Get Dad to Use Cloth Diapers
How to Convince a Reluctant Parent to Try Cloth Diapering
Some parents are reluctant to try the world of cloth diapering. Learn how to convince your partner how cloth diapers are the perfect fit for your family.
A parent who wants to use cloth diapers often struggles to convince his or her partner (most often the dad) to give cloth diapering a try. Frequently, the hestitant parent has some hang up over a particular issue of cloth diapers. It may be that he is unaware of the many benefits of cloth. By discovering what is causing dad's hesitancy with cloth diapers and providing factual information, he can be brought on board to cloth diapering.
The Benefit of Cloth Diapers
- Cost. Roughly $2800 - $3500 will be spent to diaper baby in disposables. The grand total for cloth diapering a baby for three years (including the cost of laundering) is as little as $900. Further, cloth diapers can easily be reused for future children with only a little investment to replace a few covers.
- Health. If dad is health conscious, he might be swayed when he hears of the health benefits of cloth. The chemicals in disposable diapers that are alarming include dioxin, Tributyl-tin (TBT), and sodium polyacrylate. Specifically, dioxin is a carcinogenic chemical, banned in many countries. Further, a research study revealed that disposable diapers increased the scrotal temperature of boys. This could impact fertility later in life.
- Environment. Most people are somewhat aware of the danger disposable diapers pose to the environment. However, the full extent of the damage disposables do often escapes both parents. Disposable diapers make up 50% of household waste and ranks third as the most common consumer item in landfills. Dad may not realize that the manufacturing of disposables generates 2.3 times more waste that the manufacturing of cloth diapers.
- Fashion. A lesser known benefit of cloth is the cute factor. Custom cloth diapers can be embroidered with dad's favorite football team and outfits can be coordinated with matching print diapers. The cloth diapered baby bottom is much cuter than any disposable diaper.
Address His Concern with Cloth Diapers
- Pins and putting the cloth diaper on. The world of pins and rubber pants is no more. Diapers, such as pocket diapers and all-in-ones, go on and off like disposables. Velcro, snaps, and aplix make changing a diaper a simple task.
- Clean up of dirty cloth diapers. Dad should be aware that innovations to cloth diapering make clean up easy. Poop plops from the liner right in the toilet. There is no longer a need to dunk and ring out cloth diapers. Coincidentally, the packaging of many disposable diapers state that soil must be deposited in toilets as well. There should be no difference in soil clean up of cloth and disposable diapers.
- Laundry. Some dads feel apprehensive about using the washing machine to clean diapers. Laundering diapers at home is simple and efficient. No residue is left behind in the washing machine. There is no need to worry that the diapers or washing machine will be "dirty" after a laundering. Everything comes out nice and clean.
- Odor. There is actually less odor from cloth diapers than disposable diapers. Disposable diapers will reek after a week's wait for trash removal. Dirty cloth diapers are not stored to percolate in the stench of baby poop. Further, parents will likely wash diapers 2 -3 times a week, depending on their need. Cloth diapering keeps ahead of odor problems and helps the whole house smell cleaner.
Some cloth diaper businesses feature trial packages that might help persuade a reluctant parent to try cloth diapering. By dispelling the myths and stating the facts about cloth diapers, it can make dad eager to try cloth diapers. Both parents can learn that cloth diapering is a wonderful fit for their family.
See Holistic Parenting for more information on related topics.
McCarthy, Mary. "How You Can Save Thousands of Dollars On Your Baby" Website: Diaperpin, 2000.
Real Diaper Association. Diaper Facts. Website: Accessed: 12/19/2007.
