89 replies to this topic

[Jenn]

geeeeeeeeeeeez That's a bit harsh.. I don't think any of us here can judge the way they do things, as we all live VERY different lives to them..

For one, they made their own clothes up until kid like 5 or 6.. So that's out the window - they buy at op shops

For two - they do like 15+ loads of laundry a day, and always have 3-4 kids in nappies! Can you imagine tacking on 2-3 more loads of laundry PER DAY? That's insane.. I wouldn't do it either! Heck, I don't know how the mums on here with 4+ kids do cloth for one or more, and still keep up on all their laundry!!!!!!

[ButterflyMumma]

Jenn, on 02 May 2010 - 10:04 AM, said:

geeeeeeeeeeeez That's a bit harsh.. I don't think any of us here can judge the way they do things, as we all live VERY different lives to them..

For one, they made their own clothes up until kid like 5 or 6.. So that's out the window - they buy at op shops

For two - they do like 15+ loads of laundry a day, and always have 3-4 kids in nappies! Can you imagine tacking on 2-3 more loads of laundry PER DAY? That's insane.. I wouldn't do it either! Heck, I don't know how the mums on here with 4+ kids do cloth for one or more, and still keep up on all their laundry!!!!!!

Completely agree. Heck there are days now when I think omg I so can't be bothered because of all the washing we have, but then I get over it and still keep going. Its not just about an extra load or two of nappies, what about when the kids have leaks (seems to happen here an awful lot, especially with the Lil Miss). There is even more washing!

Personally i'd be picking my battles with this one. If I had that many kids, i'd be using sposies as well. Even if it meant cutting back in other areas of our lives just to be able to have that convenience. 3 in cloth was bad enough!

[mum2lex]

blergh whatever... LOL

if my "they suck" comment offended then WHY READ THE TOPIC!!!!!!!!

you dont have to take to heart everything u read on the internet!!!

also if you'd noticed i was in a cranky mood when i posted.

i was just shocked.

eh. whatever.
just thought i was an interesting "landfil fact" i'd share.

[mayas mum]

I have 4 kids... only one in cloth now and seriously it is not THAT much more work.... I have actually timed how long it takes to "wash a load of nappies" ie:- put in washing machine, hang out and bring in..... and it takes 16 minutes.... and another 13 to snap them all back together (which I would do while watching tv at night).

When I had 2 in cloth it was an extra 4 minutes hanging time and another 5 minutes putting back together. I used to do a load every day. Now I do a load every 3-4 days. 15 minutes every 3 days is not THAT hard to find, and for the financial and environmental benefit I am happy to do so.

I am not judging them but it does seem a shame when they have an opportunity to make such a significant difference to not only the environment but also their bank balance. With the money they saved they could go on a family holiday once ever couple of years. Roughly 5,000 large boxes of disposables per annum @ approx $25 per box = $125,000 even allowing a 20% discount for buying in bulk that still adds up to $100,000 per year!!! hell they could even go on a holiday every year!


A recent study has identified the cloth disposable difference

(source-study was paraphrased in Disposable nappies: a case study in waste prevention. Women's Environment Network 2003)Can't find original study documentation at the moment, will find if someone is interested.

Impact per Infant per year:
First figure is cloth, second is disposable, third figure is ratio.

Energy~ 2532MJ ----8900MJ--- 3.5x
Waste Water~ 12.4 cubic metres--- 28 cubic metres--- 2.3x
Raw materials: non renewable~ 25kg--- 208kg--- 8.3x
Raw materials: renewable~ 4kg--- 361kg--- 90x
Domestic Solid waste~ 4kg--- 240kg ---- 60x
Land for raw materials~ 1,150-6,800ha--- 29,500-32,300ha---- 4-30x

So yeah they have a massive opportunity to make a big difference to the environment. Sorry if these seems a little ranty.... it is something I feel very passionate about, and if you are going to have 19 children I think you need to do so in a fully considered fashion. IMO when you are totally ignoring the significant environmental impact you are making on the earth for your children's future it makes me very disappointed.

For me finding 15 minutes a day to help make my children's future potentially better is a small price to pay. I know there are so many other things that stuff the environment up, some of them I have NO control over, but I can control this and choose to do so. Even if people only used disposables how they were originally intended ie;- on holidays and when out and about imagine how different things would be.

Oh well... John Lennon was onto something .... I just wish he had made a song about cloth nappies

Edited by mayas mum, 02 May 2010 - 11:24 AM.

