invitation wording about cloth diapers

ziggy903

My mom and aunt are throwing my shower and I'm helping in the normal ways(approval of the date and theme, guest list, that's about it) but they want my input about wording the invitation because I'm the etiquette person. I didn't know the answer to their question so I'm bringing it here.

I'm planning on cloth diapering and really would not like to receive cases upon cases of disposables at my shower. I've registered for some cloth diapers and diaper accessories at BBB, but i'm wondering if we should/if it's appropriate to put something on the invitation as well, since I'm sure some people never look at the registry and just buy diapers?

We were thinking something along the lines of "Please no disposable diapers, this mom has chosen to use cloth"

I realize this is kind of telling people how to spend their money, which I know is a no-no, but I really don't want them to buy me diapers that will go to waste/be returned. (or worse, those god awful diaper cakes! I can's even return those!)

Thanks ladies!

amandarins

Don't put that on the invite. If you get disposables, just exchange them.

sarenu1

Word will get around. Also, if you only register for cloth, they are more likely not to buy disposables.

I would just return any that you receive or donate them.

ziggy903

That's what I was thinking, I just wanted to check with the ladies here. Hopefully registering for cloth will be enough of a hint. Thanks for your help!

PrimRoseMama

Joy2611 said:

I wouldn't say anything.  Smile, accept any disposables you get, and then donate them.

Yep. You can't tell folks what to bring or not bring. It's rude.

Disneygeek77

Showers are no different than any other gift giving occasion.  As tempted as I might be to tell my ILs that I don't need any more socks or Christmas themed kitchen towels,  I won't because it isn't polite.  That is what they like to give me.  If I can't use them, I donate them. 

I wouldn't say anything.  If you do get disposables, keep a few  in case of emergencies or donate them to a good cause like a church or woman's shelter. 

sschwege

As everyone else said, there's just no way of saying it politely.  I did the same as you, put CDs on our registry and everyone got the idea.  I only received one box of disposables, which I used because it was nice to not have to start CDing the moment we got home

redhead610

I didn't receive any diapers at my shower. I agree with pp- don't mention it and either exchange or donate any if you do receive them. If someone does do a diaper cake, you can donate those (I donated opened packs of ones that didn't fit ds well), or keep them in the car for emergencies if you run out of clean cloth ones while out.

Unknown

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jayro10

I registered for cloth diapers, a wet bag, and diaper pail.

I received about 5 large boxes of disposables and zero cloth.

In the end it worked out for us, because DH was never fully on board with cloth so we use disposables. But I'm just saying that even if you register for cloth, you will likely get some disposables. It is in poor taste to put such a request on your invites, so just say thank you and return them later. You can always use the money or store credit for other items.

mysticl

Like others said just return them if you get them.  Also, you may want some disposables on hand for when you are traveling or in case you didn't get the laundry done.  

rbtrumpet

As PPs said, just register for cloth and hope people get the hint.

I'm planning on doing CD as well, and to "discourage" the buying of disposable diapers, whenever my friends as about how we're preparing for baby, I happen to mention how excited I am to use cloth, or the research I've done into it.  I find people actually ask a lot of questions about CDing, since it's not the "norm" anymore.  I've also posted a couple pictures of the few CDs I've purchased already on FB, just because "they're so cute."  I'm fairly confident my friends know I want to CD, so hopefully that will reduce/eliminate the amount of disposables that I get.

People will do what they will.  My mom specifically asked me if I wanted disposables, I said "no, I want to cloth diaper" - and she STILL bought me some...so yeah....you can always use them when you're feeling lazy, give them to a friend, exchange them, or donate them to a pregnancy crisis center.

Sam Buttons

Joy2611 said:

I wouldn't say anything.  Smile, accept any disposables you get, and then donate them.

This. And keep a few, even the most devoted cloth diaper users use disposables every once in a while. Trust me, traveling with cloth is just not worth it.

Paradisemoon

Sam Buttons said:

I wouldn't say anything.  Smile, accept any disposables you get, and then donate them.

This. And keep a few, even the most devoted cloth diaper users use disposables every once in a while. Trust me, traveling with cloth is just not worth it.

I have to agree here.  I have traveled across the state, and out of the country. SO not worth the hassle! And I have been in situations where I'm down to my last diaper and it is 10 pm and there is no way the diapers would be dry by morning.  A few paper diapers stashed in the car and closet wont hurt anything and I guarantee they'll come in handy.
 

kinarlva

Don's say anything about the diapers on the invite. If people care, they will look at your registry and see that you have registered for cloth. You are the "etiquette person", so you know that it's rude and tacky to tell people what to buy you. 

I seriously doubt that you will get cases and cases of diapers, but whatever you do get, you can return to Target or Walmart. 

