[GeorgiaGalHeidi]

on more than one occasion as "environmentalists," but they use sposies and would never dream of CD! That is way too funny, isn't it? Last time, my sister said that, and I said, "Oh good! Then you are interested in cloth-ask me anything. Let's get started!" She just laughed.

 

[kimberlylibby]

Lol

 

[supercrunch]

...like my SIL and her husband. They are into all things "natural." No sugar...lots of spelt flour...all organic stuff...(had a heart attack when someone offered their ds non-organic milk)

...but they apparently can't be "bothered" with cloth diapers

they pay so much attention to what they put into their bodies, you'd think they'd be a bit concerned what they put on their babies bodies

 

[Izzybee]

:LOL people crack me up

 

[Camellia]

Yes, I have also met the environmentalists who won't even give cloth a try

I try not to be uppity and assume that some people would use them because their values dictate that that would be the natural choice....It just irritates me little to see the contradiction. (Sorry about the awful run-on...I am a tired Mama today)

 

[Juanita]

I don't CD (yet, because I have no kids, but I will), but have the same situation with BIL and his wife. She, for all I know, is environmentally consciencious, or so she says, and they even feel bad about the waste problem about disposables, but just can't be bothered to CD. Although, in their case, I just don't know if it isn't just the old disinformed problem. Maybe they just don't know about the new world of diapering out there.

Should I tell them?

Joana

 

[Camellia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juanita I don't CD (yet, because I have no kids, but I will), but have the same situation with BIL and his wife. She, for all I know, is environmentally consciencious, or so she says, and they even feel bad about the waste problem about disposables, but just can't be bothered to CD. Although, in their case, I just don't know if it isn't just the old disinformed problem. Maybe they just don't know about the new world of diapering out there. Should I tell them? Joana

Yes, tell them

I informed by brother and SIL about the world of cloth and they weren't even interested :LOL I figured I had nothing to lose by giving them a few diapers (They were even VB AIO's which don't get any easier). If you know someone who actually feels bad about the waste of sposies, by all means let them know how easy cloth is these days!

 

[sweetfeet]

I think some people feel like they do so much for the environment that using sposies won't hurt. I think the opposite. I use cloth diapers but I don't recycle. I feel like I do my part. Where I am recycling isn't an easy option for me. I do what I can. We all do.

 

[AmyB]

To be fair to environmentalists, there is information out there that says cloth/CD doesn't matter in environmental terms. The 'sposie compaines have put out "studies" that show that the bleach, water, transportation for diaper service etc makes cloth equally as resource intensive as 'sposies. I've even seen books advising environmentalists not to worry about diapers because other choice matter more.

If you think it through, though it doesn't make any sense at all. For one thing, it's not necessary to use a diaper service, and for another, waste water can be treated but plastic diapers are forever. Also, 'sposies are related to longer potty training (hence more overall diapers per child).

Of course, the most environmenatlly sound choice is EC, but I think the idea of EC has to kind of grab people at kind of a gut level before they are willing to give it a try. I was actually the only person in my social group of moms who did EC, even though I know other environmentalist moms who did cloth.

I guess my attitude is that I am happy to see an environmental consciousness at any level, even if people could possibly be doing more.

--AmyB

 

[Pinoikoi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetfeet I think some people feel like they do so much for the environment that using sposies won't hurt. I think the opposite. I use cloth diapers but I don't recycle. I feel like I do my part. Where I am recycling isn't an easy option for me. I do what I can. We all do.

That's me too. In AK sometimes in some areas you have to PAY to have your stuff recycled... and your trash bill doesn't go down, so I always feel like I am paying twice... needless to say, recycling in my house is reusing grocery bags for kitty litter and making old jeans into shorts, etc... I would rather not pay anyone to do something with the stuff I can't.

But I have 2 in diapers (soon to be 3), and they are both cded.

