SOOO over the cloth hate!

[luna moth]

AAAAAARGHHHH! I have been copping it SO much lately. From work, from family, oddly all my friends are totally OK with it, I guess that's why they're my friends and everyone else is a dork. Here's a few examples:

"I planned to use cloth, but after a few weeks of using disposables in SCN, that went out the window."
"A midwife told me it was silly to use cloth wipes and I should just use face washers, but it just didn't happen."
"Those stupid things [MCNs] don't work."
"It's just so much more work...."
"If you're so worried about the environment, why not just use biodegradable disposables?"
"Oh, but you'll need disposables when you're out and about."

It's all making me start to doubt myself, which is a big ask for someone who loves cloth as much as me (you want to see my stash at 22 weeks. Epic.) I really don't get the big deal with an extra load of washing a day. I love doing laundry! I'm starting to lose my patience with all the haters, and it's a matter of time before some poor sod cops a massive hormone fuelled explosive rant. Have to get it out!

Reassure me, please!

[isharathena]

I agree. Have never had to tackle this obstacle as we're yet to conceive, but a girlfriend of mine used MCNs for both her boys, and she loved them. But the mother of a mutual friend, who considers herself the authority on all things due to the fact she's a midwife, used to make comments left right and centre about "those stupid things". But for my friend, it was the most cost effective and appropriate option for her.
For the record, I have my partner sitting next to me and when I mentioned this to him he said, "Yeah, it's all about what works for YOU".

[Epacris]

Huge hugs darling. Like so, so, so many things to do with parenting.... smile and nod, smile and nod.... untill you can't take it anymore, then crack a tanty and cry. More hugs.

[onthefly]

Cloth is wonderful.
Why?
It's cheaper.
It's kinder on your baby's bottom.
It's more environmentally responsible.
It's more ethical (you're reusing rather than chucking things out)
And, most importantly,....
It's aesthetically superior.

But at the end of the day, it isn't a big deal. Some people don't want to do it, that's fine, you do, so what? I know people say things like "oh you're good, I couldn't cope with teh extra work". But I'm not good, it's just what I prefer.
This is what you want. It's all good, you don't need to doubt yourself.

[ss_storm]

It will be fine hun! I don't think I'll ever change to MCN's, I love my terry cloth nappies, despite the folding! I tried to put a disposable on DD the other day when I took her to get her 12 month needles as I had one MCHN who preferred sposies because they reveal more of their upper leg so it's easier to give the injection. Anyway, I was so unco I couldn't even get the sposie on her properly so just put a cloth nappy back on her! It's amazing what we get used to, one of those things where I think once you do it, you never go back!

And besides, disposable designs aren't anywhere near as cute as MCN fabric!

[briggsy's girl]

i think we all cop it hun - all you have to do is shut down the conversation - it's not open for discussion - you're doing it. that's it
i can't believe someone said not to use cloth wipes, and just to use a facewasher - ummmmmmmmmmmm they're the same damn thing!! the only difference is that some of us keep the bum and face stashes seperate!

i had all the nay-sayers under the sun and it didn't make any difference - my princess is almost 14 months and we've used cloth from birth. never a disposable or a commercial baby wipe - cloth and water all the way.it's not harder, it should be less exxy (though, like you, i had a very good stash so maybe not unless we have another little girl to use them all again lol) ultimately though, i just put it all out of my head and went with what my gut said. and it's paid off

[Just Me]

I am not a cloth user, but you know there are so many things with parenting that you can prove your point with by just doing what you are doing and not worrying about anyone else. Many of my parenting ideas have been rejected by my family and friends in theory, but in the practice, it can cause a complete turn around their thinking. You will always get people who think they know better and won't listen, look or learn, but you get the observers who do come to see that it is not at all what they thought.

Just keep doing what you want to do and some of them will come around.

[jesses_girl]

I wish i could use my mcns !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Booooo to MIL for not letting me cause "were under her roof" ! I have about 150 and there just sitting there :-( There beautiful and when i was using them so so easy! Just a little washing, but hey who cares? Glad you got a good stash!

[miss.cinders]

I agree with all the PP.

It all comes down to what works for you.
They aren't the ones changing the nappies or washing are they
And a cloth bum is gorgeous!