[mum2lex]

knowing her fashion she wouldnt be the one to find 15mins to put the washing on or hang it out or snap the nappies back together... whoever has laundry "juristriction" (sp!?) that week would have to do it...

[tte]

I have 7 and sometimes I do find the laundry a lot - I have soo much with clothes that sometimes the nappies are just another load I don't want to do but then on the other hand I do soo much anyway it really isn't that hard to do just one more. If I had the machines that she has it would make it a whole lot easier. No judgement either way here - I think they are already doing a lot to be environmentally concious and frugal and agree they have done great to be debt free but if they had used cloth for even a few babies or just part - time it would make a big difference. I never have enough nappies to go fulltime here anyway but even using just 3 changes on my 2 youngest during the middle of the day and then throwing them in with the clothes at the end of the day saves 6 disposables per day in the household but isn't too overwhelming.

[MLM]

mum2lex, on 02 May 2010 - 11:32 AM, said:

knowing her fashion she wouldnt be the one to find 15mins to put the washing on or hang it out or snap the nappies back together... whoever has laundry "juristriction" (sp!?) that week would have to do it...

LOL, I have to agree.
What I want to know is what does SHE do? besides get pregnant....

[KATONES]

simply disguisting

[Chiron]

What a huge task the job of doing all of that laundry must be for the child rostered on so I'm sort of glad the poor kid isn't lumped with extra washing in the form of cloth nappies.

I recently bought some disposables whilst in America and they were much cheaper than they are here ( as with pretty much everything)

[Jenn]

Chiron, on 02 May 2010 - 08:11 PM, said:

What a huge task the job of doing all of that laundry must be for the child rostered on so I'm sort of glad the poor kid isn't lumped with extra washing in the form of cloth nappies.

I recently bought some disposables whilst in America and they were much cheaper than they are here ( as with pretty much everything)

Don't you think that maybe the kids like to help and like to work as a group? When my family had 5 kids(3 + 2step), we use to love doing chores and things and having our own area to clean in the house etc.. *shrug*

[buffy]

Lis86, on 01 May 2010 - 09:53 PM, said:

Am I dumb.... Who are they (should I watch more tv??)

i Hadn't heard of them either.

Holy cow that's a lot of kids!

[bethers]

for those who haven't heard of them - they have a show called 19 kids and counting on foxtel.


as for the email i think it's great - but possibly you could change the word nappies to diapers - they are american after all!!!!

check them out at www.duggarfamily.com - all their kids names start with J!!!!!!

[Chiron]

Jenn, on 02 May 2010 - 08:15 PM, said:

Chiron, on 02 May 2010 - 08:11 PM, said:

What a huge task the job of doing all of that laundry must be for the child rostered on so I'm sort of glad the poor kid isn't lumped with extra washing in the form of cloth nappies.

I recently bought some disposables whilst in America and they were much cheaper than they are here ( as with pretty much everything)

Don't you think that maybe the kids like to help and like to work as a group? When my family had 5 kids(3 + 2step), we use to love doing chores and things and having our own area to clean in the house etc.. *shrug*

My five kids certainly do their fair share of chores. However, I think that it is a huge task for one child to have to do the laundry of 20 people. It would be like running a mini-laundromat. Although I imagine that they would use clothes dryers exclusively over there so that would make it easier. I know that I struggle with doing the washing and I only have a family of 7.

[mum2lex]

mmm

this would make it easier

"Their laundry room has 4 washers and 4 dryers."

[LilyJ26]

I think they are an awesome family who look like they are on top of things. Everything is so well organised and the kids all look well fed and clothed and very content. An excellent example of how a large family could run well. They look like they have great morals and the kids seem polite and caring. I think for the financial aspect and also environmental that it would be cool if they did cloth nappies but I am not one to judge. Whoever made the comment of what exactly does the mother do beside getting pregnant - I think that's a little harsh. Can you imagine having a family that large? It would be a mammoth effort. My two children exhaust me. I think she is amazing.

[Jenn]

Chiron, on 02 May 2010 - 08:26 PM, said:

Jenn, on 02 May 2010 - 08:15 PM, said:

Chiron, on 02 May 2010 - 08:11 PM, said:

What a huge task the job of doing all of that laundry must be for the child rostered on so I'm sort of glad the poor kid isn't lumped with extra washing in the form of cloth nappies.

