Comments on: Mental Mission: What Did You Throw Away Today?

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:10:19 +0000

You gals are awesome! K, let’s be black sheep together as long as our world and our kids are better for it.

Alison and Becca, thank you both for the tips. It’s really fun that readers are having conversations with each other! Katie

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:20:12 +0000

Becca, I like your idea of underpants under cloth dipe covers for potty training (especially since I have all the pieces already), will have to try it for my younger son when he is ready to learn. And, hmmm, maybe for my older boy who has been sleeping through his body’s signals at night!
Enjoying the dialogue, Alison

By: 'Becca

'Becca — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:49:00 +0000

Alison, you have some good points. I’m a professional researcher (but in social science, not environmental) and I haven’t yet seen a comparison of cloth and disposable diapers that didn’t have a gaping flaw in its logic, for example comparing the impact of one DIAPER of each kind instead of one USE of each kind of diaper…but I can believe that the difference is not really that big.

What sold me on cloth diapers was the idea of reusing vs. making heaps of garbage, plus the aesthetics–sposies feel and smell bad to me, worse that disposable maxi-pads which I can’t stand to use myself, so why would I put them on my baby? Then when I started diapering, I found that the cloth ones were just superior diapers: no blowouts, less odor, adjustable absorbency! Click my name for my article on the subject.

Katie, I do think it is wise to resist the pressure to switch diapering systems now since this baby may be your last. However, when you start toilet-training her, consider using underpants under cloth-diaper covers (to reduce leaks) instead of super-absorbent Pullups which may prevent her from being aware of accidents. It worked really well for us!
.-= ‘Becca´s last blog ..Rambling Sprawl Estates =-.

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:47:06 +0000

Katie, don’t feel bad for not using cloth. I’ve used cloth diapers, off & on, for about 3 years of my total of 5 1/2 years of diapering so far. At that time I bought them I already knew the overall impact was similar for cloth dipes and sposies (here’s a current summary http://www.grist.org/article/wee-wee-wee-all-the-way-home ) I initially switched to them mostly from pressure from my friends in my “natural living” moms group. I used daily for about a year initially; then for months at a time off & on to save on the costs of buying sposies. I have a front loader washing machine so water & detergent use is relatively low but both my kids are, uh, frequent in their output of um, well, sticky/gooshy, solid waste so the cleaning process is not as quick & simple as I was led to believe by my friends… Also I’ve noticed that it is very easy to spend a LOT of money on cute, handmade covers and various styles of diapers–note all the ebay listings saying “barely used, selling my CD stash…” (and some are still $20+ second-hand!). So now when friends ask my opinion I say use cloth diapers if it helps your child with diaper rash or you will enjoy it as a hobby, otherwise use sposies and focus on the green lifestyle choices that will be with your family for your child’s entire life–ie limit driving, reduce packaging & waste, try to use washable dishes, cutlery and napkins, etc. etc. No matter how “ideal” one’s diapering choice is, one’s child won’t remember it!

By: K @ Prudent and Practical

K @ Prudent and Practical — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:10:45 +0000

I don’t know. She’s a baby-boomer nurse, super-germaphobe. She’s extremely concerned that I’m (just-turned) 26 and childless so the “baby” topic comes up all the time. To make it short, I said something about breastfeeding and cloth-diapering. Her response: “Ew, yuck, honey, why would you do that to yourself? Those are A LOT of work. And what if the baby doesn’t want to breastfeed.” I backed myself up, but she kept rambling. I’ll just continue being the “black sheep” of my family!
.-= K @ Prudent and Practical´s last blog ..Christmas Baking: Biscotti =-.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:30:47 +0000

I keep thinking I will start using my cloth napkins, but I seem to accumulate paper ones that certainly need to be used more than once. My dog and I do a pet therapy visit once a week at a hospital I used to work at, and as a volunteer, I get food coupons to use in their bistro, so eat my dinner there on that particular day. They have the nice dinner napkins, so when I’m finished using one, I stick it in my pocket or fanny pack (hoping no one sees me & thinks me a bit neurotic) and continue to use it at home until it’s falling apart. Then I put it in a paper bag under my sink and use it to wipe out greasy pans before I wash them.

I do use paper towels occasionally to wrap potatoes for baking in the microwave, but will use them a second or third time for the same purpose. Then, they, too, go into the paper bag until I need them for wiping out grease — or cleaning up a spot on the floor.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:44:50 +0000

Wow, what an awesome testament to environmentalism! CD, I know, I know…the reader pressure is intense here! Katie

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:36:57 +0000

Heh heh heh…yes, I feel the pressure! I really wanted to make the switch when Lovey Girl was ~10 mos. old, but I as afraid of investing more $ than I would spend on disposables before she potty-trained, since I don’t know God’s plans for the size of our family. If we conceive again, I’m in! Katie

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:39:05 +0000

Becca,
I read your article – fabulously written, touching and very poignant with truth. Thank you for sharing! Katie

By: Ellen

Ellen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:52:54 +0000

I’m just finding this post today…we haven’t thrown anything out today, but we have been doing a few improvements:
using cloth napkins (haven’t bought paper napkins in almost 1 year)
use microfiber cloths (instead of paper towels – although we still use pt – just in more limited ways)

Something I hope to do this next year is to buy some good SS water bottles & SS thermos containers so we can give up our plastic water bottle routine & take hot lunches with us to our homeschool co-op!
.-= Ellen´s last blog ..Slug & Ant Giveaway!!! =-.