Absolutely. Before disposable diapers like Pampers became widely popular, cloth diapers were the norm for generations.
People commonly used:
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Folded cotton cloth or squares secured with diaper pins
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Prefold diapers with thicker layers in the middle
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Rubber or plastic pants over the cloth to help prevent leaks
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Reusable cloth nappies that were washed, dried, and used again
Disposable diapers existed before Pampers, but Pampers helped popularize modern disposable diapers after being introduced by Procter & Gamble in the 1960s.
For many families, cloth diapers meant considerably more laundry, but they were reusable and could be made from ordinary cotton fabric. Older generations sometimes even improvised diapers from old towels, sheets, or other soft cotton clothing.
A lot has changed since then—but the basic idea of using absorbent fabric to keep babies comfortable is certainly not new!
