Swaddling with cloths
Diapers as we know them today have only existed for a few decades. Before their invention, children were wrapped in a variety of materials. In warmer regions, for example, diapering was often dispensed with, allowing children to remain naked. In Europe, however, especially in the northern parts, it was considerably colder, and particularly during the colder months, it wasn't really possible to let children play naked outdoors. For this reason, swaddling babies and children was more common in the Middle Ages. This involved wrapping the babies tightly in a cloth or blanket, so that they could hardly move.
Changes in winding technology due to the industrial revolution
It wasn't until the Industrial Revolution in England, beginning in 1820, that diapering techniques began to change in Europe. The working class was suddenly able to buy furniture and wanted to protect it from children's waste. The invention of the safety pin finally allowed pieces of fabric to be securely fastened to the baby, marking the first step towards the diapers we know today. However, hygiene was extremely poor with diapers; they were changed irregularly, stored for extended periods, and often caused skin irritation or infections.
Invention of the first disposable diaper
The very first disposable diaper was invented in the 1940s, consisting of a plastic outer layer and paper towels inside. Initially, it only held about 100ml and had to be changed relatively frequently. Finally, in 1961, Vic Mills, who was looking for comfortable diapers for his grandchildren, developed the first Pampers. Although disposable diapers are much more common than cloth diapers today, they initially faced some sales difficulties.
In the 1970s, polyethylene diaper covers were developed, representing a major step towards modern cloth diapers. Despite extensive testing of materials and fits, cloth diapers are still considered less absorbent than disposable diapers containing superabsorbent polymers (petroleum-based granules).
Lybbie combines the advantages of both systems
With Lybbie, we want to combine both methods of diapering and thus take another step in the further development of the diaper:
Disposable diapers are appealing due to their immediate readiness for use and enormous absorbency, while their disadvantages lie in the harmful additives and the enormous amount of waste they produce. Cloth diapers have their advantages in terms of health and sustainability, but definitely have room for improvement in terms of absorbency and ease of use.
With over 40 prototypes, we've finally managed to combine the advantages of both types of diapers: Thanks to our highly absorbent flap, the Lybbie diaper can compete with the best disposable diapers in terms of absorbency and even improves with repeated washing. It's just as easy to use as a disposable diaper – simply put it on and you're done – and thanks to the practical snaps, it can even be used for children of different sizes and weights. We've patented our inner layer because it allows the Lybbie diaper to withstand even the heaviest loads without leaking, unlike many other cloth diapers.
Environmental protection is very important to us – we want to give our children and grandchildren a beautiful and biodiverse world, where the climate doesn't render regions uninhabitable, and where they can focus on living a good life. That's why our diaper is washable and therefore reusable for siblings or friends' children, instead of polluting oceans and contributing to vast plastic islands.
