Diapers Q&A - Cloth Diapering/Alternative Moms: Did friends and family give you a hard time about your choice to go cloth?

Cloth Diapering/Alternative Moms: Did friends and family give you a hard time about your choice to go cloth?

Cloth Diapering/Alternative Moms: Did friends and family give you a hard time about your choice to go cloth? I've always been a little different to the rest of the family. I'm considered the "hippie" of the bunch. And of course everyone has an opinion about my opinions. (Oh she's the one that only likes cage free chicken eggs, and buys eco-friendly paper towels! Weird!) Anyway, I'll be giving birth in October to a little boy. I want to cloth diaper. I have researched the options, I'm going to try a variety of different ones, they are all homemade, well made, and with different materials so I can find the combinations I like the most. I have also bought some 7th generation diapers just in case as backups and I'm pretty prepared I think. Ive spoken with a lot of friends who cloth diaper and the owner of the cloth diapering company has been giving me guidance as well. So of course! The whole world has an opinion about this. My mother in law giggled at me and said "I will buy you some Pampers because you're too lazy to stick with cloth diapering. Its a hassle anyway. It wont last." Then my sister, who lives in another country, spoke my mother and told her I must only use Huggies, Pampers and the other pricey name brands. She also told me I'm being very foolish cloth diapering because my child will just be wet all the time, he will constantly have a diaper rash and he will suffer. She says I need to keep an open mind for my child's sake. Also, countless friends who only use disposables have given me lectures on this. The worst are the ones that don't even have children of their own because I feel they are just being nosy. I have tried to explain that I've researched all of this, that the cloth diapers I will be using are not the big rectangles of white fabric our moms used 30 yrs ago, and I want to at least try it myself before just giving up. Ive also come into question for things like wanting to use organic formula if I cant breastfeed, for wanting to swaddle, for eating organic only while I'm pregnant, and basically all of my "crunchy" ideas. I've been able to take it all in stride thus far but today, I don't know if its the hormones and moodiness or what but I got so upset about it. I felt as though my sister was implying I would be a bad mother if I insisted on cloth. I know she meant well but it did get to me. Did any other moms come up against protest from family and friends for your choice to cloth diaper or any of the "different" choices you make in life? How did you deal with this without letting it upset you? Im 32 weeks pregnant btw PS: I really don't want to hear about anyone's personal opinion about how awful cloth is right now. I'm hearing enough of it and I have researched all of this. All the aspects. Thank you for respecting that if you can. (Kimberly) :) Cathrl69, thank you. I understand what you are saying but I do want to try these things first and then make my own choice. I realize I might change my mind and Im okay with that. I feel like people wont let me try though

Public Comments

you know that they're worse on the environment, right? because of the water usage and putting detergent in the water supply?
My parents support our choice, although they used cloth diapers with me. My inlaws threw a HUGE fit, and tried everything to get us to change our minds. Personally, then acting like 2 year olds about it just made be want to use cloth diapers more.
you are the mother. it's your decision period. just keep the baby healthy and happy, and they won't be able to argue you as a bad mother.
I'm going to use regular diapers... but: You know what. Don't let them bother you. You know what you're capable of and you've researched it. When your hormones won't allow you to ignore them - get mad. Cry it out. Don't hold it all outside. But don't let them change your mind! I know when my hormones cause me to feel things too deeply, I just cry and get it out. The harder I try not to - the harder is. Or I just get mad and ignore whoever is pissing me off. They usually get the hint because they know i'm pregnant. You're going to do just fine and you're going to find what works for YOU. You're gonna be a great Mom. :]
The one thing here that's right is your sister saying you need to keep an open mind. Your baby may get raging nappy rash in cloth nappies (a friend of mine had to switch to disposables for this reason, but nobody who thinks cloth nappies are wonderful will tell you this, because they're the people for whom cloth nappies were great). Or they may be fine. They may be unable to tolerate organic formula. Or it may suit them down to the ground. Organic food isn't necessarily safe - what it is is far more important than its "organic" status (organic honey can still kill your baby, and giving your baby organic solids before 6 months is no safer than non-organic solids). You need to remember that the best thing in theory isn't always the best thing in practice. Especially not on an individual basis. Your baby has to come before your principles. If they can only tolerate a non-organic brand of milk then that's what you feed them. All the research in the world can't make the eco-friendly option work for your particular baby. I did do some things different from my mum, and from my MIL. Luckily, both of them had also done some things differently from their own mothers and appreciated that things change. But the most important thing is to remember that other people are human. They say things intending to sound helpful and it comes over judgmental and preaching. You'll get on far better if you always assume it's intended helpfully and came out wrong :) Certainly your MIL, though she expressed it rudely, had a point that washing cloth nappies may be a bridge too far when you are an exhausted new mum. Keep that open mind, try what you feel is best first, but if it doesn't work, change.
my mother-in-law (to be) used cloth diapers for both her children and she wants me to use them to. i don't know if i will, I'm thinking a mix between the 2 (in the house use cloth when changing during shopping trips etc use store brought disposables) but if cloth doesn't seem that difficult ill probably stick with it. its your choice do what you feel most comfortable with. and to your first answer cloth is way better for the environment, have you ever seen the damage and studies done on the amount of diapers in trash yards and they aren't biodegradable, it has unbelievable effects on the environment, detergents running through rivers from washing cloth diapers aren't great but they are a hell of a lot cleaner to the environment than "normal" diapers. plus cloth diapers are what good mothers have used for millions of years, they didn't have a Wal-mart down the road to pop out to and buy "normal" diapers. hope i helped
I think its a great idea, a plus I see from the whole idea is it should make it easier to potty train your child later. I think I will probably not use cloth myself cause where we are living right now does not have a proper washer and dryer. But I really look up to those who do use cloth. Don't listen to those who try to change your mind on this. Keep it up, your opinion is what really matters.
WOW! I giggled when I read that one answer that said cloth is worse on the environment then disposable diapers. So anyways. YOU do what you think is best for your child. I personally am using cloth diapers at home and disposable when out and about. I think your making a great decision. Let the family comments roll off like water on a ducks back. You will show them! Plus you will save a TON in diapers.
Cloth diapering these days is so much easier than it was so many years ago. I exclusively cloth diaper and I only have to do the laundry every other day or can go longer. So it doesn't take a highly motivated person to do it. Anyway, if someone tells you about the environmental impact, let them know that the only huge big study that shows cloth is worse was funded by Kimberly Clark who, guess what, makes disposable diapers for all the big names. So arm yourself with short, smart answers to people nagging you and let them know that you're excited about trying them and that you don't/didn't make fun of their choices in life and you'd appreciate the same in return. I switched to all organic during pregnancy, use BPA free bottles, swaddled, use organic baby food, cloth diaper, etc. and I just try to play it down when I'm around family because sometimes they think it's silly. Also keep in mind that sometimes people are critical because they feel threatened that us crunchy moms are judging them for using disposables, using regular milk/formula/baby food, or for not breastfeeding, etc. I've never been judgmental -- I'm usually just as scared that they think I'm a kook if the topic come up about our parenting choices!