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)

I couldn't give a crap whether anyone chooses BF or FF, pushchairs or slings, washables disposables, sleep training or co-sleeping.

What does make me feel murderous is w

Oops.

What does make me murderous is women who portay themselves as 'natural' parents. Get over yourselves. There's nothing unnatural about my parenting based on my choices.

Well said lapsed

Scottish you need to calm down. Challenge me? For agreeing with summerworld that I too have come across parents that try to use as little nappies as possible. I do not have any reports of this for you to read, discredit and get worked up about.

Gosh no accusations were made.

I haven't read every reply, sorry, but in response to the OP, it can seem a bit smug or evangelical sometimes for sure.

I used them for a while with each child (somehow it was easier in the 0 - 4 month age group, I stopped around the time they were sleeping through and we were getting out and about more). I doubt anyone even knew I was using them (they are lying down at that age) and I wasn't going out for big day trips or anything, so it was probably only close friends.

But there are a couple of things that come up that slightly annoy me re cloth. One is "life is too short to be scraping shit" etc. Truth is, the reusable nappies I used had liners, which were flushable. So you take the nappy off, peel the liner off into the loo, and flush it down the loo. Ideally, the loo is where poo belongs.

In actual fact, technically users of disposables are supposed to sluice poo before they dispose of the nappy. Its technically illegal to dispose of human waste as it ends up in the water table or some such. Of course nobody does this and once I switched to disposables neither did I.

But this old myth about people scraping poo of reusables when it is no such thing yet those who should be not and letting them fester and go in landfill (as I did) is a bit ...misinformed.

It sort of makes out reusable users as poo scraping freaks with faeces under their fingernails and a stinky house whereas it is in fact the opposite, generally.

That said, I can totally love disposables once the baby is older, much easier at night, out and about, etc, though of course reausables are also doable.

Woah skid marks! is that you backtracking nimh? Your Apology accepted
Yes you have no figures,facts,cause you're making it up as you go
Eek,indeed about cloth bummed weans being changed more.some one organic pants are on fire

I've not read everything but here is my take on it.

I used cloth nappies; I felt some mothers had an issue about it.

If people asked, then I would explain why I used them etc.

I would demonstrate them too - if asked.

I felt under pressure, like I had to justify my use of cloth nappies to everyone.

I felt similar attitudes about breastfeeding, using a sling, co-sleeping, weaning etc.

I think it's peoples insecurity about their own parenting choices - using cloth nappies was my personal choice - I don't understand how my choice affects anyone else's.

I'm friends with three other mums who used cloth nappies - they felt similar negativity about their choice to use washable nappies and breastfeeding.

I totally agree with whyisthishappening.

I think cloth nappy mums have a right to be smug. Good on them- saving the planet and all.

Me- far too lazy- disposables all the way.

Not sure if it is a big issue though- like the carrier bag rubbish. Bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

YANBU

I'm sure most cloth-nappiers are fine, but the ones who bang on about it are unbearable.

I currently have a friend who has been using cloth nappies on her PFB for the past 2 years. She has basically made it her hobby, buying different designs online and dissecting them in detail every time we meet.

I can't wait for that child to toilet-train.

Im also sure most disposable nappy users are ok, there are annoying disposable users too. It's their nature, like it's annoying cloth nappy users nature to be annoying too. Please don't lump us all together!!

I used washables on DS2 who was horribly allergic to every kind of disposable I tried. It cost me nothing, I was given loads of them and gave them away to people who wanted them once I had finally got him out of nappies. I did have one mother of a child I looked after be a bit weird about washables, she went on and on about them when I interviewed her, despite me telling her that my DS had used them, brought them for the first couple of days, then stopped and brought disposables and slagged me off for telling her she couldn't use them, which was a bit

I do use washable sanpro and a menstrual cup, looking in to washable loo wipes and I buy cruelty free as much as possible. So, pretty consistent in the lentil weaving department, however, not evangelical about it at all, unless someone asks me about it

NiMhurchu I know what you were saying earlier, there are some parents who will only change their child's disposables when they are hanging between their knees in order to save costs, it's a form of neglect imo.

