A few years back, one fine morning I decided that I am going to live a more environment friendly life. DH was sceptical because I am easily influenced by a new idea when I talk to people, but very often, it is just a passing fad for me. I do not know how serious I was when I started off, I have not given up on the idea and am definitely a lot more earnest about it now than when I started off.
When Sunshine was born, my mother in law got us a huge set of basic cloth diapers - thin cotton towels which could be folded and tied like a diaper. Almost all of my friends with young kids discouraged me from using cloth diapers because they were too inconvenient with the weather here. I eventually used a mix of disposable diapers and cloth diapers. I bought some cloth diapers from a company called Popolini and my mom in law got me another set of diapers and diaper covers from India which were a lot thicker than the first set that she got me. Popolini's diaper covers completed the set and they were very effective. Of course the diapers had to be changed every time Sunshine peed and washing and drying them was some work, but it rarely leaked and I would use cloth diapers again if I have another kid.
The cloth diapers however set me thinking about my own sanitary napkins. I found a few companies which sold reusable sanitary napkins online but the stack of unused cloth diapers kept beckoning me. So, finally I decided to give it a try. Of course I had no intentions whatsoever of using them when I had to go to office or be outside for a longer period of time because I am a heavy bleeder and I did not want to be caught in wet pants. Eeeks! I just folded these diapers into a rectangular shape similar to the commercially available napkins and started using them whenever I am at home. I don't have enough words to express how comfortable they are. Once used, they have to be soaked in cold water and then washed in a high temperature cycle. Of course it is a bit more work than just chucking them into the garbage bin, but it is really not that difficult. This simple solution can be used only at home because there is no protection from leakage and who would want to carry around a soiled sanitary napkin. This month, for the first time, I relied exclusively on cloth napkins because coincidentally I did home office during my entire cycle.
I love the soft feeling of cotton on my skin, but I have to figure out some way to use cloth diapers when I have to be away from home for the entire day. Hopefully I will manage to get over my aversion of carrying a bag of used napkins and I can do away with disposable napkins altogether.
When Sunshine was born, my mother in law got us a huge set of basic cloth diapers - thin cotton towels which could be folded and tied like a diaper. Almost all of my friends with young kids discouraged me from using cloth diapers because they were too inconvenient with the weather here. I eventually used a mix of disposable diapers and cloth diapers. I bought some cloth diapers from a company called Popolini and my mom in law got me another set of diapers and diaper covers from India which were a lot thicker than the first set that she got me. Popolini's diaper covers completed the set and they were very effective. Of course the diapers had to be changed every time Sunshine peed and washing and drying them was some work, but it rarely leaked and I would use cloth diapers again if I have another kid.
The cloth diapers however set me thinking about my own sanitary napkins. I found a few companies which sold reusable sanitary napkins online but the stack of unused cloth diapers kept beckoning me. So, finally I decided to give it a try. Of course I had no intentions whatsoever of using them when I had to go to office or be outside for a longer period of time because I am a heavy bleeder and I did not want to be caught in wet pants. Eeeks! I just folded these diapers into a rectangular shape similar to the commercially available napkins and started using them whenever I am at home. I don't have enough words to express how comfortable they are. Once used, they have to be soaked in cold water and then washed in a high temperature cycle. Of course it is a bit more work than just chucking them into the garbage bin, but it is really not that difficult. This simple solution can be used only at home because there is no protection from leakage and who would want to carry around a soiled sanitary napkin. This month, for the first time, I relied exclusively on cloth napkins because coincidentally I did home office during my entire cycle.
I love the soft feeling of cotton on my skin, but I have to figure out some way to use cloth diapers when I have to be away from home for the entire day. Hopefully I will manage to get over my aversion of carrying a bag of used napkins and I can do away with disposable napkins altogether.
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