Yoga and Cloth Nappies
Before I begin, I want to be clear: cloth nappies are not going to be a viable or realistic solution for everyone. This is a personal story and is in no way intended to guilt or shame any parent who uses disposable nappies. I have also used some disposable nappies too when travelling or when having a difficult few days.
This post is written for parents who may be considering using or switching to cloth nappies and would like to have an informed understanding of what is involved, appreciate hearing a personal experience and may like to view the decision from a yogic lens.
So here we go. This is a story about a yoga-mum and her cloth nappies...
Soon after moving to remote Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory (where my son was born), I was horrified to learn that there was no option for recycling any of our waste. Growing up, Mum was always pedantic about recycling. Her attention to detail when washing out cans or cartons and her keen eye for something going in the wrong bin instilled in me an appreciation of where our waste goes.
So, when I reached the point in my pregnancy where I started to consider all the items I would need to care for my baby, cloth nappies soon came to mind as a way that I could make a small difference to the environment on this beautiful island where recycling bottles and cans was not an option. Again, my waste-conscious mother had used terry towelling cloth nappies for five out of six children, but I have distinct memories of buckets of smelly, soaking nappies and her daily time in the laundry scrubbing out the soilage. Not my idea of fun.
It was with relief that I learnt ‘modern’ cloth nappies are a little easier on the arm muscles and many don’t even require soaking before washing (if the contents are dealt with appropriately). A quick calculation also suggested that I would save about $1500 by using cloth nappies instead of disposables up until toilet training age (taking into account the cost of disposable nappies versus the cost of a set of cloth nappies plus the use of laundry liquid).
Using cloth nappies can sound wonderful in theory, but there is some additional work and commitment involved, which it is important to consider before investing. I find the guiding moral and ethical principles of yoga (the Yamas and Niyamas) helpful in any decision-making. Here are the points that stood out for me from a yogic perspective:
Ahimsa (non-harming)
There is much information available about the harm that disposable nappies in landfill have on our environment. 3.75 million disposable single-use nappies are sent to landfill in Australian each day!
Bramacharya (right use of energy)
Using cloth nappies certainly doesn’t save time, and time is valuable, especially time with your newborn. But as I was planning on being at home with my son until he was around 2, I felt that it was time I was at home anyway.
At the peak of nappy use, I found I was doing a load of cloth nappies every second day. So using cloth nappies is certainly not the ‘easy option’, but neither is sorting your rubbish properly. It comes down to whether you feel that reducing landfill is a cause that you want to invest energy into. Parents have their energy invested in many things, so make sure you feel this goal is a priority for you.
Tapas (self-discipline)
I was lucky to get straight into using my cloth nappies as soon as I returned home with my son. I feel that because of this, I didn’t know any differently (in terms of workload) and washing the nappies simply became a part of the daily/weekly routine.
The process of washing, hanging and folding the nappies actually became a fun activity for Will and I, starting with him learning to grasp and eventually pass me the pegs and progressing to him insisting that each nappy had matching coloured pegs!
Satya (truthfulness)
Know that you can’t be perfect. And if you try to be, it will cause undue stress. I used disposable nappies when travelling and 2 days per week when I sent my son to daycare at 18 months (he toilet trained just after he turned 2). As you can see, although I didn’t avoid contributing to nappies in landfill altogether, I was able to significantly reduce the number I used.
If you found this blog helpful, you may be as excited as I am that Bright Beginnings Yoga is teaming up with Erin from RAWr Nappies. RAWr is a local Tasmanian cloth nappy business with a goal to find the best reusable nappy solution for each little individual - helping parents who are looking to keep baby comfortable, happy and reduce their carbon bumprint.
Together, we are offering a cross-promotion, in the spirit of collaboration and supporting local:
A generous discount for prenatal and postnatal yogis at Bright Beginnings Yoga and
2 yoga classes for the price of 1 when you spend over $100 on RAWr nappies and products
You can learn more about RAWr nappies on their website, but here is a quick rundown:
RAWr Nappies exist to provide a natural and reusable alternative to the 3.75 million disposable single-use nappies Australians send to landfill each day. RAWr sends high quality bamboo and hemp nappies to parents around the world. RAWr Nappies are carefully designed to suit babies at all stages of their growth while needing nappies, from tiny newborns to school age bedwetters. They are a well-loved brand, not only due to the thought given to their design, but also the fabrics used for the layers against baby’s skin: Hemp, bamboo velour or athletic wicking jersey. Only these cool, comfortable and non-allergenic materials cover the inner nappy layer making them the best choice for sensitive skin.