Muslin squares and reusable diapers - what they are, how to put them on and wash them

Every parent knows very well how often it is necessary to change a baby's diaper and how many used diapers it generates, and, in consequence, how much garbage and money it causes. For many years nobody even thought about an alternative to disposable diapers which seemed to have replaced muslin squares for good. Nowadays, we are facing a great comeback of reusable, cloth diapers. It is a cheaper, ecological and natural solution. And not as demanding as it may seem.

 

A muslin square, what is it?

 

Before the era of easy access to disposable diapers, muslin squares were used to change babies. This does not mean that muslin completely went out of use. It is still considered an indispensable element of baby layette. Only its function has changed. Nowadays it works out perfectly as a handy cloth, bib or a base for a delicate baby's body. Muslin squares are nothing else but soft and absorbent sheets of one hundred percent cotton of good quality. Another advantage is that they are really cheap. It is not without significance for many people that you can find a lot of cool patterns and colors on the market.

 

What is a cloth diaper (reusable)?

 

Changing a baby generates huge amounts of diapers - if you use disposable ones, that is the popular "pampers". But there is an alternative which is more friendly for nature and your wallet. Nowadays, there is a tendency to return to cloth diapers, although not necessarily to muslin squares used by our mothers and grandmothers. We buy such diapers once, together with a set of inserts, and we have them for the whole period of diapering our baby.

At first glance they don't differ in construction from disposable diapers. They also have convenient snap or hook and loop fasteners, and the baby's bottom is covered with a durable and effectively moisture-retaining material. The difference lies in the fact that we do not throw away the insert of such a cloth diaper but we clean and wash it after use. They are prepared for multiple washing - even up to over a thousand times.

Reusable diapers consist of two parts - an absorbent (inner) layer and an insulating (outer) layer. The insulating material can be PUL, which is polyurethane-laminated polyester or wool.

 

 

Types of cloth diapers. What is the difference between muslin, flannel and bamboo diapers?

 

Generally, cloth diapers are divided into three types: pockets, snap in one and all in one. Pockets consist of two parts - a waterproof outer layer and a soft absorbent cloth insert. The outer part resembles baby briefs, with a special pocket inside where the absorbent material is inserted. Snap in one consists of a shell and an insert which are connected by special snap fasteners. Its advantage is that you don't have to change the shell and the insert at the same time. If a diaper does not leak, we can leave the top and change only the absorbent part. On the other hand, all in one diapers are so-called hybrid diapers. They allow you to insert any absorbent insert. They can even be used to make other diapers more insulated. Different materials are used as an absorbent part. The most traditional, but today the most rarely chosen are muslin inserts. Apart from it, we can find flannel, bamboo, cheesecloth or microfiber ones.

 

Microfiber diapers

 

Microfiber diapers are considered to be the most absorbent of all, plus they provide the greatest assurance that the insert will not leak. This material works best in pocket diapers and also as thicker nighttime inserts.

 

Bamboo diapers

 

Bamboo inserts are slightly less absorbent than those made of microfiber, but much more delicate - they don't cause any irritation, and additionally have antibacterial and antifungal properties. Traditional muslin squares are equally gentle for baby's skin, however, their ability to absorb depends on the fabric weight.

 

Cheesecloth diapers

 

Cheesecloth is not a type of fiber, but a method of weaving. This material can be made from both bamboo and, for example, cotton. Thanks to the right production technique it is light, soft and extremely delicate. Thanks to this it is very well air-permeable. Other properties of cheesecloth diapers depend on the fibre they are made from. Cotton cheesecloth is much softer than muslin, while bamboo cheesecloth is even softer than other bamboo materials.

 

Cloth diaper and muslin square. Which one should I choose?

 

The traditional muslin, left aside for many years, is back in glory! Many parents reach for it again, not out of sentiment, but appreciating its qualities. How does it convince? The price is certainly not without significance. It is the most economical option among cloth diapers. But it is not the only advantage. Muslin has very good absorbing properties and dries quickly. It means that there is a very small risk of a diaper leakage and the washed material dries quickly. To the extent that one night is enough for it to be completely dry.

So why to overpay and choose more expensive materials? If only for the reason that a muslin square needs to be properly worn, or rather tied on the baby. Whereas cloth inserts are conveniently placed in a shell. And at the same time bamboo or microfiber inserts retain all other advantages of a muslin square. Some materials even have an additional advantage: bamboo is antibacterial and microfiber is exceptionally absorbent.

 

How to put on a muslin square and cloth diaper?

