidi

[@jessicasimonbaggarly1526]

Thanks for this great video - we share it all the time to our cloth diapering families!

[@ECpeesy]

Thanks for sharing! I love cloth diaper services. They make cloth diapering so easy! 💜 Heidi

[@pocofarm9206]

Great video! You should add at the beginning that wool diapers don't shed as many microplastics constantly into water with washing, or into your home! Just the spandex bits create micro plastic pollution

[@ECpeesy]

Good point! That's one of the benefits of natural fibers. And some of the wool diaper covers like Babeegreens are 100% wool, so no microplastics.

[@that_one_kid901]

What a great video! My baby will be due in a month and I have been doing a lot of research on cloth diapering but did not want to use PUL covers. For me it defeats the purpose of choosing cloth diapering for eco friendly reasons.

[@ECpeesy]

Congratulations on your baby on-the-way! I love all-natural cloth diapering with organic cotton and wool. And wool covers are so soft on a newborn! Wishing you the best, 💜Heidi

[@that_one_kid901]

Thank you Heidi! 💚

[@chelseakorte7173]

Thank you for this video. It is so informative and helped me feel better about wool. It is always suggested as something to use during EC, but it can seem intimidating. I feel comfortable purchasing some wool covers now and will be coming back to this video often for tips and how to care.

[@ECpeesy]

Yay! I'm glad you're willing to give wool a try. It took me until my second kid to be brave enough to use wool covers full time. I'm planning to do an updated Wool Care video using Charis 'N Ewe products. It will probably be a couple months before I upload the video. Just placed an order for a bunch of wool wash and lanolin products and I'm waiting to receive them. 💜 Heidi

[@chelseakorte7173]

Do you feel the products you wash and lanolize with make all the difference to how well the wool performs? Or is it more the technique, the procedure of washing and lanolizing?

[@ECpeesy]

@@chelseakorte7173 I'd say both. You want to use a wool wash or baby wash that really gets the wool clean. Then you want to lanolize properly with pure lanolin to make sure it completely covers the wool.

[@reyankirstan6229]

Apologies if there was already addressed in the comments! My only hesitation is getting poo on them! Is it just all about getting a perfect tight fit with the prefold so no poo messes on the wool? Any tips? Thank you and I'm so glad I found your channel. I'm not even pregnant yet! but I'm going to be a wool master by the time baby comes. manifesting! : )

[@danikagpenner]

Thank you for such an informative video! Was questioning the plastic covers and had no idea these natural fibers alternatives existed!! I am pregnant with our first and wondering what is your recommendation on how much of everything to get? Would 5 newborn covers be too much? About how long until they would outgrow those? I don't know where to start!

[@TheDIYLovingMommy]

Thanks for this very informative video. We do practice EC as well from the very beginning, yet to try wool though.

[@ECpeesy]

You're welcome! Wool is awesome. I just ordered a couple more pairs of woolies for my daughter.

[@TheDIYLovingMommy]

I'm planning to make one myself soon :)

[@ECpeesy]

@@TheDIYLovingMommy Ah yes, a DIY wool diaper cover! There is a free pattern called Katrina's Sew Quick Soaker Pattern.

[@TheDIYLovingMommy]

@@ECpeesy thanks a lot. I'll check it out.

[@planetruther]

Can I buy or make lanolin spray so I don't have to go through the emulsifying and soaking process each time? Could I wash the wool diaper cover and then spray with lanolin?

[@ECpeesy]

Yes, you can use spray lanolin! You may want to spray the wool a couple times to build up the layer of lanolin. It might not give as thick of a coat as a lanolin bath would. I believe both Charis N Ewe and Bumby Wool offer spray lano. 💜 Heidi

[@planetruther]

@@ECpeesy Wow Amazing! Thank you sooo much for the fast reply! :)) In due in November with my 1st and am so excited to do EC with cloth diaper backup!

[@vanessacharette117]

Thanks for the great video! What can I use as a natural "stay dry" liner for baby overnights? I use hemp bamboo blend stretchy flats, have you heard of using unlanolized merino wool as the barrier against the skin, of do you just use creams/corn starch? I don't practice elimination communication at night or during super long naps. Thanks!

[@ECpeesy]

Hi! I know of three natural options for cloth diaper liners. They may not all give as much of a stay dry feel as the synthetic options, but they should help some. Organic cotton velour, silk, or un-lanolized wool. Silk is often used when healing a rash. Fruit of the Womb Diapers sells silk liners. I really like organic cotton velour against the skin for day or night. I have also used wool liners. I like ones that are thin and soft (such as Babeegreens). Cotton liners can be washed along with diaper laundry, but wool liners should be hand washed with wool wash and allowed to hang dry. I personally don't use diaper creams, unless healing a rash. Maybe using one overnight is the norm! I still change diapers at night, so I didn't think to do that. 💜 Heidi

[@magicmegan4290]

I'm having my first baby. How many infant baby greens wool covers do you recommend?

