Oh the HORROR - trying to convert friends to cloth - Page 3

[Scarlet]

Oh and another thing, both my kids have been the type that do a lot of little pees. If I changed every time they wet then I'd be changing roughly every twenty minutes. So, I've never changed diapers according to every wee.

And FWIW I don't change in the middle of the night, sorry, that is a mugs game IMO unless the baby is awake and by default so are the parents.

[penny31]

Originally posted by reeseccup
*to be fair to the op of the comment about only sposie users...blah blah...I think she retracted with an apoligy (forgive me if I'm wrong)*

She did apologize (thanks Jachut), I was just using her original statement as an example of the kind of statement that can really turn people off of the kind of parenting that most of the people on this board (and the other Mothering boards) seem to advocate (AP/Natural Living/etc.).

I just meant that the world would be a better place if everyone was kinder and gentler, to their babies and to each other , so in the way of advocacy, I think we need to remember to be fair and not make blanket assumptions about people who don't do things the way we do.

I am sorry for singling you out Jachut - I was reacting to a few statements I have read here, not just yours (and I love this board, don't get me wrong! I am addicted already!).

XOXO

[Free49]

Thanks Everybody

I just wanted to thank you all for your input. I also wanted to say that everybody raised some great points about cloth and sposies. First off I do not think the majority of sposie users literally sit there and say sorry dd you are just not wet enough, I know some the minority might do this, but not the majority. I also do not think anybody posted to offend or turn off any possible converts since that was the original reason for this post. I love my friends and most of them are sposie users ( but I am working on it! and will continue to work on it and if I get one to convert I will be happy haha). I was so happy to hear everybodys input you guys really made me laugh (really hard out loud where dh had to come read!).
Happy Diapering
No gel bottoms here!!
Caroline

[Rebecca]

Re: Thanks Everybody

Originally posted by Free49
I just wanted to thank you all for your input. I also wanted to say that everybody raised some great points about cloth and sposies. First off I do not think the majority of sposie users literally sit there and say sorry dd you are just not wet enough, I know some the minority might do this, but not the majority. I also do not think anybody posted to offend or turn off any possible converts since that was the original reason for this post. I love my friends and most of them are sposie users ( but I am working on it! and will continue to work on it and if I get one to convert I will be happy haha). I was so happy to hear everybodys input you guys really made me laugh (really hard out loud where dh had to come read!).
Happy Diapering
No gel bottoms here!!
Caroline

I agree that the point of this thread was not to point fingers to all sposie users as bad parents who never change dirty diapers... we know it's just a minority of any parents (regardless of what dipes they choose) who do this. But I think we all know of someone who may fall into that category, and it breaks my heart.

[Dahlia]

I have to say some of these discussions on this board get me quite angry. Some little anecdote or complaint turns into a rant against any Mamma that is not perfect. I leave my child in a FB sometimes for 4 -5 hours and I do not think of myself as a bad mommy or in any way neglectful of my children. I devote my life to my children and I am personally insulted by all these preeachy remarks. You all may want to spend your day changing diapers every hour on the hour I would rather spend them with my children at the park or at the zoo etc... I change dd when I feel she is wet and uncomfortable not at the first sign that she has peed. I would never leave the house if that were the case. You might not agree but both my children are happy well adjusted kids and they as well as dh are fine with my diapering routine.
I didn't know that this board was only for all you perfect mommies out there to look down upon us inferior ones.
And to the Mamma who is second guessing herself because she doesn't change her babby in the middle of the night, you are not a bad mother ( at least not because of that!)
I used to enjoy logging on in the am. Now I scroll down and skim the posts to see if there is anything helpful and informative instead of to see if there is anything cute or touching that is being posted. It saddens me to read some of these harsh posts.
I went to sleep last night truly disturbed about this thread. I thought Heather requested that we refrain from posting insulting and condemning posts??!!!
Anyway I usually keep my frustrations to myself but I couldn't keep quiet anymore.

