Adjustable diapers with fastening means

A pinless, absorbent diaper, comprising:

• (a) an absorbent material having an inner surface adapted to contact a wearer and an outer surface;
• (b) first fastening means secured to an upper portion of said material;
• (c) second fastening means secured to the outer surface of the material adjacent a lower edge portion thereof immediately below a fold region and adapted to couple to the first fastening means to form a diaper having a first effective size;
• (d) a lower portion of the material carrying the second fastening means foldable along the fold region to reduce an effective length of the diaper;
• (e) inwardly foldable side flaps on opposite sides of the diaper to reduce an effective width of the diaper;
• and
• (f) third fastening means secured to the outer surface of the material immediately above the fold region and adapted to couple to the first fastening means, with said lower portion of the material folded along the fold region and with the side flaps folded inwardly to form a diaper having a second effective size smaller than the first effective size, the inwardly folded side flaps insulating the second fastening means from the skin of the wearer.

A method of securing a diaper to a newborn infant, said diaper including a piece of generally rectangular, absorbent material, first fastening means affixed to an upper portion of the material and second fastening means affixed to a lower portion of the material and adapted to couple to the first fastening means when the diaper is secured to the infant, comprising the steps of:

• folding the absorbent material along a transverse fold region to reduce the effective length of the diaper;
• folding side panels of the absorbent material toward a central portion of the material to reduce the effective width of the diaper;
• and
• coupling the first fastening means to the second fastening means such that a portion of the second fastening means is exposed and faces away from the infant.

A method of securing a diaper to a newborn infant, the diaper including a piece of generally rectangular, absorbent material, first fastening means affixed to an upper portion of the material and second fastening means affixed to a lower portion of the material and adapted to couple to the first fastening means when the diaper is secured to the infant, comprising the steps of:

• folding a lower portion of the diaper inwardly to establish a region of double thickness of the absorbent material;
• folding opposite side panels of the diaper inwardly onto the region of double thickness to establish a region of quadruple thickness;
• positioning the quadruple thickness portion of absorbent material on the infant's abdomen, to absorb moisture;
• and
• coupling the first fastening means to the second fastening means to form a folded diaper of a reduced length and width that is sized to fit a newborn infant.