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Baby cloth diaper filled with extra cloth.
A diaper (in North America) or nappy (in the United Kingdom, many Commonwealth countries and Ireland) is an absorbent garment worn by individuals who are incapable of controlling their bladder or bowel movements, or are unable or unwilling to use a toilet. The purpose of a diaper is to absorb moisture and contain mess so that the wearer can remain dry and comfortable after wetting or soiling themselves. When diapers become full and can no longer hold any more waste, they require changing; this process is often performed by a secondary person such as a parent or caregiver. Failure to change a diaper on a regular enough basis can result in diaper rash.
Diapers have been worn throughout human history, and can be made of either cloth or disposable materials. Whereas cloth diapers are comprised of layers of fabric such as terry towelling and can be washed and reused multiple times, disposable diapers contain absorbent chemicals and are thrown away after use. The decision to use cloth or disposable diapers is a controversial one, due to issues ranging from convenience, health, cost, and their effect on the environment. Currently, disposable diapers are the most commonly used, with Pampers and Huggies being the most well-known brands in the industry. Plastic pants can be worn over diapers to avoid leaks.
Diapers are primarily worn by children who are not yet potty trained or suffer from bedwetting. However, they can also be used by adults who suffer from incontinence or in certain circumstances where access to a toilet is unavailable. These can include the elderly, those with a physical or mental disability, and people working in extreme conditions such as astronauts. Diapers are usually worn out of necessity rather than choice, although there are exceptions; people such as infantilists and diaper fetishists wear diapers recreationally for comfort, emotional fulfillment, or sexual gratification.
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The first known appearance of the word in writing is in Shakespeare\'s The Taming of the Shrew : "Another bear the ewer, the third a diaper". The word diaper originally referred to the type of cloth rather than its use ; "diaper" was the term for a pattern of small repeated geometric shapes, and later came to describe a white cotton or linen fabric with this pattern. The first cloth diapers consisted of a special type of soft tissue sheet, cut into geometric shapes. This type of pattern was called diapering and eventually gave its name to the cloth used to make diapers and then to the diaper itself. This usage stuck in the United States and Canada, but in Britain the word "nappy" took its place. Most sources believe nappy is a diminutive form of the word napkin,Oxford English Dictionary - "Nappy" but others trace it to Nap, a kind of short fiber which creates a hair-like surface on cloth and is sometimes used to make diapers.Origin of the words "diaper" and "nappy" Likewise, most sources agree that diaper in the sense of underwear comes from diaper in the heraldry senseOxford English Dictionary - "Diaper", but according to Mrs Charles H. Ashdown, in her book \'British Costume from Earliest Times to 1820\', diaper cloth originated from Ipre (now Ypres) in Flanders and was called D\'Ipre; however this seems unlikely in light of the history given above, and the fact that the most probable original pronunciation of diaper was with the a distinctly pronounced, as indeed some people still pronounce it today.
The problem of clothing infants not yet potty trained is as old as human history. In ancient times, babies would be dressed in natural resources such as leaf wraps and animals skins, with the Inuit making diapers out of moss and sealskin and Native Americans packing grass under a cover made of rabbit skin. European societies would wrap their children in strips of linen or wool known as swaddling bands, and in Elizabethan times, children would only have their diapers changed every few days.Diaper History In countries with warmer climates, babies were kept naked and mothers tried to anticipate their bowel movements so as to avoid mess near their living areas. This method is known as elimination communication and is still used today in some cultures.What is Elimination Communication? In the pioneering days, soiled diapers were rarely washed but simply dried and reused. This resulted in serious skin rashes, and it wasn\'t until the Industrial Revolution, when people had acquired enough money to buy household furniture, that parents began to make an effort to contain and dispose of their children\'s waste more carefully. In the nineteenth century, the modern diaper began to take shape and children in Europe and North America were being diapered using cotton material, held in place with a safety pin. Cloth diapers were first mass produced in 1887 by Maria Allen in the United States.Diaper Evolution Timeline When society gained a better understanding of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, mothers began washing their babies\' diapers in boiling water in order to reduce the problem of diaper rash.