[ladybirdflies]

Sometimes I have found that people feel judged by your decisions so they have to defend themselves or name a reason why they are not doing cloth. It's ok to say you don't like them and I can't be bothered, just the same way it's ok for cloth users to say i love them and am not bothered by the so called 'extra work' A few tried and tested replies here for you:
A study at an Australian Uni(must find out which one??) found that using cloth compared to disposable took up an extra 10-15minutes per day!
Disposables and all the bags and wipes cost between $3000 - $5000 per child PER CHILD, I would like to keep my baby bonus for other things thanks.
Using disposables as written on the side of the packs, which clearly say get rid of the poo before disposing and dispose of nappy responsibly adds a fair bit of time to using them. It is ILLEGAL in Australia to place human waste in general rubbish, hmmmm imagine if that were policed!
THere is only ONE commercially compostable diposable nappy in the world, yes, that is right ONE brand, new to the market and designed in Australia, all the others are 'better' then huggies etc, but are not any better at reducing landfill, or composting as the tips are not made to break down these so called bio nappies. They are however a much healthier options for bubs, no chemicals against skin etc.

It s a personal choice to use cloth, that is up to you as a family, no need to be put down and told you won't succeed. we need to support each other to be the best parents we can be for our child.

I LOVE CLOTH by the way! And yes, there have been challenging days where I have turned to the throw away varities when they have been sick, or I am tired or its rained for three weeks. But a mojority of the time they are cloth bummed.
Nappy life of the child is a journey that changes before your eyes, favourite nappies etc. Just go with it, and allow yourself to be using cloth with room to move..... enjoy!

[meow]

How annoying! Of course you can do it. I hate washing and even I can do it

I didn't have many negative comments while pregnant. Just horror from my Dad that we wouldn't be washing them with nappisan and one friend who said "Oh, old school!" which annoyed me as MCNs are not terry flats

Once you are using them and getting about I find everyone is positive. Most Mums in my MG were using them PT (or wanted to). MCHNs, lactation consultants, midwives etc all loved checking them out and thought cloth was best. Now HEAPS of my friends have turned to me for cloth advice as they have gone on to have children. It does get better!

[starangelk]

We doubted ourselves too and got the same comments. One particularly played on my mind and that was "If you think it's so good for the environment, think of all that water you are wasting washing them!" The 6 days we were in hospital using disposables also made me a bit worried about coming home but we just jumped right into using the MCN's/prefolds and it became the norm. You are right, it is 1 extra load of laundry - no biggie. We have had virtually zero nappy rash and to be honest, we really hate disposables now. They leak, they don't fit properly and I don't feel like they breath. It's almost like putting a plastic bag on her little bum - horrible!! I am a massive cloth nappy fan clearly

[~Kim~]

and sadly even when you prove them wrong, they still have to pop in a negative comment Thid id my second child in cloth and you'd think I had a fair hadle on it now - my mum still offers to get sposies for me when we're there.
Don't doubt yourself babe , like Just Me said, there will be a lot of parenting choices that everyone else thinks they get an opinion on, especially when they don't agree.
There needs to be more cloth love in the world.

[rhyb]

I do it for 4 full time and i love it still. Nuff said.

[luna moth]

We doubted ourselves too and got the same comments. One particularly played on my mind and that was "If you think it's so good for the environment, think of all that water you are wasting washing them!"

Oh this one gets me soooooo bad! What do these people think their sposies are made from? Just because they're not seing the water used in the various factories that create their little crackly-bum accessories, they assume it doesn't exist!

I'm sick of being told what I "can't" do in general. Can't live without a car... (have done it for nearly two years, no big deal) Can't be vegan... (again, more than two years on, doing well) Can't keep cycling while pregnant... Definitely can't be vegan AND cycling while pregnant... Can't not see and ob for my entire pregnancy... Couldn't possibly come home from hospy within 48 hours...

Proving people wrong all the time is SO exhausting!

Anyway, thanks so much for all the support. We will be fine.

[*Beema*]

You are an amazing woman, to have to fight everyday to live the life that you chose, good on you for standing up for what you believe in and not lowering your standards .

With the cloth, oh when everyone else is complaing about having to pay for disposibles youw ill be laughing all the way to the bank on top of all the other bonuses of using cloth

[Nai]

Just think of the satisfaction you will get when you do prove them wrong yet again.

I actually had someone apologise to me when I said "remember when you said that I wouldn't be able to use cloth, well I did with DD1 for 3 years and now they are on DD2 and have been for over a year" She said "yeah sorry i shouldn't have said that and been a bit more supportive". I think that one comment blew all of the negative ones away

[Cherished]

I'm sorry hon but I just loved reading your hormone induced rant teheheeheheheh on a serious note forget about them! I think most people would actually love to use cloth if they weren't so lazy. I think they lack the energy to do it and everyone knows that they are the more economical and environmental way to go. Honestly I think they try to bring you down to make themselves feel better. I haven't started using my cloth nappies but I have to say that my bamboo prefolds are still my fav baby item!!! (sad I know) but I still don't know if cloth will work for me, if it doesn't there's no way I'd bag anyone else who uses them, what would be the point? To declare out loud that I failed at it and they haven't? In my logical mind that just doesn't make sense