Learn how to sew a diaper for newborn babies with your own hands
Cocoon-shaped diapers are especially popular now, because it is easier to swaddle a baby in them, and the shape of the diaper is comfortable for him. But before you sew the diaper, you will have to make a pattern, for example, as in the photo below.
Usually the size is: 24 cm by 52 cm or 29 cm by 63 cm. Also, when making a pattern yourself, you need to take into account the space for the baby to move. It is best to choose natural fabric. It can be knitted cotton or flannel. There is no need to bend the seams of the diaper. It is better if they are stitched with a zigzag seam or overlaid.
Also, before you start sewing, you need to cut out the back, collar, lining, two front parts and a protective strip. And for the fastener, you need to buy a zipper of the required length in advance.
The edges of the fastener and zipper attachment points are glued with thread stitching tape, and you need to sew the edges of the protective strip using a sewing machine. The allowance is cut off near the stitching.
Next, a zipper is placed on the inverted strip, which is glued with textile glue, and then stitched on a sewing machine.
Before connecting the shelves at the bottom, you need to put marks by attaching the strip. After this, the strips are sewn separately from the main fabric, and then from the lining fabric.
The back is folded separately from the main and lining fabric. It is secured with pins and then stitched with an overlocker.
To ensure that the seams do not interfere with the child, you need to sew the collar to the neckline, leaving 6-8 cm for the zipper from the side cut. The collar is folded in half and sewn to the main product. It should be between the lining and main fabric. Next, the material is basted with a zipper, and then finally sewn.
The cocoon diaper is ready! It does not threaten the baby’s health, unlike tight swaddling, and it is very convenient to use, because such a diaper is made from natural material and with mother’s love.
A baby diaper with Velcro is very easy to use, and how to sew it is shown in this master class.
You can buy a Velcro diaper in a store, or you can make it yourself. To do this, you will need cotton fabric measuring 24 cm by 52 cm or 29 cm by 63 cm.
But the sizes of diapers for babies vary.
Some mothers, who know how quickly children grow, buy larger diapers, because then they can avoid frequent swaddling. The baby grows up and becomes more active and then tries in every possible way to leave the tight cocoon.
Square shaped diapers are more comfortable than triangular ones. But if you choose a triangular diaper, then a size of 0.9 m by 1.2 m is suitable. In the case when a diaper is needed only for the first few months after birth, it is better to choose a size of 0.9 m by 1.0 m or 0.85 m by 0.9 m. If the diaper is made of flannel, then it should be wider and longer than the cotton one by 10-20 cm.
Before you start sewing a Velcro diaper, you need to make a pattern. It is shown in the photo below.
It is better to transfer the drawing onto checkered paper. One cell is equal to 0.5 cm, and knowing these dimensions will make it easier to navigate the drawing. The pattern can also be made by hand.
If a diaper for a newborn should be insulated, then the same fragments should be cut out from padding polyester. The padding polyester parts are laid and secured with pins. The fabric can be chosen in different colors, but it is better to maintain the tonality for beauty.
Next, the drawing can be transferred to the fabric from which the diaper will be sewn. Its width should be approximately 85 cm and its length 50 cm. These dimensions are arbitrary and are designed for a very small child. If the baby is older, then the diaper should be larger.
Now two parts are cut out from the main fabric. One is solid and the other has legs. Then everything can be sewn together. The holes in the area of the legs should be left and then the inside of the diaper can be straightened out.
Now you can sew Velcro onto the sides of the diaper. It is better to take long and wide ones so that the baby’s body is securely fixed in the diaper. Velcro is better than a zipper in that you can adjust how tightly the baby is swaddled.
Such diapers are used mainly at night, because the stable fastening provides the baby with deep sleep. Velcro holds the baby's body tightly and does not open. A drawstring is inserted into the hood of the diaper so that it fits securely on the baby's head and does not fall off.
This diaper is a great alternative to a regular diaper.
- And the video below clearly demonstrates how to sew diapers for babies quickly and easily with your own hands.
Source: https://sdelala-sama.ru/shityo/3444-pelenka-dlya-novorozhdennyh-svoimi-rukami.html
Sewing tips
Sewing tips
In order for a newborn to feel comfortable in such a diaper, when preparing for sewing, you should take into account some aspects of needlework.
