AIBU to wonder why more people don’t use reusable nappies?

[KatyClaire]

I have a fairly new baby and I’m a little surprised at how few people I’ve encountered are using reusable nappies. I haven’t met anyone using them in my antenatal group / baby classes / local parents group etc. There has been such an explosion in the use of reusable products (sanitary products, straws, cups, make up wipes etc) that I had assumed it would have crossed into nappies as well.

I don’t know whether it’s a perception issue (people thinking they’re messy and hard to clean), the upfront cost, confusing information etc?

Rather, the decision as to whether or not to use reusables is situated in a patriarchal system which exploits women, and we need to look at the big picture for solutions.

Nice ideals there: but while we work out how to dismantle the patriarchy, you can bet your bottom dollar I’m not going to be stuck slaving over the extra laundry.

I didn't use reusable nappies because I don't have anyway of drying them for much of the year. If the heating isn't on in my house (which it rarely is, except for winter) then NOTHING will dry inside my house. They also won't dry (except for summer) in my garden as it's nearly always in shade with no wind.

I found reusable nappies really confusing with all the random layers you need to put in or not depending on the phase of the moon and do you need to but various sizes and the huge outlay in that? I also had no way of finding out if they would fit the baby or not and didn't want to waste £100s on something that may be of no use.

@callistography

I've replied to so many threads like this in the past in a calm, thoughtful, careful manner.

However it's anot her lockdown and I cannot be arsed pandering to people!

Most people don't choose reusables because they are lazy, selfish nuggets who are too precious to deal with them.

There are also the following reasons:

They have nowhere to dry them (there are quick-drying options available)

They can't afford the initial outlay (I saved up throughout my pregnancy and used some of the child benefit money to buy a set of nappies that I used on all my children - so that argument doesn't hold any water with me)

They 'didn't know' about them (hmmm. Really?!)

They have this insane belief that they affect the baby's ability to walk/create bandy legs (well, that must mean every person over the age of 45 in England has bandy legs abs had issues walking... which of course they didn't).

We live in a lazy, selfish, throwaway society where precious people like the easiest option.

😂😂😂

@Piglet89

i saved up throughout my pregnancy and used some of the child benefit money to buy a set of nappies that I used on all my children - so that argument doesn't hold any water with me

Unfortunately, it seems from plenty of experiences on here that the reusables don’t hold water either, so...

That's such a ridiculous statement. Used correctly, cloth nappies work incredibly well. Two children later I know that they do.

Oh! I forgot the 'it's SO much washing' argument.

Nope

Two loads a week if you dry pail.

That's it.

Yeah... those smug virtual signalling insufferable people on the reusable nappy support group I looked at? I think they were all Callistography.

Saving throughout your pregnancy and using child benefit money to buy reusable nappies? Not something possible for so many many people.

@notalwaysalondoner

How on earth do you figure out which brand to invest in though? Last thing I want to do with a newborn is to have multiple nappies to test and have to figure out in the middle of the night which one I’ve got and how it works...

From experience, I found using Close parent newborns with some eco disposables worked the best when they were tiny.

Then we graduated to a mix of nappies, which included terries, BumGenius Flips Quickdry and Baba+Boo (dry quickly), alongside Tots Bots Bamboozles for heavier times

I’ve had the opposite experience where I am the only mum in my circle of mum friends who uses disposable nappies and I feel quite judged for it at times. Although the other reusable nappy wearing babies always seem to have rashes, struggle to walk in them, and it’s not as clear when they are wet/soiled. As other posters have said, the decision to have a baby renders subsequent choices about reusable nappies/cloths on environmental grounds fairly inconsequential. I personally just didn’t want to deal with shit and piss any more than I have to.

I think I love you, Titus

Because trying to clean a nappy with my tshirt over my nose is just not possible, it's hard enough with a kicking child!

The smell of shit makes me gag/sick, so I can just put it in a bag and put it in a bin and its done!

