I think we need to clear something up, I feel like everyone is getting up in arms about my less than amazing reviews of cheap diapers I ordered from the internet.
This is my response to many of the YouTube comments from my Cloth Diaper Podcast Channel I’m getting that say I’m too harsh on cheapies.
This post was revised in 2020. I recognize that my privilege prevented me from creating an inclusive cloth diaper community.
First, can we stop calling them China Cheapies?
I know this is the popular lingo in the cloth diaper community but it’s really a terrible term. Not all diapers are made in China. Not all diapers made in China are cheap. Isn’t the term a little derogatory? I know some bloggers and Chinese people feel that this is distasteful.
I am making a conscious effort to just call them Cheapies – a term I’m using for cloth diapers that come under $15 and they can be made anywhere. Cheapies are just cheap diapers and their cheap cost is going to be associated with impacts on the cloth diaper community as well as potentially have quality issues.
Second, not everyone has to like everything.
There are popular big North American diapers that I don’t like. I don’t get hate on those videos like I do on the cheapie video.
My experience is just that – my experience. It isn’t anything more or less, and you don’t have to follow it. I can help paint a picture about the quality, function, and fit of a product, but that is it.
We are all going to have different experiences and that is the beauty of the cloth diaper space.
Third, there are other options that may be more accessible and affordable.
There is asecond-hand market for cloth diapers where you can buy cloth diapers for a low cost – this may be in your local area allowing you to get your hands on a stash ASAP.
You can repurpose things like t-shirts, flour sack towels and receiving blankets for absorbency that is easy to wash and durable. Many of these products can be accessed through local home good stores.
You can buy on clearance sales when cloth diapers close their doors due to the crappy cloth diaper economy.
Fourth, I didn’t realize that YouTube was so international.
I’ve been blogging and Instagramming for years and my perspective is very much ingrained in the Canadian and US-based space that I live and typically engage with.
Fifth, there’s a lot of complex unknowns around Cheapies that upsets me.
I’m bothered by copyright infringement. I’m bothered by unknown factory conditions. I’m bothered by lack of compliance. I’m bothered by shady behaviour. I’m bothered by a lot of things Cheapies do.
I’m also learning that a lot of things in China and manufacturing around the world is changing. Which is why I’m changing my perspective. I am always open to learning, correcting, and pivoting.
I don’t have to like cheap cloth diapers. I don’t have to like all the diapers.
I don’t have to give them a glowing review just because they exist. Some diapers are flawed and have problems that I can point out.
I am working to shift my conversation – I lot of my older content used to be very negative. That’ isn’t helpful to the larger cloth diaper conversation. There are enough pies for everyone to have a slice. Instead I focus now on sharing the good and being critical, but allowing for growth.
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