I didn't realize it was that hard...

mrshudson618

Some people must jump into CDing with zero research whatsoever. A mom just posted on our local FB page, asking how many times other moms could re-use their pocket diapers without washing, because even after they dried, they still smelled like urine. 

*FACEPALM*

Thought y'all would get a kick out of that. 

YellowLily2013

Gross. Just gross.

Although it seems like a huge misconception somewhere that you can reuse pocket diapers like covers... So hopefully you was laying on a prefold or something clean next to babies bum.

YellowLily2013

And are you sure that shouldn't be *HANDPALM* LLOL

TJ1979

Poor babies.

lunarrainn

I would not want to restuff that. I've talked to people who have made rookie mistakes about some parenting thing or another and wonder how they had no clue. But I've had no clue about lots and lots of things, and as long as I was open to learning, it was not a total disaster. It seems like they are in a place to learn and that is good.

N_Koz

wow just wow. Think about it those genes have been passed on  :-O

tjkdlhb

EWWWWWWW

I'm not sure I understand... was she stuffing it with a clean insert each time?  Still gross... but trying to figure out the misconception. 

The only way I'd re-use the shell would be with a clean prefold laid on top... and only then if it was a little bit of pee, and the shell didn't get wet.

zaraceligon

A long time ago someone post something similar. She was asking for help because her diapers where getting mold. She said the she doesn't wash the diapers the she only hang then after her LO pee on them. She said it was a water situation problem the she cannot waste water on washing them.

mrshudson618

I sounded like she wasn't actually doing it, but thought that she should be able to. Like she wanted to know what she was doing wrong, because they still smelled, and she assumed other moms were reusing multiple times.

blondolphn

What is sad is that this misconception isn't only with cloth.  People have been reusing disposables as well. Extra ick!

mrshudson618

zaraceligon said:

A long time ago someone post something similar. She was asking for help because her diapers where getting mold. She said the she doesn't wash the diapers the she only hang then after her LO pee on them. She said it was a water situation problem the she cannot waste water on washing them.

:-&

freezorburn

blondolphn said:

What is sad is that this misconception isn't only with cloth.  People have been reusing disposables as well. Extra ick!

I remember reading about this a couple of years ago -- it was in the news about low-income people who were basically choosing between food and diapers. So they were re-using disposables to try to get more uses out of them.

It's sad. There are economical cloth options that would really make a difference in expenses for people in such dire straits, but it didn't even come up in the story.

Sgriff1

Wow! It always amazes me when people lack common sense! Poor baby I wonder what other horrible parenting decisions she's making.

Mandmeesh

TJ1979 said:

Poor babies.

This is my thought exactly

YellowLily2013

freezorburn said:

blondolphn said:

What is sad is that this misconception isn't only with cloth.  People have been reusing disposables as well. Extra ick!

I remember reading about this a couple of years ago -- it was in the news about low-income people who were basically choosing between food and diapers. So they were re-using disposables to try to get more uses out of them.

It's sad. There are economical cloth options that would really make a difference in expenses for people in such dire straits, but it didn't even come up in the story.

Yeah I've read about it too. So sad. Blow drying a peed on disposable diaper. EwWWWWW

freezorburn

Oh, and my pet peeve -- leaving a sposie on a baby until it is ready to explode ... or it's so heavy on a toddler that the tabs can barely keep it on. And then people take pictures of this and think it's cute and post them on FB.

TJ1979

freezorburn said:

Oh, and my pet peeve -- leaving a sposie on a baby until it is ready to explode ... or it's so heavy on a toddler that the tabs can barely keep it on. And then people take pictures of this and think it's cute and post them on FB.

Eww.

Aurora_Borealis

freezorburn said:

Oh, and my pet peeve -- leaving a sposie on a baby until it is ready to explode ... or it's so heavy on a toddler that the tabs can barely keep it on. And then people take pictures of this and think it's cute and post them on FB.

This is a thing?? There's another reason I'm glad to not have FB.

PipSqueak0313

AFwifelife said:

freezorburn said:

blondolphn said:

What is sad is that this misconception isn't only with cloth.  People have been reusing disposables as well. Extra ick!

I remember reading about this a couple of years ago -- it was in the news about low-income people who were basically choosing between food and diapers. So they were re-using disposables to try to get more uses out of them.

It's sad. There are economical cloth options that would really make a difference in expenses for people in such dire straits, but it didn't even come up in the story.

