Moms. does it make you smile when a pregnant woman says this?

[cari12]

I've already decided that I am using Playtex Drop-Ins (baby willing!) because I am NOT washing 50,000 bottles every day. I'm already stocking up on Pampers and Huggies. So, sorry environment, do you need my address to send me my Bad Earthling award?

Actually, cloth and disposable diapers are about equal for the environment. With all the bleach, detergent, water and electricity for all the laundry, apparently cloth are not so good for the environment either.

 

[cari12]

You're probably right. I shouldn't speak too soon. However, you aren't going to catch me calling out my friends for not being earth conscious enough in their diaper choices, or not joining a baby-wearing group. Seriously, I have some very opinionated non-parent friends and I just don't see how they think they can judge when they've never actually done it themselves. I don't care if you're a professional nanny training for Montessori (one of my friends is), that still won't prepare you for being a mom.

I agree completely - unless you've had a baby, you have no idea. I really hate hearing childless people judging peole about parenting because until you've done it, your opinion doesn't hold water no matter how many kids you've babysat.

 

[ZandZsMom]

I've known a couple who managed that kind if life...for the first one. It all went to he'll in a handbasket for the second though. It is cute. I was a great parent before I had kids.

You and me both...LOVE that!

 

[tlbwriter]

Actually, cloth and disposable diapers are about equal for the environment. With all the bleach, detergent, water and electricity for all the laundry, apparently cloth are not so good for the environment either.

Has there been a study? Do you have a link?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Maybe she should be taken at her word. It's all nice ideas. And if she has the energy, gumption, and dedication, good for her.

 

[FairyTaleAdventure]

Wow... Pacifier was a must in my house!!! Especially when they were tiney.

Now, I did make my own food, but I was ok with buying the veggies from the store. Forget about schedules... babies have their own plan!!!! lol

I do hope she enjoys being a mommy and doesn't get too worked up on keeping the little one one such a strict schedule b/c those first few weeks are going to be crazy for her!

 

[GinnyEmma]

Has there been a study? Do you have a link?

The last one I read stated that it depended where you live and the water supply. Not bothering to search for a link.

 

[J3nn78]

While becoming a mom did teach me to never say never, the only thing on her list that strikes me as possibly unreachable, is the schedule. some babies adjust easily to one while others don't
I cloth diapered exclusively, they really are easy.
I had a baby that would not take any type of bottle, so even if I wanted to, my baby never used one.

 

[NYEmomma]

DD uses a pacifier only in her crib (nap and bedtime) and definitely used bottles. I don't know how you can't even if you breastfeed, don't you pump and put it into a bottle for when the baby is with someone else/ a babysitter?

I nursed until DD weaned herself at 13 months. In those 13 months she took exactly 2 bottles, both at around 2-3 weeks of age. The rest of the 13 months, I couldn't be away from her for more than 2 hours... I wasn't comfortable nursing in public & she was a very colicky, high-needs baby with reflux so I pretty much didn't leave the house for any longer than an hour at a time in over a year.

I tried anything & everything to get her to take a bottle... BM at different temps, multiple kinds of bottles made especially for BF'd babies, different people offering it to her when I was nowhere in sight or smelling distance. Everything anyone has ever recommended & it just didn't happen.

I can tell with 100% honesty that I didn't enjoy breastfeeding. But I stuck with it (and will do so for any future children) because of the health benefits and MAINLY because of the cost savings. We just can't afford for me to stay at home if we have to pay for formula. I can't believe how expensive that stuff is. That's insanity!! DD has reflux even with breastmilk, so we would've been forced to get the extra expensive fancy formula too.

 

[cari12]

Has there been a study? Do you have a link?

Here's one I quickly googled:

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/49/1/.html

 

[tlbwriter]

Here's one I quickly googled:

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/49/1/.html

Interesting, thanks. I do find it funny that suggestion to reduce the impact of cloth diapers on the environment is to stop ironing them.

 

[CurlyGirl]

No -- I get my smiles when I see the mom who touted cloth diapers, organic home made baby food, schedules, etc. using disposable diapers, jarred baby food, no schedule, etc. and I ask "What happened to the disposable diapers/organic home made babyfood/etc." and watch them try to come up with a good explanation other than "that other stuff was too much!"!!!

 

[hambirg]

I've known a couple who managed that kind if life...for the first one. It all went to he'll in a handbasket for the second though. It is cute. I was a great parent before I had kids.

I haven't read all the comments, but I will go back. . .but this one just made me LOL! No truer words have been spoken!

On another message board I post on I get slammed sometimes for rolling my eyes at all the non-parents that like to post complaining about kids. . .at the store. . my SIL's etc. "When I'm a parent. . . .(my kids will be perfect)"

OK!

 

[spacemountainmom]

My BFF said the same thing before she gave birth 3 months ago to her first. She saw "all the mistakes I made (meaning me) with co-sleeping, pacifiers, not breastfeeding, etc." and was going to learn from that.

Ha ha ha ha! Her daughter is bottle fed, sleeps in their room, takes a paci like crazy, etc.

Everyone is a perfect parent when they don't have kids.

Oh joy, I had a friend like that too. My dd was 2 when she gave birth the first time. She was always telling me everything I did wrong. I think she finally got the hint the day I told her that I felt so lucky that dd hadn't died in those two years when I didn't have her to tell me how to parent.

The best part........my dd was the easiest baby on the planet. Hers..........about the most difficult.

