Weird ractions to C.D. by family

[basje]

I'm so dumbfounded, by some of my families response to my choice to use cloth. I'm starting to think about baby showers and have decided that a diaper shower would be most helpful in covering some costs. My mother keep hounding me about how much extra work it will be and how I'll need a few cartons on pampers "just in case" and for when "I need them."

Now I've explained the environmental, comfort and health benefits that have made me pretty stuck on using cloth. I've explained that I wouldn't use plastic on myself and I wouldn't stick them on my kid. I am so surprised to find so much resistance to cloth diapering, of anything I expected a train-wreck about the co-sleeping! So strange.

[kickinitbabystyle]

My mom was the same way. Everyone else in my family has always been very supportive. And, after baby was here and saw my fluff in action she changed her mind. Most 'older' people don't like change, at least from what I've noticed. And, it's YOUR baby shower... if that's what will help you the most then that's what your gifts should be. After all, it's not like anyone else has to do the laundry, right? GL mama, and best wishes

[Bokonon]

Having just begun the switch to cloth after using disposables on DS for 4 whole years, and DD for 5.5 months, my DH was dubious that I was going to follow through with cloth and keep up with the extra laundry. He thought, like I did before lots of research, that it was going to be a ton of extra work and that I wouldn't tolerate it.

But we've both seen the light and it's been smooth sailing! Maybe you could forward your friends and family some links about why you've chosen to CD?

[lovebug]

Ok so keep in mind I don’t have kids YET! And with DH going to Iraq for the 4th time I don’t know how soon they will come. BUT my MIL has already said to me numerous time that she will only watch my kids if they are in disposables. I mean really? I don’t fight it now as for me (duh) it’s a non issue, but she feels the need to bring it up EVERY TIME babies are brought up!

Like you I don’t get it and think it is odd. For them it is nothing different! All they do is put it in a wet bag and not the trash…

Oh and might I add this is the same women that thinks because we have to do fertility I HAVE to have the baby in the hospital. She said and I quote “you cant have then help you get pg and not have then deliver you.” But that is another thread all together

[broodymama]

I got the same thing during my pregnancy with DS. My dad asked DH if he wanted in on the betting pool about how long this whole "cloth diaper thing" would last.

Well, those same diapers are now on kid #3 and next summer will be on kid #4, so needless to say I don't get any more crap about it! All you can do really is wait and smile.

[Red Pajama]

My mother was very supportive, and I really only had aunts complaining and betting that it wouldn't last long. We were cloth diapering TWINS, so we had to be crazy. The savings of twins in cloth is doubled, so I didn't feel crazy at all.

[Sheryl1678]

I would have been totally grossed out by the thought of using cloth before I had kids/went green/learned about cloth etc.

I think most people have a lot of misconceptions & preconceived notions that are really hardwired. I am personally pretty patient with the naysayers because that would have been me 5 yrs ago.

Once people see it in action they often come around.

[asoulunbound]

It is strange some people's reactions, eh?
My mom sewed CD for me, but my MIL buys sposies for when she is watching DD. I decided that its not a battle I'm fighting since we live with the ILs currently. I always leave her clean covers wipes and dipes, but always come home to poor dd in plastic. but you know she is super happy playing with her gma and gma happily waches her for free.

I wish I had thought of asking for covers etc when I had my shower last year! I did find showing off the cute side of cd helped. You know the precious little polka dots or patterns on the covers, how soft and cozy they were, etc.

[frontierpsych]

I never understood why people have such strong feelings against cloth diapering. I mean, diapers are kind of gross regardless of what kind they are, kwim?

My dad's reaction was by far the best: "What's wrong with disposables? You just use them 3 or 4 times then toss them!" I love my dad.

[sassycat]

i registered for cd's for my shower. yeah, no one believed we would actually do it for some reason, so weird. my friends tease me that i only put cd's on dd (8 months) when we go out "for show".
now everyone is impressed that we actually followed through with it. to us, it was a no-brainer! its really just not a big deal, thats what i tell everyone

[Ruthie's momma]

Originally Posted by frontierpsych

I never understood why people have such strong feelings against cloth diapering. I mean, diapers are kind of gross regardless of what kind they are, kwim?