In the 20th century, the disposable diaper gradually evolved through the inventions of several different people. In 1942, a Swedish paper company known as PauliStróm created the first disposable diaper using sheets of tissue placed inside rubber pants. Four years later, a Westport housewife called Marion Donovan developed a waterproof diaper cover known as the "Boater" using a sheet of plastic from a shower curtain; she was granted four patents for her invention, including the use of plastic snaps as opposed to safety pins. In 1947, a man named George M. Schroder invented the first ever diaper with disposable nonwoven fabric. Disposable diapers were introduced to the US in 1949 by Johnson & Johnson, and were considered by parents as a great invention. During the 1950s, companies such as Kendall, Parke-Davis, Playtex, and Molnlycke entered the disposable diaper market. In 1956, Procter and Gamble began researching disposable diapers. Vic Mills, a man who worked for the company, invented "Pampers" while searching for a better product to use on his grandson. Although Pampers were conceptualized in 1959, the diapers themselves were not launched into the market until 1961. Over the next few decades, the disposable diaper industry boomed and the competition between Procter and Gamble\'s Pampers and Kimberly Clark\'s Huggies resulted in lower prices and drastic changes to diaper design. Several improvements were made, such as the introduction of refastenable tapes, the "hourglass shape" so as to reduce bulk at the crotch area, and the invention of "super-absorbent" material.History of DiapersMilestones in Disposable Diaper History
Since their introduction several decades ago, product innovations include the use of superabsorbent polymers, resealable tapes and elasticised waist bands. They are now much thinner and much more absorbent. The product range has more recently been extended into children’s toilet-training phase with the introduction of training pants and pant diapers.
Modern baby diapers and incontinence products have a layered construction, which allows the transfer and distribution of urine to an absorbent core structure where it is locked in.
Other common features of disposable diapers include :
Less common features include :
Cloth diapers are reusable and can be made from natural fibers, man-made materials, or a combination of both. They are often made from industrial cotton which may be bleached white or left a natural color. Other natural materials (often grown without pesticides), such as wool, bamboo, unbleached hemp, are also used. Man made materials such as microfiber toweling (for absorbency), or PUL aka polyurethane laminate (for a waterproof layer) may be used. Another popular non-natural fiber is polyester fleece and faux suedecloth, used inside cloth diapers as a "stay-dry" wicking liner, because of the non-absorbent properties of synthetic fibers. Elastic is also commonly used.
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Pre-formed cloth diapers with snaps or hook and loop fasteners (similar to Velcro) and all-in-one diapers with waterproof exteriors are now available, in addition to the older pre-fold and pin variety. Increasingly popular are "pocket" or "stuffable" diapers, which consist of a water-resistant outer shell sewn with an opening in the back for insertion of absorbent material. These place much less stress on landfills; however, they also require washing in water with a small amount of detergent to be properly cleaned. Contrary to popular belief, high temperatures are not required, nor is soaking. Nowadays most people "dry-pail" after removal of solid waste and wash on a cold or warm wash. Most bacteria are removed by this treatment, any that aren\'t can be dealt with simply by line-drying outdoors. The UV exposure will kill the rest. Cloth diaper-wearing children go through about 6,000 diaper changes. If thrown into a landfill, cotton diapers decompose within six months.http://www.punkinbutt.com/diaper_dilemma_the_environment.asp Some cities have a cloth diapering service that delivers clean diapers and picks up soiled ones for a fee. While cloth diapering has largely been considered a "Green" niche, the use of cloth diapers has increased, along with the revival of organic and natural products.
Since disposable diapers are discarded after use, usage of disposable diapers increased the burden on landfill sites, and increased environmental awareness has led to a growth in campaigns for parents to use reusable alternatives such as cloth or hybrid diapers. A life cycle analysis is one way to choose between disposable diapers and reusable cloth diapers. This analysis attempts to take into account all the environmental factors, including raw material and energy usage, air and water pollution emissions, and waste management issues. Several such analyses have concluded that when all factors are taken into account, both types of diapers have roughly the same environmental effect.[citation needed] However this research has subsequently been proven to be flawed as the numbers of cloth nappy users researched was much smaller than the numbers of disposable users, and the people interviewed were not very representative of cloth nappy users. Cloth nappy groups, including the Women\'s Environmental Network, are campaigning for some more balanced research into the subject.
