Did you know a disposable diaper makes a fabulous hot or cold pack? To use hot, simply pour hot water into a new disposable diaper and let it soak in. You can use hot tap water or heat some water on the stove. You can also reheat your diaper hot pack in the microwave when it cools off. The diaper pack retains heat much longer than a hot washrag or towel, and the shape wraps nicely around joints or curvy parts of your body. Squeeze out any excess water before applying and make sure to check the heat level–you don’t want to burn yourself!
To use your disposable diaper as an ice pack, pour ice cold water in the diaper (from the tap, pitcher, or local outdoor cold water source), OR to get it even colder, pour water in your diaper and put it in the freezer. If you’re using water from a stream or other unfiltered source, make sure the cold pack is not being used on open wounds to prevent any infection.
These are considered “wet” heat and cold packs, although the water doesn’t leak out and get everything all wet, just the place where you have it applied will get some moisture.
Because it is the micro beads in the disposable diapers that absorb and hold the moisture, this doesn’t work with swim diapers or cloth diapers. I took the liberty of tearing my diaper open so you could see the beads–don’t tear yours open, it makes a mess!
Water absorbing beads inside a disposable diaper
