A hybrid fitted is an adaption from a regular fitted to allow a fitted diaper to be used for extended periods of time without a cover. With a regular fitted, liquid doesn't know where to go. It will travel around and spread throughout the whole diaper until the diaper is fully saturated, inside and out. With a hybrid fitted, there is a hidden layer of polyester fleece that will push and repel the liquid back towards the super absorbent insert instead of allowing liquid to pass to the outside of the diaper. Although hybrid fitted diapers are not waterproof, they are water-resistant and can be worn for 3+ hours (a diaper change) without feeling wet on the outside. They are excellent as nighttime diapers for moderate to heavy wetters when paired with a cover. If your child is a super heavy wetter, a true fitted diaper may be a better option (paired with a cover of course).
Many parents have also seen a reduction in rashes when using hybrid fitteds. This statement hasn't been researched a ton or evaluated by the FDA, but it makes sense. PUL is breathable, but it isn't nearly as breathable as fleece and some babies need that air circulation to keep their booty dry and not sweating in a waterproof material. With hybrid fitteds, I also find it easier to know when to change baby. Lets face it, it is hard to know when a cloth diapered baby is wet. There's no blue chemical line that appears like in Pamper's diapers. Sometimes you just have to keep an eye on the clock, but with hybrid fitteds the first place to feel damp is near the legs. This is an eco-friendly "blue line" to tell you that you need to change your baby! Changing a baby when they first urinate is also an excellent way to help prevent rashes!
This brings me to another topic, what materials are typically used in a hybrid fitted?
Well here you go! ;)
Outer: Decorative KNIT fabric (woven fabric can be used, but isn't as popular because it changes the fit of the diaper)
Hidden: Polyester Fleece
Inner: Cotton Velour
Insert: Usually a blend of one or two of the following: cotton/hemp/bamboo (viscose or rayon) topped with cotton velour.
This style of diaper is also popular among cloth diaper makers (I know that my favorite diapers to make are hybrid fitteds :) Nothing can beat all the cute fabric options!) because it allows many different cute prints to be used for the outside of the diaper shell without the worry of wicking. When a waterproof diaper (like a pocket diaper, Ai2, AiO, etc) contains a hidden layer of PUL and a natural fiber fabric outer, there is a chance for wicking to happen much sooner than in a hybrid fitted causing the whole outside of the diaper to be wet. Hybrid fitteds generally contain more absorbent material than other typical waterproof diapers and when liquid travels outside of a hidden PUL diaper, there is no way for the liquid to be absorbed back into the diaper like with a hybrid fitted, since PUL is completely waterproof.
With all this said, I have to mention that NOT ALL HYBRID FITTEDS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
I am serious when I say this. If you have tried a hybrid fitted and hated them and had a bunch of leaking problems, you may have bought a lesser quality diaper that contained poor quality fleece. FLEECE IS WHAT MAKES A HYBRID FITTED A HYBRID FITTED. If a diaper manufacturer (aka WAHM) is using low grade polyester fleece, the fleece may be ABSORBING instead of REPELLING like it is supposed to. If your diaper is feeling sopping wet on the outside, this is probably the case. Recently, Joann's Fabric Store changed their fleece manufacturer and they now carry low grade fleece that is absorbing instead of repelling. This makes for a horrible hybrid fitted. Before purchasing a hybrid fitted I would ask what type of fleece they use. The best quality fleeces (for hybrid fitteds) that can be bought are Polartec Classic 200 and Polartec Windpro Fleece created by Malden Mills Textiles and Winterfleece created by Baum Textiles. These fleeces are high quality and are proven to repel water extremely well. Be careful though, many cheap fleece manufacturers try to confuse people into buying their products and will name their fleeces "Wind Pro" or "Polar tec" or "Winter Fleece". These are not the same quality fleeces as those made by Baum Textiles and Malden Mills Textiles.
Not all cotton velour is created equal either. One of the best cotton velours you can get is referred to as "juicy" cotton velour. It is a thicker and softer fabric that allows for more wear and more absorption. There is organic cotton velour available as well, but it is double the cost of juicy cotton velour.
Insert material is also not created equal. Here is a quick run down of the two popular fabrics:
Organic Bamboo Fleece comes in different absorption's, 300 gsm (OBF), 400 gsm (HOBF), and 500 gsm (SHOBF). SHOBF is the most absorbent, but it tends to get stiff when wet. Bamboo Fleece is the most popular in the WAHM world, but many people don't know that Bamboo is not Eco Friendly. It is so processed that it isn't really even bamboo anymore. It is either viscose or rayon from bamboo. Yes, it is referred to "organic" bamboo fleece, but the "organic" part is referring to the cotton contained in the Bamboo Fleece.
Hemp Fleece usually comes in an absorption around 400 gsm. Hemp is VERY sustainable and environmentally friendly. It absorbs so well that stink may become an issue if not washed properly. Hemp requires a lot of water (in the form of rinses or soaks) to come clean. It absorbs so well that it can lock in the stink. If this happens, it just means that it needs to be soaked in water and rinsed a few times so the water can penetrate the fabric deeply and remove the stink. Hemp also tends to be stiffer, but when topped with a soft fabric like cotton velour, it is hardly noticeable.
Now that you have read this I hope you have a better understanding of what a hybrid fitted is. Here is a quick summery (picture) of the topics discussed. I hope you enjoy your hybrid fitteds as much as I do! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment