I mentioned a few weeks ago that we were going on a cruise over the Thanksgiving holidays and I was having a mild panic attack about how to cruise with cloth for 5 days. In the end I had 2 plans – 1) I had a package of hybrids arriving from Diaper Shops, and 2) I bought a package of – gasp – disposables. Now before you stop reading my blog and boycott me let me explain…
Here are (my) the facts –
- we were going to be on a boat for 5 nights with no coin laundry
- the cruise line offered laundry service once during the week for $25 a bag
- there were no guarantees that they would except and launder our cloth diapers
- there was no one to talk with ahead of time about this from the cruise line
- taking cloth would have required a much larger suitcase than the one we ended up taking
- what if they damaged or lost our diapers
- what if they wouldn’t wash them
- what if I was on a boat and didn’t have anything else to use
- I don’t have any flats and only a few prefolds
- have you seen the size of the bathrooms on the cruise ships
- and last but not least….this is my vacation…and I chose to take a vacation from laundry!
It was actually an amusing shopping trip when I was trying to pick our a pack of disposables. I was with my best friend who already thinks I’ve lost my mind. She had her camera out and ready to black mail me as I was picking out my disposable diapers. I didn’t know what size to but because we haven’t bought a package of disposables since Lil B was about 2 months old. I loved Pampers with my first son (now 7) but couldn’t pull myself to buy them after the recent dri-max problems. I hate the fit of Seventh Generation diapers. In the end I chose the Huggies Pure & Natural (greenwashing much?) for a few different reasons. For starters they were actually the better value for the quantity I was looking for. Another reason I chose the Huggies Pure & Natural was because they are a ‘little’ better for my baby and the environment than the traditional disposables.
Sadly, I didn’t plan this far enough in advance and my package from Diaper Shops arrived a few hours after we left so I couldn’t try out the hybrids during our trip like I planned. So away we sailed…in our paper, disposable, trashy diapers for the next 5 nights.
The next 5 nights were actually quite relaxing for many reasons – primarily because I was offline for the entire time. No phone, no internet, no cable tv, no Facebook, no Twitter, no blog, nada! After a very busy year at my day job (where I’m always online) and my virtual night job (blogging, parties, etc) this technology break was quite fantastic and needed. But in a strange way I think I needed a break from our cloth diapers to fully appreciate the other side. I was once a disposable diaper using momma and needed these 5 days as a reminder of why I truly love cloth diapers.
Some of my observations on disposable diapers:
- Disposable diapers have a nasty stink to them far worse than a cloth diaper – it’s a chemical laden stink
- Disposable diapers are hard and crunchy
- Disposable diapers do NOT fit your baby well
- Disposable diapers gap around the legs and waist
- Disposable diapers are not fun to talk about
- Disposable diapers are not cute under dresses
- Clothes just don’t fit the same with disposable diapers
While I honestly missed our cloth diapers and my babies fluffy butt, we made the best decision for our family at this time. The package of disposables only cost us $19.99 and aside from the mommy guilt it didn’t bring me any anxiety. I’m afraid I would have needed some serious medication had I decided to bring along out cloth diapers and attempted to have the staff launder them. The cost of my stash is much greater than $19.99 and had they ruined or worse – lost – my stash and my sanity has a value to it as well. There was no explaining to staff and no arguing with my spouse. For me (us) this WAS the best option for our cruise.
It also allowed me to recharge my passion and mission. While I am normally the one is sings to the 100% reusable – 100% of the time tune this adventure has allowed me to understand that there are times when moms just need to let things go. We cannot be in control 100% of the time and we should be able to accept those times when we can’t have things as perfect as we like. We should also be understanding and non-judgemental of other mothers for their choices. And you know what else…..
…our cloth diapers were all nice and clean and there for us when we returned! I was so happy to put Lil’ B back in her fluffy diapers and she actually hugged them when we got home. I held up a disposable and a cloth diaper and she chose the cloth in the end. The 9th reason I love cloth diapers is because they will always be there for you when you return!
Next up? Even though I didn’t have them in time for our departure I have both the Flip and GroVia hybrid systems to tell you about and why I think they really are a better option than disposables. Stay tuned!
I loved reading this post. Good for you! I brought cloth on vacation with family this summer, but there were times when using disposables because of their comfort level and lack of available washing machines just made it the best choice for the time. It’s okay to be committed to using cloth, but take a break at times like these. Great lists as well!
Yup! Mine will chose cloth over disposable any day as well…. And yes, my hubby has bought his stash of disposables as well. I was mad at him for a whole day, lol, but there are times we are not always in control. 😀
Great post!
CJR
Great article! Glad you were able to rest & refresh. Love the authenticity and that it brought back your passion. Can’t wait for the hybrid diaper article.
So true! Great article- thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your experience! We recently used sposies for a weekend when my boys stayed at their grandmas, and I forgot how expensive they are! Also, they DO NOT hold in the EB poo- I so wish I would have used cloth w/ my newborn when he was having blowouts and ruined like all of his sleepers!