Before terry towelling nappies and plastic pants, pilches knitted in thick wool were put on to babies as an outer layer over whatever doubtfully absorbent garments they wore on their leaking nether regions. They made it possible to hold a baby with at least some hope of avoiding having to change your own clothes afterwards. The invention of waterproof plastic pants must have been a boon to countless mothers (and other family members)
Back in the early 80s when my boys were babies and "alternative" and whole foods and organic were all the rage, mine were in terry nappies with oiled wool pants over the top which kept the damp in OK, but if it got too much the weight of the nappies pulled the whole lot down. There was no elastic, just ribbing round the tummy. Of course, it was expected that the babies would be potty trained practically as soon as they could walk, which wasn't necessarily the case. Also, terry nappies were unknown here in Germany, where the usual was muslin nappies, which would have been lighter in weight.)
Anyway, I eventually gave up because mine also all had very loose stools* which invariably leaked out top and bottom even of disposable nappies, and washing that oiled wool was quite a hassle.
* Sorry about TMI