That's when Dirty Diaper Laundry started their Flats and Handwashing Challenge to raise awareness.  I'm totally doing it this year.

Do you know when it will be this year? I've been thinking about doing it too although dh has no clue why I would want to.

freezorburn

I did it last year. I'm not sure I feel motivated to do it again, but maybe I'll try doing flats at night that week as a way of challenging myself.

I'm glad I know that I can do it if the need arises.

YellowLily2013

heartbot said:

freezorburn said:

blondolphn said:

What is sad is that this misconception isn't only with cloth.  People have been reusing disposables as well. Extra ick!

I remember reading about this a couple of years ago -- it was in the news about low-income people who were basically choosing between food and diapers. So they were re-using disposables to try to get more uses out of them.

It's sad. There are economical cloth options that would really make a difference in expenses for people in such dire straits, but it didn't even come up in the story.

I read some really interesting stories about people reusing disposables, but in most cases, they were taking all of the chemical junk out of them, washing the shells (the outsides, which will hold up in the washer) and then stuffing them with rags. Everything got washed in between uses, and I thought it was a really smart way to reuse disposables diapers.

I think what a lot of people don't realize is that most folks struggling to put their kids in diapers also don't have washers in their homes and have to pay to do laundry elsewhere and may only be able to do laundry once a week, which really isn't good for your diapers and which means you'd have to have a ton of diapers. I wish there were more charity cloth diaper services, that pick up the diapers and launder them themselves. It's also why I give extra disposables we get to local diaper banks. It may not be the most environmentally friendly, but you can't beat free diapers. It just makes me sad that so many people don't make enough money to diaper their babies, even when they work. Very depressing.

That's the point of the flat challenge. It's all about handwashing to mimic those situations where people don't have washer and dryers. Flats in covers is a very viable option for the low income because you can handwash and air dry. And it's VERY affordable.

nanabanana06

Yeah, like. How do you think they did them in the olden days? Handwashing flats is kind of the tried and true method of diapering.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Chichigo

You can use pad-folded t-shirts or receiving blankets as flats.

jcwinsto

Mapleme said:

I don't own a single flat.

FST!!!

I knew she was going to say that....

PipSqueak0313

I finally got dh to understand the challenge has nothing to do with US saving money......

Amores0121

Sadly, i'm sure that many of these people would say they don't "have time" to hand wash flats.  Which may or may not be true, but I'm sure that's what one of the arguments would be. But I agree, a great way to save $ and help those that can't afford sposies.

jcwinsto

Mapleme said:

Mapleme said:

I don't own a single flat.

FST!!!

I knew she was going to say that....

FFFC: I'm scared that all my FST love is going to go out the window when I actually try them on a real life baby. This is totally the first time I have ever said, "You have to try this thing from Walmart!"

I haven't tried the Walmart ones but I have old fashioned original flour sacks and I would imagine that they would make great flats.  I need to check Walmart cuz mine are getting kind of wore out.  I use them like "unpaper" towels i.e. for everything in the kitchen.

RachelCA29

The flats challenge is just not timed well for me (at least for the hand washing part) . It starts the day before my due date! 

We have lots of flats, I've heard they are great (and trim) on newborns. But I don't think I want to start my cloth diapering adventure by hand washing while I'm getting the whole brand new baby thing down ...

Chichigo

RachelCA29 said:

The flats challenge is just not timed well for me (at least for the hand washing part) . It starts the day before my due date! 

We have lots of flats, I've heard they are great (and trim) on newborns. But I don't think I want to start my cloth diapering adventure by hand washing while I'm getting the whole brand new baby thing down ...

Or while recovering from birth! You can always use flats but machine wash.

CLLDLL

@mapleme I love my FSTs on G. I have to use two for naps, but that's NBD. I do like the thickness and softness of GMDs better but for half the price and the convenience of getting them at Wal-Mart they are awesome.

I bet you still like them after you have the babe!

KLXVI

Are the FSTs from Walmart soft at all? The ones that I got from Target are not that soft. I don't think I would want to put it next to his bum. I would stuff pockets with them, though.

On a separate note, when I'm folding them for the kitchen I have to remember not to do a pad fold.

emmylou78

KLXVI said:

Are the FSTs from Walmart soft at all? The ones that I got from Target are not that soft. I don't think I would want to put it next to his bum. I would stuff pockets with them, though.

On a separate note, when I'm folding them for the kitchen I have to remember not to do a pad fold.

Mine are soft.

