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?

[quote Bathbea]@Thesearmsofmine I'll save you some research, the bioldegradable bin bags are really expensive, much much much more so than plastic, therefore not very accessible to most people. Probably why PP didn't want to say anything useful about it.[/quote]
Thanks, yes I’ve seen them but as you say they are expensive and I’ve seen that some biodegradable bags etc don’t break down that well in landfill conditions.
I was hoping the poster might have an option I’d not seen and as someone clearly interested in reducing plastic they might share but apparently not.

We tried them, my friend runs the local cloth nappy group and kindly gave us a sample of different brands when DS was born. Tried them all, and just didn't get on with them. I wouldn't mind the additional work, but found they leaked a lot even with the additional inserts, he found them uncomfortable, clothes that allowed for the bigger nappy comfortably were more expensive, and he often got nappy rash, despite following the guidance and seeking advice and help!

In honesty we try and limit everything else we do and consume, so I don't feel too bad about using disposable nappies. I use washable period pads and find them fine, but making DS uncomfortable in addition to the extra work was just not worthwhile for us. I do think it's a shame more people aren't open to trying them at least, but the outlay can be expensive, even if there are grants from some councils etc.

Unfortunately although it sounds horrible a lot of the online groups are really elitist and wooden rainbows in my experience, and it puts a lot of people off. Disposables are also so readily available and handy, it's a hard win.

@Thesearmsofmine the council here won't take paper bin bags, and as a PP said the bio ones are so expensive. I have looked into it before as I would be keen to try something new, but having "researched" aka Googled it previously I couldn't find anything else, so it's a shame that poster won't answer!

You sound like hard work.

The cardinal mumsnet sin

OP on page 1 of this 30-page thread someone asked if you were doing PR for a reusable nappy website. You never answered them. Why?

@SomersetHamlyn because I assumed it was someone just being PA and sarky rather than a serious question. I don’t think it really needs to be said but no, I am not PR for any company.

How long could it possibly take to type ‘I use X instead of bin bags’?

About as long as it would take you to google if you were actually interested.

I do find this attitude a bit odd. If you care enough about the environment to use an alternative to bin bags, wouldn’t you want to share your solution with other interested individuals who might then make the switch rather than hoarding your info like some kind of eco-Smaug?

Nice try. Do your own homework. I’m sure you’ve already started a thread on the eco board asking for info, right? Because you really care.

at the oh so sad stories of posters who can’t not use plastic bin liners because a MNer won’t tell them how. If your research stopped at “bio bags are too dear” then you aren’t really interested.

@willFOURbagsbeenough your attitude is really odd. It's bags that go in the bin, not anything around personal experiences that take physical and emotional effort and labour to type out and share. At a guess, it's because there isn't much out there that's at an accessible price point for people.

@willFOURbagsbeenough your attitude is odd, I can only conclude you have no amazing alternative that hasn’t been mentioned or else it would be all over google and the various zero waste groups I am in. People who care about reducing waste tend to be enthusiastic to share and encourage other people reducing their waste because it is important to them. I guess your intention was to look like you have some kind of superior knowledge, it failed and now you will just keep telling people to research for themselves in an attempt to look like you know something we don’t,

Well. This escalated.

@Fuckadoodledoooo

Well. This escalated.

bickering about bin bags, only on Mumsnet

I can only conclude you have no amazing alternative that hasn’t been mentioned or else it would be all over google

Oh you wanted something amazing to put your rubbish in? Sorry- doesn’t exist. Plastic bags aren’t amazing, the alternatives aren’t amazing, they’re just alternatives. (And all over google) Each has their pros and cons, just like plastic. I’m not sure why you would expect something amazing? Maybe that’s the problem.

I guess your intention was to look like you have some kind of superior knowledge

No actually, I commented on the ridiculousness of OPs statement and then people who were too lazy to look for themselves said “tell me all you know so I can never be bothered to do it” and now they’re sulking because I didn’t salivate at the opportunity.