[Jachut]

Dahlia, I'd personally hate to think I'd offended anybody, I only intended to point my finger at some people I know who have truly revolting diaper changing habits and what came out sounded like a sweeping generalisation instead. For what its worth, my own baby goes overnight without a change, and I could not hope to keep up every pee either, she does a lot of little ones and often goes three or four hours during the day without a change. And I often leave them on the floor of her bedroom when I've changed her too! Lets face it, being in diapers means sitting in your own waste some of the time, a caring parent will try to minimise that but cannot hope to avoid it entirely. In no way do I think Im a perfect mother.

Maybe it gets a little out of control at times but I think everyone likes to give themselves a little pat on the back (and deserves to) because lets face it, we're ALL doing something that takes just that little bit extra effort for our children. But I guess you're right, its not nice or fair to make ourselves feel good by putting others down.

Sorry for any part I may have played in offending you.

[Ms.Doula]

Dahlia

No one has posted "insulting and condemning posts" as you put it. I have been following this thread fro OP and I thought it did start to go downhill, but a comment was corrected, and things were elaborated on better. The only people being "attacked" here are the parents who think their pocketbook & time is more valueable than their childrens health & comfort! If this is not you, then dont take it to heart. There is no good fanning the coals.....

And YES I ***DO*** agree that ignorance plays a big part. I used sposies for 20 mos. w/ dd Kayleigh & I did tend to wait till I could "tell" before a change. I am glad the gals are in cd now.... It keeps me accountable!

[Mizelenius]

Originally posted by Jachut
But I guess you're right, its not nice or fair to make ourselves feel good by putting others down.

Sorry for any part I may have played in offending you.

I second this! I was thinking after I posted that I really shouldn't be here criticizing someone (my sister) (a) can't defend herself and (b) when it doesn't serve to help anyone.

[reeseccup]

I guess I should keep my fingers to myself as well. My opinion is strong and I've kept it to myself in the past when I see how people don't change diapers as often as is considered necessary (3-5 x's in a 24 hr. time frame: ) THOSE kind of posts disturb me and keep me from a restful sleep as well. I guess I felt comfortable posting in this thread my true feelings (and I didn't realize I may have sounded condensending, but CRAPOLA I really don't get how people can knowingly leave their baby in a soiled dipe) and explained myself rather well. I won't contiune to post my true feelings on "touchy" subjects if it's going to cause others to feel inferrior (sp) in their own skins. I do enjoy my kids in dry dipes, and diaper changing time is just as much a play time as any so I'm not missing out on anything by not changing as often as I do...it works well for me. If someone else chooses to do otherwise, so be it, but it'll still gross me out.

[MamaMonica]

I think its more of a leaving a kid in a diaper a really long time than a cloth vs. disposable arguments here.

[Ms.Doula]

True MomaMonica But...

A disposable sure can hold more... and they cost more.... thus the reason for people thinking it is moreso a problem w/ sposies than cloth KWIM??

[Free49]

Hi Everybody

Well ....
I have to agree I was feeling a little guilty when we went out in a HH and I did not change dd for a good 4 to 5 hours, but you know what to each their own! No I do not change her at night etc etc etc... So please mamas do not feel bad.

I know there are some people out there that do not change their kids but we really cannot do much about it. This thread was my vent because I really would love it if my friends would try out cloth. I know that cloth is not for everybody, but for me it is really rewarding (and ya I like to pat myself on the back everyonce in a while and I LOVE to tell people I use cloth ((we only go out in a print dipe so that if someone sees it they know it is not a sposie!!hehehe no gorgeous dipes I only own one HH and some bummis prints))

Dahlia - I know that some of thread do sound really harsh and sometimes feelings get hurt (mine did on a thread two or three mo. ago - about my bowlegged baby - somebody wanted to know why I did not change her every 45 min! but .... to each their own) I just chalk it up to some very strongly opinonated (sp) mamas, which I love to hear! Sometimes people are just so strongly convicted that it is at times funny, because you just have to laugh and not cry. I try to just keep an open mind and learn new things or turn the comp off and say well I could not do that! haha
Lots of Love
Caroline

P.S. Lately I have been wondering if people see my dd and think she is in a really full sposie because her cloth is bulky anybody else wonder this sometimes i want to put a sign on her that says no this is not a pee diaper about to explode just some bulky cute healthy cloth haha

[penny31]

Re: Hi Everybody

Originally posted by Free49
P.S. Lately I have been wondering if people see my dd and think she is in a really full sposie because her cloth is bulky anybody else wonder this sometimes i want to put a sign on her that says no this is not a pee diaper about to explode just some bulky cute healthy cloth haha

Too Funny, Caroline!!!!!

