Child-Free Woman Convinced She'd Use Cloth Diapers—Then Comes Viral Response

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A 32-year-old woman "undecided" about children asked moms for their opinions on cloth diapers—and the response is going viral.
Miam-based Chanel Goodson wrote in her post on Threads: "As … someone who cares about the planet, I know I'd want to use cloth diapers."
She asked parents on Threads why cloth diapers, despite being reusable and potentially more eco-friendly, aren't more widely adopted—especially given the rising concerns about chemicals in disposables and the mounting cost of single-use products.
Stock image: A baby lays on a bed wearing a cloth diaper.
Stock image: A baby lays on a bed wearing a cloth diaper.
Aurora Uribe
As a vegan of 12 years, Goodson told Newsweek that her values around sustainability shapes all aspects of consumption—including food, fashion and household products.
"I'm very mindful about recycling and limiting single-use items, and disposable diapers have always struck me as incredibly wasteful," Goodson said. "When I saw a box of diapers in-store priced at $50, that honestly shocked me."
That is when she started learning about cloth diapers—the cost savings, sustainability, and reusability made her want to understand them better.
But many parents on Threads, moms in particular, had answers. The post itself was viewed over 135,000 times and received more than 2,000 comments.
"The amount of labor involved with cleaning human s*** out of fabric is more intense than you will understand until you have a kid and it's a regular occurrence," one mom wrote.
Another added: "I wanted to do cloth diapers but quickly realized I had to choose convenience for my sanity."
Many others highlighted logistic hurdles such as day-care restrictions, lack of laundry access, and sheer exhaustion.
"A washing machine makes it significantly easier and not everyone has one. High up front cost is off-putting. Add in exhaustion from having a newborn and most people give up," another mom posted.
Some parents, however, shared positive experiences. "We use cloth diapers and have a service," one user commented. "Every Tuesday they drop off 60 clean diapers and pick up the soiled ones. It costs $80 a month. Everyone assumes it's ultra-luxury, but it's actually affordable."
Sarah Topalian Davies, director of communications and media at Earth Day (earthday.org). told Newsweek that cloth diapers are a hard sell, even as a committed environmentalist.
"I … was given a bag of them for free by my midwife, but I quickly realized you have to be 100 percent committed as they get filthy fast," Davies said.
"You need to be able to scrape the poop off the diaper, flush it and then hot-wash a ton of cotton diapers, easily five to 10 times a day to keep your supplies ready."
Davies added that all the washing and drying is time-consuming, not to mention driers being the most energy-demanding appliances in the home.
"The thing that makes the disposables so convenient is you can change your baby in the back of the car and just put the diaper in a trash bin after," Davies said. "A cotton diaper is much more demanding, and then you have to carry a soiled cotton diaper around with you till you get home, too."
Davies said we need safer, plastic-free disposables, but finding affordable options is challenging.
Goodson's aim, she said, wasn't to make a statement online, and understood that choosing cloth diapers involves a demanding washing schedule and extra time.
"It didn't deter me from considering cloth diapers, but it definitely helped me understand that it's not just a sustainable choice; it's a lifestyle one that takes real commitment," Goodson said.