Cloth diapers make wonderful cleaning rags
Oct 26 '00
Cloth versus Disposable
Here is the story about my experience with Cloth VS Disposable.
When I was pregnant with my first child I was young. I was 20 years old and full of ideas about how I alone would save the environment. I didn't use any type of aerosol products for fear of damaging the ozone layer. I only used Natural products for fear of exposing my body to hidden chemicals that could harm me. Well, you get the picture.
Upon finding out I was pregnant I became gung ho in making sure that my baby got the best. I intended on breast feeding, using only cloth diapers, and making my own baby food and more.
For one of my baby showers I was given a whole large supply of cloth diapers, pins, liners, covers and a diaper pail. I was stocked up and ready for this baby to come. During my pregnancy I seemed to grow larger and larger. My tiny body becoming increasingly worn out. I finally gave birth to my 10lb 2 oz baby boy two week after my due date. I had to have a C-section due to the large size of the baby. I was left in considerable pain and wiped out to the core. The first of my ideas to leave me was the breast-feeding. I just couldn't do it. I was so sore and so tired that under a drug induced state I told the baby nurse to just give him a bottle. I regretted that down the road but hey when you are worn out and drugged up from having a c--section you sometimes do crazy things.
5 days later I was finally released from the hospital. My baby, and I arrived at home. Sent home with us were a few days supply of formula, various paperwork and a new bag of disposable diapers. I immediately thought to myself that I was not going to put any more disposable diapers on my baby. My mother told me that I should wait to use the cloth until I could actually walk around. So I continued to use the disposable diapers for the rest of those first few weeks.
Upon my feeling better I decided that I would finally switch over to the cloth diapers. I got my diaper pail ready with the deodorant scented water in it. I opened up the packs of pins. I washed, ironed and folded the supply of cloth diapers that I had. Readied all of the liners, and cover-ups. I was finally ready. After using the cloth diapers for one full day I realized how hard it really was going to be. They required me to change the baby much more often then I had needed to when using the disposables. They were much more messy and required additional scrubbing time when changing the baby. I suddenly thought that maybe I wouldn't be able to stand all this additional work. I was a new Mom who was feeling increasingly overwhelmed with all of these new experiences I was going through. I stuck with the cloth diapers for about 3 weeks. I wanted to give it a good try hoping that I would eventually get use to it. However, I just seemed to grow more and more resentful of those dirty cloth diapers. I was suddenly washing much more. Trips out for the day were very hard. I was left toting around 2 large diaper bags. Finally I gave in to my frustration and bought a bag of disposables. I rationalized it to myself that I would only use them while out.
All to quickly I somehow started using those disposables more and more. Had I became lazy? More likely I was just to worn down to think about it. It could have just been the severe post partum depression I had, or the fact that I was just so tiered and not thinking clearly that led to my decision? I am not sure what really triggered it but one morning while feeling a bit on the edge. I bagged up my entire supply of cloth diapers and threw them into the closet. I was from then on a disposable diaper Mom!
Now as a Mom of three I find it so much easier to just use the disposable diapers. I am not saying that it’s the best choice and I totally understand about the landfill problem. I was just someone like many who caved in for convenience. Something about being able to just wrapped up the disgusting dirty diaper and throw it in the garbage can to be done with it appeals to me more then saving the environment. Does that make me a bad parent? No, just a Mom who knows her limits. I still use only non-aerosol products even though they say the aerosols are safe now. I recycle our cans, jars, and papers. I try to reuse things that we have to cut down on garbage. Yet I am sticking with the disposables.
My advice to you if your trying to decide on what type of diapers to use for your baby is to read everything you can about it. It is very hard work using cloth diapers. However if you can handle the extra work then go for it. Just know what your getting into first.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
sharmck
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Location: USA
Reviews written: 130
Trusted by: 122 members
About Me:
Epinions isn't what it once was. IS IT!
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.