Friday, June 28, 2013

Preemie Testers

I made two sizes of preemie tester templates (based on a request) today.

Size 1 Template (about 3-4.5lbs) and Size 2 Template (about 4-6lbs)...  all depending on girth, development, and build...

A fitted made from the size 1 template from stretchy fabrics like interlock, knit, bamboo or cotton fleece, or T-shirts is actually a size 2 (approx. 4-6lbs), and a PUL FOE cover for it should be made from the size 2 template.  For smaller preemies (too small to be brought home and most NICUs won't use home-made CDs), make a cover from the size 1 (with the foldable dip and not the snap-down) template and sew lay-in contour pads/soakers using the inner soaker shape of the template.  :)

Here is a size 1 PUL pocket diaper next to my XS pocket AIO (which is a pretty typical newborn sized AIO).

 Size 1 front pocket diaper (stuffed with a rectangular insert) with 1/4" elastic.




8 comments:

  1. So as a total newbie to cloth diapers (but not to sewing) are there instructions for this somewhere? I saw the sewing a diaper start to finish, but I am not sure what I need to put in the diaper to absorb liquids (or how to attach it) Any help would be appreciated! Thank you so much for these patterns!

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    1. So this is the general shape template. You would follow the specific instructions for whatever TYPE of diaper you want to make that template into. It could be a fitted diaper, any style of pocket diaper (as shown), or even an all-in-one. There are links on the right side top for the different types of each of those and how to make them using the basic template. I liked the preemie best as a pocket diaper because it is already so small. Then you can adjust the amount of absorbency, and really, I would likely just use cheap washcloths trifolded as the pocket inserts for these. Are you expecting a very small preemie? My friend who works in a NICU says that very few hospitals allow outside cloth diapers for the small preemies. I was able to gift a stash of the larger size of them for a friend who had preemie twins. But, many hospitals don't even release preemies smaller than 4lbs (plus carseat minimum sizes and all)...

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    2. My best friend's sister just had a preemie. He is expected to be 4lbs when he is allowed to go home. So I was asked to make just a few as he grows into the ones that they had already bought!

      Thanks for the help, I will look through the links some more!

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    3. This is the pocket style that I used in the above pic: http://prefold2fitted.blogspot.com/2013/04/front-envelope-style-pocket-diaper.html

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  2. Do you need to add a seam allowance or does the pattern already have a seam allowance?

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  3. Thank you for the preemie size. I know they don't let babies go home this small in the states, but I live in Asia and am caring for a preemie (33 weeks) under 4 pounds that was sent home at 3 days... I have had trouble diapering the baby! My daughters doll diapers are currently the best fit!

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    1. For sure! I actually made some preemie diapers for a friend of mine that she was able to use in the hospital that her babies were in (twins) even before they could come home. I really just love the idea of washcloths as prefolds or smaller flats for really small preemies too though. I think something simple like that with a really basic one-layer heavy stretchy fleece cover should work well. You could even just cut a contour of the fleece, and if you want a tight leg fit, just zig-zag some thin elastic down one side at the leg openings. Though, I'd think that preemies wouldn't even need covers. You could probably just lay them onto a waterproof barrier pad as long as whatever you're using for absorbency is enough. :)

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