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Diaper Folding 101 : Thigh Fold for Side-Sleeping
Babies
If you
have a side-sleeper and are discouraged by not enough 'side' (thigh) coverage in
your night-time/nap-time cloth diapering system for absorption, this is the fold
for you.
Also, having a
micro fleece liner in the stride of the Prefold,
as with other fleece lined systems, will allow the fleece to wick moisture from baby's genitals and bum to the absorbent
diaper beneath. These attributes help keep baby dry through the night and rash free.
This diapering
method requires a diaper cover of some sort.
Depending on the quality, age and wear and tear of the prefold, it can be highly
absorbent. However, prefolds
are not an all-in-one diapering system, and therefore, are not water resistant
or waterproof. Diaper covers will protect your hip, lap,
baby's clothing, etc. . . from getting wet!
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#1. Lay your Prefold out flat width-wise with serged edges at right
and left. You will need to use larger Prefolds to make this fold fit
on your baby. For instance, a Toddler 8-ply Chinese Prefold was used
in these pics on a 4 month old "chunky monkey" of a boy.
You can use, a Premium 8-ply Prefold, but the fit is a lot
tighter and there is less area for soakage. This will be different
on each child - it all depends on baby's size.
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#2. Fold in the right and left serged edges of
your Prefold to create
a rectangle lengthwise (as seen above).
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#3. This fold is changing where your 'absorbent' layers
are usually placed. So, you will want to add add'l coverage in the
stride. Without add'l coverage, you will have only 4 layers against
baby's genitals and only 4 layers in the back.
We have basically 'stolen' layers from the soakage areas to try and add
layers to the thighs.
We used an Infant 8-ply Chinese Prefold as a diaper doubler above. It is placed
lengthwise, parallel with the diaper folds and their serged edges.
However, you can use anything for that extra absorbency (hemp if more absorption is needed)
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#4.
Place baby atop the folded Prefold as normal.
See where the diaper doubler and the folded areas are?
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#5. Fold in the bottom already folded
edges of the Prefold at an angle. This readies a 'front panel' for pulling up and
over baby's front stride area.
This fold is great as it gives you whatever layers are in your doubler,
along with the folded side layers against your baby's genitals for maximum
absorption, plus you have the added benefit of the thickness on the thighs.
A fleece liner, if used, should lie
lengthwise
down the center stride area (atop the fold, under baby's bum) to wick
moisture away from baby.
You can also use a
Fleece-Topped Diaper Doubler for a
one-stop approach to the extra absorbency/wicking concern.
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#6. Expand the front folded areas in order for them to be reached
by the back 'wings' that will come around and be secured with either
safety locking Diaper Pins or a Snappi Fastener .
If needed, the
tucked layers on the inside of the front panel can be pulled-out to the left
and right to 'meet up' with the wings coming around from the back corners of
the Prefold behind baby.
Adjust
by letting out more for a 'buddha-bellied' baby.
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#7. Note this looks different than when traditionally folded.
It
IS bulkier and not intended for everyday use - this is a night time or nap
time fold. It puts a LOT of coverage right at the thighs, leaving less
at the waistline in front center and back. Using a longer diaper
doubler can remedy any leakage in that area.
We
have found that Pull-On Covers, Wool Soakers or
Side-Snapping 'Bloomer Style' Fleece Covers work best with this fold as it does increase bulk at the thigh and
doesn't fit well under standard wrap-style covers.
When pinning: Do
not try to pin through all layers - catch one or two.
Keep fingers under diaper layers to ensure you DO
NOT STICK baby!
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