What Is Athletic Wicking Jersey And Why Choose It?

Athletic Wicking Jersey (AWJ) is a fine mesh polyester material that is used in some cloth diapers as a moisture wicking layer against the skin. Very similar to it's application in sports clothing, AWJ is not absorbent and is designed to pull moisture away from the skin while allowing maximum airflow in damp conditions. It's function is to help keep baby's skin feeling dry (like a disposable would) and allows air to reach the skin which can help prevent diaper rash.

If you're familiar with the microfleece often found inside of pocket diapers, it does the same kind of job keeping baby dry and comfortable. You'll often find AWJ inside of pocket style diapers, but occasionally it is used for other diaper styles as well, as a top layer on absorbency boosters or as a stand-alone liner that can be added on top of natural fabric diapers like fitteds or prefolds to keep the skin drier.

Here's why many families like AWJ...

It's a flat fabric, not fuzzy, so 💩 doesn't cling to it as readily and is easier to toss into the toilet or spray off with a diaper sprayer.
AWJ is less prone to staining than cotton, bamboo or hemp.
It is lightweight and very breathable - a top choice for warmer climates or summertime use.
This fabric comes in colored varieties too so it can make for some fun color combos in your diaper stash.
AWJ is very thin, flexible and generally washes easily. It also dries extremely quickly. A good choice if you hang your diaper shells to dry or hand wash your diapers.
It is a fabric that is readily available, easy to find and works very well in cloth diapers.
Stretch - unlike microfleece, AWJ has some stretch to it which can make stuffing pocket diapers a little easier, especially if you have large hands.

Consider diapers with a stay dry layer like AWJ if your baby is prone to heat rash, eczema or if they tend to get a rash in natural fabric diapers from wetness sitting on the skin. Babies that seem 'fussy' in cotton, bamboo or hemp diapers or who were used to the stay dry feeling of disposable diapers prior to using cloth may also benefit from the use of a stay dry fabric for an extra layer of comfort and less of a wet feeling.