cloth diapers and range of motion

BrookeNYC · April 2012

My husband is concerned that our bulky cloth diapers are restricting my daughter's range of motion and delaying her progress with motor skills. It's true that when she's in the diapers, her legs shoot out to the sides, and as soon as we take them off to change her, she stretches her legs straight down. Obviously lots of babies are/have been cloth diapered with no issues, and my daughter can straighten her legs down when she tries (like to "stand" with assistance). But I'd be curious to know if anyone has thoughts on this.

Megan.10.06 · April 2012

I don't think it really afffects them - it's fabric, not a cinderblock

If it gives you any comfort, you can try a different diaper, like a bamboo insert in a pocket. They are super trim.

gr8fulaa · April 2012

How bad is it? Her legs shouldn't be externally rotated all day long, but a little bulk isn't going to harm her. If it's too bulky between her legs maybe you could try the twist fold to keep her legs in a more natural alignment...Good luck!

Alliebooberz · April 2012

DS rolled over at 6 weeks old... has been CD'd since birth. I would say there is zero restrictions on his movement.

beautiflaw · April 2012

First off, Isadora June is SUCH a pretty name.

Second, I didn't find it to be a problem. We have a VERY varied stash and I'm not sure what you use, but we have super fat and bulky dipes as well as very trim ones, but DD moves the same in all her diapers. She rolled over at about 6 or 7 weeks, could sit unassisted a little after 3 months, creeped at 4 1/2 months, crawled and pulled up at 6, and is taking steps and cruising at 7. I have no doubt in my mind that she will walk before her birthday. She's been cloth diapered since birth.

If DH is worried, tell him that he can let her run around naked when he's watching her and that he can also clean up any accidents she might have. lol

NYGirl02 · April 2012

I'm not at all concerned, but I do notice that dd can grab her feet easier sans diaper. I just play with her legs a lot to help her see that she can move them. It seems it's more about when the diaper is on she doesn't think about bringing up her legs as much, and just has to work a little harder to do it.

ToastieSimons · April 2012

I think I'm the only person on this board who ACTUALLY has this problem. CD inhibit my son's movement, however he has special needs and severe hypertonia.

Our PT has said CD on typical children do not have an impact. Unfortunately, my DS is not typical, but even we're back in cloth diapers. We just have to make sure they're not too low on his hips (the thirsties duo's were the worst) and that they're trim (no prefolds, we like swaddlebees simplex and workhorse fitteds)

ournaturaljourney · April 2012

They didn't seem to inhibit my son. He was crawling at 6 months and walking at 10.

pixy_stix · April 2012

Our PT looked at me like I had 3 heads when I asked her if it might be hindering my dd's movement. So the answer is no in most children.

Alliebooberz · April 2012

Alliebooberz:
DS rolled over at 6 weeks old... has been CD'd since birth. I would say there is zero restrictions on his movement.

Wow. Are.

mkmce · April 2012

We got the same suggestion from our son's daycare (he was a bit late to start walking). Eventually we got nervous and temporarily switched him to disposables, feeling rather foolish while doing so. He actually started to walk just a week after we switched to disposables. I have no idea if the timing of this this event was coincidental or not, but we gave him about 3 weeks of getting used to walking in the disposables and then put him back in cloth. We also made some minor adjustments to our diapers to make them a bit thinner. We now use BG one-size pockets with AFF hemp liners plus the smaller microfiber that comes with the BG (he's got a bladder, this one) and have had no issues.

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