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

[Smoz]

Ok So i've noticed during the general chatter thread that most peoples sigs state they are BF and Co-Sleeping and im interested to see if a certain style of parent that leads towards using cloth.

Do you BF/Formula?
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)?
Use Disposables or Cloth?
Co-Sleep?
Baby Led Solids?

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth?

What did you start doing first?

Did you find one thing led to another?

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

[Smoz]

Do you BF/Formula? BreastFeed
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? At Least 12months is the goal and will see what happens after that
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth
Co-Sleep? No
Baby Led Solids? yes, we're trialling it atm

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? My friend (long term BF and cloth user) was showing me the ones she made for her little girl and i got curious and when she offered to lend me all her old ones how could i refuse and well now im hooked

What did you start doing first? BF was my first priority cloth just sort of happened when T was about 4months

Did you find one thing led to another? Yes very much so, I had never considered using cloth b4...put it in the 'too hard' basket but as i reached out to BF mums for support i found more and more of then were carrying on about this Fluff so i decided to give it a try.

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

[BellyBelly]

There is a definite link with cosleeping and breastfeeding. Heard a very interesting talk/study at the ABA's Hot Milk Conference a couple of years ago. Bottlefeeders are extremely less likely to cosleep.

[Smoz]

Yer i've found that....i think part of it being its easier for bubs and mum to get a better sleep....

It's just i've noticed as i've joined the cloth and BF communities that most do all three of these things and many more "hippie" type parenting methods (and i say that in the most supportive best intentioned way possible) like contact soothing

[Nai]

Do you BF/Formula? Breastfed
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? DD1 14months, DD2 still going
Use Disposables or Cloth? Mainly cloth but have sposie for emergencies and travel
Co-Sleep? Never with DD1, did for first 3 weeks with DD2 and still do from time to time when she is unsettled
Baby Led Solids? Not with DD1 but will investigate for DD2

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? Mainly environmental and cost reasons

What did you start doing first? Breastfeeding

Did you find one thing led to another? Not really

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Not really - I just went with whatever felt right and worked for us.

[Rouge]

Do you BF/Formula? DD BF & FF DS only BF
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? DD 4 weeks, then about 2 months pumping then full time FF. DS till 12 months (baby led weaned)
Use Disposables or Cloth? Disposables for both
Co-Sleep? DD on and off but nothing solid DS Mostly cot but co-slept in early weeks and he still comes into our bed now on and off Unfortunately for me co sleeping & feeding didn't work for us as I had overactive letdown
Baby Led Solids? DD No DS yes (started at about 10 months)

[Antheia]

Do you BF/Formula? Both
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? Still going
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth
Co-Sleep? Most nights
Baby Led Solids? Not yet

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? I found out about MCN through bellybelly. Ever since then i have been hooked.

What did you start doing first? Cloth nappies

Did you find one thing led to another? Not really, i have always wanted to BF and co-sleep.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Not really.

[alioops]

Do you BF/Formula? DD1 Was BF then FF, DD2 was a bit more complicated. DD3 we plan to BF
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? DD1 4 months, DD2 we THOUGHT was BF for 5 weeks. Turned out she was not doing so well DD3 will be until she self weans
Use Disposables or Cloth? We used sposies until DD1 was about 20 months and DD2 was 6 months then switched to cloth. DD3 will be cloth unless we are travelling
Co-Sleep? DD1 sometimes, DD2 never would settle with us. DD3 will be sidecar style with the drop side of the cot removed
Baby Led Solids? No, but plan to try it with DD3

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? Mainly cost factor

What did you start doing first? BF

Did you find one thing led to another? No

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? BB is what got me interested in cloth, then I went to a baby expo and saw some in real life and the curiosity increased and then I went to an IRL shop and bought my first one after having read a bit on here.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Do you BF/Formula? Formula
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? 6 weeks
Use Disposables or Cloth? Sposies
Co-Sleep? yes
Baby Led Solids? yes

[teruteru]

Do you BF/Formula?bf
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? from birth til now
Use Disposables or Cloth? cloth
Co-Sleep? yes
Baby Led Solids? no

Why Did you start using cloth? to reduce chance of NR, better for the pocket & environment

What did you start doing first? pretty much everything at the same time, but couldnt co-sleep in hospital

Did you find one thing led to another? bf & co-sleep yes cos it was easier than getting up to feed baby every few hrs

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? ive tried BLS but he's not that interested. i do give him a piece of fruit/veg every so often. he seems to be happy abt that

[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.