I recently bought some disposables whilst in America and they were much cheaper than they are here ( as with pretty much everything)

Don't you think that maybe the kids like to help and like to work as a group? When my family had 5 kids(3 + 2step), we use to love doing chores and things and having our own area to clean in the house etc.. *shrug*

My five kids certainly do their fair share of chores. However, I think that it is a huge task for one child to have to do the laundry of 20 people. It would be like running a mini-laundromat. Although I imagine that they would use clothes dryers exclusively over there so that would make it easier. I know that I struggle with doing the washing and I only have a family of 7.

I think 2 or 3 of the kids do the laundry, and Michelle(mum) pitches in as well iygwim. They all have jurisdictions which started when JimBob the dad was elected for something in their state/council. They homeschool, so they learned all about how laws are made etc etc, nad implemented "jurisdictions" for each child, which rotate.

mum2lex, on 02 May 2010 - 08:38 PM, said:

mmm

this would make it easier

"Their laundry room has 4 washers and 4 dryers."

Haha yeah when they were finishing their mammoth house, the TLC american/british tv company were filming and decided to get a designer in and spent a fortune furnishing their house. They had some key things like their commercial kitchen they bought in an auction, but were helped out decorating the kids rooms, their huge dining table + living room furniture and outfitting their laundry room. It was a really cool episode to watch because Michelle and JimBob were so appreciative and stating how they were going to just have no real furniture for a while longer so they could save up and buy things here and there.

/rant off.. There have been doco's on them for years now, since around kid 10 or 12? I have a bunch of Duggar Trivia stored in a dusty corner of my brains

[LilyJ26]

I just wanted to say I love all the kids names!!! I've always loved 'J' names and they are super cute.

[jag5000]

You should email a bigger nappy company like BBH or itti's and suggest they sent a sample pack to them. What amazing publicity that would be if they used them!!

[peainapod]

Hey I just want to say that my mum is one of fourteen kids back when big families were the norm! They slept 2, 3, even 4 to the bed (double beds) when they moved to Australia and into a 4 bedroom house! The boys had a room and the girls had another couple of rooms. Now I think they had a washer (when some other families still used a copper to wash in) but no dryers then! No disposable nappies then either, cloth all the way!

[mayas mum]

where is that like key?

totally like it peainapod

[milkandcookies]

Suppose until we have 19 children we wouldn't know how easy/hard it is to do.

[kark84]

Miss_Catie, on 01 May 2010 - 09:19 PM, said:

You maybe cranky but I completely agree!

OMG! I just did some maths, I think huggies work out to be roughly 32c a nappy, times that buy 150,000 nappies, thats... drumroll...


$48,000

If i dont stop buying MCN i'm gonna end up spending that LOL

[Jenn]

kark84, on 31 May 2010 - 10:47 AM, said:

Miss_Catie, on 01 May 2010 - 09:19 PM, said:

You maybe cranky but I completely agree!

OMG! I just did some maths, I think huggies work out to be roughly 32c a nappy, times that buy 150,000 nappies, thats... drumroll...


$48,000

If i dont stop buying MCN i'm gonna end up spending that LOL

I think they might have done cloth nappies back when they had just a few kids.

[nuddle]

they would only have one or two in nappies, so whats the big deal, surely they can cloth... maybe someone should suggest it lol

[Breezy]

The washing - with my 8 kids, I have 2 fulltime in cloth and 2 others in night naps (Cloth). Washing is a huge job at my place - I do 4-5 loads a day. I sort, wash, hang up, bring in and the kids do most of the folding - I sort the nappies. I have no dryer so have to be on top of it all the time. I start my wash in the evening and can often do 2 or3 loads at night. I especially try to do this if I need to wash bedding the next morning. As we live in a small space I don't have alot of extra bedding so sheets get washed first thing to be dry and back on he beds the same day. Washing is a huge job but one job I don't mind - who doesn't like a pile of freshly cleaned towels or climbing between fresh clean sheets!! Hmmmmm.

[Breezy]

The washing - with my 8 kids, I have 2 fulltime in cloth and 2 others in night naps (Cloth). Washing is a huge job at my place - I do 4-5 loads a day. I sort, wash, hang up, bring in and the kids do most of the folding - I sort the nappies. I have no dryer so have to be on top of it all the time. I start my wash in the evening and can often do 2 or3 loads at night. I especially try to do this if I need to wash bedding the next morning. As we live in a small space I don't have alot of extra bedding so sheets get washed first thing to be dry and back on he beds the same day. Washing is a huge job but one job I don't mind - who doesn't like a pile of freshly cleaned towels or climbing between fresh clean sheets!! Hmmmmm.

