History of diapers

What is Diaper

diaper (American English) or a nappy (Australian  and British English) is a type of underwear that allows the wearer to defecate or urinate without the use of a toilet, by absorbing or containing waste products to prevent soiling of outer clothing or the external environment

Ancient Times Diapers

Let us find out if diapers were used in ancient times. What was the shape, type of diapers say 1000 years ago? What material was used?
According to Oxford dictionary  Diaper in English is a “thick, soft, cloth or plastic-covered paper that can be placed between the legs and fastened around the waist.It is used for a baby who has not yet learned to use a toilet:
A better version  is “a piece of absorbent material wrapped around a baby’s bottom and between its legs to absorb and retain urine and feces”

The use of diapers started in somewhere 1800s.
In ancient times, there were no diapers. Most women carried around a small pot, usually made of clay, for their baby to urinate and defecate in. When it looked like the baby might start urinating or defecating, the mother would hold the pot under the baby’s bottom to catch the waste.

Type of Diapers

It appears before the use of cloth diapers and disposable diapers, every individual had to deal with baby bowel movements in their own ways. In ancient times diapers consisted of animal skins, moss, linens, leaves, and similar things. Some babies in tropical environments never had ancient diapers at all because they were mostly naked

Documents show that babies born in ancient times may have used Milkweed leaf wraps, animal skins, flour-Sack, Grass-Stuffed, Wood-Shaving-Stuffed and other natural resources like moss. Eskimo people placed moss under sealskin. Native American mothers packed grass under a diaper cover made of rabbit skin. In warmer tropical climates, babies were mostly naked and mothers guessed baby’s bowel movements or urination and tried to relieve them with their experience. This process of learning the timing of baby’s bowel movement for urination and defecate. is called elimination communication. Learning elimination communication is very good for parents of newborns as it eliminates unnecessary use of diapers. Poverty also makes this practice more prevalent in poor countries as they can not afford diapers.

Modern Diapers

In 1800s cloth diapers were used. Paper-Sheet Diapers were used in the 1950s
During the 1900s the modern diapers came into existence and then present day disposable diapers.
There are millions of women in poor countries till today, where they can not afford diapers.
There is no shortage of modern diaper options on the market.The most important consideration while selecting a diaper is that it should work for the baby. There should not be any reaction to skin of baby (Rashes).

The other consideration should be that they are eco-friendly, fewer chemicals, eco-friendly, softness, absorbency, fragrance, cost, etc.


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