So You're Ok With Calling Affordable Cloth Diapers "China Cheapies"? Let's Have A Chat, Mkay?
Sigh, it pains me to even type those words. BUT, for the
sake of this conversation- I will.
When I started cloth diapering, like many perspective or new
cloth diapering parents, I went in full research mode. I had a combination of
articles online, social media groups, pages, and people local to me who used
cloth that I used to gather information. It was crazy overwhelming. I was lost
in a whirlwind of systems, brands, materials, health, safety, washing, etc. and
I am, by nature, a simplifier.
Yes, yes I just made that up. I make things simple for
myself. I take out what isn’t pertinent information and keep it as cut and dry
as possible. That was my approach to cloth diapering initially. I decided to
weed through what seemed extra to get to the core.
The conclusion of my initial research was:
1. Diapers manufactured in China and any Asian countries were dangerous due to
the possibility of lead poisoning. These diapers were commonly referred to as
“China Cheapies”.
2. Diapers that costed under $20 were not going to last me
and probably had lead in them because they weren’t made in the USA.
3. If I wanted the cute prints and “fancy” systems (AIO, AI2s, etc.) I’d have
to break the bank.
4. You needed a special cloth diaper detergent to wash them.
5. You must sacrifice your first born in a special cloth
diaper ritual that involved staying virtually linked to websites to obtain
limited edition cloth diaper prints –or you just weren’t doing it right.
6. Compliancy was a BIG DEAL. Let me simplify what
compliancy is: The US Safety Authority sets rules- you must follow said rules
and then you present this to them and they deem you ‘COMPLIANT’.
7. Buying used diapers was basically the same as snatching a
can of soda from a stranger who just slobbered all over it and taking a few
sips.
8. Did I mention that diapers from outside of the USA, specifically China and
other Asian countries, were DANGEROUS and you were a BAD PARENT who didn’t care
about your child or your country if you dared purchase them? **insert horror
movie music**
It was a headache. No, seriously. I felt like my head was
going to explode and knew that this couldn’t be cloth diapering in a nutshell.
So, I did MORE research and talked to the person who introduced me to cloth.
She, another military wife who lived in the same neighborhood, laughed until
tears were coming down her face.
Her exact words, “Girl, those people are cray. Welcome to the crunchy world.”
She proceeded to explain that most of what I would find was
BS and propaganda (Which I kinda figured anyway) and that cloth diapering was
not as hard or costly as it was made out to be.
My additional research found that:
Cloth Diapers could be as inexpensive as $3 each. I could use the same
detergent that I use on my clothes on my cloth diapers and they could go in the
dryer on high. I didn’t have to sacrifice my 7-year-old to have cute prints and
I didn’t have to spend $20 or more per diaper either. And lastly, cloth diapers
purchased from China wouldn’t kill my kids and devastate the US economy.
I jumped in head first by purchasing some used diapers from
that same mama- an assortment of Alva Baby diapers, Bumgenius, Charlie Banana,
etc.
She had mentioned that they had been “stripped” (had no clue
what that entailed at the time).
I bleached them a few times before we used them and we got started.
I continued to stay around forums and reading up on modern cloth diapering --
And it bothered me that I barely saw any other Black parents in these spaces. I
was also bothered that I rarely, if ever, saw Black babies and parents used as
models by companies and brands. This was the catalyst behind the birth of Black
Women Do Cloth Diaper.
There was also something else nagging at me--- This “China Cheapie” term. I
never quite felt comfortable seeing it used or using it myself. It was simple
to me:
Not all parents can afford to spend more than $5 on a cloth diapers. Why should
I call their purchase with their hard-earned money cheap? Why does this term
include China? What is the point of that--- that’s some racist, elitist,
classist, BS right there? NO, it’s not about being politically correct, it’s
simply about not being an A-hole. If someone decided to call diapers made by a
Black owned brand “nigge* nappies’, people would generally be outraged. Or
would they? Hmmmm.makes you think. Why is this term so widely accepted??
I thought about it and decided I wouldn’t participate in the use of that term,
I would make sure that I made my views on the term clear, and I wouldn’t have
anything to do with any business or individual who continued to use the term.
How hard is it to say “inexpensive diapers” or “cheap diapers” (if you MUST
affix a value)?
As I participated in the forums more and gathered more
information about diapers manufactured in China---
I realized that MOST popular diaper brands in at least one aspect, were
manufactured in Asia or outside of the United States. These companies state
that they keep close watch on their factories to ensure safety of the product
and ethical treatment of those working in said factories. Ethics is another
angle here in the fight against cloth diapers based in Asian countries.
