To not understand common attitudes to disposable personal hygiene products?

[hooochycoo]

I'm confronted by this again and again on MN, and I confess I don't understand why it's OK to justify using disposable nappies, wet wipes, sanitary protection etc? Why is it OK to add so much rubbish to the world on the justification of convenience when there are alternatives that are still easy but generate less or no waste? Use a flannel, use a moon up, put/hold your baby regularly over a toilet/ potty, use modern easy quick drying cloth nappies. Why's it OK to recoil in horror at the hippyness of such things? But it's ok to continue buying disposable rubbish from huge corporations and throw them into landfill? Apart from an argument of "each to their own", aibu to not get it?

Not at all. But you dont have to get it, simply recognise that is apparently a big deal to many others.
I use reusable pads, and am not at all bothered, but I understand that others have a reaction to their menstrual blood that I dont.
perhaps there is a case for discussion in schools in phse or whatever its called now and at home.

Confronted?

Again and again?

You probably have the one of the largest representative percentage of mooncup and real nappy users on the Internet on this forum.

And also a number of very viable explanations of why people can't use certain reusable products.

I for one had no idea that such a thing as reuseable pads exist! I think that's the problem, if you have the disposable stuff heavily marketed and people don't know of an alternative then they will use the disposable stuff. Hold a baby over a toilet though, really?

Hope got (washable) flame retardant pants on!

I generally agree with you - I wash nappies and wipes and hate throwaway cleansing or cleaning wipes. I do use disposables when it best suits though, am not 100% about it.

I often hear the 'why should parents wash nappies when most landfill is industrial?' line and I can see the point but think we all need to do what we can.

Washable nappies are an expensive initial outlay. I think it's a shame local authorities don't have as many incentive schemes as they did. They are the ones with waste reduction targets and government definitely has a role in this.

and if anyone is interested in trying reusable nappies please make sure you search to see if you have a local nappy library! They are a great resource

I am not sure about the nappies as I haven't been reading those threads, but regarding mooncups and Eco friendly hygiene products vs disposables, I really think it's the other way around. There are so many posts in praise of mooncups that I wondered if the companies who sell them were giving commission for mentioning them.

Yes really! It's not weird and not a big deal. But you know that thing that happens with babies that as soon as you take their nappies off they wee or poo? Well if you just hold them over a toilet/ potty then they do it there and make less mess and use less nappies. And that's about it!

YABU

There are many reasons other than convenience why people use disposable products, but for me, 'Because I Want To' works well.

I don't feel selfish for using tampons rather than a mooncup and I don't care what anyone else thinks of that.

I completely agree with HEC. Yanbu to hold a different opinion or to not understand other peoples choices, however YABU to think you need to understand them.

I don't agree with you, I don't understand why it's a big deal and I don't see why I cannot use the products which suit me best from the available choice without coming under criticism. I'm fine with you being totally the opposite and I don't feel the need to change your ways or wonder why you're different.

I fo because its easier. Just that. I pay for it and I have a choice. That's the choice I made.

All my cloth nappies were second hand, and have done a couple of babies and will be passed on.

Maybe I read selectively, but the impression I get is largely that people think non disposable personal waste products are weird, hippyish, unfeminst, extreme, smug and too much effort when you're a busy woman.
,
Flame retardant pants on. Medical issues aside, I do think it's lazy.

Convenience is a perfectly good reason to want to use something. It may be selfish to use disposable wipes/nappies, but it's convenient and for most people, it's the most practical option.

You don't have to understand it, but that's life.

Im all for recycling and saving the world.

But for a start cloth nappies are so damn expensive!!!! I couldn't afford them by a long shot when I had ds. I didnt have the money in one lump.

Same still goes now. My periods are horrendous. The disposable ones are the only things I can afford. If I could save up and buy reuseable nappies and sanitary products then I would. But that would mean going without nappies and sanpro for a few months. Not do-able.

I also could not afford the electricity bills to wash and dry all these things ( no heating so would rely on line drying....not always possible)

Different people have differwnt circumstances and tbh saving the planet can be quite bloody pricey!!

I can't stick anything up during a period.. anybody who thinks I can use washable pads can go fuck themselves basically.

Keep your shovel in your own garden if you want to use washable toilet rolls.

I agree with you.

But lots will not, and get defensive.

So selfish though surely. To think it's ok to generate copious rubbish because it's easier for you, because it's your choice and because you pay for it?

People don't care about tomorrow, only their convenience. You see it with pretty much everything.

It might be lazy but people have a choice.

Do what you want but what I stick up my fanjo is my choice whether its a lazy on or not

So I take it you have a bag on each side of your toilet.. A pile of cloths for shitty arses and pees and wash them out each day then do you?

The impact of washing and drying kinda levels out with binning them imo.

Meh, I'll do what works out best for me and my family. It might not be the best thing for the planet, but I have to work with my own families circumstances primarily.

After just googling washable tampons and discovering Crochet tampons in a neopolitian colour scheme with the suggestion of sticking it up the fanjo with a lolly stick, I think I'll stick to my disposable product.

Yes Hester, I just find it depressing and astounding. Convenience isn't a valid argument in my opinion. If you chuck your rubbish in the street rather than use a bin because it's easier for you, that wouldn't be a valid argument would it?

And it honestly, for the majority if people without medical issues and disabilities, isn't more expensive or more difficult!

I can't use anything other than tampax pearl super plus and two night pads on the first three days of my period. That lasts about an hour.

What exactly would you propose I use? I tried a moon cup and it was terribly uncomfortable and I would need sanitary protection like a nappy if I use using a reusable pad.

I find this a terribly judgemental attitude to have towards other women. I struggle with horrific periods as it is and I will use whatever works best for me.

So when I was losing blood clots the size of a satsuma and enough blood to saturate a super absorbent pad every hour, and was driving 3 of my team members to our head office 5 hours away I should have filled the already packed boot with used sanitary pads and blood soaked cloths in a bucket?

Or, alternatively I should have stopped every twenty minutes at the side of the Autobahn, cocked my leg and emptied my mooncup?

Why not at least try walking a mile in someone else's shoes before hoiking up your judgey pants.

FWIW I was actually told by a care worker at a fostering centre that hovering your child over a toilet or potty for prolonged periods of time when they aren't fully aware of the process was tantamount to child cruelty.

I'm not sure. I blogged about menstrual cups (outs self) and the main reaction was "wtf?!" "That's disgusting" etc etc which was a bit
I think it's good to be open minded and try things once!