An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the US, resulting in a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers adding to landfills each year. "Diapers Go Green", Time. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
Diapers are commonly worn from birth until a person is toilet trained. Replacing a soiled diaper with a fresh one is essential to the prevention of contracting skin irritation of the buttocks, genitalia, and/or the waist. Babies may need to have their diapers changed ten or more times a day.[1] Diapering can also serve as a bonding experience for parent and child.[2] To avoid skin irritation, commonly referred to as diaper rash, the diaper of those prone to it should be changed as soon as possible after it is soiled (especially by fecal matter), as feces contain urease which catalyses the conversion of the urea in urine to ammonia which irritates the skin and can cause painful redness.http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?url=newlook/files/cons/acf2ee8.htm
The age at which toilet training should begin is a subject of debate and keeping children in diapers beyond infancy can be controversial, with family psychologist John Rosemond claiming it is a "slap to the intelligence of a human being that one would allow baby to continue soiling and wetting himself past age two."Delayed Toilet Training Issues Pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, however, believes that toilet training is the child\'s choice and has encouraged this view in various commercials for Pampers Size 6, a diaper for older children. Brazelton warns that enforced toilet training can cause serious long-term problems, and that it is the child\'s decision when to stop wearing diapers, not the parents\'.
While awake, most children no longer need diapers when past two to four years of age, depending on culture, diaper type, parental habits, and the child\'s personality.Honig, A: "Toilet Training Stubborness," Scholastic Parent and Child However, some children have problems with daytime or more often nocturnal bladder control until eight years or older.The Bed Wetting Diaper Known as enuresis, or more commonly bedwetting, this may occur for a wide variety of reasons and can be both a short-term or long-standing issue. With this as well as the increasing number of obese infants in developed countries, disposables manufacturers are increasing the sizes of their products so that children can remain in diapers for longer.P&G announces Pampers now a bigger disposable Due to the increase in older children wearing diapers, companies have designed special "training pants" which bridge the gap between baby diapers and normal underwear during the toilet training process. These training pants are distinct from diapers in that they mimic underwear and do not require complex fastening, so children can be changed standing up or even independently without adult assistance. Studies have shown that the use of training pants as opposed to diapers can be effective in speeding up toilet training.Pull-Ups Training Pants FAQs Larger versions, such as GoodNites, are available for older children and teenagers who have already been toilet trained but continue to suffer from bedwetting. They are intended to be discreet and similar to underwear, so as to avoid alienating those who find wearing diapers at a late age to be embarrassing.GoodNites - Getting Started Available in both cloth and disposable versions, they are constructed like a diaper with an absorbent core and a waterproof shell and can be worn at any age until the child stops wetting the bed. Because they can be pulled on and off like underpants, children are able to use the toilet if they feel the need, rather than being forced to wet or soil themselves unnecessarily. Whereas most diapers are unisex, training pants often come in gender-specific versions due to the fact that children become more aware of gender roles as they grow older.
With the development of training pants making it possible for children to change their own diapers, and pediatrictions such as Brazelton claiming that forced toilet training can cause lasting psychological and health problems, children are wearing diapers at a much older age than they did historically. The Children\'s Health and Wellness website claims that diapering a child can prolong bedwetting, as it sends a "message of permisson" to urinate in their sleep.Bedwetting and diapers Dr Anthony Page of the Creative Child Online Magazine claims that children can get used to their diapers and begin to view them as a comfort, and that of the children surveyed, most would rather wear diapers than worry about getting up at night to go to the toilet.The Bed-Wetting Report - Do diapers prolong bedwetting? In a series of online surveys, Robert A Pretlow, MD, of eHealth International, Inc., cites an identical figure. He argues that if Internet users are representative of society as a whole, these surveys imply that a fetishistic or emotional attraction to diapers may be responsible for these "comfort" cases, and that "these behaviors are a significant cause of enuresis and incontinence." He called for further studies to be done on the topic.Pretlow, Robert A. THE INTERNET CAN REVEAL PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN CAUSES OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS, SUCH AS ATTRACTION TO DIAPERS AS A CAUSE OF ENURESIS AND INCONTINENCE. Mednet 2002.
Parents and other carers for children often carry spare diapers and necessities for diaper changing in a diaper bag.
