Product Origins
Made in Lithuania.
From Jeannette Almstrøm, Founder of Firma LANA
New and better things - diaper
covers!
When I gave birth to my second child twenty years
ago, I was given a present that struck me as quite odd. I had one
year earlier moved from Sweden to Denmark, and, as a nurse
at that time, had no knowledge of anything other than
disposable diapers. We were all so engrossed in the
"use-and-throw-away" mentality.
The gift I received was a woolen panty, knitted
by my grandmotherly neighbor, for my baby. It was made of natural
wool, with the lanolin still preserved in the wool fibers.
This is what was used in "the olden days", before
plastic was discovered. It was to be used as a cover
over the traditional cotton diapers, which were used as
the inner layer closest to the baby.
My neighbor told me that the woolen diaper cover
was a guarantee that my baby would never get a red bottom or irritated
skin. I never need worry that my baby would lie wet and
chilled - the risk was nonexistent with wool. She told
me that as the wool absorbs moisture, warmth is created.
Plus, the natural wool removes any smell of urine. The
lanolin neutralizes the ammonia in the urine, and as a
result, the odor of urine disappears. She instructed me
that when I changed my baby's diaper, to simply hang the woolen
panty over the radiator. It sounded so simple...
Still skeptical, I bought a dozen cotton diapers
and began my experimentation. It would prove to be my
first step along the path away from plastic and synthetic
materials. It became evident to me, immediately, that this little
unpretentious woolen panty was to hold all that it had
promised and even more.
My baby thrived in his woolen diaper cover. No red bottom, no
odor, no signs that he felt wet or cold. On our walks
during the long, cold Danish winters, I never had a
worry that my child felt chilled, lying in a wet diaper.
This little panty became my guarantee for well-being.
Soon I knitted several more diaper covers on my
own. A heavier type - for nighttime, or for occasions when I knew
a long period of time would pass before I could change his
diaper. During the time my baby was in diapers, I never
needed to wake him up at night to change him. And he
never woke me! He slept straight through the night. What
reason would I have to wake him when I knew that he
slept warm and cozily, and showed all signs of that?
When my third child was born, my second "woolen
diaper baby", I once again experienced the same fantastic qualities
of the wool. I was learning the wisdom of my elderly
neighbor first-hand. No red bottom, no nighttime
changes, no ear infections, no antibiotics - and a baby
in diapers no longer than two years.
What is it that makes the woolen
diaper covers so unique? They are knitted with
natural wool - wool that has not gone through any harsh
chemical treatments. (It is often these chemicals which
people react to when they believe that they are allergic
to wool.) The natural lanolin is therefore retained in
the wool fibers. The urine is wicked from the cotton
diaper to the woolen cover, which neutralizes the ammonia in the
urine. It is the ammonia which causes a baby's bottom to become
red. The wool absorbs the wetness and gives off warmth.
Typically, three diaper covers are all that are
needed. It's important to remember that even if the woolen cover
feels wet, that it is not uncomfortable for your baby, since it
doesn't feel cold. When it's time to change, take the
diaper cover and place over a radiator or mild heat
source, such as on top of a running dryer, NEVER in a
dryer. Dry heat is important, as the wool can absorb up
to 40% of its own weight in wetness without feeling wet.
The cotton diapers can be washed in your washer.
When the woolen diaper cover has been used for about
one week, you can begin to notice the smell of urine. That is the
sign that the lanolin has been used up and it's time to
give your wool a new dose of lanolin, for it to once
again work optimally. Wash your woolen cover gently by
hand in lukewarm water with 1/4 of a cup of lanolin
soap. Swoosh gently and let it soak for 15 minutes.
Rinse in lukewarm water. Roll it up in a towel and press the excess
water out. Give the diaper cover a quick, brisk shake,
stretch it to shape and place it to dry, preferably over
a mild heat source.
When the lanolin in the wool comes in contact with
urine, a chemical reaction occurs, which creates lanolin-soap. This
has an antibacterial effect, making the wool
self-cleaning, as it is worn by your baby.
Why is this little panty such an important alternative
to disposable diapers?
- It breathes.
- It gives warmth - the warmth of well-being.
- No irritated skin.
- No ear infections (according to grandmothers'
wisdom and my experience).
- No urine odor.
- Easy to use.
It's so important to surround your baby with a natural
material! A pure material that hasn't gone through any chemical
treatment. A diaper cover that can be passed on to your
next baby. An alternative that puts your baby's health
and comfort in the center. A raw material that we can
use year after year, without killing or affecting the
sheep's quality of life. An alternative diaper that
doesn't destroy the balance within our bodies or that of our
Earth.
I hear repeatedly that woolen diaper babies are
calm and content babies. Also, that they typically are in diapers
no longer than 2 years. I have my own theory on this. When a
baby - or toddler - begins to react to the feeling of
wetness, not merely cold, a signal is sent to his or her
natural time clock, to want to be rid of the diaper.
When a baby, since birth, has not been exposed to the
temperature fluctuations of warmth and cold, as with
disposable diapers, but instead has been surrounded with a constant
warmth, the body is given optimal conditions to grow and
mature, with a result of earlier bladder control.
I've had numerous questions and interest from mothers
in regards to my woolen diaper covers. Since I've learned that
natural wool diaper covers are the best diaper you can
use for your baby, I want to pass along the wisdom that
was once passed down to me - for the health of our
babies and the health of our Earth.
Jeannette Almstrøm
LANACare Pure Natural Wool Products
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