About Wool

Breathable. Antibacterial. Water-resistant. The natural diaper cover that outperforms plastic. 

What Is Wool and Why Use It as a Diaper Cover?

Wool is a natural fiber harvested from the coat of sheep. It has been used in clothing and textiles for thousands of years because of a unique combination of properties that no synthetic fabric has been able to replicate: wool can repel water on its exterior while absorbing moisture in its interior, all while allowing air to flow freely through the fabric.

These properties make wool an exceptional material for diaper covers. A diaper cover's job is to keep moisture contained without trapping heat and humidity against your baby's skin. Most cloth diaper brands accomplish this with PUL or TPU covers, which are synthetic plastic-based materials laminated onto polyester fabric. They work as a waterproof barrier, but that barrier also blocks airflow.

Wool takes a completely different approach. Instead of sealing moisture behind a wall of plastic, wool manages moisture naturally. It is water-resistant, breathable, temperature-regulating, and antimicrobial, all without a single synthetic material involved.

The Magic of Lanolin

The key to understanding wool as a diaper cover is lanolin.

Lanolin is a natural wax produced by the skin of sheep. It coats wool fibers and gives them their water-resistant quality. When your baby's diaper gets wet and moisture reaches the wool cover, the lanolin prevents that moisture from soaking through to clothing. The wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in liquid before it even begins to feel damp, giving you a generous buffer before any leak could occur.

But lanolin does something even more remarkable. When it comes into contact with the ammonia in urine, a chemical reaction occurs that actually neutralizes the ammonia. This means your wool cover is essentially self-cleaning between uses. After a diaper change, you simply set the cover aside to air dry. Once it is dry and no longer smells, it is ready to use again.

This is why wool covers do not need to be washed after every use. Most parents wash their wool covers every one to two weeks and lanolize every few weeks. Compare that to PUL covers, which should be wiped down or washed after every use to prevent bacterial buildup and odor.

Over time, the lanolin in wool gradually diminishes through washing and normal wear. Restoring it is a simple process called lanolizing, which involves soaking the wool in a lanolin-infused bath. It takes about five minutes of active work and only needs to happen every few weeks.

Why Wool Outperforms Synthetic Covers

Beyond lanolin's water resistance, wool brings several properties to a diaper cover that synthetics simply cannot match.

Breathability. This is the single biggest advantage of wool over PUL. Wool allows air to circulate freely through the fabric, keeping your baby's skin cooler and drier. PUL creates a sealed, plastic-lined environment that traps heat and moisture. That warm, damp space is exactly where diaper rash thrives. Many parents who struggle with persistent diaper rash find that switching to wool covers resolves it.

Temperature regulation. Wool keeps your baby cooler in warm weather and warmer in cool weather. The fiber's natural structure creates tiny air pockets that insulate in winter and ventilate in summer. On warm nights, many parents use wool covers as pajama shorts over the diaper with nothing else needed.

Antimicrobial properties. Wool naturally resists the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew. Combined with lanolin's ammonia-neutralizing reaction, this means wool covers stay fresher between washes than any synthetic alternative.

Elasticity and comfort. Knitted wool stretches gently with your baby's movements and returns to its shape. It does not pinch, bind, or leave red marks the way elastic-edged PUL covers sometimes do.

Durability. A well-cared-for wool cover lasts for years. Many families use the same wool covers through multiple children and resell them when finished. Wool holds its value in the secondhand market far better than synthetic covers.

Wool vs. Synthetic (PUL/TPU) Diaper Covers

Our Wool

Babee Greens offers three types of wool diaper covers, each with its own qualities.

Merino Wool. Merino is the softest wool available, made from the fine fibers of merino sheep. It is incredibly gentle against skin, naturally elastic, and excellent at temperature regulation. Our merino wool yarn is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified. We use merino for our wool diaper covers, wool longies, and wool shorties.

Upcycled Wool. We source high-quality wool garments that would otherwise end up in a landfill and repurpose the fabric into diaper covers. Each upcycled wool cover is one of a kind in color and pattern. Upcycling extends the life of existing materials and reduces waste, making it one of the most environmentally responsible options available. Our upcycled wool covers are lined with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified merino wool for softness against your baby's skin.

All of our wool products are handmade in our workshop in Asheville, North Carolina. We never use synthetic fibers, chemical dyes, or harsh treatments. Like everything we make, our wool covers are designed with one question in mind: would we put this on our own children?

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified

Our merino wool yarn carries Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification at Class 1, the strictest testing tier. Class 1 is reserved exclusively for products intended for babies and toddlers up to age three.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is an independent testing and certification system that screens finished textile products for over 1,000 harmful substances, including heavy metals, pesticides, formaldehyde, phthalates, and PFAS. Class 1 adds additional testing for color fastness to saliva and perspiration, because babies put everything in their mouths.

The certification is renewed annually through independent laboratory testing. It verifies not just the wool fiber itself, but every component of the finished yarn, including any dyes or treatments used in production.

When you see Oeko-Tex Standard 100 on a Babee Greens wool product, it means the material has been independently tested and confirmed safe for your baby's most sensitive skin.

Feel the Difference

Parents who try wool covers for the first time almost always say the same thing: they wish they had started sooner.

The most immediate difference is breathability. If you have been using PUL covers, you will notice that your baby's skin feels cooler, drier, and less clammy at diaper changes. Many parents see a noticeable improvement in diaper rash within the first week of switching to wool.

The second thing parents notice is how much simpler their routine becomes. Because wool covers do not need to be washed after every use, you need fewer of them. Three to four covers in rotation is usually plenty, even for full-time cloth diapering. Air them out, rotate them, and wash every week or two. The laundry load actually goes down when you switch to wool.

Wool is especially popular for overnight use. The combination of breathability and high moisture absorption makes wool covers the most reliable natural option for 10 to 12 hour sleep stretches. Pair a wool cover with a hemp blend fitted diaper and a hemp doubler for the most absorbent overnight setup available.

Browse our full selection of wool and cashmere diaper covers, or get everything you need in one of our starter kits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is wool itchy against my baby's skin?

Not the wool we use. Merino wool and cashmere are among the finest, softest natural fibers available. They are a world apart from the coarse, scratchy wool you might associate with an old sweater. Our covers are designed to go over a fitted diaper, so the merino lining is what contacts your baby's skin at the waist and legs. Most parents are surprised by how soft it feels.

How often do I need to wash wool covers?

Far less often than you think. Wool covers can be aired out and reused for multiple diaper changes without washing. Most parents hand wash their wool covers every one to two weeks and lanolize every few weeks, or whenever the cover starts absorbing through rather than repelling. You will know it is time to wash when the cover still smells after it has fully air dried.

Is wool hard to care for?

It is different from caring for cotton, but it is not difficult. Hand wash in lukewarm water with a gentle wool wash, press out excess water without wringing, and lay flat to air dry. Never use hot water and never put wool in the dryer. The lanolizing process takes about five minutes of active work every few weeks. Our lanolizing guide walks you through every step.

Can wool covers be used in warm weather?

Yes. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about wool. Because it is naturally temperature-regulating, wool keeps your baby cooler in warm weather by allowing air to circulate. Many parents use wool covers as standalone shorts over a diaper on warm summer days and find they are more comfortable than PUL covers, which trap heat.

Why are wool covers more expensive than PUL?

Wool is a premium natural material that costs more to produce than synthetic plastic. However, because wool covers do not need to be washed after each use, you need fewer of them. Three to four wool covers can replace six to eight PUL covers. When you factor in the reduced quantity needed and the durability that allows reuse across multiple children, the actual long-term cost is comparable.