We just came back from a great week away with our family in Port Macquarie. With two in nappies we had to make a decision - cloth or disposable? This was a big decision... In the end we decided the nappies could come on holidays too - afterall we know how easy they are to wash and use.
So we packed up the car with a box of cloth nappies. They took up no more room then a box of disposables would have (and I would have needed two boxes - one for each child).
We found the nappies didn't take up any extra time on our holiday. With a tiny bin in a serviced apartment we didn't have to continually take out the garbage (down 3 flights of stairs to the basement), nor did our room stink in the summer heat.
We simply washed the nappies in the machine before bed and hung them on the clothes horse in the morning. It was honestly that simple. A nice warm destination meant they dried quickly.
Our change mats also got a nice work out as we had no change tables on holidays so resorted to the floor - even better the mats doubled as a play mat for our 3 month old who I didn't want rolling around on the carpet.
So, if your holiday destination permits (insert 'has a washing machine') you should feel comfortable to take your nappies with you. They truly do not create much work and there is no worries with the garbage or running out of nappies. Surprisingly they took up less space in our jam packed car then disposables would have.
Sunday 24 February 2013
Tuesday 5 February 2013
Modern Cloth Nappies Misunderstood - Going to preschool
I took my little Charlotte to her new day care centre yesterday to put in her acceptance forms. Whilst there I asked about nappies. The centre has a policy that the parents supply the nappies for the children. My main concern - can we send our daughter with her cloth nappies. This seems like it may be an issue as the centre would prefer we do what all the other parents are doing - send her in disposables.
Don't get me wrong. I am not anti disposable. I see they have a place in society, I do feel however they are overused. I'd rather Charlotte use her normal nappies as for us it is a cost saving, I like to know we are not creating any more waste then neccessary and I feel good about my daughter being in something so natural.
It seems the main issue was what they would do with the nappies. Most believe they need to go straight into a wet pale (a hazard in any childcare centre). I explained I could provide a wet bag they could place them straight into and leave with Charlotte's things.
I could see the girl trying to work with me, but we were on a different page. She was imagining terry flats, pilchers, pins and a whole lot of work when she has 5 other kids to change. I left it with the centre to make a decision about what we would do. I honestly want them to make the decision as I'd hate to be causing an issue for the girls who are brave enough looking after 5 kids under the age of 3 every day.
I'd also hate for them to be hesitant about changing Charlotte and for her to stay too long in her nappy.
I often wonder if cloth is coming back?, or easing further into the background? Are we making headway in educating people about the 'new' world of cloth nappies?
As a user I feel they are so easy, yet I see from an outside perspective they are misunderstood. Parents worry about extra washing, drying etc and are still not aware that there is no need to soak modern cloth nappies, no need to fold them and that new fabrics like bamboo make them trimmer, healthier and a overall cleaner product.
How can we further educate parents to understand that cloth is an easy option? Many councils are now coming on board - In the UK their are generous financial incentives for parents to purchase cloth nappies. Will we see a similar trend start up here in Australia?
I'd love to hear from other parents who have made headway in their child care centre? Or that have converted other parents? What is the biggest barrier to getting people to make the switch?
Don't get me wrong. I am not anti disposable. I see they have a place in society, I do feel however they are overused. I'd rather Charlotte use her normal nappies as for us it is a cost saving, I like to know we are not creating any more waste then neccessary and I feel good about my daughter being in something so natural.
It seems the main issue was what they would do with the nappies. Most believe they need to go straight into a wet pale (a hazard in any childcare centre). I explained I could provide a wet bag they could place them straight into and leave with Charlotte's things.
I could see the girl trying to work with me, but we were on a different page. She was imagining terry flats, pilchers, pins and a whole lot of work when she has 5 other kids to change. I left it with the centre to make a decision about what we would do. I honestly want them to make the decision as I'd hate to be causing an issue for the girls who are brave enough looking after 5 kids under the age of 3 every day.
I'd also hate for them to be hesitant about changing Charlotte and for her to stay too long in her nappy.
I often wonder if cloth is coming back?, or easing further into the background? Are we making headway in educating people about the 'new' world of cloth nappies?
As a user I feel they are so easy, yet I see from an outside perspective they are misunderstood. Parents worry about extra washing, drying etc and are still not aware that there is no need to soak modern cloth nappies, no need to fold them and that new fabrics like bamboo make them trimmer, healthier and a overall cleaner product.
How can we further educate parents to understand that cloth is an easy option? Many councils are now coming on board - In the UK their are generous financial incentives for parents to purchase cloth nappies. Will we see a similar trend start up here in Australia?
I'd love to hear from other parents who have made headway in their child care centre? Or that have converted other parents? What is the biggest barrier to getting people to make the switch?
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