Diaper Free! Some Say it Works.
First, just let me say I’ve never tried this as I’m child-free. I’ve also not read the book pictured here, Diaper Free! by Ingrid Bauer. However, I’m intrigued enough from reading the Introduction and reviews at Amazon to at least mention it here. If you’ve read the book, please chime in.
In her book introduction, Bauer explains that children are capable of communicating their elimination needs to their caregivers. She contends that it’s possible for a caregiver to learn the signs and help babies as young as just a few months go in the potty instead of their pants. It’s called Natural Infant Hygiene. Of course, these children can’t walk yet, so much assistance is needed. This approach may not work for a parent who can’t spend long periods of time with their children.
I’ve got to say though, if it works for you, it has to save a lot of disposable diapers and water if you use cloth. A small, but growing group of parents are trying out Elimination Communication. And it was also in vogue many, many years ago before diapers were used widely. In other words — it’s an ancient custom that was once practiced around the world.
Before you roll your eyes, read more:
Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene
Image via Diaper Free!
Tags: Diaper Free, Elimination Communication, Ingrid Bauer, Natural Infant HygieneRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Eco Baby
9 opinions for Diaper Free! Some Say it Works.
Brittney
Sep 3, 2008 at 10:32 am
I too am sans child, but I have heard about this practice! I think it’s really neat and makes a lot sense. Other mammals do similar things. Thanks for sharing the book title!!
Allison
Sep 3, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I don’t have kids either, but a friend of the family has five kids, and has done this with her last three. All three were fully potty trained at six months old. Yeah, they saved a TON of money on diapers.
Peggy
Sep 4, 2008 at 1:20 am
Hi Brittney and Allison. Glad to see the positive feedback. I thought I might get some “you’re crazy” comments ; )
Julie F
Sep 4, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I hate to be a downer, but only part of this theory is true. Babies automatically eliminate after eating until a certain age. Parents who think they have their children potty trained will suddenly think the kids have willfully begun to soil themselves at around a year of age. This breeds resentment in both parents and babies. Babies who truly have no control over their bowels.
You end up with tears and blaming the child for messing themselves…or the floor/couch/bed. I’m on child number 5 and there is no way I’d try this. No child has the type of control over their bowels or bladder to even KNOW they need to eliminate until 18 months to 2 years.
This theory has been addressed by doctors and other health experts time and time again. Do a lot of research before trying it. And if you do, please don’t go ballistic when the little one ‘loses control’ after 8 months to a year old.
Peggy
Sep 5, 2008 at 3:20 am
Julie, I’m not an expert on this at all (ie no kids), but I think the idea is not about whether babies have control over their eliminations. I think the main idea here is that babies communicate when they need to go. Yet, you’d have to spend a lot of time around your baby to pick up on the cues.
I agree with you though about the not going crazy when a baby suddenly becomes untrained.
Maybe you can try this and write about it? :)
Alicia, Mental Health Notes
Sep 6, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Very interesting!
I have a hard enough time recognizing the cues in my dog, haha (and I’m home with her all day!), so, while I think this is an awesome thing for people who have the time to perfect it, I probably wouldn’t be very successful at it (should I ever have kids, that is).
Peggy
Sep 7, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Alicia, Ha! I don’t even have a dog, and my cat goes on his own anyway. You’d maybe be better at this than me. ; )
Rebecca (Green Baby Guide)
Sep 9, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Before I had a child, I took a trip to China where I saw kids in split-bottomed pants and moms holding babies over the curb so they could go. I couldn’t believe it! When I got home I checked out a book on the practice from the library (it wasn’t Diaper Free, though) and learned all about it. Around this time I started hearing about people here in the States trying it out. I vowed that when I had a baby, I would try it, too.
Then I had a baby. Somehow it just seemed overwhelming to me in reality, even though I was not opposed to the idea at all as a child-free person. I can’t wait to hear from more readers who have tried it and made it work!
Julie
Sep 20, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I’m in the process of doing this with my youngest (4 mo). Yes, it is a lot of work, but there are lots of ways to make it work for you. It is not an all or nothing deal. We’re diaper free at home with just the girls, cloth diapers when the boy comes home, and disposable when we go out. I started late with my older girl, when she was 16mo. She was out of diapers during the day by 2yrs. That may seem like a long time to potty learn to those w/out kids, but my boy wasn’t out of dipes until he was 3yrs. Yeah, I clean up a lot of puddles over the course of a week, but then again, those days when we’re in sync are great. Oh, and Dads can do this too. My DH would far rather potty the girls than change a diaper;)
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