Technically, over a week ago, I sat down with Suzi from ExPatMomInPg.com (formally Cloth Diaper Addicts) to chat about the cloth diaper industry because she’s full of opinions, and I’m enthusiastic young blogger with a desire to redirect the cloth diaper community.

Today, on YouTube the first of many video’s went live. And after editing it, and watching it, and editing it, I felt the need to write and share with you even more thoughts, ideas and opinions.

The Cloth Diaper Industry is in a Pivot. 

Cloth Diaper numbers are down, the marketplace feels saturated, and convincing new parents to jump onto the band wagon is becoming increasingly difficult. There are numerous reasons for that many of which I chatted about, Jays Nest Chatted about, and the rest of the world has been trying to decipher.

Nonetheless, I know I’m not the only one out there angry, frustrated, and seeking answers.

And while I’m not sure if this weeks video provides a lot of value, what I do gleam from it is this reminder to be the change you want in the cloth diaper community. If you are like me and your passionate about cloth diaper retailers, and North American brands with reputable manufacturing go shout it from the roof tops.

I know it feels like we are being pelted by the masses that nobody can afford those diapers, and that those diapers are no better than the cheap diapers from Chinese wholesalers and shady co-op operations, we can be the change that we want to see. And the conversations we have been having are not working.

We need to have new conversation. We need not tout a brand for their diapers fit or fun prints or low price points; we need to connect with story and with visions of the future.

You can be that change.

You don’t need a big fancy website or even an Instagram account dedicated to fluff. All you need is your voice.

Maybe you only cloth diapered with microfibre based cheapies but now you feel that there is so much power in supporting a women owned business that employs women in your community – recommend them to others.

Maybe there are other topics in this niche of cloth diapering that are important to you and nobody is talking about it – start talking about it. Talk about wherever, and if you dont’ want to own your own platform, find someone else platform. Find a local blog or any website that accepts guest contributions and share your words. Share your words on your IG account or do a  video for YouTube.

I want to empower more people to talk about cloth diapering and talk about the changes that need to happen to make the world a better place. In the bottom of my heart I believe there is space for more cloth diaper content creators and bloggers than people think there is. And yes, this is a selfless niche in which the $20 diapers we get paid in is barely enough to cover the operating expenses of a blog, but there is good here.

I am not a creative person. It’s not my strong suit. I’m better at tactics, strategy, and thinking about things. There is need for new skills, new development and new spaces in cloth diapering. Older cloth diaper sites are dying and new ones are appearing, reach out, connect and lets build up new ideas.

Sometimes I wonder if the change is the end of cloth diapering

and that we should instead be pushing for a better disposable product and while I think there is a lot of improvement that needs to be made with disposable diaper products, there is still immense value in the skills around cloth diapering.

this is the part of the blog where my anxiety about doomsday begins to show and what if there are no disposable diapers because they can’t get supplies to your community? What if the something catastrophic happens? Cloth diapering knowledge needs to continue to provide self reliance in hard times.

Hard times are coming. We will not always be able to consume and consume and consume. This will mean smaller cloth diaper stashes, fewer disposable/compostable/single-use products’ and a stricter adherence to the principles of mindfully consuming the limited resources we have left.

Be The Change

Be your own true voice and the world will follow.

If you are like me and wondering what to do next and wishing there was xyz, go do it. Trust yourself.