New Parent’s Guide to Wool Diaper Covers

I was always fascinated by the idea of using a wool cover while cloth diapering our daughter. So, I did my homework, read everything about wool, and roped in my elder sister to make one for little Medhu.

But life, as always, had its little twist. At just 7 months old, Medhu found the wool fibres too uncomfortable. Every time I tried to put it on, she’d cry and tug it off in seconds. My heart sank — I had so much hope pinned on this!

Still, I wasn’t ready to give up. I tried softening the fibres with conditioner, multiple wool washes, but nothing seemed to work. It felt like the end of the road.

Then, one day, after a couple of months — a moment I will never forget — while we were arranging her clothes in the wardrobe, Medhu spotted the wool cover lying there with the rest of the woollens. With a sparkle in her eyes, she picked it up and handed it to me, as if saying, “Let’s try this again, Maa.”

I couldn’t believe it! I was over the moon 🌙

That simple, sweet moment marked the beginning of our wool journey. Ever since, we’ve been happily using wool covers at night — no more leaks, no more midnight messes. Total game-changer!

Wool is a wonderful alternative for parents looking for a sustainable and natural fibre-based cloth diapering option. One of the best parts? It reduces the number of diapers you need to deal with — wool covers can be reused after air drying, unless they’ve been pooped on. In many cases, they go for weeks or even months without needing a wash!

Before we dive deeper into the world of wool, let’s understand what it can replace in your diapering setup. Wool fibre is used to make covers, wraps, soakers, and even wool liners. So it can take the place of your PUL covers, work as boosters with both PUL and wool covers, and even replace fleece liners.

Cloth Diaper Jargon
Liner:A liner is an optional top layer placed on top of the cloth diaper insert. It serves several purposes:
   1.It makes handling poop easier.
   2.It works as a stay-dry feel layer.
   3.Some disposable liners can be even flushed along with the poop.
		
Disclaimer: Liners are generally made from synthetic fibres,but sometimes they are made from silk or wool.
	

So first, let’s talk about the popular usage of wool as a wool cover.
A wool cover can replace your PUL cover, and some people even layer wool over PUL for extra leak protection. However, I feel this doesn’t fully utilise the benefits of wool.

Various Styles of Wool Covers

Wool covers are available worldwide in different designs, such as:

• Soakers, like a half pant
• Wraps, like PUL covers with snaps or Velcro
• Full pants (Woolies, Footsies, etc.)
• Skirties

Popular Brands Offering Wool Covers

Some popular international brands include Disana, Babee Greens, Woollykins, and many Etsy shops.In India, not many mainstream brands currently offer wool covers. As a result, there is still a lack of awareness about using wool as a diaper cover, even though wool is widely used in many parts of the country. Interestingly, cashmere wool from India is famous worldwide. Some homegrown brands offering wool covers in India are Two Busy Bums and CMD.

Disclaimer : These are not product recommendations as the author has not used wool covers from these brands.

Let’s nail the first question that might be popping into your head — Well, wool might work for North India, especially in winters, but what about the other months?

To answer that: Wool covers can be used all year round! Yes, you read that right. Natural wool, when it’s 100% pure, is temperature regulating. It absorbs sweat from the baby’s skin and releases it through its tubular fibres, keeping the baby cool. In winter, those same tubular fibres trap air and act as insulation against the cold.While I have experience using only 100% wool, many mothers in various Facebook cloth diapering groups have successfully used blends too — with 80% wool and 20% synthetic, and they work just as well!

Wool covers are the most breathable diaper covers made from sheep’s wool. They provide bulletproof leak protection, especially for nighttime use and long-distance travel. So, let’s dive in and see what makes wool such an amazing option!

Benefits of Wool

1. Leak Resistance:
   Wool covers owe their bulletproof leak protection to lanolin, a natural substance found in sheep’s wool. Lanolin breaks urine down into water and salt. The water evaporates when air-dried, while the salt remains on the cover. Wool can also absorb almost 30–40% of its weight in moisture before feeling wet!
2. Breathability:
   While PUL covers are breathable too, they can’t match the air circulation provided by natural wool fibres. This airflow helps regulate temperature in various weather conditions, keeping your baby super comfortable.
3. Temperature Regulation (All-weather usage):
   PUL covers can feel a bit uncomfortable, especially in summers, as they tend to trap sweat (as discussed above). Wool, on the other hand, naturally regulates temperature — keeping your baby cool in summer and warm in winter!
4. Antibacterial & Antifungal Properties:
   This fantastic property of wool also comes from the lanolin it contains. Since lanolin breaks urine into salt and water, there’s no odour, and the cover remains hygienic. Simply air-dry after each use, and you can reuse it again!
   Honestly, even today, I’m amazed at how fresh my wool cover smells in the morning after being on a urine-soaked fitted diaper all night!
   Plus, this means you don’t have to wash it as frequently as PUL covers. I remember once going more than two months straight without washing!
   However, if the wool cover gets pooped on, it does need to be washed (usually hand-washed) and lanolised. It might seem like a hassle at first with a baby around, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really not as bothersome as it sounds!
5. Eco-friendly:
   Being a natural fibre, wool is biodegradable and sustainable — it won’t end up in landfills. Plus, less frequent washing means lower water usage.
   That said, the treatment of sheep and goats during wool harvesting is something some parents might want to consider. Interestingly, Disana, a German brand, claims its wool is sustainably sourced!
6. Soft Texture:
   Wool is naturally soft, especially when made from Merino wool, which helps prevent any irritation to your baby’s delicate skin.
7. Wool as a Liner:
   Wool liners can be used as a natural stay-dry layer. (More details covered here)

