to think that people who use cloth nappies act superior to those who use disposables?

[DearJohnLoveSavannah]

I think I've just noticed this more because apparently it's National Nappy Week right now.

I have a friend of a friend who is always putting up photos on FaceBook about cloth nappies - such as the birth to potty ratio of how many disposable nappies one baby goes through, or the latest cloth nappy she has just bought.

When she was at the same children's birthday party she gave people a demonstration on how to use them too.

I think it is fine to educate people and promote being more eco friendly, but she does it with such superiority that I feel if I got a disposable nappy out I would be extremely judged.

I have another friend who is like this, but less extreme.

Very willing to be told AIBU - because I'm just basing this one two people.

(Also sorry for posting in AIBU twice in one day)

Cloth has been an excellent choice for my girls, and if I'm honest I am a little smug about it. It is a better choice for the environment, and I'm proud to have done the right thing. Just as I am proud to reduce, reuse and recycle. I also will admit to feeling a mild revulsion at the appearance of plastic nappies on babies. I hate it, I think they're dreadfully ugly.

Some brands are way better than others. The hemp or bamboo inserts in my experience are the ones that go a bit rotten and smelly after a while. Microfibre inserts are far longer lasting and wash and dry better.

Agree with others that some peoPle will be smug about anything, though a friend of mine was definitely evangelical about using cloth which was very irritating. Her baby never smelled but the big bum look does nothing for me and though baby smelled lovely, her house utterly stank of pee which really, really put me off.

I don't think I've ever really mentioned my son's cloth nappy use to anyone else. I don't think that I am superior as I use them for more selfish than pure reasons as they help me to make sure I always have enough and they mean I don't stockpile packs of nappies and are convenient as I never run out. I also find he has less nappy rash since using them and they are easier to prevent a reaction on his sensitive skin.

I've done both, sposies with one kid, cloth with the other. I don't think that ::I:: am any better for using cloth. I do think that cloth is a better choice for the environment.

As for time, I think we make time for things that either we have little choice about or things that are important to us. I'll bet that no-one here wears disposable clothes because they don't have time to wash them, they just make the time to do it. Before sposies mothers just washed them, I remember my mother washing my brother's nappies in a twin tub, pulling them out of the wash side to put in the spinner with a pair of wooden tongs. She worked part time and had three kids in five years. I also think she probably would have chosen sposies if she had had the choice, but she made the time to do it because she had no choice.

A lot of parents get superior or evangelical over something, especially with babies. Smile, nod and let it flow over you.

I was just interested that for everyone who uses cloth nappies for environmental reasons, how many also use mooncups or equivalent for sanitary wear.

My point is, best not to get smug/superior about a single thing as you have no idea of someone's overall environmental impact - they might cycle everywhere.

You are interested in what sanitary protection cloth nappy users use?

Actually I think that's a fair point Loislane78. I use cloth nappies for my 3 originally for environmental reasons and now for cost (nothing like having twins for making you look at the bottom line).

Then I realised how ridiculous it is that I use sanitary towels so recently just bought myself some cloth ones. They are brilliant, comfortable and work. And I was just on the point of getting all evangelical about them to my friends when I read thistthread, now I wonder whether they'll just think I'm smug when I'm just trying to be enthusiastic. Sad.

I use cloth nappies. I like them, they save money, they're cute (shallow, me?) and whatever arguments people throw up, they are better for the environment, because disposables are such a massive issue in terms of landfill.

I don't care what anyone else does - most people do something with the environment in mind (recycling, composting, reducing care use etc) but this is my choice and I get a bit bored of people being twatty about it, as though I'm some sort of weird hippy.

And as for the smell argument, the one downside I find with cloth nappies is that I can't smell when he's done a poo - they seem to contain the stench better than some kind of high-tec bio-suit!

YANBU.

Fine to be interested in something. Not fine to keep preaching to your friends about your particular hobby horse, whether it be cloth nappies/breastfeeding/veganism/religion etc. etc.

I use disposables - I own my responsibility for doing so - I don't get offended by people doing the right thing - if I have dc2 I will more likely give cloth a go.

With all the extra electricity and water that is used, I don't think cloth nappies are that much more environmentally friendly than cloth nappies, they certainly aren't cheaper either (I have kept the cost of disposables for my 2.5 year old at just over £200 since he was born by buying on offer and own brands). Each to their own though.

I use cloth. No-one would know unless they saw my washing line or looked in my change bag. I don't bang on about it. It's par for the course for me and no-one else's business.

I wonder whether they'll just think I'm smug when I'm just trying to be enthusiastic. Sad.

