Can anyone help me

[mummyhill]

I have been asked by a local HV to go and talk to a group of new mums about reusable nappies next week. I haven't done it in ages and can't find half of the material I used to use. I have a bag full of different styles of nappies but need to put a talk together and am feeling really nervous can anyone help me?

[Lisa78]

I have a performing arts degree if that would help! lol...but i no nothing about nappies!!! i can however lend you my eyes and ears if you want to run through your speech AND alot of encouraging hugs!!

..sorry.

i live in Lichfield though if you wanted some help.

[Fritha]

I have a performing arts degree too! MH, it'll all come back to you once you start but essentislly as a rather green nappy user I like to know:

About different types of nappies (pros and cons of each style)
different materials (pro and cons again)
care instructions (e.g. dry pailing)
washing/drying instructions

Hope that helps, I can't really help with the actual information but I suspect you/other wahms will know rather more than me anyway! :-)

Good luck with your talk I hope you get lots converted! ;-)

[Lisa78]

[QUOTE=Fritha;930673]I have a performing arts degree too! QUOTE]

next step..world domination!!!!!

[Miranda]

With an antenatal class you have to be prepared that quite often 50% simply don't want to know. Ergo the first Q I ask after introducing myself is : 'Has anyone been thinking about which sort of nappies yet or are you all just worrried about 'THE BIRTH' - which gets a laugh from a few, but often encourages someone to say 'I'm going to use ...' or 'I've got some..' - and you can also quickly see who is anti cloth. Thus you can talk the users into your talk, depending on what they're looking at getting or want to look at , and tends to put off the 'oh but I wouldn't, too much hard work' interrupters (you get a few from time to time) off from criticising their mates (as by this time the class has usually got to know each other a bit).
I only take a terry, a nappi nippa, samples of liners, prefold, a shaped nappy with velcro (sized) a one size with poppers, a couple of nice wraps, and a pocket nappy or two (prettier the better) and a teddy or doll to demo on, & a nappy mesh. If it's a large group I'll often double up so I can pass from both sides as 14-16 couples can take too long in passing round. I do pass everything round and invite the men to play with the nappi nippa - I call it a 'gadget' and say that men usually like it being a 'gadget' and find it really easy to use, much better than pins, and when it's gone round I ask one man what he thought of it - and having been primed by the 'gadget' factor comment and having been told to play with it - I sometimes joke when I say I'm going to pass it round 'sorry ladies you might have to wait while your men folk play with this, it's a gadget' - he will almost always say it's pretty easy - that kind of deflects the myth of things being fiddly and tricky to do. When I'm folding the terry square to go on the doll to pass round I equate folding nappies to folding a stack of invoices to get the address to show in the window envelope - I ask if anyones done that and found the fist few take aaages to get right but after about the 5th or 6th you can do it in your sleep, and it's much the same with terries - and I'm folding it to go on the doll on my leg standing up and not looking at it..
Key points I include are things like
cost saving
(which leads into) rubbish saving & any council incentives
convenience - not running out, less shopping to carry, just a differnt routine from disposables - bins to go out rather than washing machine on and hanging out to dry
good containment of nappy + wrap for breastfed poo
ease of use (I comment on the containment that as this protects the clothes from leaks that even a nappy + wrap will be just as if not more convenient than a disposable from that POV)
washing - no need to soak
poo disposal & liners - this worries antenatals for some reason
nappy rash and reasons for it (dispel myth of more babies get it in cloth)
out and about, overnight and it's OK that some may only want to do part time but will still make good savings, so that's worth considering if maybe it doesn't quite appeal enough for full time use.

and any questions (which can be sometimes bizzare or obscure, you just have to take what comes)

I don't take any notes with me, but would suggest to write down the key points you want to get across on a card, so if you waver or get stuck you can refer to the card.
HTH
sorry if that a bit quick and jumbly, just waiting for the orders & labels to print

[mummyhill]

Thanks every one. I used to do regular talks when my little boy was tiny but am so out of practice.

Local children's center asked me to do talk as well this morning, they also added that if they provided some suitable dolls could I teach the mums how to put the nappies on! Now that I am an expert at just get flustered talking to large groups these days.

Looks like the talk side could pick up just wondering if the selling part will pick up too? Hope so cause the extra money would be really good. Just have to make sure I can still get agents rates with Christa and Annie.

[Lisa78]

you will be absolutly fine. just try to remeber in teh back of your head *and it may sound egotistical, but it works) that these people asked you to be here. if you remember that you will sail through it with confidence and composture also some of these ladies may be first time mums and all this is exciting stuff for them they will lap you up!.

If i had one of those courses when i was pregnant i would have been over the moon. i wanted to know that stuff rather than how to breathe during labour because personally that didnt work! lol