 

The way of putting on a muslin square and a cloth diaper is the essential difference between them. Deciding on a muslin square we have to reckon with the necessity to learn a difficult art of wrapping, which is neither easy nor reliable. You have to put it on a baby really well to be sure that it won't leak. A cloth diaper, on the other hand, is put on almost the same way as a disposable one - there are diapers with snap or hook and loop fasteners. Choosing between the two is a matter of preference.

Tying a muslin square can feel like going back in time. According to the traditional method, two pieces of muslin are needed to put on a diaper. The first one is folded into a triangle with the top pointing downwards. And in its center the second diaper folded into a rectangle  is placed. Only after such a construction is completed, can a child be placed on it. Rectangle with the lower corner is put between the legs of the baby, and the side corners are wrapped around the tummy. The edges should be tied - and done!

If you care about efficiency, you can also put a muslin square into a functional shell, the same as for other cloth inserts. The shell is similar to a disposable diaper and holds the insert in place with snap or hook and loop fasteners.

 

The advantages of muslin squares and cloth diapers

 

Muslin is economical, ecological and hypoallergenic - no wonder it's back in fashion today. A baby can use up to 20 diapers a day! If you use disposable diapers, it is a big burden to your budget. Muslin, on the other hand, is cheap and you can use it many times. Every disposable diaper is a new waste added to the pile of slowly decomposing substances piling up in landfills, and biodegradable ones are a higher expense. Muslin, on the other hand, is all-natural - because it's 100% cotton. Some parents decide to use it because they have no other choice due to their baby's allergies. Some children do not tolerate disposable products and react to them with a rash - either because of the material used in their production, or moisture and lack of air.

 

Disadvantages of cloth diapers

 

So you're wondering why the advent of disposable diapers has been considered such a great revolution and an entire generation has moved away from such a wonderful solution as muslin? Well, it also has its quite obvious disadvantages. First of all, putting on and tying such diapers is time-consuming and difficult. It is easy to put them on wrongly, which will lead to making the clothes dirty. Besides, the material has a tendency to move, so it's really not difficult to wet the clothes or the floor. Secondly, it's not enough to wash muslin squares, they need to be scalded, dried and ironed - and this of course means more hours spent on these activities. Thirdly, some people think that the advantage of muslin is the fact that the child switches to the potty faster. It is true, but at what cost. The baby feels that the diaper is wet and thus experiences discomfort - the material sticks to the bottom, causes nappy rash and makes the baby cold.

 

Advantages of cloth diapers

 

Those disadvantages are eliminated by cloth diapers - mainly thanks to a shell. It means that there is no need to tie the material and the diaper is inserted like briefs or a disposable one. Additionally, the shell gives the certainty of proper insertion and guarantees that nothing will leak out. Moreover, such diapers grow with children, because they have universal sizes, adjusting to their size. Besides, cloth diapers have the same advantages as muslin - they are much cheaper to use than disposable ones, they are ecological, natural and non-allergenic. Additionally, they guarantee breathability, do not overheat the testicles and skin does not come into contact with plastics. It is probably also worth mentioning their aesthetic advantage. On the market you can find cloth diapers in any patterns and colors. After all, cloth diapers are the latest fashion trend!

 

 

Other uses for muslin squares and cloth diapers

 

Muslin and cloth diapers will also work well for those parents who opt for disposable diapers. They have a number of quite different, but extremely useful applications. They work perfectly well during feeding - both as a cover when the mother is feeding outside the house, and as a shoulder pad when the baby is put in a correct position after feeding - but also as a universal cloth for wiping the baby's face when, for example, the baby is teething and drooling excessively. The practical harness covers in our HUGGY baby carrier have a similar function. Diapers can also be used during bath time. You can pad out  the bathtub with them to make it more comfortable for your baby, but you can also simply use them as a small towel to wipe their mouth. They are also great as a changing pad or as a universal cover when you have to change your baby outside the house. And don't forget that these diapers protect against UV and have thermo-regulating properties. So it goes without saying that they should be in every mom's bag, regardless of whether she uses reusable or disposable diapers. In order not to have problems with fitting them in, it is worth betting on a proper bag - durable and with well-organized space. In Kinderkraft we have such bags as MOMMY BAG and MOLLY.

 

Safety certificate

 

Muslin and cloth diapers, like all other baby products, are tested for safety. Many companies have a large set of certificates proving the quality of their products. The basis is a positive opinion of the Institute of Mother and Child, which can be obtained by all products intended for toddlers and their moms. Some manufacturers apply for the Oeko-Tex certificate, certifying the quality of textile products in terms of excluding the presence of 100 most hazardous substances for consumers. You can also find certificates from the SGS group, which confirm the compliance of products with national and international standards.