[Breezy]

The washing - with my 8 kids, I have 2 fulltime in cloth and 2 others in night naps (Cloth). Washing is a huge job at my place - I do 4-5 loads a day. I sort, wash, hang up, bring in and the kids do most of the folding - I sort the nappies. I have no dryer so have to be on top of it all the time. I start my wash in the evening and can often do 2 or3 loads at night. I especially try to do this if I need to wash bedding the next morning. As we live in a small space I don't have alot of extra bedding so sheets get washed first thing to be dry and back on he beds the same day. Washing is a huge job but one job I don't mind - who doesn't like a pile of freshly cleaned towels or climbing between fresh clean sheets!! Hmmmmm.

[lockies-mumma]

shit breezy , i cant even keep ontop of the washing with just me and lockie ..lol 5 loads a day would drive me MAD! (i have about 5 loads that need to be done right now lol )

[Cheeky_Monkey]

Bit late, didn't see this thread earlier.

But agreed with Peainapod.

My grandmother is one of 14 kids and my great grandmother had no choice but to do cloth nappies. They couldn't AFFORD disposables. Imagine all that washing 3 sets of twins in there too.

[whoknows]

Cheeky_Monkey, on 11 June 2010 - 01:04 PM, said:

Bit late, didn't see this thread earlier.

But agreed with Peainapod.

My grandmother is one of 14 kids and my great grandmother had no choice but to do cloth nappies. They couldn't AFFORD disposables. Imagine all that washing 3 sets of twins in there too.

What an amazing women with 3 sets of twins

[Poppy]

Ugh

The Duggers Suck.

Cringeworthy

[Breezy]

Yeh I must admit i cringe when people mention the Duggars - when people realise how many kids they have a need to tell me all about them! I really cringe and hate all the 'sweet as apple pie' all american crap! My kids don't all start with the letter J and don't wear sideparts and big collared dresses.

Their teeth don't go 'bling' when they smile either!!!!

Each to their own really - but please don,t put me in the Duggar box!

[StarryOne]

Eww, the Duggars freak me out too. $48,000!?!?!?!??!?!?!

I have had up to three in full-time cloth, and have had four night nappies for most of the last four years. Really, it's not like i'm squatting in a creek to wash them. Don't they have like eight washing machines and dryers or something too? (Sorry it it's been said, I skipped a page)

[XxLovePeaceXx]

don't forget that they are in the US too and during the winter months its pretty tough getting your washing dry without the use of a dryer!

[baby kisses]

Each to their own, I wouldnt like to be washing for 19 people either, and if i was, i certainly wouldnt want ANY extra with all the nappies they would use! How many little ones is there?

[StarryOne]

And in a lot of places in the US it's considered tacky to hang your clothes on a clothesline...........I think it's illegal in some areas.

They homeschool, they're obviously not worried about the extra work. And the older kids are slaves, plus i'm sure they get a LOT of help, they're like their own brand.

[rhyb]

I sorta feel let down by only having triplets now lol

[elleandmum]

StarryOne, on 17 June 2010 - 08:44 PM, said:

And in a lot of places in the US it's considered tacky to hang your clothes on a clothesline...........I think it's illegal in some areas.

They homeschool, they're obviously not worried about the extra work. And the older kids are slaves, plus i'm sure they get a LOT of help, they're like their own brand.

Illegal to hang your clothes on the line That's crazy talk!

[Chiron]

Yeah from what I have heard many areas have strict covenants banning their use.

[elleandmum]

So instead they use the energy sucking driers? That's just stupid!

Oh well, only in America.

[Jenn]

When I was growing up in America, it was noted that only really poor of the poor hung their clothes out.. Sort of a snobby like.. "What, you can't afford a dryer?" kind of thing.. We did, but hey, we were pretty poor! LOL My mom didn't really care.. but we still used driers a lot.



As far as their homeschooling but being too lazy to cloth diaper etc.. Sheesh people can be mean - We all pick and chose our own battles. I don't get why you are putting someone down because they don't choose to do something you do.

Some people use energy sucking microwaves, kettles, tv's, computers, blah blah blah - that's just as bad as using disposables, but no one takes that into account. How are those products made? How much energy do they use per year? Most of that energy to make and run them would be from natural resources which are NOT renewable.. Which is just as damaging as filling up a landfill!

Just because you've seen a bit of video footage of a family, and read a bit of their lives on the internet, does NOT mean you know them, and what is right for them. Only they know what is right for their family. No one can be perfect and "do it all."

[StarryOne]

I'm not being nasty (if that was aimed at me, among others). They do freak me out, I don't like the whole Duggar brand thing they have happening. I don't like any families that make the older children raise the younger, and as a homeschooler myself I REALLY hate when people bring them up when they find out we do, like we're going to be similar.

