How to Make Diapers From a Mattress Pad

Mattress pads are soft and absorbent, which makes them the perfect material to use as the lining of home made cloth diapers. Because most mattress pads have a moisture barrier on the underside, they also help prevent leaks from a wet diaper. Over the time that your child is in diapers, this will save you money. Plus, you can choose the flannel designs you want so that they can be best suited to your child's wardrobe.

Things You'll Need

• Mattress Pad
• Soft cotton sheeting
• Soft flannel sheeting or 48 inch wide flannel fabric
• Measuring Tape
• Sewing Pins
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine and thread
• Velcro strips (optional)

Instructions

1. Purchase a mattress pad, a cotton flat sheet and a flannel flat sheet. Make sure these are for the same size bed, i.e., twin, full or queen. Cut away any part of the mattress pad that is not quilted, such as the elastic around the bottom of the pad.

2. Cut 20” X 13-3/4” rectangles out of the mattress pad. Cut 20” X 14” rectangles out of the two flat sheets. Sew together one cotton rectangle and one flannel rectangle, inside-out on three sides using 1/4 inch seams. Turn the rectangle right side out and insert the mattress pad rectangle inside the pocket. Make sure the top of the mattress pad is facing the flannel side of the diaper.

3. Turn the remaining edges of all three to the inside of the pocket, pin together. Once you have what will be the final seam even, sew all three layers together as close to the end of the material as possible.

4. Wash the new diapers before using them on baby. This will make them soft to the child’s delicate skin.

Tips & Warnings

• Making your own cloth diapers is a simple way of letting your baby go green. For every cloth diaper you use, that is one disposable diaper that doesn't end up in a landfill.

• Velcro strips can be added to the diapers on both the back and front to alleviate the need for diaper pins.

• Look for cute flannel patterns when shopping for the flannel flat sheet.

• If you have extra mattress pad left over from cutting your rectangles, these can be to reinforce the absorbency of the diaper. Just sew extra pad into the front of the diaper for boys and in the center for girls.

• These diapers can be washed and dried like any other cloth diaper.