What is a cloth diapering mama's profile?

[Lady of Z Lake]

I haven't seen a thread like this in the Diapering forum (since September, anyway), so hopefully it's not a repeat...

I am curious as to what other natural parenting practices all of us cloth diaperers subscribe to. Please share any other ones you feel are central to your "profile" if I didn't list it!

Disclaimers!

This is not meant to make anyone feel guilty.
There is no right or wrong answer!
My list is by no means all-inclusive, but I tried to hit the biggies.

[ekblad9]

We do most of the above. It all just kind of falls in line with eachother, KWIM?

[Meli65]

I didn't start using cloth diapers until ds was almost one year old -- we had tried a diaper service when he was first born and it was just too difficult. A friend I met online gave me her old AIOs and it was off to the races -- I love using them! I find it much easier to wash and dry my own diapers -- we still use disposables at night though.

[TwinMom]

I checked all of the above except for unmedicated birth. That was the plan, but I had an emergency c-section. I always feel defensive saying that 'cause whenever someone *else* says it I automatically think, "But maybe you didn't do everything to avoid a c-section." Only, I did. Bradley, doula, switched OBs at 30 weeks, couldn't get a midwife 'cause I was gestational diabetic VBAC...the list goes on. Did everything I could to avoid a c-section but ended up with one, so obviously was medicated. An unmedicated birth was *planned*, though!

[Lady of Z Lake]

Originally posted by TwinMom
I checked all of the above except for unmedicated birth. That was the plan, but I had an emergency c-section. I always feel defensive saying that 'cause whenever someone *else* says it I automatically think, "But maybe you didn't do everything to avoid a c-section." Only, I did. Bradley, doula, switched OBs at 30 weeks, couldn't get a midwife 'cause I was gestational diabetic VBAC...the list goes on. Did everything I could to avoid a c-section but ended up with one, so obviously was medicated. An unmedicated birth was *planned*, though!

I also had an emergency C-section-- with my first (did Bradley, doula, very pro-unmedicated, etc.)... and a successful VBAC w/ my second. You can still believe in/support unmedicated even if it turns out different from what you hoped or planned!!

[lovingmomto3]

I breastfeed, and I cosleep but, that is about it. I don't think these things automatically go hand in hand with cloth diapering. I believe that if you only advertise towards the group of people who do these things then clothdiapering will remain a trend in just a small part of the population. We cloth diaper because, it is cheaper, I worry about my childrens health in the gel beads, and I think they are cute. Honestly, the last thing that I am thinking of at 4 AM is the environment. Not to start a debate. Just being honest.
Janie

[ekblad9]

I guess for me it just all fell in line. Didn't mean to generalize.

[Trishy]

I didn't bf ds. I didn't know any better. I had a horrible experience with dd where I was utterly humilated by her doc and made to feel as if I was hurting her by trying to bf. I know a lot better now and my next child will be bf'd if it kills me.

Ds and I did co sleep until he was almost a year old. He sleeps in a crib in my room now but if we stay at MILs or he wakes in the night he sleeps with me.

Ds is circ'd.

I did have an interthecal when I was in labor with ds but it wore off and I was given pitocin so I felt every bit of it when he was born. Now that I know that I can handle the pain and I'm no longer scared I will be trying for unmedicated next time.

I am not ashamed to say we are meat eaters. I like meat. So does dh. Ds doesn't eat so much but he did have some chicken today. Dd does not like much beef but does eat pretty much everything else.

Dd is fully vaccinated and ds was vaccinated until 9 months. I plan on selectively vaccinating at most in the future.

I try to be environmetally concious. There are no recycling facilities in my area but I do my best not to use so much so there is less waste. Dh won't let me ditch paper towels but I try very hard not to use them myself.

Dd lives with her father in South Carolina and attends public school. I'm not postive what I will so with ds but he will probably go to public school also.

I am very strongly for gentle discipline. It is very hard on days where ds is pushing all of the right buttons but I very firmly believe that people of all age deserve respect. That means not yelling and not hitting.