I dont' think they SHOULD use cloth, really, if I wanted them to limit their environmental vandalism i'd be wanting them to stop bloody breeding. But I do think that saying they don't have enough time is somewhat of a copout, in this day and age of advanced technology. They have time for more children, they have time for homeschooling, they have time to shoot TV. But it's their $48,000 to spend how they like.

[Chiron]

Some people dislike the them because they feel that they are exploiting their kids to get rich. It's not like the kids get a say in whether they appear in a reality TV show.

[Jenn]

StarryOne, on 18 June 2010 - 07:30 PM, said:

I'm not being nasty (if that was aimed at me, among others). They do freak me out, I don't like the whole Duggar brand thing they have happening. I don't like any families that make the older children raise the younger, and as a homeschooler myself I REALLY hate when people bring them up when they find out we do, like we're going to be similar.

I dont' think they SHOULD use cloth, really, if I wanted them to limit their environmental vandalism i'd be wanting them to stop bloody breeding. But I do think that saying they don't have enough time is somewhat of a copout, in this day and age of advanced technology. They have time for more children, they have time for homeschooling, they have time to shoot TV. But it's their $48,000 to spend how they like.

I guess my great great grandmothers + on both side of my family were just as bad, having up to 16-18 kids for several generations in a row....

It's all about perspective hey?

[Cheeky_Monkey]

Jenn, on 19 June 2010 - 08:15 AM, said:

StarryOne, on 18 June 2010 - 07:30 PM, said:

I'm not being nasty (if that was aimed at me, among others). They do freak me out, I don't like the whole Duggar brand thing they have happening. I don't like any families that make the older children raise the younger, and as a homeschooler myself I REALLY hate when people bring them up when they find out we do, like we're going to be similar.

I dont' think they SHOULD use cloth, really, if I wanted them to limit their environmental vandalism i'd be wanting them to stop bloody breeding. But I do think that saying they don't have enough time is somewhat of a copout, in this day and age of advanced technology. They have time for more children, they have time for homeschooling, they have time to shoot TV. But it's their $48,000 to spend how they like.

I guess my great great grandmothers + on both side of my family were just as bad, having up to 16-18 kids for several generations in a row....

It's all about perspective hey?

It was common back in those times. It was the same in my own family.
I think if you can support them and love them, who the hell cares?
There are things the duggars do or don't do that I don't agree with all the same.

[StarryOne]

Quote

I guess my great great grandmothers + on both side of my family were just as bad, having up to 16-18 kids for several generations in a row....

Bet they used cloth nappies though.................OK, I don't really mean that, I just couldn't resist being a smartarse.

If I thought large families were a heinous crime I wouldn't have five kids would I? Detach and read, you're seeing attacks where there really aren't any. Promise.

[Bec259]

I find them quite interesting really.
The kids are all nicely dressed, seem to have good manners.
Each to their own really.
Did the email end up getting sent?

[LilyJ26]

Doesn't seem fair that it was accepted in days gone by to have larger families (and most went without because they were poor) but today it is frowned upon because it is no longer normal? Just because not everyone chooses to have large families doesn't mean it is wrong. The only issue I have with large families is when the children are not taken care of. It appears that the dugger children are well taken care of and well mannered. As for being 'slaves' a little hard work never hurt anyone. Has anyone noticed the attitudes and lack of respect this lastest generation of teens have to elders and anyone in general. If they learn to care about anyone else but themselves perhaps they wouldn't have such awful attitudes and be so selfish? I have been ttc a third child for over a year now and I don't tell most people anymore because everyone's reaction is why do you want any more? Two is perfect, at least you have the ones you have etc. It is very hurtful to me as I want more children and it is my decision to make. I feel incomplete as much as I adore the two I have. Nobody should tell you that you only have two, three, four, five, or however many kids and that you suck because you don't want more and I don't believe people should judge people for having a large family either. Again in my opinion if the children are looked after then whats the crime? The bible says that a man is blessed to have lots of children and that is the viewpoint they take. I think it would be advantageous if the duggers did cloth nappies but again it is their choice to make. I don't judge people for not doing cloth and I don't want people judging me for not doing disposibles, at the end of the day we all have the power of choice. Christian verses non Christian, blonde verses brunette, Ford verses Holden. We all have our preferences and some people like something alltogether different like Spiritual but not christian or Mazda or redhead. Personal preference.

Edited by LilyJ26, 19 August 2010 - 05:55 PM.