RibbitGrl930

Don't put anything on the invites about diapers. Just take what you get and return what you can. As for the diaper cakes, if you get one of those, obviously you can't return them, they could still be kept as backups. I'm not familiar with how cloth diapering works, but surely there may come a point when an emergency stash of disposables would come in handy.

rh10264706

I also did not receive any diapers at my baby shower. Don't put anything on and don't worry about it. You can always donate what you do get or keep them for emergencies.

[Deleted User]

You already know the answer, you said it in the OP. It's rude to tell people how to spend their money. For what it's worth, I didn't receive any diapers at my shower. Not sure why you think you'll get "case after case". If you so get some, say thanks, return or donate them.

sschwege

Paradisemoon said:

Sam Buttons said:

I wouldn't say anything.  Smile, accept any disposables you get, and then donate them.

This. And keep a few, even the most devoted cloth diaper users use disposables every once in a while. Trust me, traveling with cloth is just not worth it.

I have to agree here.  I have traveled across the state, and out of the country. SO not worth the hassle! And I have been in situations where I'm down to my last diaper and it is 10 pm and there is no way the diapers would be dry by morning.  A few paper diapers stashed in the car and closet wont hurt anything and I guarantee they'll come in handy.
 

Paradisemoon said:

Sam Buttons said:

I wouldn't say anything.  Smile, accept any disposables you get, and then donate them.

This. And keep a few, even the most devoted cloth diaper users use disposables every once in a while. Trust me, traveling with cloth is just not worth it.

I have to agree here.  I have traveled across the state, and out of the country. SO not worth the hassle! And I have been in situations where I'm down to my last diaper and it is 10 pm and there is no way the diapers would be dry by morning.  A few paper diapers stashed in the car and closet wont hurt anything and I guarantee they'll come in handy.
 

I guess it just depends on the situation, unless we are flying we always travel with cloth.  I don't think it's that big of a deal

jess9802

I had cloth diapers and supplies on my registries but got very little of those items. However, I only got one package of disposables (at my work shower), and they were very nice to have. We did not start CDing immediately (diapers too big for a bitty baby, breastfeeding was my focus, etc.). Even after 14 months of cloth diapering I have a few disposables on hand.

And if you truly get more disposables than you know what to do with, women's shelter's and other charitable organizations would no doubt love to take them off your hand.

twister22

I think you were given your answer....

mommyilene

You never know about using disposable diapers. My cousins wife was ONLY going to use cloth and make her own baby wipes. My aunt was the one who told us she was going to use cloth so I thought everyone knew not to buy disposable diapers or wipes. At her shower she still got diapers and wipes. She ended up using them. I don't know if she decided to just use what was given and then switch to cloth or what. If you get disposable you never know they might come in handy such as for traveling?? I couldn't imagine traveling and using cloth diapers. Yuck in my opinion.

ziggy903

thank you all for your responses. i had a feeling that i already knew the answer(like i said in my OP), but really wanted someone else to tell me too. thanks!

mypreciouscargos

rh10264706 said:

I also did not receive any diapers at my baby shower. Don't put anything on and don't worry about it. You can always donate what you do get or keep them for emergencies.

So true. You'll appreciate them for travel or emergencies. Don't put on invite. Return if you don't want them.

mb314

My two cents - I use cloth diapers and was annoyed when I got loads of disposables at my shower.  However, the newborn disposables were really nice because I didn't have to think about cloth diapers (and the laundry) for the first two weeks as I used the disposables.  You could donate the disposables, or hang on to them to use in the beginning.

sschwege

mommyilene said:

You never know about using disposable diapers. My cousins wife was ONLY going to use cloth and make her own baby wipes. My aunt was the one who told us she was going to use cloth so I thought everyone knew not to buy disposable diapers or wipes. At her shower she still got diapers and wipes. She ended up using them. I don't know if she decided to just use what was given and then switch to cloth or what. If you get disposable you never know they might come in handy such as for traveling?? I couldn't imagine traveling and using cloth diapers. Yuck in my opinion.

It's not 'yuck' if you have access to a washer/dryer.  We bring them all the time when we visit DH's parents.

RebeccaY1

I also intend to cloth diaper and registered for them and the supplies.  I would never say anything.  People might purchase you gifts that you do not want, but you still need to be gracious, and send a thank you card.  

brandlebugg

We just typed it as a message on our registry: Proud cloth diapering parents. I know that some people may not use the registry, but we're planning on keeping the disposables we get (as long as it's not a truckload) for emergencies or when we have to have a sitter who is uncomfortable with cloth. Plus, we plan on using sposies for the first week or two anyway since we'll be so overwhelmed with responsibility at first! If we get too many sposies, we'll just take 'em back and exchange them. Either way, just be polite and assume that whoever gives you sposies either didn't know that you were going to cloth diaper and meant well, or they just weren't thinking if they knew you were going to cloth diaper. But I wouldn't put it on the invite.