We had our first baby in 1970, the time of the transition. Lots of pediatricians were ambivalent about disposables and the Earth Movement made it tough on us Wannabee Enviormentalists. But Pampers made it possible for moms to work, at least part time, so they were a necessity for clumsy fingered dads. I don't think the rise of the Dual Income household would have been possible otherwise.
In Iowa, disposable diapers really didn't become a go-to till the late '80's. At the Iowa State Fair in 1985, we used the free diaper changing stations of Pampers and Huggies for our baby son, plus we were able to take a bunch home with us, no cost. Still used regular diapers after that.
By 1988 when our daughter was born, we were at 50-50 between regular and disposable, and at the State Fair diaper stations you were given one per child.
In 1993, our youngest son only had disposables, and there were no more free diapers at the State Fair.
Couldn't imagine using regular diapers today for our grandkids!
I was in cloth nappies in the UK in 1988. I remember my now-husband, when we were courting as teenagers, asking my mum if he could help with the drying up. Fetch a tea towel from that cupboard, he was told. He emerged with a fluffy square. "Oh no that's one of E's old nappies" says my mother. He dropped it like it was made of polonium
I was in cloth diapers as late as 1986, and we kept them around the house for at least another decade as burping cloths and cleaning rags (while my younger siblings got disposable diapers). Fantastic piece thanks Virginia!
We were not well off so for my first seven children, born between 1972 and 1985, we used cotton nappies and a pail of water with detergent in it. For the eight baby, born 1990, I gave up and surrendered to Pampas.
Great article, Virginia! With grandfatherhood, my interest is rekindled.
It's a neat story because of the variety of technical change. First, cloth diapers are better if you have plumbing-- and this became universal. Second, there were diaper services to help with cloth diapers. I'm not sure of their trajectory. Third, with the baby boom the market size was fluctuating. And as you mention the technical change in diapers was continual.
This is great! the disposable diapers I use for my children are so much better than the re-usable ones my mom used with me - particularly when my mom said she frequently stabbed me with a safety pin.
Now, if only someone could perfect the diaper pail. Diaper Genie keeps changing their designs and yet their bags routinely split open and require me to dig through smelly old diapers 🤮. I don't have a lot of hope for AI and robotics making parenting easier, but a little robot that grabs dirty diapers and whisks them to a garbage can outside would be fantastic.
We had our first baby in 1970, the time of the transition. Lots of pediatricians were ambivalent about disposables and the Earth Movement made it tough on us Wannabee Enviormentalists. But Pampers made it possible for moms to work, at least part time, so they were a necessity for clumsy fingered dads. I don't think the rise of the Dual Income household would have been possible otherwise.
Ahhh. The memories!
In Iowa, disposable diapers really didn't become a go-to till the late '80's. At the Iowa State Fair in 1985, we used the free diaper changing stations of Pampers and Huggies for our baby son, plus we were able to take a bunch home with us, no cost. Still used regular diapers after that.
By 1988 when our daughter was born, we were at 50-50 between regular and disposable, and at the State Fair diaper stations you were given one per child.
In 1993, our youngest son only had disposables, and there were no more free diapers at the State Fair.
Couldn't imagine using regular diapers today for our grandkids!
My wife and I really enjoyed this article!
I was in cloth nappies in the UK in 1988. I remember my now-husband, when we were courting as teenagers, asking my mum if he could help with the drying up. Fetch a tea towel from that cupboard, he was told. He emerged with a fluffy square. "Oh no that's one of E's old nappies" says my mother. He dropped it like it was made of polonium
Clean diapers were often used to drape over your shoulder while burping a baby. And old ones made great cleaning rags.
Yes that's why it had been kept! I understood even then. Was just the boyfriend being all Man about it
I was in cloth diapers as late as 1986, and we kept them around the house for at least another decade as burping cloths and cleaning rags (while my younger siblings got disposable diapers). Fantastic piece thanks Virginia!
We were not well off so for my first seven children, born between 1972 and 1985, we used cotton nappies and a pail of water with detergent in it. For the eight baby, born 1990, I gave up and surrendered to Pampas.
Great article, Virginia! With grandfatherhood, my interest is rekindled.
It's a neat story because of the variety of technical change. First, cloth diapers are better if you have plumbing-- and this became universal. Second, there were diaper services to help with cloth diapers. I'm not sure of their trajectory. Third, with the baby boom the market size was fluctuating. And as you mention the technical change in diapers was continual.
This is great! the disposable diapers I use for my children are so much better than the re-usable ones my mom used with me - particularly when my mom said she frequently stabbed me with a safety pin.
Now, if only someone could perfect the diaper pail. Diaper Genie keeps changing their designs and yet their bags routinely split open and require me to dig through smelly old diapers 🤮. I don't have a lot of hope for AI and robotics making parenting easier, but a little robot that grabs dirty diapers and whisks them to a garbage can outside would be fantastic.