RANT: "We CD'd our FIRST baby, but..." - Page 2

[Got_Cloth]

Well I dont have a gaggle of kids but I didnt start cding until i was ready to have number 2. Now i have 3 and for the fist time since i started using cd';s i only have one in diapers. I have to keep telling myself i dont need ot wash everyday LOL '
Anyway we plan to have at least 6 kids and I plan to CD all the rest of them. Even though I still get looked at like i have 3 heads becaseu I CD and *GASP* let me baby decide when they are done nurisng. Im such a wierdo!!! LOL

[zjande]

I'll CD my 3rd, just as I did my first two. And I have *definitely* gotten crunchier & crunchier. The more I educate myself, the more hippy I become.

[Annemarie4]

I didn't CD baby 1 but we CD baby 2. :-) I didn't use cloth with our first as we were in an apartment without a washer, but as soon as we moved into our house we started using cloth. I wouldn't say I have gotten "crunchier" as time has moved on, but I have certainly gotten more firm in the convictions I had to start with. And I care even less what people think.

[Momto2boysNagirl]

I've gotten crunchier with each kid! I started cding my second at about 14 mths and haven't looked back since. I've done a total 180 since my first born.

[Ok]

4 children; my outlook on the planet & renewable resources & waste & stepping lightly & gentle family'ing & so forth remains pretty much the same.

I try to set a good example, but I can't worry too much about what others do. Try not to let them get you down.

[gethane]

Pregnant with my 5th. I cd my first part of the time, didn't do 2 and 3 for a multitude of reasons (for those that have never done a wet pail, I don't think you know just how disgusting and how much work THAT is. I never would've started cding my 4th if I hadn't found out about dry pails) and am cding the 4, and planning all sorts of cute newborn dipes for the 5th. So if people say its too much work, and they used a wetpail, I'd actually believe them. It was nasty. And carrying a full bucket of poop and pee water, and trying to figure out how to dump it in your washer. UGH.

I started out pretty crunchy, bfing, cosleeping, slinging, LLL, but I'm still a lot more crunchy now than then.

[amysuen]

I have 5 children and all were CD'd to some extent, although I also used some sposies with all 5 too. : To be honest, it is a little more difficult than using all sposies, but it's worth it!

[Spark]

First time parents get all the crazy comments*. Next time just lie and say that you have 4 more kids at home. They'll lay off you.

*Case in point, pregnant with my first and planning a homebirth, my mortgage loan officer told my husband and I, "Well, when you get to the hospital, just ask for an epidural right away. The HUMAN BODY ISN'T MEANT TO GIVE BIRTH." Um... ok, maybe in his experience. Those peoel that make comments are just talking about their experience. You don't have to claim it as truth.

Oh, and to actually answer the question -- I CD'd my son in the beginning and went to sposies when he learned how to take off his Bummis wraps. (I didn't think there were any alternatives) Then, I had CC and KNEW I didn't want a girl in sposies (toxic shock). So, I started CDing again. I discovered the wonderful world of dependable, trim, cute dipes. I put Jude back in cloth then, too. Since then he's potty trained and I'm expecting again. I guess I'm just addicted to two in cloth! :LOL

[abbyskeeper]

I've definitely become crunchier w/each child. Didn't even consider CDing w/ DD#1 (had no idea of options other that Gerber prefolds/plastic pants). Considered it w/DS, but was dismayed by my high-strung friend's failed attempt at it. I was also a little frazzled having two in diapers. This is when I discovered organic gardening/composting, etc. (Oh, I also failed at BF w/ them -both less than 4 months).

Then DD#3 came along, and I just became ultra-determined to get everything right. Natural delivery, CD'ed from Day 2, BF until she determined she wanted to wean. It's been fantastic!

If she weren't our last child, I'd definitely be up for CDing again!

[ustasmom]

How many is a gaggle? :LOL

I would imagine that it makes more sense when you do have more children.

1. Cloth diapers. Very cost effective when you have more than one child. And reusable on future babies.

2. Baby-wearing. When you have a child holding one hand, and a child holding another, you have to wear your baby. You simply don't have enough arms.

3. Co-sleeping. More kids=more beds. The last thing you need is a crib taking up space, KWIM?

4. Homeschooling. You buy the books. They learn together. And who in the world wants to pack all those lunches everyday anyway?

5. Use on non-disposable products such as cloth TP, mama cloth, cloth wipes, etc. Again, when you are buying for a larger number of people, the cost of these things is staggering.

If I had a gaggle, this is would be my thinking.

[musicmaj]

I have two that are 16 months apart (now age 3 and 4) and one on the way and I have definitely gotton more crunchy as time went on.

I had two in cloth diapers for at least 1.5 years and will probably have two in diapers again in Sept. In my opinion, there is no other way to do it and cloth diapering was actually easier than dragging two cranky kids out to the store just to buy some sposies. Also, I can't tell you enough about the benefits of babywearing and attached parenting when you have more than one child. I think it makes parenting a lot easier.

