You've Come A Long Way Baby With Your Fancy Diapers!

The first diapers were probably moss or leaves wrapped in animal skins. In the 1800's cotton diapers held in place with pins were first used. ! Once the importance of cleanliness and hygiene was realized, diapers were given more notice and better “models” were developed.

During WWII when more and more women entered the work force, cloth diaper services became very popular and began to spring up all over the United States. It was shortly after the war that the first rubber pants – coverings for cloth diapers – were invented. A woman named Marion Donovan made the first pair from a shower curtain.

The 1960's began the rise of the disposable diaper. Most mother thought they were better than sliced bread. (I know I did!) In the 1990's however, the impact of millions upon millions of disposable diapers in the landfills began to have an impact that we are still feeling today.

More and more families are choosing to go green and return to cloth diapers. BUT, they are not the cloth diapers of two hundred years ago! BumGenius cloth diapers, for example, use the same conveniences of velcro and elastic as disposable diapers – yet they are cloth and reusable. Instead of rubber pants, we now have water resistant coverings made of merino wool, nylon or polyurethane laminate.

There are pocket diapers, which are a water resistant cover with an inner pocket for the insertion of a prefolded cloth diaper. Others are all one piece that can be easily washed. Many of the pocket diapers and cloth diapers are also available in one size for infant through potty training – which can be a life saver if you have more than one child in diapers!

See them all at babyearth.com