[TwinMom]

Oh, yeah, and I didn't start cloth until ds was 1 year old. I did cloth with my twins, though, from birth. It sucked so I didn't want to start with the baby but was convinced by people in my playgroup. MUCH easier now. With the twins I had Gerber prefolds, pins, and Gerber plastic pants. Nothing like what we have now!

[Marco Esquandolas]

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[casmi]

If our boy would have lived he would be intact and any future boys we may have will be intact.

We also are limiting the use of plastics in our home - especially in childrens toys.

I wanted to add that I planned on an unmedicated birth (with my last baby) - LOL - but after the third really hard contraction hit, I was begging for an epi, but I went several hours before actually getting it. I'm a wimp - seriously! I have no pain tolerance! LOL

[Lady of Z Lake]

Originally posted by lovingmomto3
I breastfeed, and I cosleep but, that is about it. I don't think these things automatically go hand in hand with cloth diapering. I believe that if you only advertise towards the group of people who do these things then clothdiapering will remain a trend in just a small part of the population. We cloth diaper because, it is cheaper, I worry about my childrens health in the gel beads, and I think they are cute. Honestly, the last thing that I am thinking of at 4 AM is the environment. Not to start a debate. Just being honest.
Janie

Thanks for being honest! That's why I created the poll... I was curious if there's any correlation, and what most (well, here anyway) CD mama's do.

[Marco Esquandolas]

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[pixiemama]

We breastfeed/extended breastfeed, co-sleep, use cloth diapers, try to practice gentle discipline and babywear. I have been thinking about becoming Vegan b/c I don't eat much meat or dairy anyway. DS is circed. We do vaccinate but we are delaying DD's. As far as home schooling or unschooling, I'm not sure it's for me, but I don't know what the future holds! Great poll! Edited to add we try to be environmentally conscious as well.

[Lady of Z Lake]

Originally posted by CkFromBk
We breastfeed/extended breastfeed, co-sleep, use cloth diapers, try to practice gentle discipline and babywear.

Duh for me!! I can't believe I forgot babywearing as an option!!! (Need an emoticon of me slapping my forehead.) I carried both my kids all the time!

And, as for me, I checked all of the above (AND babywearing ).

[MammaMel]

Breast feed/EBF- Yes, dd who is 2.5 hasn't nursed in a little over a week I guess that's that, I hope ds nurses as long.

Family bed/co-sleep - yes, but he will probably go to his bed around 6 months.

Intact sons (for those with boys!) -yes

Unmedicated childbirth -yes

Vegetarian/vegan diet -we eat meat here.

No-/selective vaccinations -dd was fully vaccinated and I may delay some of ds'.

Environmentally conscious (reduce, reuse, recycle, downsizing, etc.) - I should be better, I try to reuse and recycle when I can.

Homeschooling/unschooling - We will probably do public school.

Gentle discipline -yes

[HeatherSanders]

OKAY, SO I EAT MEAT AND DRINK MILK! :LOL :LOL

[pixiemama]

Originally posted by hlsanders
OKAY, SO I EAT MEAT AND DRINK MILK! :LOL :LOL

Bad, bad Heather! :LOL You can't help it, you're a Texan!

[LGSW]

Breast feed/EBF- Yes. BF exclusively till about 8 months, mostly b/c my dd had a strong tongue thrust and I was lazy!

Family bed/co-sleep - yes but weaning her into her own bed at 2.5

Intact sons (for those with boys!) -plan to

Unmedicated childbirth -yes

Vegetarian/vegan diet -no

No-/selective vaccinations -selective

Environmentally conscious (reduce, reuse, recycle, downsizing, etc.) - not a huge priority but I do what I can

Homeschooling/unschooling - homeschooling most likely for moral reasons

Gentle discipline -probably not, since I spank occasionally

[HeatherSanders]

Originally posted by CkFromBk
Bad, bad Heather! :LOL You can't help it, you're a Texan!

Yea, you and OPRAH, on my case! What is it with 'you vegetarians?'

Move over soy, bring me a cow!