flat diaper

English

Etymology

From the shape of the fabric before being folded into a diaper.

Noun

flat diaper (plural flat diapers)

1. (Canada, US) A makeshift cloth diaper folded from a large piece of (usually square or rectangular) absorbent fabric, such as terry (coarse cotton), which is held in place by a diaper pin or other fastener.

   Synonyms: terry diaper, flat nappy, terry nappy, terry

   • 1965 August, “Diapers”, in Consumer Reports, volume 30, number 8, Consumers Union, page 402:

     Equally favored by modern mothers is the rectangular flat diaper made of two-layer cotton gauze and foldable into four-cornered pants. Other less common fabrics found on the American market include the once popular (but now rather rare) cotton flannel and England's favourite, ferry towelling.

   • 2003, Theresa Rodriguez Farrisi, Diaper Changes: The Complete Diapering Book and Resource Guide, 3 edition, M. Evans, →ISBN, page 10:

     In the old days flour came in soft cotton sacks that were converted into all manner of useful items, like dresses and diapers. The descendant of the flour sack diaper is the flat diaper, made of gauze-that soft, thin, quick-drying, loosely-woven fabric that some baby-boomers might remember their mothers using on them.

   • 2021, Bailey Bouwman, Cloth Diapers: The Ultimate Guidelines to Textiles, Washing & More, Simply Bailey Social Marketing, →ISBN, page 228:

     Cheap fitted diapers can result in poor cloth diaper experiences (shrink, poor fit, lack of absorbency). I recommend trying a prefold or flat diaper for a comparable absorbency for a lower cost, easier to wash, more accessible cloth diaper choice.

Usage notes

• The fabric from which the flat diaper is folded may be called the fold, prefold (especially when sewn into an already-existing diaper) or, less commonly, the diaper flat.