- It is better to take natural fabric, without synthetic additives. At the same time, it should stretch well. Knitwear with natural cotton is perfect.
- The width of the fabric should be such that it can be folded in half - extra seams are not desirable.
- The length of the material must be at least 1.2 m so that the pattern is made in one piece and corresponds to the height of the baby with a margin.
- When connecting the pattern pieces, you should not make seams that involve folding the fabric - these scars will interfere with the baby.
- All seams, as well as the zipper, must be on the outside of the cocoon diaper. A zigzag stitch will help make these elements decorative.
An experienced craftswoman will spend no more than an hour and a half on making such a necessary item for swaddling a baby. Beginning needlewomen just need to show maximum diligence and do the work slowly to get an original, comfortable cocoon. But a baby wrapped in such a diaper will be the most beautiful.
DIY cocoon diaper pattern. Velcro diaper for newborns
With the birth of a child, young parents have many questions - how to feed, how to play, what to wear and how to go for walks. The issue of choosing clothes and swaddling a baby is one of the most important. The child must be wrapped so that he is warm, cozy and comfortable.
Swaddling
Our ancestors noticed that a baby is comfortable if his arms and legs are well swaddled. This way the child feels like he is still in his familiar environment, he feels protected and doesn’t scare himself with his hands.
Reviews from parents
- Irina, 26 years old, Moscow : “I couldn’t handle regular diapers, so I bought an analogue with a zipper. My little son feels surprisingly comfortable in these diapers and sleeps very well.”
- Olka, 34 years old, Saratov : “For my first child, I almost didn’t use diapers; he felt great in vests and rompers from the first months of his life. When my daughter was born, I realized that in this case I couldn’t do without diapers; she was much more comfortable that way. A friend advised me to try zippered diapers, I first bought one to try - my daughter really liked it! Afterwards, our diaper wardrobe consisted exclusively of diapers.”
- Kristina, 22 years old, Perm : “I didn’t have much experience in communicating with children when my husband and I had our first daughter. When my future dad and I were walking around a children's store, the salesman suggested we try zippered diapers. After the baby was born, it never even occurred to me to try to learn how to swaddle myself, these films are so convenient! I liked that my daughter could move freely and at the same time be swaddled. I was especially pleased with the fabric – it’s so pleasant to the touch.”
When purchasing several products at once in a store, you need to remove each one from the packaging and carefully examine the seams, the quality of the fabric and its composition. Be sure to try with your hands to see if the seams on the fabric are too tight and if they can be felt from the inside.
The choice is huge - choose bright solid colors or suit-style models
How to sew a cocoon diaper
Many newborns feel calmer when swaddled. They are not afraid of the movements of their own hands, which disturb the infant’s sensitive sleep, and the sensations of a mother’s warm hug remain even in the crib.
We are, of course, not talking about tight swaddling. To make the newborn feel as comfortable as possible, it is better to use a cocoon diaper (which, by the way, will not allow the baby to scratch himself). It is also called a changing cocoon and a baby sleeping bag.
More details:
Item of the week: cocoon diaper
From this article you will learn how to sew a cocoon diaper for a baby with your own hands. Below you will find the pattern and detailed instructions. With them you will surely succeed the first time!
© Instagram @mamapapa.production
You will need:
- interlock
- bias tape
- zipper
- threads
- scissors
- sewing machine
How to sew a cocoon diaper:
- Download the pattern, which consists of two parts (part 1 + part 2, author - Elena Plenkina) and transfer it to the fabric. A diaper of this size is suitable for a child aged 1 to 3 months.
- From the same fabric, open and cut out a protective strip for the zipper. Width - 7 cm, length - 6 cm longer than the length of the front part.
- Take the two front pieces and finish the edges on the fastener side. This can be done with a zigzag stitch.
- Sew the zipper to the fabric, leaving 3-5 cm unstitched on the top side of the zipper.
- Cut off the corner of the protective strip on one side (after folding the fabric). Sew with a zigzag stitch from the wrong side.
- Turn the strip right side out, fold it in half again and zigzag the edge.
- Stitch the protective strip to the right side of the zipper. Don't forget to tuck the corner, hiding the zipper inside so that the baby doesn't get scratched.
- Sew the front pieces to the back, placing the fabric with the wrong sides facing each other. Then finish the edge with a zigzag.
