I work at Tanner Clinic as a medical assistant. Some medical assistants were able to go to the recent convention in Park City. I was unable to attend for various reasons. There was a speaker there everyone was talking about the next day. A doctor had gone to Haiti on a medical mission and was sharing his story. I cannot do his story justice as I was not there but I did get the basics of it. The doctor served and treated what and who he could. He had a picture slide show of all the kids. Some lived and some died. During this speach he talked about the mass spreading of diahrrea among the kids. They were sick and dehydrated. To make this situation worse they have no diapers for these babies. Most of us hate when we have to change a diaper of this sort let alone not have one at all. This is a hygenic problem. This doctor went on to say how these people would cut up lovely blankets and quilts to use as diapers. There is so much time spent in making some of those lovely blanket just for them to get cut up and used in another manner. This doctor pleaded with everyone that if we were to send anything or make anything to please make these poor kids diapers.



Some have offered disposable and I thought of those too, but then if they can't dispose of their dead and have massive piles of cement from fallen buildings, how are they supposed to dispose of the disposable diapers. Besides they are used once and they are done. This is only a temporary fix and could create a larger problem.



Again I wasn't even at this meeting but as I heard about it from several co-workers and I was shocked as a mother and a medical personal. I wanted to do something. So this is what I have done. I have found easy diaper instructions to follow and I am posting them for those that would like to help at home.



In June we Sent 67+ diapers. We will be needing the next batch by July 24th. Then another is scheduled for Oct 1st


You can contact me at
BrittanyBG@live.com



So today I was able to get 3 newborn diapers out of one yard. I used 5 layers of flannel for the pad since newborns are always peeing, but I guess they don't really pee that much.

One thought I had was when I do well baby checks we ask about wet and messy diapers. Newborns need about 9 diapers a day, toddlers about 4-5. So, thinking in a "how many kids are we helping" point of view, that is what I will be thinking about as I make and collect diapers.

Ryan (my husband) didn't agree until we thought about when you take it off you have to wash AND dry it. A clean WET diaper isn't worth much. Maybe when I wash the ones I have made I will set them outside (if it doesn't rain again) and see how long they take to dry and get back to everyone.

I haven't been picky about the padding in the diaper. Pretty much salvaging as much of the scraps as I can.

Flannel that isn't gender specific would probably be good too. I would hate to put a little boy in butterflies because it is all they have. But they will make do with what we give. Just a thought.

Cutting Diaper and Padding for Toddler Diaper

In this post I am using 1 yard of flannel and a large toddler size pattern made from the measurements on www.diapersewing.com/measurements.htm and www.diapersewing.com/quick-and-easy-fitted.htm.

Your goal should be to cut 2 diapers out of 1 yard








Get your edges close and make sure 2 will fit before you cut. Stay as close to the edge(not fold of fabric) as you can to save the fold for the inner padding


For the padding of the diaper start with the fold. Cut into proper length,



then cut to proper width(DO NOT CUT FOLD)




For the awkward pieces cut the length first.












Then fold over strait edge to cut it as wide as you can (or proper width)











Trim tear drop shape to fit

Split the strips evenly to have at least 4 layers of padding per diaper.









Once you have 4 layers of padding and your diaper cut out it is ready to sew and you can refer to www.diapersewing.com/quick-and-easy-fitted.htm.