Some people defeat the object of cloth nappies

[lineandsinker]

My baby has been in cloth nappies for a few months and so I have signed up to a few advice and selling groups on Facebook and Instagram to help me along the way.

What has struck me is that there are quite a few parents out there who see cloth nappies as some form of collectors item and seek to have every print from certain brands; I’ve seen quite a few parents with upwards of 50+ nappies in their collection for 1 child. Many people openly admit to being ‘addicted to cloth’ and having tens of nappies more than they actually need.

There is one certain brand of cloth nappy whose products are hard to come by; when they are restocked in the UK, stockists’ websites crash and nappies are sold on at far higher than their RRP on Facebook and eBay. People seem to buy multiple of them just because they want to be seen to own this brand and then try and sell them on at inflated prices because ‘they bought too many of the same print’.

AIBU to think that this defeats the point of cloth nappies, which is to be more environmentally friendly? Surely your carbon footprint is just as big for owning tens of nappies that get used sporadically than that of someone who is using disposables. It just seems like it’s another industry being driven by greed / fashion and status.

Does it directly impact you though?

I loved my cloth my two were in nappies and liked having pretty ones. I bought many second hand, some were used on both children, and I sold my entire stash when DC2 potty trained. I still felt it was better than sending disposables to landfill.

Saddos

I don't think it's the same thing because of the resale value of even second hand cloth nappies. It's not as though they are thrown away when they are outgrown - many will sell them or keep for their next child.

this isnt a new thing either my 9 y old was in cloth from newborn to 2 and half
so 2010-2012 i also joined facebook group and this behavior was very common then

i was buying liners for 99p(1p for some)then buying the inserts off ebay and there was them paying £30 plus because its complete or cute

It does sound quite funny and I understand what you mean. The plus side is that there will be more cloth nappies around and people who don’t have the money for the initial investment will be able to buy them too.

Whatever happened to lovely white terry nappies?

I remember thinking the same when I started joining some cloth nappy groups! I suppose, though, if you have more nappies, then each one will be worn less, and therefore will last longer. I think most people tend to sell the nappies on, so most are (hopefully) used as many times as possible, and in that case it makes no difference how many nappies an individual has.

Some people did seem to get obsessed with collecting prints, though!

I don’t know about reusable nappies but I know mums who have a thing about owning loads of expensive prams. I never understood that and I don’t understand the fascination with nappies either.

Yes, the same was happening 12yrs ago when I used clog. Yes it’s excessive, but their cash and are they doiknsmimkeenskmmdkdi

My 2 both used Terry nappies (2003 & 2006), the market was only just opening for shaped nappies but I DO remember a few of my friends buying way too many of those (then getting bored of the faff of you know, washing them...)

I still have 4 of my Terry squares in use for cleaning jobs, very well used, washed and washed and washed, surely the epitome of recycle, reduce and reuse?

@Welshmaenad @mumofmany81

I totally get that, but no-one needs 50 nappies. It takes me 4-5 days to get through my stash of 20. The nappy company then think their brand is popular, increase supply to meet demand (again, increasing carbon footprint) when in fact a lot of their products are just sitting on a shelf not being used. If we’re striving to be environmentally friendly by using cloth, we shouldn’t be contradicting our values by buying and using more than we need. Because that’s the whole point of using cloth, right?

Also, on the topic of the popular brand that I won’t name, it’s people’s greed that is preventing those who want to try the brand and would get good use out of the nappy from being able to try it.
So many times I’ve seen people buying prints they don’t want in the hope that someone might swap them for one of the hard to find prints that they do want. This then takes the opportunity away from a genuine buyer. Plus the carbon footprint from sending these nappies through the delivery network multiple times because someone bought something they didn’t really need on impulse because it’s the latest ‘in thing’.

I agree, bloody bonkers. I think Uno’s are overrated anyway! And I don’t want to fanny about fretting over Motherease bindings.

I have some beautiful nappies, but only what I need. I will buy a few more when we start nursery as they change more often, but I don’t need 100’s. I do need a couple more night nappies as once a week or so seem to be short as they take so long to dry.

I have 20 pockets, 5 night nappies with 3 wraps and some boosters. Will probably get another 5 pockets, 2 night and 1 wrap. So still a modest stash! I do like pretty prints but don’t buy in to the hysteria.

Who could honestly give a monkeys what the print on the nappy is?? It’s for shitting in, quite literally 🤷🏻‍♀️

Was similar 15 years ago when I had cloth nappies for my sons. I didn't really get involved in that, after all doesn't matter what they look like, they are going to get poo on them soon enough....

My dad still has some terry squares for polishing things that were my nappies....they really have lasted!

I actually think the fashionable element is a good thing as it will encourage others that perhaps wouldn't ever consider cloth nappies because they think they're hard work (?) or not as good as disposables (we found them far superior).

Why not. People collect far worse things. I haven’t actually heard of this before but it doesn’t bother me. The more people are into cloth nappies the better and if I can make some money back on the ones I bought by selling them on to a collector then great.

Save your energy for hating people who buy things like disposable changing mats, disposable bibs and disposable plastic sterilising bags for sterilising bottles in. Bonkers.

There are lots of other reasons for using cloth nappies, though. It isn't just done for environmental purposes. We do use ours in a fairly environmentally friendly way, I think (few nappies, no tumble drying, natural fibres, minimal use of PUL buy some second hand and sell on after if in good condition etc) but my main reason for using cloth nappies on my sons was because I have eczema that is triggered by products like sanitary towels, the stuff hospitals stick cannulas on with etc. and was worried my sons might be similar and react badly to disposable nappies. DS2 does get eczema and struggles even with synthetic clothing so has never used a disposable nappy but DS1 has very tolerant skin and did use maybe half a dozen disposables following laundry drying problems. DH was in full agreement to use cloth nappies for a different reason again: he couldn't bear the thought of keeping two weeks worth of pooey nappies in our house between bin collections compared to washing every couple of days. The environmental considerations came to us after buying the nappies. Some people are hobby nappy collectors and that is just their reason for using them rather than to save the planet.

Environmental reasons was never a factor in my decision to use cloth - it was because I couldn't find a brand of disposable that didn't bring my youngest out in a rash. That said, I did end up spending an absolute fortune having loads of different ones made and now have boxes of them in the loft.

The phrase 'fluffy bum' fills me with rage. It's so bloody smug.

I suspect that the obsessive internet hunting and buying of anything in those first 2 years of parenthood are a direct reaction to the monotonous drudgery of ‘life’ with little ones.

Mums desperately trying to hold onto something of their old life in the public sphere? I mean they’re literally trying to pretty up poo-catchers. And having the ‘right’ or ‘best’ (even of nappies) must boost their self-esteem. Certainly the world will judge them less on their collecting when it’s something so necessary for the baby? It’s not like most mums have the ready cash to buy bigger, fancier stuff. Nappies probably hits the mark in loads of ways. I can see why it’s a thing.

Not my thing, but still. I look back on those nappy years and lots of things I fixated on seem pretty now! Whatever gets you through the night.

But yes, the virtue signalling about ‘eco’ is ugly. Clearly not helping the planet, or babies, to fly kilos of printed fabrics around.

I absolutely loved cloth nappies. I have never laundered anything so lovingly. It was quite addictive, although I probably had a maximum of 30. I still feel a pang when FB ads pop up. It is very weird and I can't explain, except to say that it made me feel worthy.

Remember these?

I had about 30 I think - though most were second hand.
What’s it to you, really?
Your motivation might be the environment, doesn’t mean everyone’s is.

I don't get it at all. I had enough to change/wash. I'm sure DS2 didn't give a shiny shit either.