Miaow I just meant they will be annoying about something else - I have a friend constantly obsessing about her 3 dcs clothes and sending me pictures of outfits she's considering.
I think anyone who is annoying with something like this just doesn't know their audience, I'm quite happy for my friends to tell me about what nappies they have bought as it's a common interest, but I wouldn't dream of posting it on Facebook, that's the difference. Someone who is annoying like that with cloth will only be annoying telling the world something else of little interest in post nappy years.....

I used disposables with DD1 and washables with DD2.

Saved myself a fortune with DD2.

I'm not in it to save the planet just to save my purse!

I'm now idly wondering if I'm one if the two bitchy Beth's that Amanda is referencing.

Scottish you need to read the posts properly. No backtracking in my posts, and certainly no apology to you. I haven't looked for any studies in the frequency of nappy changes, I was speaking of my personal experiences. Like I have already said.

No where in any of my previous posts I have mentioned or hinted at cloth bummed babies being changed more, or disposable bummed babies being left in their nappies. I have said that there is no extra cost, wastage or anything else to lose by changing a cloth nappy more frequently. Whereas a disposable that's only going to be on for half an hour before bathtime is somewhat wasted.

You are a perfect example of the reason cloth nappy users feel the need to justify their choice.

YANBU

I 'like' the Tots Bots fb page and there was a conversation a while back where many many people admitted lingering when changing their DC's cloth in public because they liked people to see it and comment on it! Ohhhh how i ROFLed!

Our disposables dont go into landfill because we dont live the uk. They get incinerated at vry high temperatures so all the gasses get burned up too. The heat generated is used to give the local town hot water. Everyones a winner. feeling quite smug myself now

But burning does release CO2, greenhouse gas, so not entirely pollution free.

Look,don't define yourself by products you buy.its only a nappy/sling/bugaboo
You aren't a better parent if you use all of,or none of those products
I have met right on types who defined self as baby wearer,and baby was cloth bummed.

I never introduced dds as here is princess shes cloth bummed,I wear her
I dont wear a baby
Im not defined by my products

And of course not all purchasers of these products are tits,only the memorable annoying one

Not all disposable nappy users leave baby in wet or soiled nappy for 6 hours (eek)

I can never bring myself to use the term 'baby wearing'. You aren't actually wearing a baby, are you? You've just fastened them to yourself with a piece of cloth.

Agree with scottish, on everything she's just said.

I haven't read the whole thread, but for me personally, I struggle to keep on top of my family's washing and get it dry especially in a flat with no tumble dryer and adding cloth nappies to the mix would probably tip me over the edge! I like the ease of disposable nappies.

DM used cloth nappies for my brother and myself and said she thinks disposable nappies are much easier and prefers that they're smaller so the babies bum isn't so big and makes moving easier.

I use reusable nappies on my 16 month old, paid £50 for the lot (boring old bomb-proof Mother ease and a couple of coloured wraps) second hand. I don't feel the need to post pictures of my 'staah' or update my collection as they work for us.

My daughter doesn't smell and yes she does have a big bum but her skin reacts to the chemicals in all disposable nappies so its not about saving the planet or money here, its nothing to boast about.

That said I do have friends who mention my choice a lot more because its disgusting putting crap in my washing machine/big bum will make her walk funny/they're surprised my house doesn't stink and that's when I do feel the need to become evangelical about them!

In my experience I get judged far more with my second (cloth) than I did with my first (disposable).

That said I do have friends through our local nappy meet who refer to disposables as "dispicables", show pictures of a disposable mountain beside about 20 cloth nappies as a landfill comparison when I know they have over 50 nappies displayed in various in your face ways around their homes and that really does irritate me.

Like every other aspect of parenting someone will judge you whatever you do!