Poll: Link between Cloth, BF and Co-Sleeping?

[Marlene]

Do you BF/Formula? BreastFeed
If BF, how long for (or self wean?) We are at 12 months at the moment and planning to self wean whenever Jack is ready.
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth...but only started at around 10/11 months
Co-Sleep? No...would love to but have tried many times but DS just doesn't like it
Baby Led Solids? yes...pretty much

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? Embarrassed to say but pretty much started using just because they are soooo gorgeous, lol.....and to save money (but I've spent a motza, lol).

What did you start doing first? BF from day one, only just started using cloth not long ago.

Did you find one thing led to another? I think so...spending time in the BFing, babyled solids, and Gentle Parenting threads I noticed a lot of people talking about "fluff", I did some research and decided to give it a go.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Yes, see above

[DaintreeDream]

Do you BF/Formula? Full time expressing.
If BF, how long for (or self wean?) Expressed full time until just over 11 months, when milk ran out due to pregnancy # 2.
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth.
Co-Sleep? Co-sleep in same room, sometimes in same bed, more so in cot next to my side of bed.
Baby Led Solids? Yes. But only because she refused a spoon up until 11 months.

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? Didn't want those yucky chemicals near my babies skin mainly, also environment and cost.

What did you start doing first? Full time expressing from day one. Nappies and co-sleeping for when she came home from hospital at 3 months of age.

Did you find one thing led to another? No. I had made the decisions before the birth of my DD.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? No. I do not know any mothers in real life at the moment that BF, use cloth or co-sleep. Members of my family have not done any of the above either.

[Michelle71]

Do you BF/Formula? DS BF with FF top ups due to supply issues, DD is BF
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? DS self weaned at 15 months. I was pregnant with DD
Use Disposables or Cloth? A combination depending on many factors Back to full time cloth at the moment.
Co-Sleep? There were 4 in the bed and the little one said - thank goodness I have my own cot on the side!!!
Baby Led Solids? Sort of for DS. Will be more so with DD

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? Cost. And it looks good

What did you start doing first? Flats and covers. Then BBH. Only now getting braver and branching out.

Did you find one thing led to another? Not really. Planned on the BF and cloth, co-sleeping happened out of desperation LOL We had planned on room sharing for at least 6 months though in line with SIDS reccommendations.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Yes - BB has been a big influence (and a bad one for MCN's )

[Freya]

Do you BF/Formula? Breastfeed
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? Longest Ive gone is 5mths but I plan on trying for 12mths with this bub.
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth
Co-Sleep? With bub until he's only feeding once or twice a night.
Baby Led Solids? Yep

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? About 8mths ago

What did you start doing first? AIO's or pockets.

Did you find one thing led to another? Not really, I always give breastfeeding a try. Cosleeping is out of neccesity but we prefer them to sleep in thier own beds. Cloth is because we have 3 in nappies and MCNs are cheaper and more convenient than disposables.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Im the only person I know IRL who breastfeeds, cosleeps AND uses cloth.

[ezymay]

Do you BF/Formula? Exclusively express full time no FF

If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? Have been EEing for over 8 months. I will prob introduce a FF at the 9 month mark then will go from there.

Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth

Co-Sleep? Sort of DD was in her bassinette next to me within arms reach for the first 6 months now she comes into bed with me just in the mornings

Baby Led Solids? Yep
Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? When DD was around 4 months I started to really look into it after reading lots about it on here and had a IRL friend using them. It realised it would be heaps cheaper and better for the environment.

What did you start doing first? The sort of co sleeping and trying to BF leading to expressing both happened at the same time.

Did you find one thing led to another? Not particullarly just felt natural to have her in our room. Expressing was cause I was desperate to BF and when I couldn't I couldn't face giving her formula (no judgement of others here tho!)

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? I think for me it was all a natural progression, I almost did it without thinking or labelling it.

[Bathsheba]

Yes I fit the profile of a Breast feeding, cloth using, co-sleeping mum. But I'm not a hippie LOL and I have also on occassion used artificial milk, sposies and let my babies sleep in their cot.

ETA: oh and I also wore all my babies with a sling AND used a pram. I had to be flexible because I don't drive... and needed the pram... but wearing was fantastic too and did it as much as possible, especially in winter... so much easier to keep a newborn warm that way.