- Finish the neckline with bias tape. The cocoon diaper is ready!
Watch in this video how to make not only a changing cocoon for a newborn, but also a radish cap from the same materials:
Photo for the announcement: Instagram @razi_shab, @apachekids
Source: https://www.baby.ru/journal/kak-sshit-pelenku-kokon/
Requirements
Newborns and breastfed babies require special care, since babies have very delicate skin and an unformed body. The immune system is unable to cope with viruses and bacteria, and touches are perceived 10 times more delicately.
The fabric should be hypoallergenic so that delicate skin does not suffer from rashes
Therefore, before sewing, you need to pay attention to several points:
- The seams are placed on the front side of the diaper.
- No protruding threads. Any loose thread, when stretched, can easily scratch or even cut delicate skin.
- The textiles used are made exclusively from natural elements.
- No decorative details.
You may be interested in this: The procedure for sewing a fabric and felt bow
Attention! If you use a cocoon diaper for newborns (pattern with a zipper), it is important to consider the location of the zipper - the hard part of the fastener causes discomfort for the baby, so it is better to sew it on the front part.
If you take into account all the previously mentioned points, you can remain confident in the safety and comfort of the child.
How to sew a cocoon diaper for newborns with your own hands?
Why does a baby need a cocoon?
To help a newborn quickly adapt to the external environment and avoid tight swaddling, you need to take an alternative option - a cocoon, it provides freedom of action to the baby, gives a sense of protection and a comfortable stay in new conditions.
Now there are various types of cocoons on sale: a cradle in a set with mattresses, carriers, envelopes and diapers. But in order to save money, a do-it-yourself cocoon diaper for newborns can be made by any woman who has at least a little knowledge of needlework.
Such a nest is simply necessary for a newborn:
- the cocoon diaper gently hugs the baby, repeating its shape, creating the necessary feeling of comfort and coziness;
- thanks to the close walls, the baby will feel as protected as in the mother’s womb, thanks to which his sleep will be calm, sweet and long;
- It’s easy to feed a baby wrapped in a cocoon swaddle - there’s no need to waste time on swaddling, the baby won’t be able to get in the way with his hands;
- due to the fact that the cocoon diaper is sewn with a lock, it is convenient for both adults and babies to take it off and put it on;
- thanks to uniform heating of the body, you can avoid painful colic that torments babies in the first year of life;
- the cocoon-mattress will fit neatly in the parent’s bed, without creating the fear of crushing the child in his sleep;
- neonatologists note that maintaining a cramped space helps to relax the baby and relieve muscle tone;
- It is recommended to use such a cozy diaper during the first baths so that the baby feels comfortable in the water;
- Fixing the baby in a certain position saves the mother from worrying that the baby has fallen out of the crib.
Types of cocoons
- The cocoon mattress is designed to preserve the sweet sleep of the baby. There are many master classes where they teach how to create such a cozy bed, decorated in the form of a cozy nest. The very idea of Cocoonababy or Babynest was formalized in France, where doctors are promoting the idea of not only a comfortable, but also a healthy nest for a baby. An orthopedic correct design helps the correct development of the spine. It’s difficult to create something like this at home, but you can make a cozy cocoon for sleeping with a hard bottom so that the spine develops correctly.
- An envelope is a comfortable and warm option that is made according to the child’s measurements for transporting him in a stroller or car during the cold season. Very often you can see pregnant mothers crocheting or knitting such a comfortable house for their baby. The knitted version is not only more beautiful, but also more comfortable and retains the warmth of the mother’s hands. For walks at low temperatures, such a cocoon envelope can be made from a blanket.
- The carrier can hardly be called a full-fledged cocoon, but it also allows you to create harmonious conditions for the baby. In the first months of life, it is often used for transportation to visits or the hospital. The baby is placed in the carrier in an envelope or diaper for a comfortable stay. Most often, they can withstand a weight of up to 8 kg, helping to transport a child until he is ten months old.
- A diaper in which the baby sleeps comfortably all night. This product is usually sewn from cotton or knitted from natural threads with your own hands. Loose swaddling helps the comfortable development of the child's body, maintaining warmth and comfort.
pros
The shape gives the baby a feeling of security, like in the mother's belly. This helps the baby adapt to the new environment. The diaper is sewn from cotton jersey. It does not cause allergic reactions and fits well to the skin and does not restrict movement. The design is incredibly convenient and compact.
