How many converts have you made?

[pookel]

We've got two couples we know into cloth diapers - one using Fuzzi Bunz, the other planning to CD but don't have kids yet. The FB couple are pretty crunchy too, although I can't take any credit for the breastfeeding since the husband's mom is a former LLL leader. The other couple is planning to move back to the town we live in when they have kids and homeschool with us, maybe even help us start an alternative homeschooling group.

Who else has been leading their friends down the dark path to crunchiness?

[papayapetunia]

I have had two moms tell me that they are really thinking about homeschooling after reading my blog. These are girls that I went to junior high school with. I am not entirely their reason, I am sure, but more persuasion for they were possibly already considering.

I am not sure if I have convinced anyone to breastfeed. All my friends who have kids have breastfed, and I have always acted to them as if OF COURSE they will breastfeed, there is no other way.

I am the only cloth diaperer that I know in real life.

[Alkenny]

Just my sister with cloth diapering, breastfeeding (well, she did that on her own ) and co-sleeping, but the little things like no-poo and whatnot have trickled out into some mainstream friends.

[CalebsMama05]

none. people still ask me about his *real* diapers when I'm out and about and grab extra cloth.


its actually a running joke with my mom and I...whenever we get to the disposable aisle at the store (paper plates, cups spoons etc) i grab something and say "look mom...REAL plates" haha. am still a bit irritated can't u tell.

[tangozulu]

me, me!

I convinced my friend to bf longer than she was planning. She said 6 months, babe is almost a year now, and going strong. She also uses cloth diapers (I gave her a stash) at home. And she's home a lot, with 3 under 4! Oh, and she slings her babe! I bought her a ring sling and lent her my fleece pouch when the babe was smaller. We also share recipes for healthy baking - I believe she has surpassed me in that area - one day she made her own crackers!

My SIL is preg and I'm trying to convince her to use cloth. She is back and forth so far, though. I'm hoping she'll at least give them a try - she can use my nb dipes until my new little one arrives...then move on to my smalls...I was a bit crazy buying them when I was preg with ds.

My other friend borrowed a small stash when her dd had diaper rash. It cleared her right up. She washed and gave them back after the rash was gone, though. Oh, well. But now SHE is trying convince HER sister to use cloth - mainly for cost reasons, but she knows first hand that they work well!

[Tonia80]

It has been little subtle things like I made a sling for a friend and she fell in love with wearing her baby. And I have alot of friends who do not breastfeed BUT when my friends baby got sick one time I offered her some expressed BM, explaining teh immunilogical benefits and now whenever her daughter gets a cold she asks me for some. And another friend heard me raving about how great breastmilk worked for my sons diaper rash. (The time our washer went on teh blink and i had to use sposies for two days) and teh other day she knocks on my door and asks "Can I have some breastmilk for Britneys diaper rash?" (her daughter is 15 months) It was a tad odd to get up with company there and go into the other room, hand express a bit into a cup and hand it to my nieghbor. LOL But cool that people can see what really is working for us and want to try it themselves. I think our example has spoken volumes of our choices.

[sweetangelbrynlie]

I haven't. All of my friends and family just can't believe I use cloth diapers. They think it is soooooo gross. My sister tried babywearing, but didn't like it.

Id love love to have someone IRL who cloth diapers and does the things I do, that would be soo cool!

[AngieB]

My sister is using my midwife and having a homebirth with her first. Even though when I told everyone that I was planning a homebirth they acted like I was crazy, now they act like they were all for it the who time.:

There was also a mom at library storytime who had had a c-section with her first and not BF'd. She was pregnant with #2 and started asking me lots of question about natural birth and BFing. We talked about it some and I found a lot of books for her at the library. #2 is now over a year old and she had a natural hospital birth and is still Breastfeeding

[AngelBee]

Three cding converts.

A few who are now playing around with all natural products for body, home, and alternative medicine.

Two mama cloth converts.

One OB to midwife convert.

That is all I can think of...

[ibex67]

I can't take credit for "converting" anyone. Personally I'm a little comfortable prosletyzing anything to anyone. But I know that gentle, prolonged, non-judgemental conversations with my sister over the years has her reconsidering the "spare the rod;spoil the child" philosophy she got at her church.

Also, I know that my reputation as an extended bfeeder made it easier for my cousin to "come out of the closet" and keeping nursing her son for 13 months now...

[boongirl]

I don't try to get my friends to change. If they are my friends, I like them just the way they are. If they are interested in something I am doing, or vice versa, but we share with each other so much I don't think of it as conversion. I will say that my two closest mommy friends and I all quit new mommy groups because the majority were parenting differently than us and we were uncomfortable. And, it is easier to cosleep and breastfeed (etc) when you know others who are also doing that.

[2Sweeties1Angel]

I convinced one new mom to BF, but now she's supplementing with formula for no reason at all. I tried to talk her into CDing but she thinks it's "nasty".

[Casual Storm]

I think I influenced my cousin-in-law about extended breastfeeding. I was the first in our family to breastfeed past a year...I lasted 25 months. Needless to say, I got quite a bit of slack for it! My CIL definitely thought I was a bit extreme, especially since I co-slept with ds too. When she finally had her baby, she was only going to bf her for "9 months or so." Well, now her dd is turning 2 in about a week and she is still bf! My CIL is very shy about it though. I'm the only one she "confides" to about it. Her family gives her slack, so she hides it the best she can -fortunately her family lives out of town. Obviously I'm always very supportive whenever she brings it up. I'm always challenging her to beat my benchmark...and I think she will!

[jlpumkin]

I think I got my pediatrician.. she's in her last trimester and everytime we go in she wants to see the cute new dipes we have. Last time she wrote down all of my favorite stores... we'll see!

[Jennifer3141]

I got one friend CDing and I may have snagged another. They already BF'd.

[starlein26]

I've had NO luck converting anyone...too bad for their kids, and too bad for them...