Although most commonly worn by and associated with babies and children, diapers are also worn by adults for a variety of reasons. People with medical conditions which cause them to suffer from urinary or fecal incontinence may wear diapers or similar products because they are unable to control their bladders or bowels.Urinary Incontinence. Adult Incontinence Diapers. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.Bowel Incontinence. Adult Incontinence Diapers. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. People who are bedridden or in a wheelchair may also wear diapers because they are unable to access the toilet independently.Adult Diapers - Some Fundamental Facts. Healthy Web. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.Incontinence. Changi General Hospital. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. The usage of adult diapers can be a source of embarrassment,Stack, Jennie Borodko (2001-02). When You\'ve Gotta Go, You\'ve Gotta Go. Muscular Dystrophy Association. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. and products are often marketed under euphemisms such as incontinence pads. In 2006, seventeen students taking a geriatrics pharmacotherapy course participated in a voluntary "Diaper Experience" exercise to help them understand the impact incontinence has on older adults. The students, who wore adult diapers for a day before writing a paper about it, described the experience as unfamilar and physically challenging, noting that being in diapers had a largely negative impact on them and no better solutions to incontinence are required. However, they praised the exercise for giving them insight into incontinence and the effect it has on peoples\' lives.Boyce, Eric. and Dolder, Christian (2006-10-05). Active Learning in a Geriatrics Pharmacotherapy Course: Outcomes Associated with a Diaper Experience Exercise. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego, California. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
Fetishists can wear diapers for sexual gratification. People with diaper fetishism have a desire to wear diapers even though it is not a physiological necessity, and may enjoy using their diaper to various degrees, depending on the person. Infantilists wear and use diapers in ageplay, although they are considered distinct from fetishists, as "diaper lovers" are sexually motivated to wear diapers, whereas "adult babies" wish to regress to the helpless state of a baby. Other sexual uses of diapers include omorashi, rubber or plastic fetishismhttp://understanding.infantilism.org/what.php, and Total Power Exchange in BDSM. Since the aim of bondage is to restrict mobility, diapers are effective because they remove a person\'s freedom both physically and emotionally. As well as being forced to cope with the physical bulk and heat of the diaper, the submissive also suffers a loss of dignity and independence, since they no longer have any control over their own most basic bodily functions. Diaper dominion in BDSM essentially creates a parent/child dynamic, where the submissive is dependent on the dominant for comfort, nourishment, and discipline.Arizona Power Exchange News, April 2006, Volume 18, Issue 4[3]
Astronauts wear trunk-like diapers called "Maximum Absorbency Garments", or MAGs, during liftoff and landing.http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/support/training/ascan/2004/journal12.html On space shuttle missions, each crew member receives three diapers — for launch, reentry and a spare in case reentry has to be waved off and tried later.Rivenburg, Roy. (2007). "NASA diapers become topic No. 1". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 15, 2007. The super-absorbent fabric used in disposable diapers, which can hold up to 400 times its weight, was developed so Apollo astronauts could stay on spacewalks and extra-vehicular activity for at least six hours.Davis, Merlene. "I Did My Research on Adult Diapers", Lexington Herald-Leader, February 11, 2007, p. C1. Merlene Davis. "The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky., Merlene Davis Column: I Did My Research on Adult Diapers", RedOrbit, 2007-02-11. Retrieved on 2007-12-16. Originally, only female astronauts would wear Maximum Absorbency Garments, as the collection devices used by men were unsuitable for women; however, reports of their comfort and effectiveness eventually convinced men to start wearing the diapers as well.Information on astronaut diapers Public awareness of astronaut diapers rose significantly following the arrest of Lisa Nowak, a NASA astronaut charged with attempted murder who gained notoriety in the media for driving 900 miles in an adult diaper so she would not have to stop to urinate.Lisa Nowak charged with attempted murder The diapers became fodder for many television comedians, as well as being included in an adaptation of the story in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, despite Nowak\'s denial that she wore them.Lisa Nowak denies wearing diapers
| "Although donning a diaper to decrease the number of bathroom stops is not something you or I would think to do, otherwise healthy adults do wear diapers more often than we realize for good reasons." —Merlene Davis of the Lexington Herald-Leader referring to the Lisa Nowak incident and adult diaper usage in general. |
