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Cloth Diapering
Cloth vs. Disposable
So my SIL heard that I was looking into CDing and sent me a super condescending email about how it was "SOO overwhelming" and she'd NEVER try such a thing. She also claimed to have read a study that proved CDs are just as bad environmentally as disposables because of the extra laundry. It sounds like annoying bullsh!t to me, but what do you all say?
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Re: Cloth vs. Disposable
I don't find it to be overwhelming whatsoever. DH & I both work full time. It really just boils down to a few extra loads of laundry a week. Maybe some people would find that overwhelming, but we don't.
I'd be interested to hear her theory on how CDs are just as bad for the environment as disposables.
Also, why does she care what you decide to put on your LOs butt?
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
If you are a fan of disposable diapers or a disposable diaper company looking to maintain your clientele, you can find any study (or commission any study) to support your point of view.
Environmental concerns are not my primary reason for cloth diapering my children. IMO, it is better for their skin and thus better for baby. Until your SIL does cloth diapering, she really isn't in a position to say it's overwhelming.
If I were in your situation, I would graciously inform SIL that she is entitled to her opinion, but you will do what you choose when it comes to your own child.
I'd say, "Thanks for the advice, but I'm going to see how this goes." Because I see no point in trying to convince people who make such silly arguments.
And actually, I did say the above to my family. None of them thought I'd stick with it. And now my sister is due with her first and planning to CD because she has seen first-hand how much better CDs are than disposables.
But if you really are dying to give it to your SIL, tell her it's a matter of a couple extra loads of laundry a week (and you're already going to have to deal with extra laundry - babies make lots of dirty clothes - so what's another load or two?). What's so overwhelming about that?
There are indeed studies out there claiming that the manufacture of CDs and subsequent washing equals the amount of energy and water used in manufacture of disposables. Of course, CDs are reused 100s of times and don't moulder (with poo intact) in landfills, so this argument simply doesn't hold any water with me.
And what about the benefit for baby? I'd rather have breathable natural fabrics near my baby's sensitive areas all day, than nasty plastic and chemicals. Diaper companies don't publish all the details of what goes into their products - and if they did, how many people would read them? We're so oblivious these days to the damage we are doing to our health by using many convenience products that coat us in chemicals. I'd rather limit my baby's exposure, thank you.
And then there's the cost savings. The average baby will go through $1500-2500 in disposables before potty training. My stash (which is not a cheap stash by any means) cost about $1000. I fully expect it to last through at least two children, saving me anywhere from $2000 to $4000.
And finally, disposable diapers REEK. Even new out of the box, unused, they stink to high heaven. Cloth doesn't.
With all of these reasons in favor of cloth, I don't know why anyone would choose disposables.
<a href="http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/putalittlepolkainyourdot/?action=view
As to why she's concerned - because she's older and wiser and already has a perfect daughter, blah blah blah. She's also snarkily informed me that she'll make sure to tell me what I need for my registry and she'll be ready for all the questions I'm "sure to have" for her. From anyone else, I could take suggestions and offers to help as just that, but she's never really liked me and ALWAYS "knows better."
Also - hooray MSU!! My whole family went there - grandpa was head track coach for years.
I would just ignore her and do what you want to do. It is your life, your family, your child. You can ask all your questions here!
I got some grief about cloth diapering as well. Well, we've been cloth diapering for 5 months now, and we are still going strong. I also got grief about wanting a natural birth. Well, I birthed my baby without pain meds, too. The judging and critiques only get worse when you become a mother. I just ignore everyone and do what I think is best for me and my family.
I think your sister doesn't have a clue what she's talking about, but then, I have a know it all family member or two.
After using both CD's and sposies, I can definitely sat that I think CD's are much easier, and just all around better.
An armful of fabric and a few extra washes are sooooooooo much worse for the environment then a truckload of toxic chemical poop soup stewing in a landfill for 500 years
It took me all of one website and one load of laundry to figure cloth out...it's actually been pretty fun/satifsying overall. Ignore the SIL.
And really, cloth isn't a pain AT. ALL. I honestly LOVE CDing. Screw the SIL! Has she ever tried CDing? I'm guessing not. So she has no experience on the matter to be able to give advice. I wouldn't even respond to her.
I used disposable on my niece and I swore up and down that I would never do cloth, that it was gross and time consuming and that it was so "retro" and poo pooed any one who told me otherwise... well then a friend of mine after having her third child started to CD and I didnt even notice until he was like 9mo old her life didnt change accept she wasnt buying disposables at that point it was the ease of watching her and not having her what I THEN thought was a "granola" tude tell me what was so great about CD'ing made me want to do research on my own...