[AwesomeFoursome]

Do you BF/Formula? Breastfed.
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? 12months
Use Disposables or Cloth? Disposables
Co-Sleep? Yes
Baby Led Solids? No not with ds because I didn't know about it then.

[satya]

BF & FF top ups from birth to 6 weeks then fully FF. Big time supply & attachment issues.

Disposables.

Don't cosleep but have had him in the bed with me for a few hours in the early hours of the morning on a handful of occasions.

Can't say I know what baby led solids are so won't comment on that one.

I find that far more women on baby forums breast feed/cosleep/cloth nappy it.... so I guess that means these forums attract certain types of people. IRL don't know anyone who does all 3. I also only know 1 woman IRL who does cloth.

By the way I can't understand the need to say in your signature how long you've been breasfeeding for, nor that the baby is worn or is cloth bummed or cosleeps. Can't say I've seen any signatures that say
"been FF for 6 months 4 days, cot sleeper, disposable bummed".... each to their own I guess

[Campari]

Do you BF/Formula? BF
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? self weaned at 18 months
Use Disposables or Cloth? both
Co-Sleep? sometimes. would love to more, but she won't settle with us in the bed
Baby Led Solids? Not really. But she did get chunks of cooked veg right from the start, along with the mush!

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? Cost. Environment. Also want DD to be proud of us in the future for using cloth on her. Also became more educated about MCNs thanks to BB.

What did you start doing first? BF

Did you find one thing led to another? Not really. Just a natural desire to do what I felt was right.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Not really. BB definitely inspired me a lot though.

[Shanti]

Do you BF/Formula? Breastfeed (with occasional formula top ups since week 3 due to low weight gains)
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? Still going....
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth full time!!
Co-Sleep? DD was in same room as us first 12 weeks. Tried sharing bed but not for us.
Baby Led Solids? not yet too young.

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? learnt about MCNs on BellyBelly and got hooked!!! Save $$ and much better for DD's butt and our planet and they look sooooo cute
What did you start doing first? disposables first few weeks as none of her MCNs fitted her! Also had so many feeding issues I didn't have time to be washing MCNs.
Did you find one thing led to another? Yep, started part time then full time cloth now!!! Addictive....
Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Yes.

[paradise lost]

Do you BF/Formula? BF until 4.5months, BF and FF until 7 months, FF from 7months to 12months.
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? I had health issues and lost my supply, next time around i aim to BF for at least 12 months, hopefully longer.
Use Disposables or Cloth? I used cloth until DD was 5 months old. Then XP and i split up and when i moved out XP sold the next size up cloth nappies on eBay. I don't know if i'd have used them, given i was a newly single mum and ill.
Co-Sleep? When she was small, yes. I would put her in her cot at 8pm then bring her into bed for the midnight feed and then we'd co-sleep fo the rest of the night. Once i stopped BF she stopped waking for a night feed so i neve brought her into bed with me unless she woke in the night for some other reason.
Baby Led Solids? No, i spoon fed.

Why Did you start using cloth? To save money.

What did you start doing first? Well DD had her fist feed naked on my chest about 40mins after birth, but the first nappy i put on her was cloth, so i guess BF first, by about an hour!

Did you find one thing led to another? No, i'd decided before even being pregnant i'd do it as cheaply as possible.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Not really, though my mum used cloth and BF so it was just the baby-care culture i grew up with.

Bx

[Shanti]

By the way I can't understand the need to say in your signature how long you've been breasfeeding for, nor that the baby is worn or is cloth bummed or cosleeps. Can't say I've seen any signatures that say
"been FF for 6 months 4 days, cot sleeper, disposable bummed".... each to their own I guess

Satya, I think it's because they are just happy and proud of their parenting choices just like anyone should be with no matter what style of parenting or nappies etc they choose
For me, I am so proud of myself for overcoming all our breastfeeding obstacles in the first 2mths (and we had MANY) that I didnt think i'd still be BF'ing so it's a huge achievement for me to be still Bf'ing.... and with our DD's cloth butt, well they are just darn cute!!!! oh! And we don't co-sleep here, just don't like it!!

[Curly]

Well I have a FF-ing, disposable-bummed, cot sleeping, spoonfed DD. And I'm so proud!