[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

[Gigi]

Do you BF/Formula?
breastfeed

If BF, how long for (or self wean?)?
first breastfeed, bilby was 2.5 hours old
she is 2.5yrs now
plan to stop when she self weans

Use Disposables or Cloth?
Modern cloth nappies until 28 months, when she tt-d using cloth trainers.
in that time, we flew interstate for two nights, three days, used MCN the whole time, proved to myself i could do it without disposables. Easier than i thought (if you prepare for it).

Co-Sleep?
first 12 months yes
after that, intermittent. now? from about 2am onwards. first sleep is in her single bed.

Baby Led Solids?
i tried that, didn't really get it, wasn't well enough (PND) to really give it a good enough go. but loved the idea.

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth?
environmentally, i knew i had to at least research it, whilst pregnant. once i found out, there was no napisan or buckets of heavy water involved, i was VERY keen.

What did you start doing first?
i bought mcn to use on my nb, whilst pregnant.
i undertook education to learn how to bf whilst pregnant.
i did both of them, as soon as baby arrived.
breastfed on first day (despite hospital wanting to give her formula)
had her in her first mcn on day five (due to dh not co-operating about bringing the mcn into hospital, after the homebirth didn't eventuate as planned)

Did you find one thing led to another?
to me, i was just focussed on doing what i felt was right for my baby, the most nurturing things i could do for her, as my gift to her. that overtook what other people might say.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try?
the mums i met, who were using mcn, most of them gave me bf-ing advice too. but i didn't get the feeling, that if i DID formula feed, that they would disaprove or anything, they were very accepting and welcoming. e.g i do vaccinations, and i still feel welcome, amongst a group of mostly non-vaccination parents.

that group, also contained many mums who used baby wraps/carriers - which i didn't use (i had four types to try), due to what happened to me physically during labour. Also contained mums doing EC with their bubs - which i didn't do either, for same reason. But come toilet training time, i used EC principles to TT my child, they were brilliant. i loved hearing about the EC journeys my friends were on, with their children. Learnt so much from listening.

that group of people, who were so supportive of me learning about attachment parenting, also led me to exploring Steiner/Montesorri education, imaginative toys, natural fibre clothing and shoes, organic food and body products.

so there WERE and ARE many ongoing linkages i think. For me it all comes under the umbrella of "attachment parenting". Not being restricted by a label, but being free to pick and choose, the parts that suit YOUR family.

[Rowellen]

Do you BF/Formula? BF but starting to switch to FF as I am working
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? DS is now 3 1/2 months and I intend to have him fully FF by 6 mths
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth mainly. Still using disposibles most nights as I'm still working on the night nappies in cloth.
Co-Sleep? No
Baby Led Solids? Too early

Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? I did some research & didn't like the sound of the chemicals in the sposies. Also partly cost.

What did you start doing first? BF then cloth

Did you find one thing led to another? Not really. They are all separate issues and we just decided on what was best for bub. BF just worked for me. Unfortunately it is too hard to continue to work and BF. Cloth took a bit more organising. It took about 3 weeks before I had the energy to switch to cloth. Co-sleeping was never going to work as I sleep way too lightly and DH takes up way too much room & our bedroom is too small for a cot as well.

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Most mothers I spoke to before didn't do cloth but I have since met many who do. This site provided so much info re cloth nappies and the positive attitude to cloth was very encouraging/inspiring.

Hope this helps

[OceanPrincess]

Do you BF/Formula? BF, two formula top ups in hosp based on paed recommendation
If BF, how long for (or self wean?)? Intend to self-wean, hoping for 12 months
Use Disposables or Cloth? Cloth all the way!
Co-Sleep? Only in the mornings when mummy wants more sleep...
Baby Led Solids? Intend to, yep!
Also......

Why Did you start using cloth? A good friend sells them and would ex-communicate me if I used sposies... but also for the environmental benefits and because I saw how easy they were to use when my sister had my niece!

What did you start doing first? Umm BF, the hosp used sposies

Did you find one thing led to another? Not really

Did you find that by doing one you spoke to other mother doing the others and were encouraged/inspired to try? Yes, definitely, my sister has been a big support for me with the BF and the cloth!