Other situations in which diapers are worn because access to a toilet is unavailable or not allowed include guards who must stay on duty and are not permitted to leave their post; this is sometimes called the "watchman\'s urinal". It has long been suggested that legislators don a diaper before an extended filibuster, so often that it has been jokingly called "taking to the diaper." There has certainly been at least one such instance, in which Strom Thurmond gave a record-holding 24 hours and 18 minute speech.Wayne Morse Sets Filibuster Record. Some Death Row inmates who are about to be executed wear "execution diapers" to collect body fluids expelled during and after their death.Information on execution diapers People diving in diving suits (in former times often standard diving dresses) may wear diapers because they are underwater continuously for several hours. Similarly, pilots may also wear them on long flights. Some competitive weightlifters choose to wear diapers early in their training because the pressure makes them urinate involuntarily. In 2003, Hazards magazine reported that workers from various industries were taking to wearing diapers because their bosses denied them toilet breaks during working hours,"Hazards 81 extended briefing: Toilet breaks", Hazards. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. "Hazards: Loo Break A Right Not A Privilege", UnionSafe, 2003-02-25. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. while The Epoch Times claimed in 2006 that diapers are a popular way to avoid long bathroom lines during China\'s traveling season.The Epoch Times. (2006). "Adult Diapers are Top Seller During Spring Festival Travel Season". The Epoch Times. Retrieved June 15, 2007. Similarly, a group of diaper-wearing Japanese tourists made the front page of the New York Post on New Year\'s Day 2008 when they agreed to pose for a publicity shot endorsing diapers as a solution to inadequate bathroom facilities at the ball drop in Times Square. [4]
There are those who believe diapers are a preferable alternative to using the bathroom. According to Dr Dipak Chatterjee of Mumbai newspaper Daily News and Analysis, public toilet facilities are so unhygienic that it is actually safer for people — especially women — who are vulnerable to infections to wear adult diapers instead.Chatterjee, Dr. Dipak. "Docs advise diapers over public loos", DNA, 2007-02-11. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. Seann Odoms of Men\'s Health magazine believes that wearing diapers can help people of all ages to maintain healthy bowel function. He himself claims to wear diapers full-time for this purported health benefit. "Diapers," he states, "are nothing other than a more practical and healthy form of underwear. They are the safe and healthy way of living."Nappies seriously manage your health - Seann Odoms Author Paul Davidson argues that it should be socially acceptable for everyone to wear diapers permanently, claiming that they provide freedom and remove the unnecessary hassle of going to the bathroom, just as social advancement has offered solutions to other complications. He writes, "Make the elderly finally feel embraced instead of ridiculed and remove the teasing from the adolescent equation that affects so many children in a negative way. Give every person in this world the opportunity to live, learn, grow and urinate anywhere and anytime without societal pressure to "hold themselves in.""Adult Diapers for the rest of us
Diapers and diaper-like products are sometimes used on pets, laboratory animals, or working animals. This is often due to the animal not being housebroken, or for older, sick, or injured pets who have become incontinent. In some cases, these are simply baby diapers with holes cut for the tails to fit through. In other cases, they are diaper-like waste collection devices.
In 2002, the Vienna city council proposed that horses be made to wear diapers to prevent them from defecating in the street. This caused controversy amongst animal rights groups, who claimed that wearing diapers would be uncomfortable for the animals. The campaigners protested by lining the streets wearing diapers themselves, which spelled out the message "Stop pooh bags".Row as horses told to wear nappies. BBC News (2002-09-20). Retrieved on 2008-02-21. In the Kenyan town of Limuru, donkeys were also diapered at the council\'s behest.Anger at Kenya donkey nappy plan. BBC News (2007-07-17). Retrieved on 2008-02-21. A similar scheme in Blackpool ordered that horses be fitted with rubber and plastic diapers to stop them littering the promenade with dung. The council consulted with the RSPCA to ensure that the diapers were not harmful to the horse\'s welfare.Blackpool horses to get nappies. BBC News (2006-10-17). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.Nappy plan for Blackpool horses. BBC News (2007-11-13). Retrieved on 2008-02-21. Horse nappy plan given go-ahead. BBC News (2007-11-22). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
Other animals that are sometimes diapered include female cats and dogs when ovulating and thus bleeding, and monkeys and apes; most are physically unable to control their excretions, which is not a convenient situation for tree-dwelling animals. Diapers are often seen on trained animals who appear on TV shows, in movies, or for live entertainment or educational appearances.
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