While pregnant, I shared our decision to use cloth on our daughter when she was born with friends and family. Our decision was met with mostly skepticism. I can’t tell you the number of times I was told, “You will never make it.” Or, “Good luck the first time she has a blow out and you have to clean it up!” I would smile and nod, knowing in my head I couldn’t wait to prove the nay-sayers wrong.
Our daughter arrived, and we waited a few weeks until she fit into our OS diapers (next time I will definitely cloth diaper from the minute the baby is born and I can’t wait!). From the day we started, around 8 weeks, my husband and I have been in love with cloth diapering and have never questioned our decision. When I change my daughter in front of other moms who have never seen a modern cloth diaper, I usually get a few questions about the laundry, the clean up, and if I like them. Without going into a giddy rant, I try to sum up my love for our cloth diapers in a quick, “They are so easy and we couldn’t be happier with them!” I always hope said moms will ask more questions because cloth diapers are my favorite things to talk about, but I still haven’t encountered a mama who wanted to know more…
Until one day I got a voicemail from a long time friend. “Hi! I decided on a whim to start cloth diapering and I need a role model. Call me back.” If a smile could be bigger than ear to ear, that was the smile on my face. I immediately called my friend back and tried not to talk her ear off and overwhelm her. She had stopped into a local cloth diaper store, bought a few Flip covers, inserts, and some laundry detergent, and headed on her way. I had just discovered my love for the Flip system so we chatted a bit about that. She was going to wash her diapers and start the next morning with her little guy and she would let me know how it went. The rest of the day we texted back and forth about laundry tips, storing tips, wet bags, and more. I was in cloth diaper sharing heaven!
Like most mamas, she was addicted after one day. I think it was less than a week later that she sent me a picture of her first homemade wet bag (did I mention she is crafty?). Within 2 weeks, she had gone back and bought a few other types and brands of diapers to try out. It feels so great to know that my “crazy decision” has led even just one more baby to a fluffy bum.
Fresh off my cloth diapering sharing success, I had the guts to take a chance on a newly pregnant friend. Kelly’s Closet was having an awesome deal on the book, “Changing Diapers”. I decided to send it to her with a card explaining my love for cloth diapers and how our journey has gone in case she may be interested in looking into cloth diapering her baby in a few months. I was nervous to step out on the ledge (why is it that we feel we are bothering other mamas when it is something that is better for baby, Earth, and pocket book?) and send it, but I did it anyway. She emailed me a few days later saying she was excited to read the book and that she had actually discussed cloth diapers with her husband after they found out they were expecting.
Again, I smiled ear to ear. I am so glad I got the guts to reach out and share a little of my love for cloth diapers with another mama. I can’t wait to do it again!
3 comments:
We still have 8 weeks to go, but I'm totally in love with cloth and have been raving about it for months. I've done so much research, have consulted friends who've done it, convinced my entire extended family that it's awesome (my 85-year-old grandmother, who did all 4 of her children in old school cloth nappies and plastic pants, thinks FuzziBunz are the best thing since sliced bread), and have even helped one of my friends who recently became a mom figure out what she needs to cloth diaper and how to do it. I'm so excited about cloth diapering, and I'm so glad there are so many people out there willing to share their stories and advice who help make it fun and easy for other new moms who are interested in trying it out. :)
I would love to be able to talk cloth to another mom.
It seems though that every time I change a diaper in public everyone seems to ignore what I'm using. Hopefully one day I'll get a "What's that?" question!
Oh my goodness, I am the same way! We don't have children yet, but we plan to start trying in the fall. *fingers crossed* I know I want to cloth diaper, but I don't know anyone who does and I don't know where to start. So all I can go by is what I find on the internet, which is how I cam across your post. :D If you have any tips, I would be more than happy to hear them.
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