Wool has been the outdoorsman fabric of choice since the days of the early explorers. It is also the choice material for today's cloth diaper covers; wool's unique properties still provide unsurpassed insulation, even when wet, without becoming damp and clammy.
What's So Great About Wool Diaper Covers?
Wool cloth diaper covers, although highly breathable, can absorb up to 30% of their weight in moisture. How does wool do that? Wool fibers have an inner core made of protein - the part that absorbs the moisture. This protein core is covered by hard overlapping scales that repel liquid water and protect the elastic fibers from wear and tear. Wool also contains lanolin, a natural water-repellent grease.What does this mean for the cloth diapering parent interested in using wool diaper covers? It means that wool, while being a better insulator of moisture, will also keep baby's skin drier because the core proteins absorb moisture from air that is "caught" between the diaper cover and baby's skin.
