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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

242 replies

DearJohnLoveSavannah · 15/04/2013 18:47

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)

OP posts:
Saski · 16/04/2013 11:07

If someone through their own time and effort is doing something that's better for the environment - something green that's not just through spending money, like a super-expensive hybrid car - I think YABU.

The planet is going to hell in a handbasket and I don't think we should be trying to make ourselves feel better about it.

Toasttoppers · 16/04/2013 11:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

vivizone · 16/04/2013 11:16

Middle class problems.

VinegarDrinker · 16/04/2013 11:23

ophelia £20 on (cloth) nappies in over 2 yrs here...

Re sanitary towels etc, I haven't had periods in ages but yes, have a mooncup. We also are car-free, cycle everywhere,don't fly at all, eat locally and are veggie... Not perfect by any means (we have kids for a start!) but we do try. Still not noisily smug though and most friends wouldn't know about not flying etc unless they asked.

VinegarDrinker · 16/04/2013 11:29

ReallyTired honestly 6-8 nappies a day?! Seriously? As a newborn, maybe! We get through 4 in a day absolute maximum (and all dirty ones are changed immediately) plus one overnight. Wet nappies last 3 or 4 hours easily, no leaks. If you never want your child sitting in wee you better look in to elimination communication.

IneedAsockamnesty · 16/04/2013 11:45

That's interesting reallytired, I found them to be really smeary and quite hard to use but a old thin towel cut up did wonders as did the towelling cheeky wipes I was given.

GruffaloAteMySocks · 16/04/2013 12:00

I think YABU.

My DD is 10 weeks and I'm just putting her in cloth nappies, I don't think I'm superior at all.

poopnscoop · 16/04/2013 16:57

I have a childcare business and quite a few of my parents use reusables. Some childcare providers to not allow them to be used as they take more time, and believe you me, when you have lots of lil bottoms to clean, time is of the essence!

But, as someone who is concerned about the environment and who likes to do her bit, I give my parents the option - use reusables or disposables... and for those who use disposables I have www.gogreenbottom.com/ come and collect the disposables, they are then environmentally disposed of, and don't end up in landfill.

Still doing my bit and still giving my parents the choice.

When I see the vast amount of nappies used in my setting, the thought of them all ending up in landfill makes me shudder.

LaQueen · 16/04/2013 17:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ReallyTired · 16/04/2013 22:43

VinegarDrinker
Thankfully my youngest has been out of nappies for 18 months now.

My daughter used to scream the house down as soon as she weed in cloth nappy. However she also screamed when she weed in disposible nappies. My son couldn't care less if he weed in a disposible nappy, but hell would break loose if he weed in a cloth nappy. When using cloth I ended up changing them at least every 3 hours for an easy life.

We did have a go at elimation communication, but it all went down hill when dd was about a year old and discovered crawling.

Floggingmolly · 16/04/2013 22:49

Does nobody really care what everybody else is wrapping their child's arse in? Hmm

Floggingmolly · 16/04/2013 22:49

anybody, obviously

iddybuff76 · 26/07/2014 17:18

i know this is an old thread but interests me..having started using washable nappies on baby number 5 ..i certainly dont feel superior...infact possibly the opposite i dont know anyone who uses them and i find some groups i have joined a bit fanatical to say the least all this terminology i cant get used to and peoples pictures of there stashes and latest purchases and is this V4?? lol and knowing all the pattern names lol...i would never dream of offering demos on how to use them i dont feel smug just that im doing a small bit for the environment and my pocket!

Hurr1cane · 26/07/2014 18:48

Some are.

I had a mother at the school gates telling me to cloth nappy my disabled 8 year old and to only use a teaspoon of wash powder to wash them. She wouldn't shut up. I was talking to someone else about how many nappies the continence service provide per day and she just jumped in and lectured away.

I said I didn't want an 8 year olds shit in my washing machine and I didn't want to do anything more than throw them out.