[@ECpeesy]

Congratulations on your baby on-the-way! I recommend having at least 4 Babeegreens wool covers if you will be using exclusively wool covers. Having 6-8 would allow you to wash less often. 💜 Heidi

[@IcedCupcakes]

PUL is also not waterproof. It's water-resistant. If the insert is super saturated, PUL can feel wet on the outside too. But I guess it's less breathable than wool but still, it's too not completely waterproof.

[@ECpeesy]

Good point.

[@madamefirefly2911]

PUL is indeed waterproof. If you are experiencing wetness on the outside then your PUL is damaged.

[@oliviadell5618]

Will the fat of the lanolin clog the sink?

[@ECpeesy]

It could. Some people prefer to pour the extra water outside or on house plants. 💜 Heidi

[@marleen3397]

Do you have a video about elimination communication?

[@ECpeesy]

Hi! I have a playlist about Elimination Communication Supplies and a separate playlist called Real Life Elimination Communication. I also have blog posts on the EC Peesy blog about how to start EC. Is there something in particular you're looking for? -Heidi kzbin.info/aero/PLouEKTffGCsnlraXg8soHZLK6MdWQVjgF

[@alifewithluna4134]

I know this video is a year old, but hopefully someone can answer. Do these wool covers hold the wetness the way a plastic cover will? I mean is if I sit my baby on the floor and lift them up will there be a damp spot on the floor or will it be all contained? I hope that made sense

[@ECpeesy]

As long as you use enough absorbency under the wool cover it should hold the wetness in just fine. I have never personally experienced a compression leak while using wool covers from newborn through potty training. It's also important that the wool cover is well lanolized, since it's the lanolin that provides the water repellent property. A new wool care video is coming soon! 💜Heidi

[@amberslilrose3954]

The lady who makes the Bubble shorts hasn’t come back yet! 🤧😭 I saw them 2 years ago and couldn’t wait to have another baby so that I could try them out. Our daughter just turned 4 months!

[@ECpeesy]

That's too bad that Rainy Day Woolies hasn't reopened. I think she went back to work outside the home. Truly Charis also offers wool bubble shorts, although they are more expensive. Have you tried a buy/sell/trade group like "Wool Love" on Facebook? 💜 Heidi

[@ECpeesy]

Are you considering trying wool diaper covers? Are you already a fan of wool?

[@alexakriss4697]

Hello! Thanks for all the helpful information. We'd love to use wool with our first baby on the way, but are concerned about the price to get started and still have some questions. 1. How many wool covers do we need to have for a newborn if we use wool full time? The uncertainty of getting poo on the cover and not having enough covers concerns me. 2. I haven't found many one-size wool cover options. How many covers and in what sizes should we expect to need from newborn to potty trained? How snuggly/loosely do we want the wool cover or pant to fit in each size? 3. Lastly (for now, lol), my hubs and I really hoping to avoid flats, snappies, and excessive folding, however fitteds aren't really the cheapest. Having said that, we'd also like to avoid getting poo on the cover as much as possible. We're both sold on laying a prefold in the cover (also really like their price), but In my head fitteds seem to be the safest for containing poo. Should we consider one-size fitteds? Or how many fitteds would we need in each size? Should we use both prefolds and fitteds? Sorry for all the questions! I'm just trying to wrap my head around everything we would need for a simple wool system that fits our lifestyle and see how we can afford it. I appreciate your help in advance!

[@ECpeesy]

Hi Alexa, Are you planning to practice elimination communication and offer your baby opportunities to use the potty or just rely on diapers? I talked a bit more in depth about the newborn cloth diapers we used in my video on newborn EC supplies: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYqkdmCLj6uVipY. Since we were catching some of the poops in the potty, or the second half of a poop, not as much was getting in the diapers or on the covers. One great way to reduce the cost is to buy used wool covers through a group like "Wool Love" on Facebook. I bought new and then sold later and recouped about half of the cost. It may be possible to buy used and then resell at a similar price. 1) I would advise at least 4 wool covers for the newborn stage. If I had it all to do again I would get 2 newborn size and 2 small size Babee Greens Merino Wool Classic Diaper Covers that snap at the sides. I would get about 12 preemie prefolds and 24 newborn prefolds from Green Mountain Diapers to lay trifolded into the covers. 2) I would start out only buying the couple smallest sizes of wool covers, so you can see if you like the style and see how fast your baby grows and how chubby your baby is. My baby was only 5 lbs 13 oz at birth and had super thin legs. And then she turned into a super chubby baby with huge thighs! For any size/stage you should be able to get away with 4-6 covers. I like that the Babee Greens side-snapping covers fit snugly so they can hold a prefold in place. At the toddler stage (standing/walking) I like to use pull-on style wool shorts. They are looser fitting so they won't hold a prefold in place. I like using them with cloth training pants, which are similar to fitted diapers but not as absorbent. That way the toddler can stand up while being changed. 3) When I was preparing for my baby, most of the advice I read said to use fitted diapers under wool covers. I started with 24 newborn Cloth-eez Workhorse fitted diapers. What I didn't expect was that they were too big at first, so even the pee leaked right out the leg holes until my baby grew into them. If I could do it again I would either get about 6 fitted diapers or none at all. I hope that helps. I know there is so much to factor in when choosing cloth diapers. I think the best approach is just to try things out as you go, rather than buying an entire stash before your baby arrives.