Once I did do researh on my own the deciding factor for me was simple. They dont want us to use bottles made from BPA they freaked about it being in store reciepts even... there are TONS of harsher chemicals in diapers and if you think about it LO is only eating out of a bottle a diaper is on their skin for at least 22 hrs a day minimum thats IF youre bathing them everyday... SO why would you want that kind of prolonged contact with harsh plastics on your babys skin? I was sold. They think Im all nuts but Im ready for it and I am so excited to do it
Tell your Sis or SIL thanks for the advice but Im at least going to try it, Id appreciate you being supportive of any decision I make with my kids as I am of yours
Gl with that one
Ask her if she replaces her clothes, plates, glasses, and silverware after every use. I mean, washing clothes and doing dishes uses a LOT of water. It's better to throw out your clothes and use paper plates, right?
Common sense, huh?
Gently tell her that she's entitled to her opinion, but you're sticking to your CDing plan.
There have been some articles stating that the water usage in washing CDs makes it a wash over disposables, but when you consider the resources used in making disposables, plus shipping them, plus you going to get them, plus packaging, I don't see how disposables can come out ahead. And the problem is that most of those studies are done by companies with a vested interest in one or the other, so the results tend to be skewed.
GL. She sounds like a peach.
The environmental impact of cloth diapering is VERY much a "your mileage may vary" situation. To give a quick example, you'll read about people doing crazy wash routines with tons of rinses, etc. Obviously, that uses more water -- and therefore has a greater environmental impact -- than people who have a short and simple wash routine.
The study that the disposable diaper companies use to "make the case" that disposable diapering has no greater environmental impact is here: https://tinyurl.com/2frbryb
It IS an independent study (commissioned by the Environment Agency in the UK), so no bias there. But if you read through it, you'll see that it makes various assumptions about how people cloth diaper. For example, it assumes that 75% of cloth diaper users launder their diapers at temperatures of 60 degrees C (140 degrees F) or hotter, including over 30% that launder them at temperatures over 90 C/194 F. Well, most manufacturers of diapers that contain PUL (pockets, AIOs, covers) recomend using water no hotter than 140 F, because it destroys the PUL! So I would guess that most cloth diaper users are not using water that hot. Cooler water = less energy = less environmental impact.
Another favorite assumption? The study assumes that nearly 10% of cloth diaper users iron their diapers. Huh?
Anyway, if you plan to use standard cotton diapers (non-organic cotton is a VERY expensive crop from an environmental impact perspective), wash them in 194 F water, tumble dry them, and iron them... then yes, this study says that CD'ing is just as bad environmentally as disposables. But if any of those things aren't true, then your environmental impact will be different (note: "different" doesn't necessarily mean better!) and so the study says nothing about how your environmental impact compares to using disposables.
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
I got a lot of negative feedback on cloth diapering, too. We've been doing it for a little over 2 weeks now and I love it. We do cloth diaper laundry every other day and it's not bad at all. Everyone who made negative comments has since stopped because they see that it works for us.
I have found that everyone always comments on things that they don't know about. So many people doubted me going natural, breast feeding, etc. and I've been able to do all of these things with little to no struggle. I know it's hard when people doubt you, but it's totally worth it in the long run. Good luck!
Hmmm, nice SIL. They are not overwhelming. She does laundry right? It's just an extra load of laundry. And if you have the newer washer & dryers that are out there, you're far better off eco-wise.
YES! I HATE IT! Cloth you can tell when you need to change LO without being smacked in the face.
CDing is wonderful. I really don't understand why people prefer disposables. For us, the environmental benefits come second - our DD comes first. The disposables give her a rash. They give her sores. They make her bleed. They make her cry. They make her swollen. They make her genitals slimy. That's just disgusting. When using them we also had to use diaper cream made with zinc oxide - so we were exposing her to heavy metals (and who knows what that does to her neurological development). And we were putting her in paper underwear. I don't want to wear paper underwear. My much-loved, took-10-years-to-conceive, bedrest for half of pregnancy DD is NOT going to wear paper underwear. Even if they cost more (they don't), even if they were more work (they're not), it's worth it to give her THE BEST.
We give her expensive organic formula (baby's only); we make all our own baby food from organic fruits and veggies, and we use cloth, because in our minds we are giving her what's THE BEST. Some of that is more work or more money. She's worth it.
We both work full time, and we wash every other day. We dump the diapes in the washer when we get home from work and do the cold rinse. Then we run downstairs sometime after dinner and do the hot wash. Then throw them in the drier before bed to dry overnight. In the morning we grab 5-6 to put on her and send to daycare (we use bum genius all-in-ones for daycare). Easy easy easy.
Makes me wonder why your sister is not willing to sacrifice herself or her ideals to give her babies the best. Sad, really.