What is wicking?

Joann&Nick62007

I'm a CD newbie..

What is:

Wicking?

PUL?

Best Insert?  

papagena

Wicking - think of a wick on a candle/lantern and how oil would travel up it.  It's basically the water just going from the inside of the diaper, somehow to the outside creating a leak, generally by spreading through the fibers of the material/stitching, etc.

PUL - forget exactly what it stands for (polyeurosomething laminate) but it's a fabric where one side is laminated with the PUL stuff and the other is fabric-y still - used for water proof covers or the outside of pocket diapers/AIOs, etc.

My favorite insert is our AFFF (artsyfartsyfoofoo) can be found on the EcoNest congo or under her name on Etsy.  Hard to get, but well worth it!!  In general, I like hemp the best.

Lotte134

Wicking - wetness from the diaper transferring onto the LO's clothes, either because of bad diaper quality, bad fit, or a bit of the prefold or fitted sticking out of the cover

PUL - I think, polyurethane laminant - it's the waterproof material used to make pockets, AIO's and covers

Best insert - depends - I like microfiber just fine but a lot of people don't, hemp is fantastic because it's really trim but still absorbent

julygal

Wicking is when the wetness from inside the diaper is pulled to the outside.

PUL is  polyurethane laminate.  It is often the waterproof layer of a diaper.

Best insert will vary based upon who you talk to.  Microfiber absorbs fast and holds a fair amount, but it is prone to stink issues.  Hemp absorbs slower but holds more and is trim. I am uncertain where bamboo fits into the absorbency spectrum, but I have some bamboo diapers that hold a lot.  I personally prefer the natural fibers of hemp or bamboo to synthetics like microfiber.

jennterrell

wicking is when a fabric pulls moisture out to the outer of the diapers. Sometimes it happens if some of the inner fabric peeks out of the cover fabric.

PUL is a laminated poly knit fabric used as covers or the outer fabric for pocket or AIO diapers.

I like hemp inserts, but they work best for us when combined with some microfiber as the layer closest to baby. I have some MF inserts from cottonbabies that are doing great for us. I haven't had stink problems, but some folks find MF holds odors. I made my own hemp inserts, but ArtsyFartsyFooFoo makes good ones.