@Fuckadoodledoooo

Well. This escalated.

Indeed and to return us to the original discussion I'd just like to repost this comment and say just how accurate it is.

I do find it annoying that it's mothers who are blamed for landfill and environmental damage for using items to make their lives easier.
If only Governments were as enthusiastic in stopping the big industrial risks to the environment.

No one is sulking, but you have exerted a lot more energy in being ridiculous about it, and kinda exemplifies why a lot of people who reach out for help don't bother when met with attitudes like that. Google says 50 degradable bin liners are 5 x more than normal ones, and for smaller sizes which seems pretty crap. Same as if someone Google's reusable nappies it comes up with a lot of guff, the best way for people to be encouraged is surely with support and advice?

@Thesearmsofmine absolutely.

Men aren’t bickering about binbags, that’s for sure. Too busy doing important business like - I don’t know - running the WHO and telling us all
why we need to be breastfeeding regardless of how shit we find it.

Like, honestly - FUCK OFF. **

** Full disclosure: have had wine.

I do find it annoying that it's mothers who are blamed for landfill and environmental damage for using items to make their lives easier.

Women usually get blamed for stuff, mothers are even more of an appetising target.

I bought mine second hand, used them for my first, gave them to my sister for her third then had them back for my second. I then sold them on. Saved a fortune.

They definitely didn't spoil the washer and nursery and childminder were happy to have them.

Got a cheap bucket with a lid, my work ( science teacher ) gave me an old fashioned weight to put on top, still got it 15 yrs on. Makes me smile whenever I see it.

I loved it when they came in from being hung out, all white and smelling fresh.

I also had a child with a cleft and pumped, thankfully my husband did all the washing as I was busy being milked. Hated pumping, one of the best days of my life when I gave that up.

I'm glad we used them and I never needed special clothes, in fact I'd never heard of that until I read this. I also never joined any groups I don't think that was a thing then or I missed it.

Haha to clarify, not arsed about bin bags. It's just the attitude is similar to some on reusable nappy groups, which no doubt puts at least some people off.

@DittyPL

No one is sulking, but you have exerted a lot more energy in being ridiculous about it, and kinda exemplifies why a lot of people who reach out for help don't bother when met with attitudes like that. Google says 50 degradable bin liners are 5 x more than normal ones, and for smaller sizes which seems pretty crap. Same as if someone Google's reusable nappies it comes up with a lot of guff, the best way for people to be encouraged is surely with support and advice?

And there’s the obligatory guilt tripping for not “being kind” and doing the leg work for you.

It's bin bags, not sure why you are trying to make it out to be akin to asking someone for their experiences, as noted above. Again, a lot of people in online groups are like this with the nappies, like some odd club that if you aren't a part of, you can't be until you trapse through pages of Google hits to try and weed out some useful info that makes you part of the enlightened.

I’m not trying to make it out to be anything. Like I said, I commented on OPs post, in the context of her OP lamenting the thousands of plastic nappies other people are putting in landfill. Other people, including the OP, and now you, then tried to turn it around and make it into something.

Can we all just agree that none of us really give this much of AF about bin bags and @willFOURbagsbeenough can therefore save herself the effort of cultivating an air of mystery about her secret alternatives?

I think this is a new baby thing. I say that because cloth nappies and baby wraps/carriers are super commonplace nowadays, and I think as a new parent you (generic you) are desperate to find a tribe. So you try to make the things you use or do into markers, that stand you apart from the melee of other parents.

All the while other parents, especially longer term parents look at you a little askew as the things you are latching on to really aren't as unusual as you think they are.

I just did a wee eBay search for used reusable nappies (filtered, selecting only “used”)

They’re really not that much less expensive than they would be new (and many of those auctions had 3 or 4 days left to go and so the final price will probably be really quite near what they would have been new).

This is another barrier to access.