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Now, assuming you’re convinced about using wool, let’s move on to: how to use a wool cover!

How to Use a Wool Cover?

Before using the wool cover, you must ensure it is lanolized. Some brands lanolize before shipping, but most do not. Lanolin is naturally found in sheep’s wool; however, during the yarn manufacturing process and final product finishing, wool loses its natural lanolin. This is where the need for “lanolization” arises. It might seem a bit cumbersome, but the process is really simple! And the return on investment (your time) is totally worth it — you get excellent leakage protection, less frequent washing, better comfort for your baby, and a reduced carbon footprint.

So, how do you lanolize, and what do you need?

a. Lanolin
b. Mild soap or shampoo
c. A cup of hot water
d. A vessel of lukewarm water, big enough to soak your wool covers
e. A towel to dry
f. A measuring spoon (optional)

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Step 1: Find Lanolin

Lanolin is easily available at pharmaceutical stores, both offline and online (here). It is widely used by breastfeeding mothers.

Step 2: Prepare the Lanolin Mixture

Add a (BIG) pea-sized amount of lanolin to a cup of hot water to melt it. Add a few drops of baby shampoo or soap to emulsify the lanolin. You’ll notice a white liquid forming as the lanolin emulsifies.
Note: Some parents suggest using one teaspoon, but somewhere between ½ to ¼ teaspoon has worked well for me. Experiment and see what works best for you!

Step 3: Fill a Vessel with Lukewarm Water

Pour the lanolin mixture into the lukewarm water and mix thoroughly. Turn your wool cover(s) inside out, soak them in the mixture, and leave them for at least an hour. I personally like to leave them overnight, so that they soak nicely!

Step 4: Remove and Dry the Wool Cover

After soaking it to your satisfaction, take out the wool cover. Rinse it once in clean lukewarm water to remove any extra soap. Some parents skip this step, but I prefer it to avoid any detergent residue on the cover.

Once rinsed, fold it gently in a towel to remove excess water. Important: Do not twist or wring the wool cover hard — this can lead to shrinking or deformation! Wool covers are pricey, and once they shrink, it can’t be reversed.

For the same reason, wool covers and liners should never be washed in the washing machine. I learned this the hard way — some of my liners shrunk and now they repel urine, causing leaks from the leg gaps. So, don’t do this — learn from my mistakes!

After this, lay your wool cover flat in the shade. Do not dry it in the sun or hang it to dry. It can deform under its weight, shrink, or cause the lanolin to degrade faster.

Once your wool cover is lanolized, place it over any cloth diaper your baby is wearing — flat, prefold, preflat, fitted, etc., depending on your baby’s absorbency needs. If it’s a snap/Velcro wool cover, you can fasten it like a regular PUL diaper. If it’s a soaker or pull-on pant, simply wear it like a pant. Just make sure it’s snug around the baby’s legs. With wool, I’ve noticed that as long as your inside diaper is absorbent enough, even if the wool cover looks loose, it won’t leak! My daughter has been wearing the same wool cover since she was 8 months old — it looks oversized, but it has never leaked!

Interestingly, some parents use wool as additional protection over PUL covers. You can place it over your all-in-ones, all-in-twos, pocket diapers, or hybrid diapers for extra leak protection. This way, you’re not using wool to its full potential, but it can save you from hand-washing the wool cover if poop happens!

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This brings us to the next question: How to Wash Wool Covers?

Before we answer the “HOW,” let’s first answer the “WHEN.”
When do you need to wash your wool cover?

When to Wash Wool Covers ?

1. When it has been pooped on.
2. When it starts to smell of urine, even after air drying.
3. When it begins to leak. (Before concluding, do check how absorbent your inside diaper is — if it’s too soaked or dripping, leaks are bound to happen.)
4. Visible stains on light-coloured wool covers. (This is totally optional!)

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How to Wash Wool Covers ?