My dad's reaction was by far the best: "What's wrong with disposables? You just use them 3 or 4 times then toss them!" I love my dad.

[ZTMOM]

Most older people are going to be absolutely flabbergasted when they see what cloth diapers are today.

We did the most basic option (pre-folds with snappies & wraps) ... every older woman in sight freaked out in delight about the Snappie invention!

[ZoeyZoo]

I understand how you feel. I got similar reactions from most people. I think part of it is because people remember the prefolds, pins, plastic pants, etc. They don't understand how things have changed.

Diapers were the main thing I asked for. It was something that was affordable to most people and it was expensive for me to buy a whole stash. In the end people just ingored me (thinking they would be too much work, too expensive for a diaper, etc.) and bought me clothing. I never was even able to use it all and still had to buy diapers.

Now after using them for 18 months my mom has congradulated me on all the money I saved since I only spent like $400 for diapers. She used to think $18/diaper for one size pockets was too much and would tell people the ridiculous price a diaper cost.

Honestly we were planning to use sposies when out for more than an hour or two but DD got such horrible diaper rash EVERY time she was in a sposie for 10 minutes that I made the switch completely. It's really not any extra hassle like I thought it might be.

[NSmomtobe]

My mother used cloth diapers with me and HATED them. She used disposables with my brothers and found them so much easier to use. They also got diaper rash less often than I did. Of course the cloth diapers my mother used were very basic. That is why I think she will need to see the newer diapers (i.e., pocket diapers) before she will be won over.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

My Mum knows better than to comment on any of my parenting choices (or choices in general.. well.. she HAS known me for 37 years ) but she was never anything but supportive of cloth. In fact, now we're on baby #2, she has unearthed some of the old nappies that I used! (they are sooo soft)

All in all, our family members have been supportive, but friends/acquaintances can get a bit weird about it. In a lot of cases, I put it down to the fact that honestly, they know it's the better choice, all things being equal (of course it's rare that they are), and it leaves them feeling a little defensive.

[Mom2SammyJoe]

One of the old ladies from church bought me some cloth dipes off of my registry for a shower. I still remember her talking about how excited she was that we were using cloth. Then she went on to tell me about sewing her own diapers, washing them in the tub by hand, and hanging them all over the apartment to dry. I love modern cloth!

[leavemealone]

Originally Posted by frontierpsych

My dad's reaction was by far the best: "What's wrong with disposables? You just use them 3 or 4 times then toss them!" I love my dad.

I don't think most of my family even know we use cloth most of the time. We don't live near our family and when we travel, we use disposables, but I don't think most would really have a strong feeling about cloth diapers. I say just let their comments go in one ear and out the other. If you want to use cloth, use cloth and don't let their comments bother you.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by ZTMOM

Most older people are going to be absolutely flabbergasted when they see what cloth diapers are today.

We did the most basic option (pre-folds with snappies & wraps) ... every older woman in sight freaked out in delight about the Snappie invention!

It happens here too! Everyone talks about how cool the Snappies are and how much of a pain it was to use pins.


When I was pregnant I told my dad I was using CDs and considering cloth wipes (that I'm now using) His reaction? "You're not saving any money. The amount of water and electricity you'll use washing them all the time will balance it out"

HA. Showed him! My son is a heavy wetter so we would be changing him all the time no matter what!

[ShwarmaQueen]

The best reaction I got so far was from my sis (who has 2 kiddos), who said "It's gross to wash them in the washer..." I replied, "How many times have you washed poop soiled clothing in your washer?" And then she said "Well you'll have to quit when you get to solids." To which I then replied, "I'm not going to throw the diaper in the washer the way that you throw your sposies in the trash (meaning waste and all)." That put things more in perspective to her, but she's still skeptical...OH WELL!

[lifeguard]

I think a LOT of it has to do with misperceptions about cd. A friend of mine who uses disposables exclusively told me that whenever her grandmother is around she sighs & says "You're SO lucky to have disposables - diapers were so much work when I had my kids". That was her experience & that of many people & so that is the story so many people hear in relation to cd.

But times are changing...