Where do cloth diapers come from? History & where to find them
Cloth diapers have been a huge part of peoples lives for hundreds of years and in just the last 60 years they have almost disappeared.
With cloth diaper usage going from 100% worldwide in the 40s to roughly 7% worldwide today.
It took over 400 years to go from the basic idea of the cloth diaper to the modern cloth diapers we have today.
It’s interesting to see where the idea of cloth diapers started and how and why some of their components were invented.
The first cloth diapers
For hundreds of years people used any type of absorbent material available (such as milkweed fluff or moss)typically in an animal skin as a diaper.
First cloth diapers in 1500s England
The first cloth diapers were used in England in the 1590s.
They were made of a certain kind of soft tissue that was cut into shapes originally intended to be used for a type of art technique known as “diapering”.
1800s First safety pins
In 1849 the original safety pin was invented by Walter Hunt to pay off a $15 dollar debt to a friend, as soon as he had a patent for the safety pin he sold for $400 to W.R Grace and company.
Flat cloth diapers became the norm in the 1800s, and cloth diapers started being mass produced in 1887 in the United States by a woman named Maria Allen.
1900s modern cloth diapers really start to take shape
The 1920s is when plastic pants started being used, replacing oiled wool diaper covers
The first cloth diaper cover was invented in 1946 by Marion Donovan in westport Connecticut, US out of a shower curtain made of army surplus parachute cloth.
These first cloth diaper covers were known as “Boaters”, Marion Donovan also came up with the idea to use snaps on cloth diaper covers.
Prefold cloth diapers were developed in the 1950s by a diaper service owner and was simply a flat cloth diaper pre-folded and sewn together.
Also in the 1950s the first fitted cloth diaper was invented by Sybil Geeslin in Kentucky, US, she used snaps to secure the diaper which completely eliminated the need for pins.
Sybil Geeslin sold the patent for her invention soon after and they were sold nationally as Keystone Safe-T-Di-Dee Diapers.
The 1960s is when disposable diapers started to become the more popular option, since more mothers were entering the workforce and wanting to travel without having to worry about washing diapers.
In the 1980s is when concerns were first raised about the impact disposable diapers were having on the environment which caused cloth diapers to make a little bit of a come back.
In 1987 Snappis cloth diaper fasteners are invented in South Africa by a dad who wanted an easier solution to fasten his baby’s diaper.
By the late 1990s quite a few modern cloth diaper companies were in business.
Where 5 popular cloth diaper brands are made
There are hundreds of cloth diaper brands in the world that all have interesting people, places and stories in their history.
To some people where a cloth diaper is from or who made it don’t really matter as long as the cloth diaper fits and catches poop.
To other people it is very important to know who they are supporting when they make their purchase.
Thirsties, a very eco friendly brand
Thirsties baby cloth diapers are manufactured in Colorado, USA and their headquarters are located in Loveland, Colorado USA,
Thirsties baby was founded by Erin Kimmet in 2004, it was then sold in 2010 to the Merrill family who are the current owners.
Thirsties really focuses on quality and sustainability and only uses the best materials from the USA.
Alva baby, most popular worldwide
Alva baby cloth diapers are manufactured by SHENZHEN ADSEL TRADE CO., LTD. and based in Shenzhen China they have been shipping their cloth diapers worldwide since 2006.
Alva baby is the largest cloth diaper manufacturer in China, so they sell their cloth diapers very cheap while still maintaining pretty good quality.
Imagine baby
Imagine baby cloth diapers are ethically made in China in an effort to keep cost down.
Imagine baby was started by Nicki Maynard of Nicki’s Diapers, who started selling cloth diapers out of her basement in 2003.
In 2009 Nicki opened her official retail store in Madison, Wisconsin USA.
At the beginning of 2020 Nicki sold the company and it is now located in Akron, Ohio USA.
Bumgenius, most popular US brand
Bumgenius cloth diaper are made in Fenton, Missouri USA by Cotton Babies, the headquarters for Cotton Babies is located in St. Louis Missouri USA.
Cotton Babies is owned by Jennifer Labit who started the business in 2002 in her home.
It started as a milk crate on a kitchen shelf and slowly grew to one of the most well known cloth diaper brands today.
Tots Bots, most popular UK brand
Tots Bots are made in Glasgow, Scotland UK, Tots Bots was founded in 2000 by Magus and Fiona Smyth who after having their second baby wanted a more eco friendly way to diaper their baby.
In 2004 Tots Bots released the “Bamboozle” the first ever bamboo fitted cloth diaper, then in 2008 they released their most popular cloth diaper the “EasyFit”.
My favorite places to get cloth diapers
People have been able to find flats in stores since they were first mass produced in 1887 in the USA, unfortunately even after 124 years what you will find in most stores today hasn’t really changed at all.
Online cloth diaper shops
When I am looking to buy cloth diapers I usually pick one of the hundreds of online cloth diapers shops, most are small businesses run by moms who are very passionate about cloth diapers .
Facebook Buy/ Sell/ Trade groups
Another one of my favorite places to buy cloth diapers is Facebook cloth diaper Buy/ Sell/ Trade groups, if you don’t mind buying used cloth diapers you can find amazing deals on practically brand new cloth diapers.
Brick and mortar cloth diaper stores
While the first 2 are the options I use the most, the most enjoyable place for me to buy cloth diapers is a brick and mortar store.
However brick and mortar cloth diaper shops or just a shop that has actual physical cloth diapers in the building aren’t that common.
But being able to see and feel a cloth diaper before I buy it just makes the experience a lot better.
Resources
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) from qualifying purchases made through those links. * Indicates an affiliate link
Article from Bamboolik on diapering around the world Bamboolik.eu
Thirsties website Thirstiesbaby.com
Alva website Alvababy.com
Imagine website Nickisdiapers.com
Bumgenius website Cottonbabies.com
Tots Bots website totsbots.com
Online cloth diaper shop Clothdiaper.com *
Online cloth diaper shop thenaturalbabycompany.com *
