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A local group is getting on board for a worldwide push for a change.
Taking part in an initiative for cloth diapering as opposed to using disposable diapers, a group of Lethbridge residents will be taking part in The Great Cloth Diaper Change 2011 on April 23.
And at 10 a.m. in the Community Room in the main branch of the Lethbridge Public Library, at least 25 babies will be changed with cloth diapers, an event that will be happening at the exact same time across the globe in an attempt to make it into the Guinness Book for World Records.
“There are going to be a lot of parents there with babies and diapers and we’re all going to change a diaper at the same time, whether the baby needs a diaper change or not,” said Kristy Jahn-Smith, one of the organizers.
“There will be people doing it in Malysia, South America and Europe. In order for it to be at the same time everywhere, some people are going to be doing this in the middle of the night.”
The Great Cloth Diaper Change was started by Judy Aagard of Tiny Tots in California to show that cloth diapers are the real option for today’s family.
After initial contact with Guinness World Records she saw the potential to further enhance cloth diapering and set a world record.
“The Real Cloth Diapers Association is made up of people who are retailers and people who are already in the industry,” said Jahn-Smith. “They looking for ways to spread the word. They believe in what they’re doing and they believe in cloth diapers.”
Under Guinness World Record guidelines, the diaper change must not only be photographed, but videotaped.
As well, babies involved in the diaper change must be below 39 inches tall to qualify.
“There are a whole bunch of rules for this because it comes down from Guinness,” said Jahn-Smith.
“We have to have two witnesses. They have to be impartial. One of them has to be, according to Guinness, a cloth diapering expert. So I had to find a cloth diapering expert that I don’t know. It has to be someone who can tell the difference between a cloth diaper and a disposable diaper. Everybody who comes in has to sign off and get their names (signed). They need all those details.”
The event is part of a larger movement, with participants given the option to contribute a dollar or more to benefit the Real Diaper Association, a non-profit organization working to aid families across the U.S. and Canada to find and use reusable cloth diapers.
“It’s making a comeback, but not everybody knows about that yet. To some people it still sounds like a pretty ‘out there’ concept,” said Jahn Smith.
“A lot of people, when they think about cloth diapers, they think of these big squares where you have to fold them up and you stick pins in them. Now they’re such a different thing. They’re easy to close up as a disposable diaper and they’re so well-made. They’re easy to wash. It’s a different thing. It’s just a better solution.”
There are also cloth diapers with compostable inserts, said Jahn-Smith.
“You can take out the dirty parts and throw it in your composter. We can’t use those because that’s not completely a cloth diaper. So they won’t let us use those.”
To drum up local interest, the Lethbridge group has started a Facebook page called Great Cloth Diaper Change and are also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ClothRecord.
Those interested in updates can also check at www.greatclothdiaperchange.com.
“So right now the numbers look pretty good. But the proof will be in the pudding when everybody actually shows up on the day of it and is ready to go,” said Jahn-Smith. “It’s on Earth Day, so that’s why they chose it, but it also happens to be Easter weekend. There has been a lot of people contacting us and saying they’re going to be there.”
But the initiative isn’t so much about getting a page in the record books, said Jahn-Smith.
“I think the real point behind it is to increase awareness about cloth diapering and that it’s making a comeback. It’s not so hard to do and maybe (we can) get some more people on board because when they hear about this, then they’ll look into it.” |
