Getting your husband (or Significant other) to change a dirty diaper, let alone a cloth diaper, is a challenge for some moms and moms to be. The general population is unaware of the “modern” cloth diaper. I remember when I first told my husband I wanted to CD his response was, “Then you will be changing all of the diapers.” And honestly at the time I was ok with that. I would have rather changed them all myself than use disposables.
Almost 5 months into our journey into cloth diapering and I can proudly say that my husband has been onboard since day one. Why the 180? Because I schooled him on the ease of cloth diapers. He appreciates the money we are saving, and I think he even likes that we are being green as well.
Most likely if you are looking into cloth diapering you are being bombarded with options. Prefolds and covers? Fitteds and covers? All-in-ones or All-in-twos? Pockets? G Diapers? Whoa…. what? I did months of research online before I made my pick. My husband was on board with my choice of Bum Genius One Size Pocket Diapers. When I told him I was using prefolds and covers for the early weeks he declared “No.”
Guess what? My husband did learn to put a prefold and cover on!!! I showed him how, he watched attentively, and at times he even used his new found knowledge to change our son’s diaper!
Men are not as hopeless at diaper changing as we think. The one advantage I had was this: Before our son my husband had never, ever changed a diaper. There was no comparison. He could imagine that disposables were easier, but in reality he had no point of reference. For dads who have changed diapers before, you may have a harder time convincing. Here is my advice to get them onboard:
1. Stats. Use the tool at your fingertips! Find the cost of cloth diapering with the method you will use and compare it the total cost of disposables until potty learning. While the initial investment is high, the overall cost is low. And don’t forget, you can find online stores to register for cloth diapers for your baby shower.
2. Ease of Use. If your husband is dead set against cloth, I wouldn’t go running for prefolds and wool! Ease him into it with All-In-Ones. They go on the exact same as a disposable and there is no pulling inserts covered in poop out of the back. Drying time is high but it could be worth it for some extra help!
3. Health benefits. If you have ever seen a bad diaper rash on your children or friend’s children you know how awful they look, and undoubtedly feel. While not 100% rash proof, cloth diapers are much better for your baby’s skin. Most likely, your child will never get a rash. My son has yet to have any rash or irritation from our diapers.
4. The Green Factor. Not everyone cares. But let your husband know that by using cloth you are doing yourselves and the earth a favor.
5. Trash Duty. Does your husband end up taking out the trash? Imagine the amount of bags you will be throwing away each week. Do you throw out 3 or 4 now? Just wait… you may just end up taking a bag a day out to the garage.
6. The Stink Factor. Poop stinks. Fact. bags of garbage full of poop stinks. Fact. A weeks worth of garbage bags full of poop stink. Fact. If you wash your diapers every 2 days you will keep your nursery smelling fresh as a daisy. The nose has it! Cloth FTW.
7. Per my husband- Do the laundry! I yelled over at my husband, “What made you decide to do cloth with me? And he answered, “You do all the laundry.” While this might sound sexist, it is more a testament to my husband’s personality. He isn’t a laundry kind of guy. I am a SAHM so I have the luxury of doing it all myself. If this is you, then by all means do the diaper laundry. Your husband will never know the work involved in cloth diapering. If not, then do what works for your family. Who knows, you could have a husband who might not mind.
