Why cloth? by Stephanie Sharpe of LittleJack Diapers™ More Perspectives Why Cloth? by Anja Reed Why Cloth? by Amy Thaller When I tell people I use "cloth for Mom" I get the same reaction every time. A blank, unblinking stare. "What do you mean cloth?" , they ask. And as I explain, the look of incredulity continues. Trust me, if you had told me three years ago, that I would be using cloth pads, I would have looked at you with the same unblinking stare. Yet, here I am, and I'll tell you what led me here. I had two changes in my life that led me to cloth for Mom. I had babies, and I bought a house with a septic tank. With two children in diapers, I decided to use cloth diapers primarily to save money. I didn't really think about the environment and my effects on it by switching to cloth. Then our septic tank overflowed. After paying to have it pumped, and suffering an attack of the heebie jeebies thinking about all that stuff floating around on my lawn, I gave some thought to how we as humans treat our environment. I have always been a woman of convenience, and thought the more disposable the better. I finally stopped to think about what happens to this stuff after we "dispose" of it. Well, most of it just hangs around, polluting our earth. So, since I already used cloth diapers, I decided to start looking for cloth alternatives, and found cloth pads. I have to admit I did not relish the thought of reusable pads, or the washing that came with them. But I shopped around (now there is a plus -- more shopping!), and was intrigued by the different styles and fabrics. I decided to give it a try, and boy was I shocked. I actually LIKED it! The washing turned out to be no big deal, and the cloth pads were much more comfortable than disposable products. I had read testimonials claiming that women suffered less cramping with cloth, perhaps due the chemicals in disposable products, but I didn't believe them. Much to my surprise, I actually found it to be true for me. Since I have such a heavy flow, typically only the heaviest of disposable products worked for me, and I couldn't believe how much more absorbent cloth pads were. Now, not only did I have more things to shop for -- I had more money to spend! I couldn't believe how much money was being wasted each month on store-bought pads and tampons. Now, I could buy pretty pads that I actually enjoyed using each month. For anyone undecided about cloth, my best advice would be just try them. You just might surprise yourself. If the queen of convenience can be converted, there is hope for everyone! © Stephanie Sharpe, 2003