When Were They Used? Cloth diapers were widely used in American homes throughout the late 1800s and much of the 1900s, especially before disposable diapers became popular in the 1960s and 1970s. For parents and grandparents who raised babies before or during that time, cloth diapers were not a trend. They were simply the way things were done.
What Were They Used For? Their purpose was the same as today’s diapers: to absorb urine and contain messes, keeping babies cleaner and more comfortable. But unlike modern disposable diapers, cloth diapers had to be rinsed, soaked, washed, dried, folded, and used again.
For many American mothers, this meant a never-ending laundry routine. Diaper pails sat in bathrooms or laundry rooms. Diapers were boiled or washed carefully, then hung outside on clotheslines to dry in the sun. Some families used diaper services, where clean cloth diapers were delivered and dirty ones were picked up for washing.
