Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Does It Ever Get Easier? And other beginner questions
This past week, at one of our cloth diaper workshops, I asked, as I always do after presenting all of the diaper styles, if anyone had any questions. One first-time mom-to-be asked "does it ever get any easier". To which I answered yes, it does. Yes, there is a lot to learn about cloth diapering, just as there is a lot to learn about pregnancy, child birth, post-partum recovery, and parenting. Having cloth diapered my two children, beginning in 2005, I can't remember when I DIDN'T know about cloth diapering, but, like any new skill, there is a learning curve.
I remember looking at a picture of a prefold and wondering how it worked and why it was called a prefold when it was flat, so without further ado, here are some questions to some very common beginner questions....
Does it ever get easier?
Absolutely. My father-in-law has a great saying: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Cloth diapering does have a lot of specific terminology and care instructions, and it comes together very quickly as soon as you jump in. A lot of people are curious about cloth diapers and come to the decision to try it at different stages: some before they've delivered, some with young babies, others with babies starting to toilet train. Anytime is the right time to try cloth diapering. Simply get yourself some diapers, pour yourself a nice cup of tea (not required, but is sometimes nice) and take a deep breath, then say to yourself, "today is the day I start cloth diapering." Prepare your diapers as required by the manufacturer's instructions, and then put it on your baby. See how easy that was? You're doing it!
Why is a prefold called a prefold when it's flat?
Until the 1950s, moms were using what are now known as "birds eye flat diapers", typically around three-feet-square. These diapers were made of a weave of cotton similar to medical gauze with an open-weave, meaning they weren't especially absorbent. These diapers were folded in such a way as to provide more layers between baby's legs, where wetting happens. Over time, the diapers were produced with the extra layers sewn in to the middle, creating a flat diaper with two seams and three panels, because it removed the need for extra folding, it is called a "prefolded diaper", or simply a prefold.
I'm pregnant and I don't know what kind of diaper to pick. What if it doesn't work for my baby?
This is a VERY COMMON concern. Any cloth diaper style you find at Nurtured will work, it simply depends on the style as to how big your baby will need to be before the diaper fits well. Families are often concerned that a particular style won't work on a chubby baby or a skinny baby, and yes, there are some that work particularly well for those builds, but all diaper brands are generalized enough in fit that you shouldn't have a lot of trouble, regardless of the build of your baby. Normally, after going over all of the choices, families will have one or two brands that jump out as being more attractive for their needs. If you're nervous, we HIGHLY recommend buying even one or two of each style that interests you before the baby comes, that way you have them on hand to try when it feels right. If you want to try ALL of the diapers, we have two options: a sampler kit you can purchase and a cloth diaper experience program you can rent for two weeks. So often we hear "I meant to get started a lot sooner, but..." These are all great ways to make sure cloth diapering doesn't become a lost priority for your family.
This is just the beginning of your frequently asked questions. If there's anything you'd like to see us cover, please let us know!
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