I think it matters.
Diaper wording: The mystery revealed and our opinions
It is confusing! Look for percentage information. It should be on the website with the product, as should country of origin. If it is not, question it.
Cotton diaper: any diaper that contains some cotton. It does not mean it is 100% cotton. It likely contains polyester, or other fabrics. If it's 100% cotton it will likely say 100% cotton, otherwise, assume it is not 100% cotton.
Sherpa: A member of the Himalayan people group living in Napal and Tibet known for mountaineering skills. That is one meaning. Words are confusing! But when we are talking about fabrics it's this. Sherpa: A fabric with a wooly pile made of cotton, polyester or other fiber. It refers to the way it has been made and gives you a clue about what it might feel like, but it does not tell you what the fabric is made of. It refers to the nap of the fabric. It may be 100% cotton sherpa, 100% polyester sherpa, or a blend.
Fleece: Like sherpa above, the word fleece does not tell you what the fabric is made of. It tells you what type of feel and stretch it has, sort of. It might be woven or knit, a pile or a napped fabric. The word fleece really doesn't tell you much. It may be 100% cotton fleece, 100% polyester fleece, or a blend. When you see "fleece", find out what the fleece is made of.
Organic Velour - often called "OV". Velour refers to the soft nap of the knit fabric. It can be 100% organically grown cotton or it may be cotton with a polyester back. Usually 100% cotton fabrics will say so "100% cotton organic velour", not just "organic velour". Blends sometimes do not list a percentage, but sometimes do.
Organic bamboo velour: I do not know what the means exactly, but I have only seen it with a 2% or more polyester backing. I personally don't consider a fabric with a polyester back organic, but it seems that it is acceptable to call it organic even with polyester. Bamboo fabric is not organic as I understand organic, but I have seen organic certification of bamboo from China for the Hebei Jigao Chemical Fiber Co Ltd, but I remain sceptical. Update August 11, 2009. Apparently the FTC thinks it's rayon, too. It is a rayon, and should properly be called rayon from bamboo cellulose. But rayon sounds like a synthetic, so you won't find many calling it what it is after processing. The bamboo plant is sustainable and doesn't need fertilizer. But to take that woody plant and turn it into a soft fabric requires is a chemical cooking process which is a rayon process. Update August 11, 2009: apparently the FTC thinks it's rayon, too. I've seen many diaper fabrics labeled "organic" that contain polyester in the fabric. If the fabric contents are not told in percentages, question it and ask. It may contain polyester.
Reusable diaper: This usually means 100% polyester, but can generally refer to any washable diaper of any fabric.
Washable diaper: This usually means 100% polyester, but can generally refer to any washable diaper of any fabric.
Dyed diapers: I've seen dyes run in the wash so I am of the opinion that since skin is porous (absorbent) and dyes can run, I just don't trust any dyes next to my baby's skin. You can make your own choices on all these things.
We don't sell synthetic pocket diapers.
If it just says "cloth diaper", but doesn't tell you the fabric content and country of origin as it properly should, then buyer beware - it's probably 100% polyester. Some people are allergic to polyester. I'm not kidding. Research it. In my experience, polyester in diapers has problems, so I choose to sell only 100% cotton, because I feel it is best and I trust it. 100% cotton does not have repelling issues or stink issues like stay-dry synthetic diapers do. Repelling is when the polyester fleece gets detergent buildup (or fabric softener or a diaper cream residue) on it and the pee won't go through the fleece - the pee repels - causing leaks. Will the baby feel wet if you don't use a stay-dry diaper? Yes, but it will not bother baby, and feeling wet encourages more frequent changes which is healthy and good! Really, it won't bother baby. But it might bother you at first, because we have been so "marketed to", into thinking stay-dry is a must. It's not. You have to try cotton to believe it. It works, baby is comfy! I know you have to rearrange how you think because the big advertisers have so brainwashed us into thinking baby cannot "feel wet", but for generations cotton worked perfectly, and babies bottoms were healthy and generally rash-free and diaper-cream-free. Now with the stay-dry stuff, parents are going way too long between changes because no one realizes the diaper is wet, and the result of this is diaper rash and the need for constant use of creams. In cotton, baby needs no creams typically. Try cotton! Your baby will love it! It works, it's not petroleum or chemical-filled. It's soft and wonderful. Baby will not mind wet cotton. By the time baby is old enough to mind it, baby is old enough to begin potty learning and will learn about a year sooner than a stay-dry diapered baby, thus saving a ton of money in that final year, when age-mates are still in diapers but your child is in underwear, typically.
We get many, many emails telling us something like this: "I was really sucked in by the advertising saying today's cloth diapers are not like ones before, but now that I've spent a lot of money and tried everything, I find that I really love my simple, 100% cotton diapers best. They wash so easily and don't have problems. I just wish I knew about cotton from the start."
I personally keep polyester away from my family as much as I can, including and most especially in bedding and sleepwear. Cotton or wool sleepwear for baby is great, and no polyester blankets or polyester-fill bedding for us, either. No synthetic pillows for us. We all sleep so much better since we got rid of polyester from our nighttime environment. I'm convinced my babies sleep better when wearing a wool sleepsack, wool longies and/or cotton pajamas. Try cotton and wool and see for yourself. Also we wash in fragrance free, clean-rinsing Charlie's Soap powder, so we don't breathe in fragrances. That helps, too. Switch to fragrance-free for healthier breathing and better sleep. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. You have to make your own decisions for your family. Much of this is just personal opinion. Do your own research. It's easy online.
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