[@chelseakorte7173]

I am sure you answer this in other videos you have made but for going out with the baby in the car seat, would you use a wool cover or something more waterproof? You mentioned that the urine could soak through a really soaked diaper if there was a lot of compression on the cover for a longer period of time. I still use disposables going out because I am anxious about not having the right diapering system.

[@ECpeesy]

As long as you use an absorbent enough cloth diaper underneath and put on a fresh one before a long car ride, the wool diaper cover should be fine and not leak. I liked using fitted diapers under interlock wool while we were traveling. Never had an issue in the car, train, bus, airplane. Hope that helps! 💜 Heidi

[@chelseakorte7173]

Thank you! I have noticed at home that even when my daughter has her wool soaker on, she can sit down for a short amount of time (like minutes) after I have missed a pee and the carpet is damp underneath her. I am using Gerber prefolds that are not very absorbent, so maybe that is why it is soaking through so fast? (Wool isn’t a miracle worker to contain all that the Gerber prefolds can’t contain, maybe?) OOOOR perhaps I didn’t lanolize well enough?

[@melissaskaggs7229]

Or you can use diaper pins😂. They didn’t have those type of attachments when mine were babies. You just have to make sure your fingers are between the pin and the baby. I did poke myself on rare occasion…but never once poked any one of my babies.

[@nicolemccarthy5192]

Is bumby single layer interlock wool cover OK to use overnight? Thank you 💓

[@ECpeesy]

I would think so, as long as it's lanolized! I only have a Bumby Abrazo, which is two layers. But many interlock wool covers are just one layer. 💜 Heidi

[@empenn12]

Very helpful thank you! Are there many issues with "blow out" poops when using wool? That is my biggest hesitation... afraid of any mess.

[@ECpeesy]

Hi! We didn't have blow out poops while using wool diaper covers, but we were also practicing elimination communication, so many of the poops were caught in the potty. To avoid blow outs it's nice to either use a wool cover with elastic around the legs, like Babeegreens, or use fitted diapers under the wool.

[@tylercooke6893]

I’m no expert, but from the research I’ve done most people say that wool covers are the best at blow out prevention.

[@catherinelindelof6630]

Organic caboose is closed now too ☹️ any ideas for other wool wet bags?

[@ECpeesy]

I know, so sad. I'm not sure of another place offering wool wet bags. I would try searching Etsy. Or make your own! If you could find an old wool blanket to upcycle, it would probably be pretty easy to sew. Let me know if you find one! 💜 Heidi

[@nicolemccarthy5192]

How many soakers do you recommend for potty learning to go over cotton undies ? Thank you ❤

[@ECpeesy]

I like to have anywhere from 2 to 4 woolies. We often used cotton training pants at home with nothing over them, so I could see right away when they were wet. We added wool over for nights and outings. 💜 Heidi

[@belenvaqueiro3612]

How do we sanitize them if we buy used wool covers?

[@ECpeesy]

Hi! There are a couple ways to sanitize used wool diaper covers. You could put the wool cover in a bag and freeze it for at least 12 hours. Another option is to put it in a pan of water and bring the water almost to a boil, but turn off the heat before the water starts to bubble. Do not agitate the wool at all while it is in the hot water. This method may cause some of the dye to bleed. Allow the water to cool before removing the wool. After using either method I would wash and lanolize the wool as usual.

[@belenvaqueiro3612]

thank you!! I did the freezing method and washed and lanolized so excited!!

[@ECpeesy]

@@belenvaqueiro3612 I hope they work out well for you ! 💗 Heidi

[@CaringWithCarrie]

How early did you start using the training underpants?

[@ECpeesy]

My daughter started wearing cloth training pants at home during the day at 3 month old. I used them without a cover but had her lay on a wool puddle pad as a water repellent layer. 💜 Heidi

[@CaringWithCarrie]

EC peesy awesome thank you! I love your videos because they get down to the nitty gritty better than Andrea’s do. (Tiny undies creator) I’m not even pregnant yet but hope to be soon and I want to potty train from birth. I know the information can be overwhelming so I’m trying to learn all I can learn now! You’ve definitely convinced me that wool is the best cover (: are wool covers pretty expensive?

[@ECpeesy]

@@CaringWithCarrie I like details! Wool covers can be expensive. You can save money through buying used, choosing upcycled covers, or making your own wool covers from upcycled wool sweaters.

[@TomahawkH]

nice styles of diapers

[@ECpeesy]

Thanks!

[@thatonegirlthatcanneversleep]

How do you wash them?

[@ECpeesy]

I cover how to wash wool diaper covers starting at 13:44. There is an index in the description box below the video. 💜 Heidi

[@risenqueen7751]

Could I use soap nuts?

[@ECpeesy]

To wash wool diaper covers? I don't know about that... I have used Soap Nuts to wash cotton cloth diapers, but they didn't seem quite strong enough. I try to stick to something formulated specifically for wool. 💜 Heidi

[@madamefirefly2911]

Everything I have seen in the cloth community says no.