Yy. When ds was just born one of our NCT group dads sent round an email with a discount for nappies going on about how expensive they were. Being a normal person trying to be helpful I mentioned we were using washables because of the enormous costs and if anyone was interested I'd got them from X because they were half price of other brands and were so far working out ok. Well you'd think I'd just demanded everyone in the world use them and told anyone not using them they were going to kill the planet and were evil. The reaction i got was totally over the top and unwarranted.

Over the years I've had people extol the virtues of tummy tubs, Sophie the giraffe chew toys, amber teething beads, elimination communication, Pampers over Huggies, swaddling blankets, Swedish baby clothes, McLaren buggies and a million other things. Some of these things rate highly on my shit-o-meter of crapness and others I can barely manage interest in but I am always polite. I don't know why cloth nappy users can't join in without getting called smug or evangelical?

I think some people project their own inadequacies about what they do onto others and take offence or feel attacked where there was no such intention.

Cloth is superior. The amount of nappies I've sent to landfill brings me out in a cold sweat. I didn't get on with cloth and gave mine away to a friend for her DCs, but it is the best way to cover your baby's bottom. No point denying it.

I used cloth nappies with DS1, but I never ever made a point of telling people. Actually I found that people would notice and comment on it, often telling me that they were no better because of the environmental cost of laundry etc etc. it used to really annoy me, because I had never mentioned anything about my reasons for using them. Yet they felt free to lecture me on their perceived disadvantages!

K8 I'm surprised you're boggled given its a v v v similar product in lots of aspects.

I suppose some people can be v singular minded about what they choose to be sanctimonious about.

I use cloth nappies..........reluctantly!!

I do it purely because of the landfill issue and also having had 2 DCs it has been much much cheaper to use cloth, and also as we don't have a car we don't do a big shop, so we don't go to big supermarkets and buy massive boxes of nappies it is convinient to have cloth at home and not have to worry about runnning out of disposables.

But I have to say that using dispos is easier than using cloth. I have been using cloth nappies now for 4.5yrs and I can't wait till DC2 is out of nappies, which should be very soon. My issue is the carrying around of big bulky cloth nappies (we use pocket nappies, so not that bulky by cloth nappy standards), the liners, the bags etc etc. It takes up so much space under the buggy. Also I hate carrying around poo stained nappies, even if they are sealed in a bag. Also with cloth you have to change more often, and with two under 5's in tow it is a bit of a pain when out and about. When we are on holiday we use dispos and it is easier, although everytime I do use a dispo nappy I do feel a tiny but guilty!
I have no regrets chosing to use cloth nappies and would do the same again, but it is more of a faff than dispos. No doubt about that.

DH deals with the washing of the nappies and assembling them. He is more into cloth nappies than I am, so he is happy to do that. He does evangalise to a certain degree about them to friends.

Loislane I had never thought about using disposable SanPro until I used cloth, as the items are quite often sold on the same sites I then looked into using them. I think this is the same for a lot of people. I would never of thought about using washable wipes until I got into cloth nappies.

Neither my water bill nor my electricity bill have increased noticeably other than what one would expect due to charges going up, my usage certainly hasn't increased in the last year.

Its one extra load a week done using a low temp and Eco setting so less water, you use a quarter of the detergent you would use on a normal clothing load to prevent detergent bogging and don't need to use a tumble drier.

And yep I use cloth San pro as well.

To the poster up thread whose only spent £200 on disposables that's very impressive cost for me is a huge deciding factor if I only had the one child or two I would probably do it that way as well but so far I've spent much the same as you ( not inc ones I've given as gifts) and they have done 9 children and are still going strong.

If any of you haven't tried washable wipes but want to what ever you do DON'T buy fleece ones they are shite and will put you off trying.

I bought a couple of packs of IKEA face flannels and used those as wipes - washable, reuseable, and big enough that you usually only need the one.

Just to add in case my posts were read that I'm having a go cloth nappy users - quite the reverse actually!!

Was trying to highlight that environmentally we all have a big impact in lots of ways. Enthusiasm and awareness = brilliant; bordering on smugness as the OP is suggesting = misguided (seen a few of these who drive 4x4s etc....) That is all :)

I used fleece wipes both my chidlren sucessfully. There is no point in buying wipes. Its better to buy some cheap fleece material of your own and cut them into rectangles 12cm X 30cm.

I think that the costs of cloth are often underestimated. If you get nappy addiction then it will bankcrupt you. If you factor in time then cloth does become expensive. (Ie. assume £6 an hour in extra washing, hanging out to dry and scrapping off poo time) If you do use cloth then you have to expect to change your baby far more often. A cloth baby needs to be changed 6 to 8 times a day where as many people with babies in disposibles change their babies 3 to 4 times in 24 hours.

I never wanted my children sitting sewage for hours, but I do know some minging people who use 3 nappies in 24 hours and will leave their child in poo because its an hour before bath time.