If you have found yourself asking, “What is a soaker?” then you are among many people I have encountered in the short time since I opened Baby Bear Bums so I would like to take the opportunity to post a bit about soakers, bum sweaters, butt sweaters, cloth diaper covers, longies, shorties or any of the other creative names that have described this invention of long ago. As a word of comfort and assurance – you are NOT the only one who is befuddled by the purpose of these wool covers. In fact, I just learned about the benefits of soakers myself about two years ago. It is a very common term in the cloth diaper world because wool soakers have several benefits for this community.
Wool has great elasticity (unless it is felted at which point it loses a good deal of it’s flexibility) and will fit well around the bit bulkier baby booties associated with cloth diapers. Wool is naturally anti-bacterial, and has been documented to have up to 30% absorbency before it begins to feel wet (great for overnights when we are not changing bums as we would during the day). Wool helps to regulate body temperature, keeping your baby warm in winter and cool in summer.
If you are questioning the comfort of a soaker, I can understand your hesitancy to put wool on your baby’s sensitive skin. I think we have all experienced the dreaded itchy sweater incident ourselves at some point. Depending on the style of soaker you choose, you will find that they can cover like a diaper all the way to a pair of pants (longies). The diaper style will cover the area where the diaper is already covering your baby’s skin, whereas the shorties and longies will cover more skin that will not have an additional layer between the wool and your baby bear’s skin. If I find a piece of wool that is itchy but just adorable, I often will simply use it for the crotch/bum area because I know those areas will not touch the baby’s skin. Then I will add a softer wool for those areas that will come in contact with skin. I have not had any problems with our daughter itching or showing irritation toward the material; however, there are children who are allergic to wool and there are fleece soakers available for those wee ones.
As you can see, soakers serve a very practical purpose, but I strive to make them cute enough to be worn as a piece of clothing screaming to be seen and cooed at by all! And now when you are stopped and asked about the cute cover on your baby’s bum, you can spout about all the benefits yourself!