Lazy YES

I’ve not read the rest of the thread but you’ve just reminded me I still have an entire birth to potty set in the loft! We used them for a few weeks but I was anaemic and so worn out that in the end it just didn’t work out. Other reusable products like period pants etc are a once a month faff. Nappies are a whole different ball game

@Laalaa78 - period pants have been a revelation to me. I think the once a month faff is completely negated by the not having to stick something inside me or have something bulky in my knickers. I agree with you, nappies are a whole different ballgame and there is no pay off. Extra work for parents, bulky for baby and I am still dubious about their eco credentials with the amount of water and electricity used to wash them!

Then we graduated to a mix of nappies, which included terries, BumGenius Flips Quickdry and Baba+Boo (dry quickly), alongside Tots Bots Bamboozles for heavier times

Bamboozles is an appropriate word for what I feel when I look at that list of nappies. How can anyone claim its simple when you would need to purchase all those different brands for one child’s arse? I don’t even know how many brands are there. Some look like they could be all one name or 3 different names. Who has time for that?

And that’s after already using two different brands (including disposable! ) for the newborn.

We didn't have the space or amenities to dry them.

@TitusPullo I love my period pants! They are amazing right?! I have some modi body and now bought some eco Lilly pads too 🙂

I fully intended to use reusables and had loads of them, second-hand, the nappy pails, reusable wipes too, the works.

Then DD arrived and pooed 8 times a day until she was 8 months old, and I just did not have that kind of time.

Bamboozles is an appropriate word for what I feel when I look at that list of nappies. How can anyone claim its simple when you would need to purchase all those different brands for one child’s arse? I don’t even know how many brands are there. Some look like they could be all one name or 3 different names. Who has time for that?

Or the money! Seriously that poster must realise they are posting from a place of privilege?

@willFOURbagsbeenough you don’t need to have a range. It just depends what you go for. We use terry cloths with motherease wraps and they will do my son from birth to potty training. But because there is so much variety some people prefer to use a range.

I font have the space, time, money or head space to deal with the extra work load.
Honestly the up front cost was more than 2 months rent as I'd need loads just to keep on top of them and for that money I can get all the nappies my child will need as I bulk buy.
I do however try to be as environmental conscious as possible in other areas of my life but nappies I just can't justify

[quote KatyClaire]@willFOURbagsbeenough you don’t need to have a range. It just depends what you go for. We use terry cloths with motherease wraps and they will do my son from birth to potty training. But because there is so much variety some people prefer to use a range.[/quote]
Please- I’ve been there, done that. I know what’s involved.

Btw- you don’t know that what you use currently will do your child through to potty training. You hope but you don’t know.

We are doing a mix but my son is now 15 months. When we have a second I won’t be using reusable initially for the ease but will switch once baby is fully weaned. It is fine now that he is fully weaned and only pops every other day. I won’t do the newborn stage of a poo every feed with them, plus sleep deprivation and difficulty feeding. He wears a disposable at night as he would leak through even with a booster. When we are home he has a reusable on but out and about I use disposable, again for ease. They use reusable at his nursery now as well which saves us money to. I’m surprised how easy I have found the reusable nappies but they can be expensive to get a full set and if I was out and about more I doubt I would be using them as much. Yes I’m lazy but I have enough other stuff to contend with.

I mean your baby is “fairly new” according to you OP. You actually don’t have a clue about what you’re trying to sell to others here.

Personal choice really I used cloth nappies with dd and it restricted her leg movement so went back to disposable ones

@Piglet89 is right. We shouldn't be expecting women to return to drudgery while we wait for the patriarchy to get sorted.
My DH was more than happy to care for his dc and I accept there is more to do with twins.
But realistically if the woman is on mat leave, bloke at work how can the bloke do equal number or more of these nappy changes.
The bloke isn't there, it is also highly likely that he will be doing fewer night changes particularly if baby if breastfed. Because he has work the next day.
The same for being around for washing, drying etc.
I'm just not seeing how most men are going to be doing anything like their share of all this extra work.
Thankfully while far from perfect DH didn't suggest "green" options that would be much more work for me.