If we consider which is better, a knitted or cocoon diaper, then the second one wins in many ways: this cut does not have internal seams and will not rub the baby’s delicate skin.
When choosing, pay attention to: the size, the quality of the material from which the product is made. The neck should be wide so as not to put pressure on the neck. Keep this in mind if your baby is large. Buy them in specialized stores to avoid low-quality goods. A low price may indicate poor quality, uneven seams, or unnatural materials.
The main thing is that the suit fits
Now the company is engaged in sewing envelopes for discharge from the maternity hospital and walks, overalls, bed linen, sleeping bags and “nests” for babies, as well as pillows for pregnant women. The girl was asked to expand the range by the clients themselves, who wanted all the textiles for babies to be compatible with each other in style, cut and color. The average bill for customers who order a complete set is 30 thousand rubles.
Natalya hasn’t sewed her brand’s products herself for a long time, but she still checks the quality of each product. “If I don’t like something, I ask the seamstress to redo it again and again,” admits Natalya. “As a mother, I try on each product for myself: whether I would take it for a child or not.”
In the second year of operation, the company managed to reach a turnover of 1 million rubles per month; in the first year of operation it was 300 thousand rubles. Now the average bill for one product is 7 thousand rubles.
Hats and caps
One of the mandatory parts of a baby's wardrobe is a cap. It's easy to sew. It is enough to choose a soft natural fabric and cut out the details correctly. You can use ready-made clothing patterns for children, as well as create your own with an original design. An elegant hat will be useful for discharge from the maternity hospital or for baptism.
To create a cap pattern, it is enough to take just one measurement. This is the half-circumference of the head. To remove it, you need to measure the circumference of the baby's head, placing the tape in the places where the back of the head and forehead protrude most.
For a head circumference of 48 cm, the half-circumference will be 24 cm. To construct the back of the head of the pattern, use the following calculations:
- AB = ½ OG: 4 + 1.5 = 24: 4 + 1.5 = 7.5 cm;
- AD = ½ OG: 2 + 3 = 24: 2 + 3 = 15 cm.
To construct a rectangle, you need to calculate using other formulas. To do this you will need to make the following calculations:
- AB = ½ OG: 2 = 24: 2 = 12 cm;
- AD = sewing line length = 20 cm.
As you can see from the pattern picture, seam allowances are already included in the pattern. The edges on the front part should be processed. The best option would be a tape that will hide all the seams.
For walks
Doctors advise walking with your child in the first days after discharge from the hospital in any weather. Therefore, purchasing a stroller and related products is on the list of essential purchases.
We recommend that you read the article “How to choose a stroller for a newborn” to make the right choice. Many modern models are equipped with a mattress, rain cover, mosquito net and foot cover. If these add-ons are not available, they should be purchased separately.
For walks in cold weather, you will need stroller envelopes made of sheepskin and synthetic padding. A bag for the stroller (and in it - disposable waterproof diapers, dry and wet wipes) will not be superfluous; thermal bag for bottles (if the baby is on mixed or artificial feeding).
“Kangaroo” is not used for newborns (a carrier of this type can be used no earlier than the child turns 6 months old with his normal development), but walking in a sling with rings is not prohibited. Some newborns do not perceive being in a stroller well at first, and a sling can solve this problem painlessly and quickly.
To travel by car, you will need a car seat or a car carrier.
Bouquet for a newborn girl, photo
For a girl, you can make bouquets from various clothes: rompers, bodysuits, socks, dresses. The main thing is to select all the components in a range that would suit the girl and decorate with children's accessories and toys.
One of the interesting options for an original gift for a girl could be a “cake” made from towels. To create such a gift, you need to prepare two terry towels. To make the gift bright, you should take towels of different colors - light and darker.
Steps for creating a gift from towels:
- Place a dark towel on the bottom, a light one on top.
- Roll two towels into a small, neat roll. Secure along the edge with decorative tape.
- You can decorate the top with a flower, berry or other decorative decoration.
- Make several of these “cakes”.
- Decorate the resulting elements with wrapping paper on top. You can also look for larger sized muffin tins and place your creations in those tins. You can also make small “cakes” from socks and bibs.