[Parthenia]

nak...No gaggle here, but I'm cd'ed #1 part time (no drier, bad covers, diaper service so few choices). I even used pull ups at nite until Bea's ped gave a long lecture about the evils of pull ups, and encouraged me to stop.
I learned from my mistakes, figured out where I went wrong, and dd #2 is cloth almost full time. The sitter usually puts her in a tushies while I work mornings, but I send her there in a cd with extras (AIO's!). As long as she's being changed, and it's gel free, whatever. It's only 2 hours. I take it off when I get home. Ingrid will be at a new dc in a week that's much crunchier and nfl, so no more tushies, and cloth will be full time.
I converted dh by showing him how much $$ we save using cloth dipes and wipes, so doesn't complain about it being inconvenient. I also got some dh friendly dipes.

[TRIBE]

Originally Posted by ustasmom

How many is a gaggle? :LOL

I would imagine that it makes more sense when you do have more children.

1. Cloth diapers. Very cost effective when you have more than one child. And reusable on future babies.

2. Baby-wearing. When you have a child holding one hand, and a child holding another, you have to wear your baby. You simply don't have enough arms.

3. Co-sleeping. More kids=more beds. The last thing you need is a crib taking up space, KWIM?

4. Homeschooling. You buy the books. They learn together. And who in the world wants to pack all those lunches everyday anyway?

5. Use on non-disposable products such as cloth TP, mama cloth, cloth wipes, etc. Again, when you are buying for a larger number of people, the cost of these things is staggering.

If I had a gaggle, this is would be my thinking.

Add
6. Clothes. Making yours & your kids

I could actually add a few more on there :LOL But this totally describes me.

I have a gaggle of kids & have (do) CD the last 3. With 7 ppl in this house I do not even notice the 2-3 extra loads of diapers to wash. Those are nothing compared to the ginormous amt of clothing, towels & sheets to be washed everyday.

OP I have definetly gotten crunchier with each child. As I become more informed, the more I move away from mainstream ideals.

[broodymama]

My DS is only 8.5 months, but I can't imagine not CD'ing #2 whenever he/she comes along. I have all DS' NB and small dipes stored away in boxes, just waiting for the right time.

[JoAida]

I did sposies for #1, Gerber crapfolds and vinyl pants part-time with #2 :, Cloth 80% of the time with #3, and I'll be doing cloth for #4. It's really not a big deal at all. Now, if I were still using the Gerber stuff, it might be too much (those were icky, leaky, gross, and just awful), but with the nicer stuff, it's fine.

[Amy VG]

I have two in diapers...well actually my son is now potty training so he's in cotton trainers...and it's soooo easy to CD both. And I love doing the laundry and folding all their gorgeous diaper collection (and do we ever have a collection!!).
And I'm definitely more crunchy, though I've always been...I guess as you parent (and age ), you get more comfortable with yourself and have confidence not to follow the mainstream...well that's what I'm going through.

[Adamsmama]

I've got 2 kids in cloth. That drives me crazy too about cding my first but...I've heard that recently too. It is a little harder to cd 2 kids (because of the extra never ending laundry) but it isn't as bad if you are on a schedule. I think I've got the hang of it now...(now that my youngest is 5 months old...) I never thought about switching to sposies, though--so I haven't gotten less crunchy. When I was pg with DS1 and determined to cd everybody tried to talk me out of it and told me I would give up quickly because sposies are so much better, etc. Well it has been almost 2.5 years since DS1 was born. :LOL

[Shiloh]

Too funny, I was so crunchy with number one - everything organic, total AP all the way. The second one I got 'resourceful' I spent very little on his clothes but way too much on infant developmental toys but I had to get less crunchy on organic food as he was so fussy at a certain point unlike my dd who was veg until two if he'd eat a hamburger here you go. The third one has gotten all the best clothes and no toys and I am getting back to ultra crunchy again.
I was lucky to stay organic/crunchy on the detergents though as #3 is total skin allergy boy.

I think going from one to two is the hardest, now bring 'em on!

I started cd' #3 and the threat of putting #2 into baby dipes made him potty train ASAP.

It is funny how kids change you!
Alison

[emmalala]

#1 was in sposies for the first year, #2 was in sposies until she fit into the one-sizes, #3 was in sposies for 36 hours...

The weird thing is that now I have just one in diapers, I miss them!

I wonder what all those "first baby only" people did with all their CDs...?

[Shiloh]

I think a lot of first timers use CPF's, then use them for the car
I am amazed at how many moms are un-hyena-ized, just using the basic prefolds and plastic pants.

What do they do with them....I wonder.
I bet if you put an add in the newspaper looking for dipes you'd be swamped.

I am going to try freecycle one of these days as I'd love some dipes to 'share' with friends who want to try cd but can't see spending any $ doing it.

But I've caught hyena fever. My friend who got me into cd thinks I am crazy...some people I think pick one style and never stray whatever they start with they stay with, I tried to impress her by showing her my wools, my fuzbaby, my wham's, fuzzibunz, blank stare.

Alison