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Caring for Wool Covers
Wool is the most natural material you could use for nappy wraps, it is biodegradeable and comes from a renewable source. It is a good option for babies with sensitive skin and excema as the wool is a 100% natural product, and breathable, which keeps baby's bottom cool in summer, and warm in winter.
Wool covers don't need to be washed after every use as the lanolised wool is anti-bacterial and they renew themselves when left to air. On average they will need to be washed every other week with wool or olive oil soap or wool shampoo, handwashed or in a wool cycle, although this will depend how often the wrap is in use. When it starts to retain a urine smell it is time to wash your wrap.
New wool covers will need an initial treatment with lanolin, and washed and treated again approximatly every week for the first 3 weeks to build up water resistance. Thereafter you should be able to leave them for a month or so before they need lanolising again.
How to Treat your Wool Cover
To lanolise a wool cover with a ready mixed wool soak, like the Imse Vimse wool cure, simply add a tablespoon of the cure to a bucket of warm water and add the wrap - there should be just enough water to cover the wrap. To lanolise using pure lanolin, including lansinoh nipple cream, first boil the kettle. Then make tea :). In another cup, you need a pea sized amount of lanolin on a teaspoon, then fill with the hot water. Give it a good stir, so the lanolin melts. Add a little soap to distribute the lanolin, something mild like wool shampoo or baby bath. The mixture should now look milky. Add this to your bucket of lukewarm water (remember not too much, as the mixture will be too dilute - just enough to cover the wrap) and soak your wrap. It needs 8 hours, or overnight in the mixture.
When lanolising is finished, take out your cover and gently wring it out - there's no need to rinse. Wool can take a while to dry, as much as 48 hours in winter but you can speed the drying process up a bit by rolling the cover up in a clean dry towel. Dry away from direct heat to avoid shrinkage.
We Love Wool!
Wool wraps are ideal for a night time wrap, as they can be aired during the day and the same one used again the next night. The breathability of the wool helps the nappy to evaporate during the night, great for heavy wetters and helps to keep baby cooler and more comfortable. It's important that there isn't too much pressure on the wool cover as it can cause moisture to 'squeeze' out, for example poppers on a vest, or a tight fitting sleepsuit. (a sleeping bag is usually ok) Like wise if your baby is sat in a buggy or car seat for a period it can cause wicking, or if the wool cover is getting too small it won't be as effective. Saying this, lots of babies (including my own!) wear wool very succesfully in the day as well as night time. Wool trousers and shorties replace the need for clothes over the top, meaning you don't have any problems with finding trousers to fit over cloth nappies, and best of all, they don't need washing each time!
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