But most people don't do this. Most people only mention it in passing

Hurr1cane · 26/07/2014 19:03

Oh.... A zombie thread. Ace. Sorry it came up on active because someone revived it and I didn't realise

superstarheartbreaker · 26/07/2014 19:04

Secret to help the environment: don't have kids. Our planet is far too populated and nappies are just the beginning! Grin

Purplepoodle · 26/07/2014 19:48

I am the worse I use cloth and disposable - I'm judged from all sides lol

Purplepoodle · 26/07/2014 20:00

Just wanted to add that I'm a boring cloth nappy user. White shaped terry style (motherease) with a plastic cover, they arnt overly pretty but incredibly functional and iv never had leaks. There are some gorgeous nappies out there but I can't justify the cost as my old faithfuls work perfectly well. Some nappies are so pretty I can understand people wanting to show them off

PlentyOfPubeGardens · 26/07/2014 20:04

My youngest DC is 19 and I'm still using a few of the old terries as floorcloths.

Portlypenguin · 26/07/2014 20:14

I have definitely found locally real nappy users like to mention it frequently.

None of them had a malabsorbing baby having copious quantities of liquid poo 20+ times per day for a year!

I considered cloth nappies but decided i just couldn't cope with it, esp working full time and struggling to keep up with washing anyway.

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 26/07/2014 20:20

Anyone who is smug about their choices to the point of putting down others is bad.

Spottybra · 26/07/2014 20:31

I used both for pfb - cloth nappies on days spent at home and disposables when out.
2nd time around I was working in environmental education and had read the EA report that, taking into account washing and products used in washing cloth nappies, that neither were more environmentally friendly than the other although it was paraded that cloth nappies were better environmentally and for baby by pro cloth brigade.

A few colleagues did cloth nappies and never acted superior. Although I did applaud them for sticking to their principles. It was an expensive set up we couldn't afford in one go so we didn't have enough cloth nappies to do it full time.

But, I do still have those terry towelling squares, and very useful they are too. Wet a quarter to wash faces when out then use the rest to dry hands, faces and feet, they mop up spilled drinks, help polish mirrors and clean windows....then back into the wash to be used again.

GoshAnneGorilla · 26/07/2014 20:53

I used them for a while with DD1 and really liked them, but then we started weaning and her bottom got v v sore (she's alway been prone to a red bottom), so switched back to disposables.

Haven't used them so far with Dd2, I feel guilty every time I see them sitting in the wardrobe.

ravenAK · 26/07/2014 21:13

I used cloth for all 3dc (not when out for the day, but always at home) & ended up with 100s of nappies of assorted types.

This was because 4 separate friends tried them, couldn't be arsed - actually for 3 of them it was the baby's dad who couldn't be arsed - & passed them on to me, as their hippy friend.

My kids grew up, & once I was down to one in nappies I ended up getting rid of the surplus in RL, & on here under a previous nn, to anyone who mentioned that they'd like to try them - I just said 'here, have a few, I've got loads I don't need, see how you get on, pass them on to someone else to try if they aren't for you.'

The last few dozen went to a mate about three years ago - she runs a mother & baby group & gave them out to anyone who expressed an interest. I imagine they're all long dispersed now. Hopefully at least some of them are still in service!

I don't think I was ever superior about them. Personally I liked using them & definitely preferred them to the expense & stink of 14 days' worth of disposables in a dustbin in summer, but it never occurred to me to do Performance Nappy Changing...Grin.

Teddybeau1988 · 26/07/2014 21:29

We use reuseables here. It does turn into a slightly addictive hobby, they make too many beautiful wraps. The closest I've got to showing them off though is when it was ridiculously hot and DS was in just a tee and nappy on the afternoon school run. We had a few nice comments that they looked pretty. Obviously it's very time consuming, with all the washing, drying and stuffing, and not everyone has the time.

Yanbu. I can't stand people who preach their superior parenting methods