Diaper Dad Doesn’t Diaper
Written by Diaper Diva
If you’ve been around the cloth diaper web community you might have noticed that many Dad’s don’t cloth diaper. There are even descriptions where certain diapers or covers are referred to as: “daddy-friendly”. I know there are daddies out there who DO cloth diaper. However, many women will attest that their “man” does not. Diaper Dad is one of those. These non-cloth guys seem to fall into two categories: “No way, that’s gross, you’re gross, I don’t know why I agreed to this (or “I didn’t agree to this, why are you doing this”)” Non-supportive dad & the “Wow, you’re super-mom. I’m proud of you & agree it’s a good idea. Now hand over the disposables woman” supportive but not active dad.
Diaper dad is (thankfully) the latter. When I first decided to switch to cloth, I knew he would not be a huge fan of the idea. Like myself the option never even crossed his mind as an option. So, I had my game plan all worked out. First off, I was able to borrow a stash of prefolds (& a few mother-ease) to see how I liked it. So I wasn’t actually spending money in the beginning stage. Second I went ahead & settled in my mind that Diaper Dad would be released of any diaper changing obligations whenever cloth was involved. I realize I probably lost some of you on that last one. However, the reality is he was home for what…3-4 changes a day (not counting weekends)? I mean, it’s not like he changed that many diapers to begin with. Before we ever had kids I was very determined for some reason that we would be splitting the changing duties as close to 50-50 as possible. He even offered on numerous occasions to buy me any car I chose if I agreed he would not change 1 diaper. Nearly every mom I encountered told me to jump on that deal. That I would be doing it anyway, might as well benefit from it. I wrote them off as cynics. A few weeks after Diaper Boy arrived & the Diaper Dad’s diaper counts started lagging I was really irritated. I’m not exactly sure what happened but at some point I apparently stopped caring & definitely stopped keeping score. Anyhow, I think it was those magic words, “I won’t expect you to change one diaper” that drew him in. So from the get-go he was very supportive of MY endeavor, but it was clear that when the kids were in his charge, disposables would be used.
In the past two years it hasn’t really changed much. Every once in awhile he will put a cloth diaper on Diaper Girl, but it’s rare. More rare is a cloth diaper traveling from the changing table to the diaper pail. The only cloth diaper he applies is Diaper Boy’s bedtime diaper (he’s potty trained for daytime these days). On occasion I find myself irritated at his lack of interest, but I remind myself of “the deal”. While I don’t like the use of disposables, the fact is some is better than none. To be perfectly honest, when he does try he often does it wrong (I try not to say anything for fear of repelling him further from the idea) & if he’s not willing to sit through a tutorial I’d rather he stick to what he knows.
I love you Diaper Dad….thx for being a good sport!
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This article makes me appreciate my husband more. I decided I wanted to cloth diaper when I was pregnant but wasn’t to informed and I knew my husband would think I was crazy. However, that is nothing new. A friend of a friend cloth diapered her two children and gave me all this valuable info. So I purchased about 12 Swaddlebees newborn fitted and some prefolds and covers and I was determined. We started when the baby came home and everything was great. Until baby had her first poop. I completely forgot what I had planned to do. Guess who stepped in and cleaned the diapers, my husband. He was telling me what I was doing wrong. My daughter is almost 3 months old and he is still helping me change and clean her cloth diapers.
I guess I’m one of the lucky ones too! My husband actually was the one to suggest cloth while I was preggo. I thought he was the crazy one until I did my research. I still have some disposables left from the baby shower but if I put one on our son, my hubby asks if we are out of cloth diapers!
Either I’m lucky or just mean because after we made the switch (I too didn’t know what I was doing and it was trial and error after baby girl was born) we just don’t have disposables in the house…or not where sweet hubby can find them. He basically doesn’t have an option! He 100% supports our cloth diapering. But if given the chance he’ll sneak in a disposable here and there. I think he just wants to avoid a “this is how you do it” scenario enacted out by me. In addition, we use mostly prefolds and covers and I save my pockets for going out. He isn’t even aware that there are “daddy-friendly” types out there! That being said, we’re starting a cloth diaper service and he’s suggested that he start learning all the tricks of the trade so that he can teach other daddies out there! With time, many daddies will come around–just give them a chance (or just not the chance to use disposables! Ha!)! (btw, just found your site and will be bookmarking and sharing!)
i just wanted to say how much i appreciate my own diaper-daddy. my husband balked when i first mentioned cloth but he jumped in whole heartedly. we hired a diaper service when our daughter was a newborn but transitioned to All-In-Ones when she started daycare. my husband has changed diapers from the first day and washes and stuffs them right along side of me. i knew he was my mister right the day he told me to use a cloth diaper because the disposable diapers are too prone to blow-outs. i love him!!!!!