Why Is Wool So Wonderful?

Those who know me best know about my love affair with natural fibers, particularly wool.  I LOVE NATURAL FIBERS!!!!!

"But why?" 

Well, for 1 thing:
Natural fibers have no plastic in them!  You may not think much about the fiber content of your shirts, but if you are walking around wearing a cotton/polyester blend, you are wearing plastic.  Your socks may have nylon in them -- that is plastic, too.  In fact, you would be surprised at how many places you can find plastic once you start looking for it.

"What's wrong with plastic?"

Aside from the fact that plastic can be uncomfortable, it's also bad for the environment.  Conventional plastics are produced using non-renewable resources like petroleum and natural gas.  This is not very sustainable.  But even worse than this is the fact that plastics take a loooooong time to break down.  Even after they have decayed beyond their usable life, they are going to be cluttering up a landfill for much, much longer that their natural fiber counterparts.

Here's the problem:

Most cloth diapers use plastic!

I was actually quite shocked to learn that most modern cloth diapers are dependent on plastic's waterproofing abilities to avoid leaks.  When I began to research cloth diapering for my own children, I was looking for a more sustainable solution, but settled for plastic when I realized that everybody I could find was using it.  I honestly didn't think that there were any other options out there.

There are times when you have to look backwards to move forward.

Reason 1:

While it's true that most modern cloth diaper styles are dependent on plastic, some very clever people have begun to imitate the cloth diapering of our great-grandparents' day.  It turns out that wool has natural waterproofing abilities.  In fact, I have never had a single leak while using a wool cover.  But eliminating leaks is just the beginning.

Reason 2:

Wool doesn't let moisture out, but it does allow airflow.  Plastic, on the other hand, traps both moisture and air, creating a prime breeding ground for bacteria.  Oh, which reminds me:

Reason 3:

Wool is naturally antimicrobial.  This means that it inhibits the growth of tiny microorganisms.  Plastic covers can be disinfected, but bacteria can still be trapped in the folds between seams, or in between fabric layers in diapers that include both plastic and permeable fabrics sewn to one another.  This can be especially troublesome while trying to clear up a yeast infection, because a contaminated cover can spread the yeast to other diapers and back to baby's skin.

Reason 4:

Wool is also incredibly soft!  Does this surprise you?  I grew up in California, where winters are mild and snow is nearly unheard of.  Wool isn't the most common fiber around here, so I knew only that in books and stories, the words "wool sweater" were almost always accompanied by the word "itchy".  It's true that some low-grade wool can be itchy, scratchy, and uncomfortable.  But I discovered that there are just as many sources of wool that are luxuriously soft and touchable, perfect for use next to a baby's sensitive skin.

Reason 5:

Wool also makes a wonderful insulator.  Not only does it keep you warm in the winter, but it can keep you comfortably cool in the summer.  This is especially helpful for babies, who can be sensitive to extreme temperatures.

Reason 6:

Wool can also go a long time between washes.  Apparently, this is because lanolized wool can saponify liquids.  All I know is that wool covers don't smell bad when they've come in contact with urine.  In fact, once you've given them a chance to dry, they smell just as clean as before.  This trick works with wool socks as well; I can wear a pair all day, and they don't smell like sweat at all.  Because of this chemical process, lanolized wool is somewhat self-cleaning, which means that a wool diaper cover can typically go several weeks between washing.

Reason 7:

One last note about wool -- it makes a great pair of pants.  You don't need to cover a wool diaper cover with a pair of pants at all.  Some wool covers even look like pants, shorts, or skirts.  This reduces your baby's wardrobe requirement, great for minimalist parenting enthusiasts.  I think that it is the perfect blend of fashion and function.

What are the reasons that you love wool?  Drop me a comment!

PS:
I have some Wonderful Wool diaper covers for sale in my Etsy shop right now!  Check them out and let me know what you think!
*** Earth Stork Etsy Shop ***