Are Wool Nappy Covers Easy to Use? A Complete Guide to Wool Nappies.

I have spoken a lot over my time using cloth nappies about what works best for us overnight. We have tried every trick in the book especially with my heavy wetting boy. The key to night time use has always been high absorbency and something that lets the air flow this is when I discovered wool covers.

I am also a massive fan of wool nappy covered because they are natural alternative, easy to buy organic and do not contain any plastic. As well as being super cosy and soft for baby.

Though I often sigh when I realise one needs washing, putting it off for a number of days, once I do it I remember it only takes a matter of minutes and is incredibly easy to do.

Wool covers only need washing every few weeks and lanolising one around month. This make them a very easy nappy to use and care for as well as being great natural alternative to synthetic nappies.

So many people I know, including myself, are put off trying using wool because they are afraid it will mean extra work or it seems a scary thing to dive into, especially when putting a child to sleep in something that doesn’t look one iota waterproof, even scarier if your co-sleeping. But I promise everyone that tries wool is an instant convert.

Are Wool Nappy Covers Water Proof?

Lanolin found in sheep’s wool is naturally waterproof. You will need to lanolise your wool covers to add more lanolin and therefore add more waterproofing. This will need to be done around once or twice a month (more when it is new).

Though you cannot feel the lanolin on the nappy (unless it’s freshly done and sometimes a little sticky which won’t last) wool covers are incredibly waterproof and will hold up against the wettest of nappies.

Can I Use Wool Nappy Covers with a Newborn?

You can absolutely use wool nappy covers on a newborn, many parents opting for wool because it is gentle and soft, especially nice on a new baby. However as newborns poop often, with runny poos the wool nappy is more likely to get soiled, meaning washing could pose a problem.

A positive of wool is that it does not need to be washed often, which is good because it does take a little more time to wash and dry. If a newborn soiled the wool often this would definitely be a negative and too much work for me, which is why I choose to start using wool as my babies became a little older (around 3 months).

How to Wash Wool Covers.

Wool does not need washing often, around every 2-3 weeks. Airing between uses is enough to re-fresh your nappy. Wash when it begins to smell slightly or if the nappy gets any feces on it.

To wash your wall covers fill a basin of water with lukewarm water no more than 30°.
Add a squirt of wool shampoo or gentle olive soap until the water is slightly cloudy.
Add your wool covers to the water, gently swirling around to work the soap into the fabric.
Gently squeeze out the water filling a fresh bowl of water to rinse the nappies in. Again gently squeezing out the water.
Lie between a clean towel, pressing down to squeeze out any excess water.
Gently re-shape when still damp.
Lie flat to dry naturally, avoid placing on any direct heat sources or direct sun.

Some nappy companies will say you can wash wool in the washing machine on a gentle wool wash, however I would avoid this as it can lead to quiet harsh felting of the wool. This means the wool shrinks a little and becomes less stretchy.

Felting does not effect the use of a wool nappy, it will still be waterproof but it will effect the size and look of the nappy.

How to Lanolise Wool Covers?

You only need to lanolise your wool covers once a month, sometimes longer. You can tell if it needs re-lanolising when the cover starts to feel damp after use.

To lanolise your wool covers:

Add half a teaspoon of lanolin to a cup of boiling water with a squeeze of wool shampoo. Stir this until the lanolin is completely melted and the mixture becomes cloudy.
Add this to a bowl of lukewarm water.
Add your covers to this bowl gently mixing around, leave for a minimum of 10 minutes.
You can leave this for several hours, even over night to soak in the lanolin.

Gently squeeze the majority of water from the wool covers and dry as you did when washing them.

When you first buy a wool cover you need to lanolise it before use. Then lanolising it more often then you would usually. Lanolise before use, use for a few days so the lanolin can work its way into the fabric. Lanolise again after 3-4 uses. Do this 3 to 4 times before the cover is completely lanolised. After which you will only need to do this once a month or so.

How Many Wool Covers do I need?

2 wool nappy covers is enough to use full time if your only using them at night. 4 if you were using them for day use too. This gives you enough to rotate and let air dry between uses and to use one if the other is being washed.

Are Wool Covers Leak Proof?

No nappy cover will ever be completely leak proof if the nappy becomes wet enough, but wool covers are the most reliable for containing everything, which is why they work so well for night time.

Are Wool Cover Best for Night or Day time?

Personally I find wool nappy covers best for nighttime use. This is because they are a bulky option but are super comfortable, breathable and very reliable.

They are easy to use needing very little care, only washing every few weeks. However this is fine with one or two nappies I would not want to do this full time with day nappies.

Is wool to hot in Summer?

Though it may seem wool would be a hot option for the summer, wool is naturally breathable, keeping your baby cool in summer and warm in winter.

Because wool is so breathable it will help your baby during the night allowing their skin to breeze and air to get to the wet nappy even drying it slightly to make it last longer throughout the night.

How to avoid your wool nappies from from felting.

Felting means the wool of your nappies becomes less stretchy and can shrink the nappy. To avoid this do not rub vigorously when hand washing, do not put in the washing machine (even on a gentle wool wash), tumble dry or dry in the sun or on a direct heat source.

Felting will not impede the use of your nappy but it may mean it shrinks slightly and becomes harder to wash because the knit is now denser and harder to get air and water to it. You may find it smells sooner and needs washing more often.

Are Wool Nappy Covers One Size?

Unfortunately most wool nappies are not one size, you will need to buy more as baby grows but with Disana (my favourite brand) costing 12.99 and the fact you need fewer nappies to see you through full time wool is a cost effective diaper system.

Anavy is one adjustable sized wool nappy I have seen (not tried) but looks more like a traditional cloth nappy cover rather than the shorts look of most wool covers.

Best places to buy wool nappy covers.

The Nappy Lady does a range of Wool Covers find them HERE.

However for value for money, softness and organic credentials I would always recommend Disana’s range, also sold at The Nappy Lady. Or go straight to Disana HERE where you can buy all sorts of their organic wool products, including long wool trousers that can be lanolised and would make the perfect warm winter pj’s.