DS was the same (disposables, cot sleeping, spoon fed, some FFing after 7 months) but was BF for 20 months. We only did co-sleeping with DS when we were trying to get him OFF the breast at 18 months. We would bring him into bed with us for cuddles but no BFing when he would wake in the night. I never could BF comfortably in bed...I much prefer the rocking chair.

DD (full FF'd from 3 months) does get to come into bed with Mummy and Daddy far more often than DS ever did at this age.

I have flirted with the idea of cloth but DH is not really on board.

I don't agree with BLS.

I do love co-sleeping but 4 in the bed is a bit much for us every night so it is the exception rather than the rule. They only come in if they wake up. Having said that, it is only really a couple of mornings a week that DH and I can look at each other in the morning without at least one little blonde head in between us LOL.

[Smoz]

Thanks guys for answering, its been really interesting and i guess it is just sheer coincidence those that do all three or two of the three. Just wanted to clarify though when i asked how long BF for its NOT to judge anyone in anyway i was simply curious as i've noticed quite a few sigs with babies still being BF 12+months. Please dont feel you owe me any explanations if you choose to FF (though if you want to thats fine) im not judgin anyone just curious as to the common ground for the three.

By the way I can't understand the need to say in your signature how long you've been breasfeeding for, nor that the baby is worn or is cloth bummed or cosleeps. Can't say I've seen any signatures that say
"been FF for 6 months 4 days, cot sleeper, disposable bummed".... each to their own I guess

For me Staya it's a personal reminder and pat on the back for myself as with both boys i had 4months of hell BF and gave up at 4months with DS1 so i have set myself little goals, (4months then 6 months then 12months then baby led) so watching my ticker and reminding myself has been really encouragin for me personally. Also as being someone who has always taken the easy way out of everything I am VERY proud to say i am doing my bit for the environment and using cloth.....i was one of those that laughed at other cloth uses thinking whats the point, but now i know different im proud to say im one of them.....also by having it in my sig it has prompted some great friendships with other cloth users as its a common ground/talking point so sort of an ice breaker advertisement.

[Trillian]

Do you BF/Formula? First three were all BF then FF due to many factors. 4th was BF for 4 days, (Well you could hardly call it BF when you have no milk AT ALL) so had to FF
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? First three were BF on average 3mths, but not fully, 1 was comp'd from 1wk old, 2 and 3 were comp'd from 1mth on.
Use Disposables or Cloth? I used terry flats religiously for my first one until he got too big for them (there were no fancy MCN so readily available like they are now) and then our micro-environment determined that we had to go to sposies for the rest - We live on a farm and rely on tank water and we were heading into a drought when I was pg with no2 so it is hard to wash flats that needed soaking and then washing when you have to save, recycle and reuse every drop of water you can so it seemed hard to justify. Not to mention the extra cost financially and environmentally to have water brought and carted in. Even now we have less than half a tank full of water to supply a family of 6 until it rains next - if it doesn't rain by next week we have NO WATER.
Co-Sleep? Not 'traditionally' as such, but wen they were tiny newborns I spent a lot of time sleeping on the lounge with them during the night as it was the easiest way they would settle and I could get as much sleep as I could, but once they were asleep soundly I would pop them in the bassinette, where they were for 3mths and then into the cot in our room. THey have all slept in the same room as us till 12mts. #4 was different though and for the first three months he was in his bassinette and then until 11mths he was in our bed as he had reflux and spent most nights awake in pain. It was the only way we could get any sleep. But now he wont have a bar of co sleeping.
Baby Led Solids? BLS wasn't really a concept when my eldest 3 were born but my girls moved very quickly from spoon feeding to self feeding and self fed from 8-9 mths old with finger and family foods. With #4 it was a mixture of both as some of the food he loved to eat weren't able to be eaten like that (porridge with fruit for brekkie and vege soup)

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? Because that's just what you did. Sposies were only for going out or travelling. One of the very first things I ever brought for our first baby was a dozen fluffy white terry flat nappies. I loved seeing them all bright and clean on the clothes line.

What did you start doing first? The nappies.