 

[lupineperriwinkle]

Not realy CD related but my major is Environmental Earth Science. I was in an env course a few years ago and people were shocked that I shut the water off while I was soaping, etc in the shower. They thought it was too much of a bother to save the hot water!

 

[WickidaWitch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetfeet I think some people feel like they do so much for the environment that using sposies won't hurt. I think the opposite. I use cloth diapers but I don't recycle. I feel like I do my part. Where I am recycling isn't an easy option for me. I do what I can. We all do.

Ditto.

 

[norcalmommy]

Unless you have a good chunk of time to spend on the internet (and access to the internet), there isn't a lot of good resources for information on CD'ing. I have some environmentally conscious friends who only started CD'ing after they saw me do it, when their ds was 1 year old. They just hadn't been exposed to all of the options. Instead of slamming people for making their choices, we really need to make an effort to educate them.

 

[Camellia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by norcalmommy Unless you have a good chunk of time to spend on the internet (and access to the internet), there isn't a lot of good resources for information on CD'ing. I have some environmentally conscious friends who only started CD'ing after they saw me do it, when their ds was 1 year old. They just hadn't been exposed to all of the options. Instead of slamming people for making their choices, we really need to make an effort to educate them.

I agree and I hope I didn't sound like I was slamming anyone. Lately I have become jaded by some things going on within my extended family. It is clouding my perception of reality

:

 

[meco]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace474 they pay so much attention to what they put into their bodies, you'd think they'd be a bit concerned what they put on their babies bodies

ITA

 

[Magnoliamama]

I don't think anyone is slamming -- just shrugging shoulders, or giggling (I saw some smilies, for example).

I do totally agree that the best information available on the vast world of CDing is available in a few specialized "Red Tents" like the MDC boards. One has to have guts and time to get to know MDC enough to post here and get questions answered. This is probably the case for other boards, too. People just don't know their choices, and it's really not a surprise. The "history of cloth" thread clearly demonstrates that CDing was not easy or glamorous or cute in years past. It's a recent phenomenon that CDing seems approachable by people who are accustomed to a "convenient" lifestyle. Myself included in this bunch.

I never, ever, ever would have CD'd unless someone had not shown me the ropes personally and led by example.

 

[meco]

Quote:

Originally Posted by norcalmommy Unless you have a good chunk of time to spend on the internet (and access to the internet), there isn't a lot of good resources for information on CD'ing. I have some environmentally conscious friends who only started CD'ing after they saw me do it, when their ds was 1 year old. They just hadn't been exposed to all of the options. Instead of slamming people for making their choices, we really need to make an effort to educate them.

I agree and I disagree here.

There are more resources--Mothering magazine, LLL meetings, meetings at your birth center/hospital, playgroups, friends, health food stores, RDA. Plus the Internet is free at the library. I learned about CDing from ads in Mothering.

People need to be proactive as well--also receptive to said education. I agree education is key, but you also have to hold people accountable for the choices they make. They need to be responsible and be informed as parents. I feel I owe it to my child. It is not a secret that disposables are not biodegradable, that they are full of chemicals, they that leave gel on your baby's bottom, etc. Those are well know facts, Internet saavy or not. I did not like these facts so I chose to be proactive and find out what else I could use.

And it seems a lot of the PP have experience with people who have been exposed, but choose not to try it out. That plain stinks.

 

[mahogny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by norcalmommy Unless you have a good chunk of time to spend on the internet (and access to the internet), there isn't a lot of good resources for information on CD'ing. I have some environmentally conscious friends who only started CD'ing after they saw me do it, when their ds was 1 year old. They just hadn't been exposed to all of the options. Instead of slamming people for making their choices, we really need to make an effort to educate them.

ITA!! I'm an environmentalist who sposied my first. It's not that I "couldn't be bothered" or I was being hypocritical, or I was unaware of the landfill problem or didn't care. But I knew NO ONE who cd'ed, and therefore had no one to ask, no one to watch, no one to educate me about how easy cd's are now. My ONLY knowledge of cloth diapers was prefolds, pins, and plastic pants of my youth, and frankly, that is VERY unappealing to me! I hadn't yet discovered MDC, and instead hung out on a very mainstream pregnancy board, and no one there cd'ed. It's not about being hypocritical; it's about the lack of information!

