Bells went off for me today when I combed through the hundreds of posts that described exactly what I had been going through with the K man. We had just ran out of his old diapers and this was the first week with the new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max. My little kiddo's poor butt was as red as a beet and he cried hysterically when I wiped him. At first, I thought he just had a really bad bout of diaper rash, but then, it just wasn't getting any better with the usual treatment and became worse. And then I saw this post and it occurred to me that this must be the culprit.
Normally, I would just switch back or change brands, but after researching more about this new product (which by the way, is now your only choice - you cannot elect to not have the Dry Max "technology" or not. There is no "switching back"), I found myself getting furious.
As I continued to read more and more of these mother's concerns and how P&G has reacted, I cannot believe for one-second that a company would all-out discount what over 1,500 mothers are telling them. As a mom, I am dumb-founded that Pampers would post an FAQ that would state such things as: "They [parents] often associate any changes they experience with their babies to changes in the product". Are we clueless? Do we not know the difference between a severe reaction/irritation and a "change" in our babies? This statement is so incredibly condescending, its almost comical.
And then to top it off with: "...when we do introduce a new product, because of the emotional attachment parents have for our products, we'll get an uptick in calls" Does P&G not know that emotional attachment is why people buy their products in the first place? Even better - do they know who their target audience is? Hello? It's mothers. And you won't find a bigger group of "emotionally connected" buyers than that.
When I saw these statements on the Pampers FAQ, I was outraged. Actaully, I was insulted. That we as moms, could have our safety concerns dismissed as "emotional" attachment is not only insulting, in my opinion, it's almost irresponsible.
As a marketer, I am shocked that a company would not listen to the concerns of their consumers. As a mom, I am overwhelmed that a company would possibly put my child at risk.
So now, we are switching to Seventh Generation diapers. I don't know why we were not using them in the first place. We try to eat organically, use the least amount of chemicals in our cleaning products and other household items, look for eco-conscious toys, so why would I choose anything but an "eco-friendly" diaper? I'll tell you why - emotional attachment . They were the diapers we were given when we left the hospital and we just never changed.
I hope that enough moms speak up so that P&G will finally listen to their concerns. I cannot stand behind a company that does not listen to their consumers when it comes to the health and safety of their children.
Could you imagine if all companies waited until over 1,500 children were affected negatively by a product to make a change? I can't even think about it.
If you would like more information or have been affected, you can check out this group on Facebook
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