Did you find one thing led to another? No. You just do what feels right for you. I know many cloth bummed, sling worn, BF bubs that aren't co-slept with just as I know many FF, sposie wearing, pram riding bubs that ARE co slept with. I don't think that one thing necessarily leads to another, but it's all about finding what works best for you as a parent. Obviously some people choose to follow the entire ideal or principle of a parenting method (like some choose to gentle/attachment parent or others choose a more rigid way) but none are better than the other (OK, so it's accepted that CC is a no-no, but by more rigid I mean routines). I think that there is no point adopting a philosophy towards a style of parenting if you aren't willing to change and adapt to your children's needs if THEY don't like the method you choose. Not all babies will be happy being worn all the time just as some would hate being in a pram or rocker all the time kwim? I have 4 children who all have different personalities and needs and as such are all parented very differently.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? No, not really at first. Obviously when you are chatting you pick up different things that might work for you so you take it on board and give it a try and if it works you keep doing it. Although I have gotten into baby wearing in a bigger way than I ever did with the others so I will ask advice about that or if I see someone wearing a sling I like I will ask what it is, just as I have been asked about the one I have.

THis is a bit of a sermon I know, but hey, I am just answering the questions LOL

[Eugenia]

Do you BF/Formula? BF
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? DD self weaned one month after her 2nd birthday, I think it was because I was already pregnant. DS is still going and will be for a while.
Use Disposables or Cloth? With DD I started using terry flats at home and disposables for going out but gave up on cloth when she was 6 months old and the nappies just didn't hold all the wee anymore. DS has been in cloth from the start but I have also used sposies on him on a few ocasions.
Co-Sleep? Part time. They both came into bed early in the morning when I was too tired to do more than reach into the cot next to me and plop the baby down on the bed.
Baby Led Solids? I didn't know about it with DD which is a pity as I think it would have been ideal for her. I planned to with DS but he loves his food so much I had to cave in and give him mashed stuff.

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? I always wanted to since I was pregnant with DD. I didn't discover MCN till I was pregnant with DS though. Mainly I want to keep all those nasty chemicals away from their little bottoms.

What did you start doing first? I always wanted to bf and use cloth but I suppose I gave up on cloth first.

Did you find one thing led to another? The bf led to the part time co-sleeping (I always intended for the baby to sleep in my bedroom for 12 months).

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Yes, I saw babies in beautiful MCNs at an ABA meeting and that made want to find out more about them.

From my experience I've found that there does seem to be that those of us who choose to use cloth also do one or more of: bf, co-sleep and carry our babies in a sling. I do all those things though not religiously, I use sposies sometimes and own 3 prams (don't ask, I also own 6 different carriers). As for the signature thing, I think we tend to show off a little since our choices are not the mainstream choices and they are sometimes hard to maintain in the face of opposition. Plus I'd also like to think that they may offer some inspiration to other mothers who are struggling with any one of those things.

[Indadhanu]

Do you BF/Formula? Breastfeed
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? 9.5 months and still going
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth
Co-Sleep? Yes
Baby Led Solids? Not at first... we started solids earlier than 6 months, but since 6-7 months we've been leaninf towards BLS over purees and mashes.

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth?
Mum used cloth with us, and my younger bro is 8 so I remember her using cloth and it didn't seem hard. Then I found fitteds, and OMG I was in heaven! No folding! It's just easier, and cheaper, and cuter!

What did you start doing first?
Cloth vs Sposies: Disposables in hospital, then cloth at I think a week, once they actually fit her LOL! I bought them when I was about 30 weeks pregnant.
Cloth vs Bfing vs co-sleeping: Bfing and cloth at the same time (well, cloth intentions but they didn't fit at first!) then co-sleeping later.

Did you find one thing led to another?
Bfing definaetly led to co-sleeping.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try?
I had hoped to do all three, and it was mostly BB members/mums who just helped me realise that dream of being a crunchy hippy mumma
I think I have inspired a few people to use cloth though!

[Indadhanu]

Satya, I think its because its seen as generally more "alternative", possibley harder to keep up (personally thats my feeling on it, but I haven't had to keep up FF, disposables, cot-sleeping, non-slinging motherhood, so I don't know if its harder or not...) so for me I guess I am proud, I am proud that I got through some huge hurdles and am still bfing, still using cloth and co-sleeping despite lots of negative comments, and i guess the sling, well I kind of like it. Also, the more you get it out there, the more people who might be too scared of trying it will see that its more normal, maybe PM and ask questions, be less afraid of trying it, stronger against those IRL who say "Oh formula/disposables/cots/prams etc are easier"......

( hey, getting the word and ideas out there, its same theory behind AlternaTykes )