Another original option for the basis for a bouquet can be diapers. For a girl, we select diapers in white-pink, white-red shades. To make such a bouquet for a newborn girl you need:
- Take a diaper and fold it in half. The length of the diaper should be 3-4 times greater than the width.
- The edges of the folded diaper are folded towards the middle. After this, the diaper is folded in half again to form a strip.
- Fold the edge of the strip into a triangle, then fold it into a triangle again. Thus, the core of the flower was obtained from the diaper.
- Gently twist the diaper around the middle to make a flower.
- We secure the resulting flower with decorative tape.
- We make several flowers from diapers.
- Place the finished flowers in a basket or make a basket yourself. As an option, you can use a baby bucket decorated with corrugated paper on top.
- Finished products can be decorated separately with artificial butterflies, flowers, and petals.
Peculiarities
Recently, new mothers choose to sew a cocoon envelope for newborns with their own hands or buy a brand new model in the store for two reasons:
- The swaddling process becomes much easier.
- The baby's well-being in the diaper is marked by increased comfort and warmth.
A modern cocoon for the baby and the convenience of the mother.
It all has to do with the fact that the materials used and the folding structure resemble a mother’s tummy. Therefore, the baby feels as comfortable and protected as possible without constrained movements.
Original ideas for a diaper
Important characteristics of the diaper include:
● the composition includes predominantly natural and hypoallergenic fabrics (often cotton);
● easy to put on thanks to buttons, Velcro or zippers;
● the ability to choose an individual “cocoon”.
Lovely combination of colors and textures
The benefits of the things described are as follows:
● complete envelopment follows the shape of the child’s body;
● promotes restful and long sleep by maintaining warmth and comfort inside;
● the possibility of feeding is provided;
● the correct posture is ensured, which stretches the spine and forms the correct skeleton;
● the number of colics and their duration decreases;
● can be used for sleeping day and night, walking in the fresh air and even for swimming.
Important! Frequent and prolonged stay of the baby in the cocoon reduces muscle tone.
Elegant decor
When choosing decor, you need to be guided not only by your preferences, but also take into account the gender of the child. It is better to decorate an envelope for a girl with flowers or animal figures. For a boy, it is recommended to choose cars or geometric patterns. The most common options are:
- laying out figures from multi-layered lace;
- creating flowers and bows from satin ribbons;
- decoration with glass or plastic beads;
- fixing decorative fur pompoms;
- beadwork.
If desired, you can simply sew a colored 3D applique onto the top layer. When attaching decorations, it is important to place them in a place that the child will not come into contact with. It is also advisable that the decor is not too voluminous, as this may make the envelope inconvenient to use.
Engine
For such a present we will need:
- Packaging of diapers (36 pieces in total).
- Children's blouse or T-shirt.
- Diapers – 4 pcs.
- Small size towel.
- Wide and narrow satin ribbon.
- Socks – 2 pairs.
- Flowers for decoration – 7 pcs.
- Needle and thread.
Steam locomotive simulation:
- We make wheels: we take three diapers, roll them into a cylinder, putting a ribbon inside, and fix the resulting roller on top with a wide ribbon, gluing its ends with a special gun. Thus, we make two wheels. For a large wheel we use 5-6 diapers, and on top, for strength, we wrap it with a diaper.
- Cut a rectangle out of cardboard and wrap it in a diaper. This will be our platform. We attach the wheels to it using ribbons previously placed in their middle.
- Using 5-6 diapers and a diaper, we make a large cylinder that will be located in front of the cabin.
- From the remaining diapers and blouses we make a cabin. We put them in a stack and put a jacket on them, securing the structure with a diaper.
- We connect the cabin and the large cylinder with ribbons located at the bottom of the platform.
- We make a pipe from socks and sew them to the tape.
- From another pair we make windows.
- We decorate the product with flowers and small soft toys.
We also recommend watching a video about how to make a gift out of diapers:
Well, all that remains is to present your exclusive gift to the “hero of the occasion”!
Using these simple, but effective and useful recommendations, you can turn even such a practical and banal gift as a package of diapers into a magical, funny and pleasant thing that best suits the spirit and mood of the event in honor of which it is presented. Believe me, your efforts and efforts will pay off in full, and in return you will receive a lot of positive emotions and positivity!