How do you persuade people to use cloth nappies?

[floozie]

Hi Been a member on MN for ages, but not got round to posting - eek, sorry!Just thought i'd look at nappy threads and pleased to see loads of cloth nappyheads I use motherease one size for my 14month old ds, on recomenadtion of my sister who has used them for all of her 3 boys. I have several friends who are preg and interested in cloth nappies but I'm not sure they will actually use them. What has been your best argument to persuade a new mum/ mum to be to use them? i generally try the order of costsaving, env and finally, when desperate, the chemicals in disp. (although TBH, the order of importance to me is the reverse!). How do you do it?

well i found a fact on a nappy site the other day saying that 8million disposibles are chucked away everyday in the uk i think that pretty much brought home that the little bit of effort of using reusables is worth it and that u can get all cute nappy waraps and nappies and a clothy bum looks so cute

Tbh, I wouldn't really try - nothing is more irritating than someone getting on at you to do something their way. I have used cloth nappies since ds1 was 18 months, but I'd probably have used them much sooner if one particular friend hadn't gone on about them so much!

Just let them see you using them easily and don't make a big deal out of it and point them in the direction of MN or the Nappy Lady if they show any interest, then leave it at that.

I personally think that mums-to-be should be shown how to use cloth nappies at antenatal classes as I have always been put off getting them as i don't "understand" them . I was all for using them, swayed obviously by the cute designs, but when it came to it I was bamboozled by all the different options, the linings, napisan etc etc and chickened out! I then said I would use them when DS was doing "normal" poos but then the cost has put me off now.

I don't know anyone else who uses them to be able to show me and when I asked at nursery she said nobody uses them, they are all in disposables!

I will certainly look again at using them if I have anymore babies, maybe with more confidence I might give it a go second time round?

For me the importance of using cloths is 100% ecological.. every time I put a disposable in the bin I wince

You are prob right Daisymoo! Lead by example may just be the best way. I only talk about them if someone asks, or shows interest (although I do change DS bum at baby group as much as poss!). I have just asked my preg friends if they think they might use them and left it at that. I have a couple of friends with babies the same age as my DS who have just started using them as they see how easy, and how much I love, my nappies. I just get frustrated with the fact that disps are now the norm and some people don't even think to lot at the alterantive or come up with weird excuses - the latest one I heard was that cloth nappies are too expensive

Cute cloth bums could be the best argument babyjjbaby

Hi jojosmaman I think you have made a good point- although our generation were all brought up wearing terries (I am assuming you are as old as me- sorry!) the norm is now for dispo, so not everyone knows all about cloth nappies. I was fortunate that my sister used them, so I just brought the same ones she use, otherwise I think I would have found the info overwhelming too. It s a good idea to get info at antenatal classes - we had a bit but it was based on the old terry nappies, so very out of date (although I know they are still used - but not with pins!) I don't think it is ever too late to start useing them as you save alot of money, even just for one child, and you can always resell them - there's a big market for 2nd hand cloth nappies. although some of them are quite expensive, the terries are very cheap and using them with nappynippers and the modern wraps makes them very efficient. Many councils give a grant towards buying them too, so that is worth invetsigating. Blimey, look at me rambling on

i dont persuade people to use what i use.i do what i want-doesnt mean they should.my favorite food is pasta-i dont try to persuade people they should eat it too.

I wouldnt dream of telling someone what they should use- it's only when people show an interest. I just wondered what other people say to 'market' cloth nappies to their friends and family. Perhaps 'persuade' was the wrong word to use...

I don't think you can try to persuade people - no harm in mentioning it as an option and seeing if they are interested but anything more is irritating and patronising.

I generally chat about using cloth nappies at work and often bring mine in to show to pregnant colleagues (if they ask) because I think it's interesting how different modern ones are from terries, but I would never push the info on the uninterested. If they are the slightest bit green-minded they will have worked out the environmental effects for themselves.

in that case id just say i use them because...

Also, this might sound like a strange question but from an environmental POV do you (cloth nappy users!) ever think "why do I bother?" when you see the majority of people using disposables? I think this when I am pulling out my reusable jute bags as tesco and see everyone else packing carrier bags, I wonder whether I really am making a difference? But then using reusable bags doesnt make my life more difficult so I still do it whereas I imagine using cloth nappies is not as convenient as disposables so you are having to make more of an effort to "do your bit".

Sometimes it seems hardly worth the effort (feel the same about being car free)
Am having a dilemma about disposables. dd will be 4 in a couple of weeks and we currently pay for a nappy laundering service having done terries for 3 years. When she turns 4 the guvmint will give us free disposables. They wont, however, pay for the laundering service so we can continue using cloth. We're on benefits so free nappies is free nappies. But they are disposable

I have done a lot of persuading people into trying cloth nappies through local nappy projects that I worked on. I guess one of the best ways is to simply show people what modern nappies are like because most people don't see them anywhere, and then let it grow from there.

On the why bother front, I hate shopping and am very disorganised so found it much more convenient to have a set of nappies I could bung in the wash when we ran out rather than having to buy tons of disposable nappies everyweek (and spend all that money-eek!) so for me the cloth option was more convenient and cheaper. I even used washable wipes. Keeps our household rubbish to a minimum too.

need more coffee - that's an awkward situation, shame they couldn't give you the money to get some nappies to wash yourself or spend on the laundry service.

Message withdrawn

I don't think they're much more work...?

Honestly, I really don't (and I work - I often hear friends say "oh it would be feasibly if I were a SAHM but I'm not")

I do use disposables if I think DS might poo when we're out and about as I hate carrying a pooey nappy back in my handbag. Otherwise I find them much better all round - don't have to remember to buy them, don't have to lug them back from the shops, they leak less, DS gets less nappy rash in them... you name it really.

I never try to persuade people to use cloth -find it's the best way to put people off tbh.

I do demonstrations at all the local parenting classes (pre natal) to show what the nappies look like, feel like, how much they cost, ease of use etc. I never push the environmental thing (or even mention it unless asked) although I do mention the financial savings to be had. Never mention the chemicals in disposables as so much info available is misleading or incorrect so I'd rather say nothing than end up looking like I am lying to get people to use cloth. Most people at the classes take contact info and 90% people who take a trial kit or have a home demo end up using cloth . I think it is really important for people to get to see the nappies at the classes as there is very little opportunity to do so on the high street .

I have never thought why do I bother either, I have my reasons for using them and if others don't want to thats their choice. At least environmentally I am making a little bit of difference (actually quite a lot really when I think how much extra rubbish we had each week with DD1 in disposables).