ʻOHANA BLOG (Uʻi + Zach)
Are you considering making the switch to cloth diapers but feeling a bit overwhelmed? You’re not alone! In our ʻohana blog series, we shine a spotlight on local families who have embraced cloth diapering and are eager to share their manaʻo and some tips with you. We know that transitioning to cloth diapers can seem like a big commitment. To help you navigate this journey with ease, we’ve reached out to families within the local cloth community. Our own journey into cloth diapering was significantly influenced by the encouragement and support we received from fellow families. Now, we’re excited to pass that same support along to you. In our first ʻOhana Blog, we feature the Lum ʻOhana! Uʻi is an attorney who is focused on the Native Hawaiian law and Zach is an award-winning musician and songwriter.
We hope their stories provide you with the same level of encouragement and practical advice that made our cloth diapering journey a rewarding experience. Together, we can make this eco-friendly choice a little easier and a lot more fun!
How has cloth changed the way you approach life? What other eco-conscious decisions does your ʻohana make?
In making the decision to use cloth diapers, we thought a lot about the amount of waste we make. Now, we’re just more conscious about our impact. In addition to cloth diapers, we also use cloth napkins (cheap washcloths) instead of paper towels, use our own grocery and vegetable bags, and try to avoid single-use products like paper plates, utensils, and plastic packaging.
Was your partner on board with using cloth? Why or why not, and how did you manage it?
He was skeptical at first! We agreed to do cloth part-time to see how we managed. After realizing how simple it was, and after baby had major rash from disposables, we transitioned to full-time. We still use disposables every now and then, but hands down prefer cloth! I have a bunch of nieces and nephews and am familiar with “traditional” disposable diapers, but as first time parents, he doesn’t know any other way than cloth!
What has the response to using cloth been like from your family and friends? Can you share any positive or negative stories?
Like us, I think they’re surprised how simple it is, too! After the initial shock — and sometimes judgement — I think people realize that it isn’t as hard or as gross as it may seem. As we have been cloth diapering baby, we realized that it was just a generation ago that everyone used cloth. A family member recalled their experiences with actual cloth diapers and pins, and how easy cloth diapers are given the new cloth diapering “technology” and designs!
What advice do you have for parents who are considering using cloth diapers?
Give it a try, be flexible, and do what works for you! There’s no shame in taking a break and using disposables if you need to. Watch all of Pōhai’s videos to get a better idea of what cloth diapering looks like. It’s not as hard as you might think AND it's oddly satisfying! ❤️
