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Sunday, October 4, 2009

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Washing at MIL's converts SIL

Recently our family went on a little road trip to stay with the in-laws for a week. Everyone already knows that we cloth diaper and it was no surprise when we showed up with two big bags filled with inserts, prefolds, covers, Fuzzi Bunz, bumGenius, wet bags and all our other cloth diapering accessories. Carrying on with our meet and greet of our new baby, 4 month old Jett, everyone ohhh’d and awww’d over his cute FuzziBunz. Then, the rumbling bum started and a diaper change was needed. I was surprised by all the questions about how I get the diaper off, washed, dried, and back into action again! When bombarded with questions about what, how and why I was doing what I was doing I realized I was not prepared to discuss our dirty laundry. What I didn’t realize was, I needed to explain and even defend what I was doing. Questions about poop and rash and cream and everything under the sun needed answering all while I was trying to snap on another diaper! {Talk about multitasking!}

Throughout every step of the diapering process was under careful observation by skeptics. My expecting sister in law was immediately attached to me for the whole process. So with the first load of laundry coming close, we all did a walk through of how I store/wash diapers. I explained and demonstrated to my mother-in-law, sisters-in-law and cousins:
  1. I keep a wet bag on the door knob. I never rinse the diapers; just toss them in the bag (our son is breastfed and I haven’t had a need to rinse/spray his diapers yet). I do acknowledge that once my son starts solids I may have to rinse them or use a toilet sprayer. An audible "awe" comes from the crowd as I explain the toilet sprayer contraption.
  2. I wash the diapers every other day.
    a) I first run the diapers through a cold rinse cycle. I explain this helps loosen the poop. b) Then I wash the diapers in hot water with a tiny bit of detergent. Of course I stress the additional money savings involved as I use significantly less detergent than they thought. Here I stress another money saver in using less detergent than they thought.
    c) Run the diapers through one additional rinse cycle to ensure there is no excess detergent.
    d) Throw them in the dryer and TADA!
I also explain the ‘sunning’ system and how the stains come right out and the sun helps fight any smell issues so there's no need for bleach.. As the diapers come out of the dryer I assemble/stuff the ones that need assembling and stack the rest.

Everyone picks up a diaper or two; someone even takes a good sniff and then they began speaking amongst themselves. I felt sort of silly standing there as though I had just given an oral report in school and I was waiting on my grade or evaluation, a "you pass" or "you fail." Finally, my sister-in-law said, “That is so easy! I’m going to cloth diaper this baby,” as she rubs her 9 month pregnant belly! By the time we returned home my sister in law had already made her first purchase of cloth diapers (from Kelly's Closet of course)!

I was so nervous with using and washing our cloth at our family's house; I was so consumed and worried with being polite as possible about our dirty diapers hanging around that I didn’t realize that cloth diapering (as a whole) was being tested through me! I was honest about the issues I had in using different diapers, covers, and other things - but I also showed everyone how easy and convenient cloth diapers are, especially in the most inconvenient of times. Staying positive and natural about the whole process spoke for itself.

-- by Jennifer W.

11 comments:

Attila & Tamara said...

Yea! That is awesome! When I told my sister a few weeks ago that I was going to start cloth diapering, I thought I would get the "You are becoming such a hippie" comment. But instead she said "I've thought about CDing, too". I think a lot of times young moms are open to CDing, but they just need to see that it can work, and have an example, like you! For me, reading blogs like this and hearing from other moms has been such and encouragement and I have learned SO much!

Lynn said...

That is very similar to my experience last March when I visited my family. Now I live here and I can't use cloth because the dryer eats the diapers but as soon as we move, my little one will be back in cloth! :)

Theresa A. said...

Thank you for this post! I too feel like I am defending CDing because it seems so many people have a negative bias. But good for you for converting you sister!

Melia said...

That is great! I think more people would cloth diaper if they knew how easy it was. I wish I had known when I first became a mom. It would have saved me a ton of money! I try to tell everyone that will listen. Some people aren't open to it, but pp are right that there are alot of people who become quickly interested!! Thanks so much for sharing!

Honey said...

Wow, that's so awesome that you helped your SIL make the decision to cloth diaper!! She's lucky to have you around as a resource :)

Jill DiGiovanni said...

This post is great! I haven't had my baby yet (coming late November) but everyone around me is pretty skeptical about cloth diapering...I know this will be me in just a few short months, and I will definitely be giving demos and discussions! I also love your tips on how and how often you wash. Thanks:)

Jill said...

Wow I have showed a couple of friends and they have showed mild interest and a couple asked via facebook and one is so far doing flats and rubber pants but looking to upgrade with her newborn and the other never said another word. both grandmas have changed a diaper (due to my having surgery) and my mom (who cd'd in the 70s) is shocked at the diapers but nothing else and my MIL basically said nothing but how do you do this and then, that was easy. my niece (age 11) said, oh, so you just wash them? yup, that's it. none of the guys have said anything. shrug. it's all in perspective I guess. we've dropped a wad of cash on diapers but saved more by breastfeeding feeding our baby table food instead of baby food, so it all evens out.

Jenna said...

WTG on the conversion!

Tiffany said...

I had the same thing happen to me with my sister in law! She is due in January and is acquiring her simple stash right now!

Ameya said...

Awesome! It took a long time for me to convince my family that i wasn't insane, and now turns out my cousin is going to CD (while not in daycare) as well! Lucky her, i did all the smooth-talkin' work for her! LOL!

ONCE upon a time.... said...

fantastic for you! i also feel like i have to defend my choice, but having CD'd for over a year now, i am proud to say that i am a "hippie" or "granola" or whatever word people use because i know that i am doing my part environmentally to care for the planet, AND i'm saving a ton of money for my family! my mom and i are currently trying to get a local food bank to accept cloth diapers instead of sposies and they are going to let my mom set up an informational table about cloth diapers to see what the reaction is! way to go on teaching your SIL about the benefits of CD! PS to Lynn: i have hung my diapers to dry for about 6 months and they are staying in good condition...and they don't take too long to dry....worth a try to save your investment!!! :) --camille