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Fleece Diaper Covers (for Vegans too!)
By Tricia Ballad

Enter into any cloth diapering discussion and you’re likely to end up debating textiles. Which fabric works? Which doesn’t? Which absorbent material is best? But for vegans, it’s not enough to consider what works best for us. It’s also important to consider where the fabrics come from, how they’re processed and what impact they have on the larger world.

Many cloth diapering experts tout wool as a great way to keep wetness inside the diaper. “Wool is a dynamic fiber and has the ability to change to meet conditions,” explains Sarah Gesiakowski of Pinstripes and Polkadots. However, what’s a family to do when wool is simply not an option — either for moral reasons or because of skin sensitivities?

For vegans, fleece covers are the way to go. Fleece is a 100 percent polyester or poly-lycra-nylon blend that is treated to increase its water resistance. Fleece diaper covers have a water resistance similar to wool covers, are easy to throw into the wash along with the rest of the diapers and have minimal animal impact. Gena Gregors, a cloth diapering retailer in Kansas, comments, “My son prefers his fleece covers to any other diaper. They are soft, and the sizing is just perfect.”

Learn the lingo
Look at any description of fleece diaper covers and you’re likely to find quite a few terms to learn: “Malden Mills,” “microfleece,” “WindPro” — oh, my!

The important thing to remember is that fleece is measured by its weight. The heavier the weight, the more moisture-resistant the fleece. A 200- or 300-weight fleece is typical for diaper covers. Microfleece is the lightest weight fleece and is normally used with another waterproof layer. Microfleece acts as a stay-dry liner that wicks moisture away from baby’s skin. “Wetness is pulled away from baby and into an absorbent layer of fabric beneath the microfleece,” explains Teri of Full Moon Baby Gear.

Malden Mills is the largest fleece manufacturer in the United States, manufacturing the highest quality fleece that is widely available. WindPro is a trade name used by Malden Mills for their tightest knit fleece material. It is designed to block 95 percent of the wind — which also happens to keep moisture in while allowing some air to circulate around the baby’s skin, keeping the baby’s bottom cooler.

Fleece cover leaders
Stacinator, Polar Babies, Sugar Peas and Full Moon Baby Gear are some of the largest makers of fleece diaper covers.

You can also purchase fleece covers at:

Balter Baby www.balterbaby.com

DiaperWare www.diaperware.com/index.html

For the Monster www.forthemonster.com

Little Blessings Boutique www.littleblessingsboutique.com

Tree City Diapers www.treecitydiapers.com

© Tricia Ballad

Tricia Ballad She is co-owner of the Balter Catalogue Company, Balter Wholesale, and runs www.balladweb.net for families and small business. She lives with her husband and their growing family in the Chicago area.