Steps to Wash Wool Covers:

a. Handle Soiled Covers:
If soiled with poop, rinse immediately under cold water to remove solids and prevent stains. Store in a ventilated container until washing.

b. Pre-Rinse:
Rinse the wool cover under lukewarm water to remove any residue. Gently squeeze out excess water without wringing.

c. Wash:
Fill a vessel/bucket with lukewarm water and add a wool-safe detergent. Submerge the cover and gently hand wash for 10–15 minutes, spot cleaning any stains.

d. Rinse:
Drain the water and rinse the cover under fresh lukewarm water until the water runs clear.

e. Dry:
Lay flat on a towel, roll to remove excess moisture, then air-dry flat in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight or heat.

f. Lanolize (Optional):
Re-lanolize as needed to maintain water resistance.

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Other Uses of Wool

A wool cover acts as clothing too! There’s no need to put an extra pair of pants over the cloth diaper. Apart from this, wool is also used to make wool liners and wool boosters. Liners or boosters are “rectangular pieces” made of a few layers of wool fabric stitched together. They’re an optional layer designed to make life a little easier, as discussed here.

When used as a liner, wool serves as a natural stay-dry feel layer. Placed between your baby’s skin and the cloth diaper (the absorbent part of the diaper), a wool liner allows urine to pass quickly to the diaper, keeping your baby dry.Further, since wool has temperature-regulating properties, it doesn’t over-dry your baby’s skin like synthetic fibres (e.g., microfiber, microfleece). Wool pulls moisture from the skin while maintaining just the right balance.The same liner can be used as an additional booster when lanolised, and as a liner when it’s not lanolised.

To simplify: if you’re using the rectangular piece as a liner, do not lanolise it.

Sometimes, growing babies need extra absorbency in the “wet zone area.” In such cases, it helps to lanolise these wool liners/boosters and place them between your baby’s diaper and the wool cover at the crotch area for extra leak protection.

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Now, hoping you’re convinced about using wool after reading this piece — where do you buy wool covers in India?

Where to Buy Wool Covers?

• DIY or Purchase Handknit or crotchet Wool Soaker:

This is the most affordable way to own a wool soaker!
Knitting/Crotcheting is a common skill, especially among the elderly in North India. Buy non-superwashed wool and make it yourself, or request someone to knit it for your baby. (I’ll link sources for non-superwashed wool, free patterns, and a tutorial at the end of this blog.)

Tip: Some homegrown brands can also make it for you! Just specify that you’d like 100% pure soft wool/merino wool, or at least 80% pure wool.
One such brand is Hooks & Kneedles by Nitu Singh. Here are few pictures of the covers she made for my daughter.

• Indian Homegrown Brands:

Brands like TBB stock wool pants and handknit wool soakers.
Another brand, Cute Monster Diapers, offers wool covers with snaps.
However, do check the type of wool and the percentage of synthetic fibre used. (Note: This is not a product recommendation as I haven’t personally used their products.)

• Foreign Brands:

Disana and Babe Greens (link them) are dearly loved brands in cloth diapering Facebook groups! However, they can be a bit pricey and even more so with import costs.
If you have a relative abroad, see if they can bring a fresh or even second-hand wool cover from these brands — you won’t regret it!

P.S.: EcoSnug might also begin offering wool covers soon (fingers crossed!). Keep an eye on our social media handles for updates!

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Challenges with Using Wool Covers

To be fair to the topic, let’s not skip over the challenges you might face with wool:

1. Ethical concerns:
   If you’re vegan, using wool might present an ethical dilemma.
2. Handwashing Wool & Lanolising:
   These steps can be challenging and take some getting used to.
   (By the way, some wool covers don’t need lanolising — check them out here!)
3. Compression Leaks:
   Especially with thicker wool covers. While rare (if your diaper underneath is absorbent enough), it can happen when babies sit for long periods. The fibres compress and may dampen the outer layer.
   But this is avoidable with a few simple steps. (Check our article on avoiding compression leaks here!)
4. Expense:
   Wool covers are an investment! While you’ll need fewer wool covers compared to PUL covers, the initial cost is higher.
   DIY covers are also pricey — pure wool can range from ₹2500–5000 per kg. (For reference, 1 kg of wool yields about 7–10 covers, depending on size.)
5. Pilling:
   Pilling can affect the aesthetics, though not the functionality, of wool covers. Personally, it bothers me a little, but it’s not a strong enough reason to avoid wool!

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To wrap it up —
Wool might seem like an old-fashioned, complicated option at first glance, but once you understand its magic, it’s hard to go back! From its natural breathability and temperature regulation to the unbeatable leak protection, wool truly offers peace of mind for both you and your baby.

Of course, there are challenges — like lanolising, handwashing, and the initial cost — but once you find your rhythm, wool covers become an effortless part of your cloth diapering journey.

I hope this guide has helped demystify wool for you. If you’re curious to explore more, stay tuned! I’ll be sharing deeper insights, product recommendations, and practical tips in the upcoming posts.
Until then, keep your inboxes open (and your baby’s bum cozy 😉) — exciting updates are on the way!