I used to think that acrylic knits were fantastic, even better than the real thing. I guess I wasn't the only one. Cheap to buy, easy to wash, dries in a flash, and keeps its shape - what's not to like?
The Munchkin, about 19 months old, wearing one of my favourite jumpers of all time.
I think it was actually the Pediatric First Aid course that changed my mind. Petroleum-based fabrics catch fire slowly, but will melt onto the skin when they do, causing terrible burns. Wool, on the other hand, is naturally flame retardent and burns into cool ash. It's probably not that much of an issue if you live in a modern home, but it might be something to consider if you have several small children living in one room where you heat and cook with something like this...
As a Reynauds Syndrome sufferer from a cold climate, I didn't need to be convinced about the superior insulating qualities of real wool, but I always thought it was too scratchy to be worn next to skin. Then the Munchkin had two really bad bouts of croup in a row, and grew thin and complained of being cold. I decided to invest in a set of merino wool thermals. Using less energy to keep warm, she started to put weight back on, and without the sweatiness of fleece making her too hot then too cold on winter nights, she slept better and was ill less often. Both children wear their wonderfully soft woollies most of the time, now.
I've tried various nappy arrangements for overnight use with Dumpling, and they all leak. All except her double-layered machine-knit merino shorties. They are a loose knit, and very breathable, but don't wick, even when the terry nappy inside is sodden. And they don't smell. One of the wonders of wool is that it is, to some extent, self-cleaning. If it's wet, hang it to air ("Air" in the Canadian sense, as in "hang it in fresh air", not the British version of "airing", which seems to mean "stuff it in a warm cupboard", which would not have quite the same effect.), and it's ready to use again. And, importantly for a cold climate, dampness doesn't affect the wool's insulating properties. Imagine wearing wet clothes on a cold, snowy day with an icy wind blowing off the mountains, and consider that babies have an unfortunate habit of wetting themselves several times a day, and you will begin to see why that is important. They also have a lower body mass, and chill quickly.
I'm quite thoroughly convinced now that wool is the ideal material for nappy pants. You only need a few covers, because it doesn't have to be washed often, it is cool in summer, warm in winter, breathable, gentle on skin (depending on quality, of course), among the more environmentally friendly of fabrics, safer, and I'm guessing much longer-wearing than most other nappy cover materials.
There is the business of laundering, but if your washing machine happens to be a bowl or bucket, then having a few items that are better off hand-washed than machine-washed isn't really a problem. And really, even in a modern home, using a sink instead of a machine really isn't that much of a problem, either. I spend a half hour a week washing our woollens, and treat them with lanolin every few weeks. It has actually been a part of my plan to simplify our family life; the children get as much wear out of one woollen item as they would out of several bits of cotton clothing, so there is less to store, less to put away when drawers get emptied, and less laundry.
Bit of a waffly post, but anyway, I am convinced that you really can't get better than the real thing, at least when it comes to wool!
As a Reynauds Syndrome sufferer from a cold climate, I didn't need to be convinced about the superior insulating qualities of real wool, but I always thought it was too scratchy to be worn next to skin. Then the Munchkin had two really bad bouts of croup in a row, and grew thin and complained of being cold. I decided to invest in a set of merino wool thermals. Using less energy to keep warm, she started to put weight back on, and without the sweatiness of fleece making her too hot then too cold on winter nights, she slept better and was ill less often. Both children wear their wonderfully soft woollies most of the time, now.
I've tried various nappy arrangements for overnight use with Dumpling, and they all leak. All except her double-layered machine-knit merino shorties. They are a loose knit, and very breathable, but don't wick, even when the terry nappy inside is sodden. And they don't smell. One of the wonders of wool is that it is, to some extent, self-cleaning. If it's wet, hang it to air ("Air" in the Canadian sense, as in "hang it in fresh air", not the British version of "airing", which seems to mean "stuff it in a warm cupboard", which would not have quite the same effect.), and it's ready to use again. And, importantly for a cold climate, dampness doesn't affect the wool's insulating properties. Imagine wearing wet clothes on a cold, snowy day with an icy wind blowing off the mountains, and consider that babies have an unfortunate habit of wetting themselves several times a day, and you will begin to see why that is important. They also have a lower body mass, and chill quickly.
I'm quite thoroughly convinced now that wool is the ideal material for nappy pants. You only need a few covers, because it doesn't have to be washed often, it is cool in summer, warm in winter, breathable, gentle on skin (depending on quality, of course), among the more environmentally friendly of fabrics, safer, and I'm guessing much longer-wearing than most other nappy cover materials.
There is the business of laundering, but if your washing machine happens to be a bowl or bucket, then having a few items that are better off hand-washed than machine-washed isn't really a problem. And really, even in a modern home, using a sink instead of a machine really isn't that much of a problem, either. I spend a half hour a week washing our woollens, and treat them with lanolin every few weeks. It has actually been a part of my plan to simplify our family life; the children get as much wear out of one woollen item as they would out of several bits of cotton clothing, so there is less to store, less to put away when drawers get emptied, and less laundry.
Bit of a waffly post, but anyway, I am convinced that you really can't get better than the real thing, at least when it comes to wool!
