Dappled Diapers

On the first sunny day of spring, I carried my drying rack outside. This was a bit of an act of rebellion, as I live in a neighborhood which prohibits clotheslines. If I hadn't been very pregnant and in desperate need of a house near my hubby's new job all those many years ago, the prohibition would have been a deal-breaker. Now, it's just a thorn in my side.

Anyway, I took the drying rack outside to hang the diapers to dry in the sunshine.  A neighbor wandered by.

"You use cloth diapers?" she asked, with a look that said she thought I was truly bonkers.

"I do!" I enthused, gushing a bit in my self defense. "I love the way they feel, and smell, and--honestly-- the way they look, hanging there in the sunshine." I stopped myself just short of the full gush, as her eyes were glazing over.

So...you get the full gush.

I love to change diapers. I love to lay Karoline on a soft, pink changing table, with a beautiful picture  of the Blessed Mother and her Child hanging there for us to ponder. I love to make her feel good. I love to take away the wet diaper and to wash her bottom with warmed cotton wipes that smell faintly of peppermint castille soap. I love to rub a bit of homemade herbal salve on any tender spots. I love the occasional times when I rub her bottom and legs with a powder of cornstarch and crushed rose petals. And I love to wrap those fat, delicious buns in softness. I love it--the whole sensory experience of it. I love to coo at her and make funny faces. I love it when she coos and smiles and even giggles in return. The drudgery of diapers? Not here.

I'm not so sure that cloth diapers are less expensive economically or ecologically. I've seen compelling arguments in both directions. All that washing does cost something, in terms of time, money, and resources. And it certainly takes longer to hang clean, sweet smelling diapers to dry.On the other hand... Call me crazy, but I  like the look of those nappies all in a row on the drying rack. It sings, "Baby lives here! Thank God!"

It also takes time to take the diapers from the rack and stack them neatly in a handcrafted picnic basket that sits beside the changing table.They look beautiful there in that basket, waiting to swaddle my little cherub.Time. These diapers slow me down a bit. Yes, they do. That's not a bad thing at all, slowing down to make something that could be a negative into something altogether pleasant and happy. I could not get all that with a plastic bag of Pampers, and they definitely wouldn't be soft and pink.

And that's what the whole diaper experience is for us: soft and pink and dappled with sunshine.

Comments

[Sue]

Awesome post.
What is your "homemade herbal salve?"

[Ruth Tucker]

You are amazing! I can feel how much you love your sweet baby girl and how much you enjoy motherhood. Thank you. Beautiful post.

BTW, Now I'm really considering cloth diapers.

[Layla]

This is beautiful, Elizabeth. Thank you! I love the idea of cloth diapering, and this is just one more bit to put in my "pro-cloth" file. :)

[Jennifer]

Hmmm. I'll give it a try. We are potty training anyway. Did you see those precious diapers on Heather Bailey's site? Ahhhh.

[Meredith]

Cloth is King!! Love the gush :)

[Mary G.]

Elizabeth -- this is a great post! I'm not a fan of cloth, and I don't have any littles in diapers, but this makes me want to clothe a new baby in cloth. Have you tried wool soakers during the winter months? I can knit you a pair for Karoline if you'd like....

[Kendra]

Oh, lovely! This post might convince me to use cloth, too!

I can't imagine a neighborhood banning clotheslines, particularly in my overly-conscious-about-the-environment state (CA). Do you ever dry things on an indoor line? I hung one upstairs in my laundry room, but it is rather small. Wish I could string a big ol' long one up there :)

[Donna]

Oh, Elizabeth...you put sunshine into everything you do...even washing diapers. Karoline is one blessed little baby.

[Lorri]

Ah, I love cloth! I've got a load in the wash right now and plenty of sunshine today to let them dry outside, too.

[Molly]

Elizabeth,
You always have a great perspective! Thanks for reminding us how to find the joy where others see drudgery.

I plan to slow down and savor those diaper changes.

Thanks,
Molly

[Theresa]

You are an amazing woman, Elizabeth, to be able to find joy in the most menial of tasks. Delight, even! You blow me away!

[Hallie]

Your words are enchanting. I can only echo what Theresa said. You turn even the most ordinary tasks into things of beauty and joy. Now I want to go change Sophia's diaper! ;) Thank you for inspiring me once again.

[Tina]

I am washing diapers right now, and I'm going to drag my drying rack up and into the back yard too!! You've inspired me. I love CDing for all the same reasons, but I've been a little hesitant to dry them outside. We'll see how it goes.

[Amy]

A friend sent me this! She and I have been cloth diaper buddies for a long time now. I have seven children and have cloth diapered them all. I love the cloth as well!! And clotheslines are prohibited in my neighborhood as well. I'll have to get a drying rack!! God Bless you!

[patience]

I used disposables because I didn't have a washing machine for the first six weeks of my dd's life, and then I moved to a cloud forest where anything hung out would take a week to dry. But I still loved nappy changing time as much as you express here.

I can't imagine a neighborhood banning clotheslines!? I find that mind-boggling. What are you supposed to do, use a drier? What about power bills? About caring for the environment? Or must you dry your clothes on racks inside, thus causing dampness and mold build-up in your home?

[Sharon G]

I love it! I'm so happy to read that I'm not totally looney for loving cloth diapering. Thanks for your beautiful words. I'll remember them well when I find diapering difficult.

[Nancy]

I find it interesting that those who talk most about the "environment" and "saving the earth", are often the same people who don't want clotheslines in their neighborhoods.

[Jasmine]

I love this! Thank you for reminding me to enjoy everything about when they are little.
BTW are those Fuzzi Bunz?

[betty]

Elizabeth, you are a beautiful person, inside and out! You are a wonderful Mom as well! Your family is indeed blest!!!

[Margaret in Minnesota]

I will admit to two things:

1)Absolutely loving this post; and

2)Feeling a wee bit insecure at the thought of you crushing your own rose petals to sprinkle on Karoline's bottom. You know, it's the whole "I'm a bad mommy 'cause I never thought to do that myself" sort of nonsense.

But Burt's Bees I can do! Thanks for linking, and above all, thank you for this beautiful ode to those beautiful bottoms.

[Alexandra]

Love cloth and Burt's Bees too! What's not to love?! :)

[Honey]

Oh wow this post was so encouraging! I haven't tried cloth diapering (moving onto underwear now is an experience though!). Your attitude and delight in what could be seen as boring or even an unfortunate necessity is so inspiring! I'm going to work on having that attitude all the time with my family!

[Robin]

Beautiful post. I loved the diapers hanging on my clothes line. I'm bummed that I never thought to take a picture of them.

[stephanie]

I love cloth diapering but have been having trouble getting them clean in my (free) front-loader and was about to throw in the towel. Thank you for sharing your joy and reminding me of the reasons I love cloth diapering. This is the encouragement I needed to give it one more try...

[crystal]

hmmmm, I don't think you have any boys. I can count on one hand (he's 19 months ) the number of times he has laid still for a diaper change to coo and giggle at me.