(Trying to inject a little more humor in this thread.... )
Today I tried to convert a fellow 'sposie user (I am in the midst of conversion myself). Here was our conversation:

Me: Guess what? We are switching to cloth diapers!
Her: (nose wrinkled) Really?
Me: Yeah! But they aren't what you are picturing, they make these really cute ones now that go on as easily as disposables, and have really cute patterns on them.
Her: Really!!!??? I would love to see them!!!!
Me: I will show you at the next playgroup (I didn't have my daughter with me to model any right then).
Her: Are they more or less expensive than the regular ones? :
Me: Well, it depends how many you buy, and how often you are willing to do laundry, but theoretically they should be less expensive.
Her: OOOHHHHH.... You mean they aren't disposable????

LOL... I was so psyched thinking I had converted her to CDing SO easily with my talk of cute patterns, etc.... never thinking she would assume that the "new" kind of cloth diapers were disposable! LOL : : :

XOXO

[Ms.Doula]

AWwwwwwww!!!!!

Thats too bad Phoebe!!! Good greif......

And Caroline! Ha Ha Haaaa! I have thought the same thing.... you are too funny!

I had my DH's Godfather holding Riley... and Jason asked If I had changed her yet (we were getting ready to leave) and before I said yes.... He kinda did the "grab crotch & squeeze to check the thickness" method... that most do when ya check the sposie for that full squishy feeling..... anyway Godfather says... to Riley (my dd) "BOY! This diaper is sooo full. It feels pretty big HUH Sweetie!?"

I LMBO!!!!! Um.... I HAD changed her already... Says me: " that is a CLOTH diap... they are ALWAYS BIG & thick!!"
HaaHaa Haaaaaa!!!!

[MamaMonica]

I really wish my friends would try cloth, too. I can't see how our landfills can continue to take all the trash...but that's probably an argument for activism. I mean, I used disposables for two weeks and there was so much trash generated I was embarrassed to be doing it. It seemed like such a waste- that stuff will be laying there for generations in landfills, chemicals leaching out... that was not what I wanted to leave behind as a legacy.

[Peppamint]

I don't understand why it's such a big deal to change a baby/toddler's diaper? : I mean, it only takes a couple of minutes. It's just part of having a baby, just like feeding them. Of course, I know of parents who feed their babies on a schedule because it's more convenient (generally, they also ff and never even try to bf).

I can't imagine what these mommas will do when it comes times to chase their running toddler around- that's harder work than changing a diaper! :LOL

PS- one other mom in my playgroup uses cloth, the others use sposies. They change as frequently as I do and usually take their own diapers home to throw away.

[Mizelenius]

I can't imagine what these mommas will do when it comes times to chase their running toddler around- that's harder work than changing a diaper

I think it's hard to run around after a toddler in order to change the diaper!

[Ms.Doula]

TRUE!!!! OH SOOOO TRUE!!!!!!!!

[Peppamint]

Originally posted by Mizelenius
I think it's hard to run around after a toddler in order to change the diaper!

Too true!

[jessikate]

This thread has me thinking about a friend who wanted to use cloth when she was pregnant with her son but never got around to it (or something to that effect). That son is now nearly 3 and showing no signs of PL. They also have a 13mo son adopted from Korea.

Anyhow... we were there last weekend and she was talking about how cheap she was (something about only buying green peppers cuz colored ones are more $). I kept my comments to myself about how much she'd save by using cloth... Later we were talking about diapers and I tried to convince her how easy cloth would be for her (washer and dryer are easy to access for them, they do most changes close to the laundry room, etc.). She said "I just don't want to deal with cloth now". I can understand that it might be a little hassle, but come on! Next time I see her, I'll have to leave a printout of costs of cloth vs. disposable over the diapering career of a child.

Same person who asks me, every time she sees me, "How's cloth diapering working for you?" Like I'm suddenly going to give it up. :