PipSqueak0313

Amores0121 said:

Sadly, i'm sure that many of these people would say they don't "have time" to hand wash flats.  Which may or may not be true, but I'm sure that's what one of the arguments would be. But I agree, a great way to save $ and help those that can't afford sposies.

Even if cloth was only used to carry over until more sposies could be purchased.....or alternated to make a pack of sposies last longer.....it's still better than not changing sposie or reusing a sposie and it would still help the family save money.

Amores0121

PipSqueak0313 said:

Amores0121 said:

Sadly, i'm sure that many of these people would say they don't "have time" to hand wash flats.  Which may or may not be true, but I'm sure that's what one of the arguments would be. But I agree, a great way to save $ and help those that can't afford sposies.

Even if cloth was only used to carry over until more sposies could be purchased.....or alternated to make a pack of sposies last longer.....it's still better than not changing sposie or reusing a sposie and it would still help the family save money.

I agree! Just saying I can see people using that as an excuse as to why they would not do it.  People would be amazed the amount of things they can get done if they just organize themselves and make it a priority. Like, oh you can watch 10 hours of TV a week but you don't have "time" to make your own cleaning supplies or CD or other things that save $ or are good for the environment. KWIM?

nanabanana06

Honestly, I think there needs to be more information out there about cloth for low income families. Places like DSHS and WIC should provide information on it for families that qualify. Heck, even doing starter stashes would be cheap for those situations. The problem I see though is that a lot of low income families also fall into the troubled family category. They have other issues going on that might prevent parents from being successful. Things like drinking, drugs, less than moral lifestyles, and working multiple jobs. I know not all families fall into those categories that get assistance, but many do.

Then you end up getting people like my SO's cousins. They just don't care. Low research individuals. They do what is "normal" and then stop caring.

flummadiddle85

What about a portable washer? Aren't those recommended a lot on here for ppl with no washer/dryer?

freezorburn

To Amores0121's point, people will always come up with an excuse. Maybe even a portable washer is too expensive.

One of the videos I watched to prepare for last year's challenge showed a woman washing her diapers in the bathtub. She used a plunger to push water through the diapers. Sort of like a camp washer, only no dedicated bucket. That and a drying rack were the only equipment she needed. And what you saw of this woman's apartment indicated that she probably did not have a lot of spare time or spare money to throw around. Where there's a will there's a way.

And like Nana said, more information and education is key. I think a lot of people just don't know that CD is a viable option.

Chichigo

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Honestly, I think there needs to be more information out there about cloth for low income families. Places like DSHS and WIC should provide information on it for families that qualify. Heck, even doing starter stashes would be cheap for those situations. The problem I see though is that a lot of low income families also fall into the troubled family category. They have other issues going on that might prevent parents from being successful. Things like drinking, drugs, less than moral lifestyles, and working multiple jobs. I know not all families fall into those categories that get assistance, but many do.

Then you end up getting people like my SO's cousins. They just don't care. Low research individuals. They do what is "normal" and then stop caring.

I plan on contacting a local crisis pregnancy center to see if I can do a workshop on cost-effective cloth diapering. I'm thinking FSTs and my newborn covers for the demo.

YellowLily2013

Amores0121 said:

Sadly, i'm sure that many of these people would say they don't "have time" to hand wash flats.  Which may or may not be true, but I'm sure that's what one of the arguments would be. But I agree, a great way to save $ and help those that can't afford sposies.

I may get flamed for this... But if you aren't able to afford disposables. Your time might not be "worth" a ton. So it definitely would be worth their time to wash diapers.

nanabanana06

Chichigo said:

Honestly, I think there needs to be more information out there about cloth for low income families. Places like DSHS and WIC should provide information on it for families that qualify. Heck, even doing starter stashes would be cheap for those situations. The problem I see though is that a lot of low income families also fall into the troubled family category. They have other issues going on that might prevent parents from being successful. Things like drinking, drugs, less than moral lifestyles, and working multiple jobs. I know not all families fall into those categories that get assistance, but many do.

Then you end up getting people like my SO's cousins. They just don't care. Low research individuals. They do what is "normal" and then stop caring.

I plan on contacting a local crisis pregnancy center to see if I can do a workshop on cost-effective cloth diapering. I'm thinking FSTs and my newborn covers for the demo.

I think it would be good. I think our local birth center should include more information on cloth diapers in their birth and baby class most low income parents take here. When I took it all they had was a prefold and a cover and a sheet about diaper service. I did cloth for my daughter. I was low income and single. I did it to save money.