Instead of slamming and being condescending, how about graciously spreading the word about how vastly different cd's are from the ones we remember from our own childhoods?

I apologize if I came off as snarky here, but this hit a nerve. I do recycle. I don't use paper towels or paper napkins. As soon as I get my period back after this kid, I'll be using mama cloth (another option I didn't know about until MDC.) I don't use baggies. I despise SUVs. I breastfeed. I eat all organic/all natural. I do consider myself an environmentalist, and yes, I felt VERY guilty using sposies for my first, but compared to what I thought cd's were, it was a better choice for my lifestyle.

And before anyone asks,

yes, I've already got my cd stash for this little one due in February, and I'm VERY excited to use them!

 

[Rising Sun]

I have some family members who wouldn't touch cloth with a 10 foot pole. When they were pregnant, and I was CDing Emily, they were grossed out by it. They think it's weird... why go through the trouble when you can just use sposies? Same goes for making your own baby food... why go through the trouble? They think organic is a joke too.

They just think I'm a wacko... staying home with my kids when I could have money (I made a decent amount of money before deciding to stay home) and nice things... who wouldn't want that? OH, and breastfeeding.... especially past the age of 1. Using cloth, composting, buying organic, being vegetarian, co-sleeping, holding my baby constantly... they even heard somewhere (but can't tell me where) that slings were bad for the baby's development. Everything I do is weird to them. How on earth did I get by without a carseat that has a carry handle?

I offered to make their baby all the cloth diapers they want... they were offended at the offer. shrug. What's a person to do?

I guess we all think our choices are the best choices and can't understand why people don't see that. I've even had a few people tell me that using laundry detergent and water to wash your diapers, and the dryer to dry them are worse for the environment. I have no idea where they get that, but they believe it. I use renewable energy (green mountain) so I can't believe that using my dryer is all that bad.

TEri

 

[meco]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahogny My ONLY knowledge of cloth diapers was prefolds, pins, and plastic pants of my youth, and frankly, that is VERY unappealing to me! I hadn't yet discovered MDC, and instead hung out on a very mainstream pregnancy board, and no one there cd'ed. It's not about being hypocritical; it's about the lack of information!

Not being snarky, but this mindset seems to be prevelant...And is not necessarily directed at you, just using your comments.

So because something is unappealing you do not try them? I am sorry, I think that is a weird remark. There are many things that seemed unappealing to me, but I tried them because I care about the environment deeply enough to give it a try. The earth is more important to me than what I find appealing...

Maybe it was not a good fit for your "lifestyle" but you would never know if you had not tried. And I, not being snarky, am bugged by that attitude. So because something that fits in with your values is not a good choice for your lifestyle, then it is dandy to ignore that?

I think the information is out there. Proactive. You knew there were CD options as you mentioned. Had you researched them more closely you would have found out there was more than you thought. As I mentioned in a PP, there are MANY ways to find information out. And even if prefolds, plastic pants and pins was it, I would still CD as it is incredibly important to me.

This is not directed at you necessarily, but in general. Your comments are common.

Quote:

Instead of slamming and being condescending, how about graciously spreading the word about how vastly different cd's are from the ones we remember from our own childhoods?

Again as I mentioned in a PP. You have to be proactive as well. Other people cannot tell you what there is out there and what to do all the time. Responsibility for your actions on earth are yours, no one elses.

And NO ONE was slamming or being condescending. You said yourself you felt guilty you perhaps that is why you read it that way. I totally did not get that from this thread.

Quote:

And before anyone asks, yes, I've already got my cd stash for this little one due in February, and I'm VERY excited to use them!

And I am very happy to hear that!

And congrats on your new baby

I am sure you will love them (and you should dish on what you are using!!!).