So, let’s just put it all out there:
·
Fact – Diaper brands based in China have stolen
designs and it is impossible for the US Based company to take legal action. I
believe THIS is the major basis for the dislike of the Asia based cloth diaper.
They are bad for US based business.
·
Fact – Diaper brands based in China are
inexpensive. Their cost for supplies and manufacturing are lower. They can
produce materials quicker and it costs less. Now, the “quality” is different
from USA based manufacturing. This is just like the difference between Fruit
Loops and Fruity O’s. That’s it. The cloth diaper functions the same, and
depending on several variables, will last the same amount of time. Case and
point, I personally have had major USA brands that have delaminated and been
defective (broken snaps). I have also had Alva brand cloth diapers that have
lasted several years and used on MULTIPLE children in MULTIPLE families. I have
also had major USA brand diapers that have lasted years, and diapers
manufactured in China that have delaminated after a handful of washes. Warranties
are KEY! Most diaper companies, here and in Asia, have warranties on their
products.
Now, I don’t want to, but let’s
talk ethics. That angle is often used when advising US consumers against buying
cloth diaper products from Asian based companies. Deep Sigh.
As an African American woman in the United States who knows that there are
employment and wage statistics that are the lowest among Black people in
America, the disproportionate murder of people of color by law enforcement, the
fact that poverty disproportionately affects people of color, the subpar
education system in neighborhoods that are predominately minority; having a
conversation about people working in sweat shops for pennies to make cloth
diapers is almost laughable. Who am I to DARE critique the ethics of work
environment in another Country that I do not live in? The only thing that sets US based diaper
brands who manufacture in China apart, is their word that their brand maintains
ethical business practices in someone else’s Country. They travel to these
locations and can fully attest that they are better than the people of the
culture in the region that they are doing business.
Asian families must work, eat, and live just like anyone else. There are greedy
corporation heads right here in the U.S.
There is a continual FIGHT for living wages right here in the U.S.
Who is fighting for these Asian
families? No, who is Fighting? Who is going to their government on their
behalf? Who is standing in solidarity, not simply by engaging in conversations
to stop consumers from buying, but to force change in the arena they claim they
are so disgusted by?
I assume they would rather these companies just shut down, putting those
families out of work altogether. Or do they even care that much?
The use of the term “ethics” when discussing cloth diaper manufacturing in
China has simply been a form of pandering.
Yes, I said it, pandering. White America LOVES a good ol’ “We’re better
than those foreigners. We’re safer, cleaner, our morals are better, they treat
their people horribly so we’re going to set up shop IN THEIR COUNTRY and show
‘em how it’s done” but then sell to our good ol’ wholesome precious American
families while getting a HUGE profit on what it costs to manufacture in that
ASIAN COUNTRY. ‘Murica.
Lastly, lets touch on the possibility
of lead poisoning. I am sitting here again, rolling my eyes. The same people
who are concerned about THE POSSIBILITY of lead in cloth diapers manufactured
in subpar conditions in Asia have been SILENT about the Flint Michigan water
poisoning. There isn’t a possibility of lead in the water in Flint and other
American cities, it’s REALITY. There has NEVER been a confirmed case of a cloth
diaper manufactured in China by Alva, Sunbaby, THX, Happy Flute, or Kawaii
having lead in it.
I can personally attest to the fact that Alva Baby, the most popular China
based cloth diaper brand, has had compliancy testing done and has had a USA
based warehouse in California for at least 2 years. But Alva’s compliancy
testing has not been good enough for the U.S. based cloth community to accept
them.
These cloth diaper brands based in Asia that have been
outcast and black listed by American companies have done nothing wrong but
offer American consumers who don’t fit the “mainstream bill” an affordable
cloth diapering option, while allowing these families to MAINTAIN their DIGNITY. Sure, covers and prefolds are inexpensive. It might not be the most convenient option for a family. Sure, there are cloth diaper banks. Those banks are in place to service families in NEED. Diaper banks send you what they have. You don't get to be choosy. Some diaper banks send you the basic of the basic that they have to offer. Don't get me wrong, there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with that. A family with $100 to spend may not be in need. Why shouldn't they have the option to get the most bang for their buck while choosing the cute prints and different systems?
"China Cheapies" is a disgustingly racist and discriminatory
slur. The continued use of the term "China Cheapies" is a sign of the progress in
making cloth more acceptable and accessible, or lack thereof. The use of this
terminology shouldn’t exist in a world where many families need to cloth diaper
because their next meal, their next bill, and the livelihood of their family
may depend on it.