There’s one thing about Diaper Wipes that I find particularly assinine. So I decided to look into it, starting with the experts at Pampers…
Dear Pamperers:
Can you please answer an important question about diaper wipes? Why are diaper wipes called diaper wipes since it’s not the diaper that actually requires wiping?
It’s not that I’m lobbying for Diaper Wipes to be called something more like Butt Wipes or A@# Wipes; it just seems odd that they’re called Diaper Wipes.
Bottom Line: How did Pampers and everyone else in the baby bottom wiping industry all come to the consensus that Diaper Wipes should be the acceptable term?
Looking forward to hearing your rebuttal. I don’t think I’ve ever used the word rebuttal for a more appropriate situation.
Bottoms Up!
A Pampers Team Representative responded with:
Thanks for contacting Pampers.
We’re glad you’re interested in our products, but a direct answer to your question is not available. For more information about our brand and products, please visit http://www.pampers.com. You might also find more information at our Corporate website, http://www.pg.com/cr.
If you’re interested in the history of naming and marketing products, you may want to visit the American Marketing Association’s website at: http://www.marketingpower.com. Or, you can check business periodicals like the Wall Street Journal at http://www.wsj.com. They may be good resources as well.
Thanks for writing!
After that, I tried the Real Diaper Industry Association…
Dear Real Diaper Industry Association:
I wrote Pampers and they responded that a direct answer to my question is not available. Even though you promote the cloth diaper industry and Pampers doesn’t, that won’t matter since my inquiry isn’t about diapers anyway; it’s about diaper wipes. I would have written to the Real Diaper Wipes Industry Association if I could find one, but couldn’t, so you win by default.
In any case, could you please provide a direct answer, or at least an indirect one if that’s all you have, for the following question?
Why are diaper wipes called diaper wipes since it’s not the diaper that actually requires wiping?
Thank you,
“Me”
The Chair, Real Diaper Industry Association responded with:
Thank you for contacting us! We use the term cloth wipes in our industry. Some of us may also use ‘cloth diaper wipes’ to help explain that they are wipes to be used along when a caregiver is using cloth diapers.
Just curious… what business or organization are you writing from?
Thank you,
“Them”
Finally, I found a website called DiaperWipes.org and tried them…
Dear Diaper Wipes Experts:
Since the name of your organization is Diaper Wipes and you own the website domain DiaperWipes.org and your tagline is “Everything you need to know about Diaper Wipes”, you must be the final word on diaper wipes even though I’m looking for a few sentences.
Why are Diaper Wipes called Diaper Wipes since it’s not the diaper that actually requires wiping?
Many companies now market their products as Baby Wipes, Wet Wipes, Clean Wipes or Tub of Wipes, yet if you do a search engine search for diaper wipes, you get millions of hits. So, many people clearly still call them diaper wipes. Butt why?
No Reply.
Final Thoughts: Just trying to find a simple answer to why Diaper Wipes are called Diaper Wipes left me feeling pooped. Pampers said a direct answer wasn’t available. The resource suggestions they provided were interesting. However, there wasn’t anything in the American Marketing Association Research Library about Diaper Wipes. There were some articles in the Wall Street Journal alluding to people being wiped out or getting their ass kicked, but nothing diaper wipe specific.
The Real Diaper Industry Association kindly provided a little more to go on. But referring to them as cloth diaper wipes to differentiate them from cloth diapers didn’t explain the term Diaper Wipes. Perhaps I need to follow up with a man of the cloth to gain a better understanding of that theory.
Ironically, the one organization that probably does have the official answer didn’t respond at all. One reason could be because their website is no longer live. So to use industry lingo, it looks like they took a dump.
If you’re looking for wipes, start with Pampers or the Real Diaper Industry Association. However, if you ever need to get a load off your mind regarding any product, you may or may not learn anything when you Write The Company.
Fans of butts will also enjoy:
A Weight Watchers Tail
Hershey Gets to the Bottom
Wiping Out with Angel Soft
1 Response to "Diaper Wipe Out"
Sally
April 17, 2012 at 6:48 am
I use the good old fashioned flat fold AND the prefold cloth diapers. You can also buy expensive, fancy, all-in-one, with or without liners, plus your baby’s name and CV embroidered on them, but the bottom line is: you still have to change the diaper every single time it gets wet or soiled. Period. Maybe the all-in-one are easier to use and fancier, but I repeat, you still have to change them, and if you are on budget — they are expensive. You have to buy a few sizes as your baby grows, as for the flatfold/prefold- it will last you a couple of years. If you want to save money, buy 2 dozen of prefolds and a dozen of flat folds. Gerber has some excellent diapers, birdseye cloth and other variety. I use the flat fold as liners, but they can get bulky, and use either pins or snappies to tie them. These diapers work great, keep your baby’s skin breathe and dry. Watch some YouTube tutorials how some moms use pins or snappies. One cloth diaper use will cost you a fourth of a cent a year (a pack of 12 diapers = about $15 with tax). I do not use the covers because I have to dig in my baby’s pants to find out whether she is wet or not. I guess they work well for heavy wetters — you do not want everything wet underneath your baby. Mine is not, so I am getting away without them. I use hypo-allergenic detergent — but you do not have to if your baby handles regular one. But I would still recommend it. I use a line in my backyard for drying them — sun and wind are still free, thanks God. Besides, the UV rays in the sunlight act as disinfectant agent, no bleaching needed ever. Hope it helps. Good luck.