Things really came to a head when we each had our second. My dd was fine with her new brother. Her ds routinely tried to assault his. She than would constantly ask for my advice and then tell me it was all wrong because it's not what they told her at ECFE. I quit answering the phone. I think we're all happier now.

My sibling was also the perfect parent when I had kids and she did not. I just laugh in my head now.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Interesting, thanks. I do find it funny that suggestion to reduce the impact of cloth diapers on the environment is to stop ironing them.

Lol, you mean you didn't ron yours?

 

[Mkrop]

I've known a couple who managed that kind if life...for the first one. It all went to he'll in a handbasket for the second though. It is cute. I was a great parent before I had kids.

My advice to new parents is to NEVER say NEVER!

 

[MrsPete]

I'd love to know what you guys think is involved in washing "all those cloth diapers"... It seriously takes no longer than throwing them in the machine every other day... Sure the cycle for washing is longer (due to more rinses), but the time to set it up isn't any worse than an extra load of laundry.

I gave 'em a try, and I DID find them to be a whole lot more work. You've got to dump the diaper contents, rinse the diaper, and then you've gotta have a place to store the dirty diapers -- when we had our children, we lived in such a small house that this was a real issue for us. And while I had babies, an extra load every other day WAS real work for me.

Also, my girls CONSTANTLY had a leaky cloth diaper (yes, I had some of the new-fangled type), so I was changing and washing their clothes more often.

Why? Did our parents have all the luxuries of disposable diapers, canned baby food and drop in bottles? Mine certainly didn't, and both of my parents had to work as well. If they could manage it, why can't we?

My mom didn't have the option of disposable diapers, but she tells me that back then everyone had a diaper service that delivered fresh diapers to your door. And my mom certainly wasn't wealthy when I was born. What she DID have -- and what was typical for her generation -- was several live-in relatives, so the work was divided.

Making the baby food doesn't seem like a big deal to me but the growing it all part seems a bit unrealistic.

I agree. If you have a small food processor, it takes very little time to whip up homemade baby food using whatever you're serving the family. However, it also makes sense to keep a little bit of canned food on hand for times when the family's eating something spicy or otherwise just inappropriate for the baby.

Has there been a study? Do you have a link?

I can give you a source: Consumer Reports. When I was expecting, I had their book, which was titled something like The Consumer Reports Complete Baby Book. I don't have it any longer.

Interesting, thanks. I do find it funny that suggestion to reduce the impact of cloth diapers on the environment is to stop ironing them.

I wonder if this is a kill-bacteria thing rather than a neatness issue. You know you have to use HOT HOT water for washing diapers, and that's not cheap.

 

[Nette]

I gave 'em a try, and I DID find them to be a whole lot more work. You've got to dump the diaper contents, rinse the diaper, and then you've gotta have a place to store the dirty diapers -- when we had our children, we lived in such a small house that this was a real issue for us. And while I had babies, an extra load every other day WAS real work for me.

Also, my girls CONSTANTLY had a leaky cloth diaper (yes, I had some of the new-fangled type), so I was changing and washing their clothes more often.

My mom didn't have the option of disposable diapers, but she tells me that back then everyone had a diaper service that delivered fresh diapers to your door. And my mom certainly wasn't wealthy when I was born. What she DID have -- and what was typical for her generation -- was several live-in relatives, so the work was divided.

I wonder if this is a kill-bacteria thing rather than a neatness issue. You know you have to use HOT HOT water for washing diapers, and that's not cheap.

It's funny because I have way more blowouts on the occasions that we have to use a disposable. I think a lot of people don't realize that there are SO many types/brands of cloth diapers that you really have to find the one that works for you. We did this by doing a sampler pack from a cloth diaper company. You get to try 10 different kinds for 30 days for $10. Then send back the ones you don't like and keep (or send back) the ones you do like.

My mother most assuredly did NOT have a diaper service. No way we could have afforded that. She also didn't have the luxury of having her parents in the same town as her (like I do and am ever so grateful for).

As far as hot hot water... Not us. Whatever the hot temp on the washer is is good enough. (Though we do bleach). Diapers do not have to be sterile... they just have to not stink.

 

[merryweather20]

I've already decided that I am using Playtex Drop-Ins (baby willing!) because I am NOT washing 50,000 bottles every day. I'm already stocking up on Pampers and Huggies. So, sorry environment, do you need my address to send me my Bad Earthling award?

I'm also spending these next two months doing whatever I please, because come August, my life will never be my own again, and I accept that.

I love these people living in their fantasy world!

There isn't anything "earth friendly" about all the wasted water, spent washing cloth diapers. I was explaining my concerns to a friend, who pointed me to a "green baby" site. They suggested washing each diaper a minimum of three times per use

No doubt the same hippies selling the "green" line are the same people who insisted it was green to manufacture thousands of plastic bottles, fill them with water and cart them around the country on 18 wheelers.

 

[fairestoneofall]

both of my older children were on schedules. and they both slept through the night by 7-8 weeks of age. now, the one who is due any day now may be completely different. but those things ARE possible.

by bottle-feeding, maybe she just meant formula? my older child never used formula. with my son, however, i had to supplement.

i used disposables with my older two, but am considering cloth diapers (they are much different now versus when i had my older two). and i've thought about making my own baby food when the time comes as well.

her goals are fine. i hope that she can keep them. it seems that they are all pretty easily attainable these days. they would've been harder to stick with a few years ago though.

and if she can't keep them, i hope that she doesn't beat herself up too much. i can't imagine wanting to mock her for wanting to do things a certain way.