Diaper-free baby – Trial 1

My friend Jess sent me this link and this link the other day. Check them out yourself if you wish, but here’s the gist: There is a worldwide movement to change practices on diapering and potty training. Here’s how it is described by DiaperFreeBaby, a non-profit organization:

This practice is followed worldwide and is known as Elimination Communication, Natural Infant Hygiene, and Infant Potty Training. The process involves observing one's baby's signs and signals, providing cue sounds and elimination-place associations, and can be done with or without any diaper use.

The way I’m envisioning it involves a lot of child nudity, or at least dressing your baby in clothing that is VERY easy to take off quickly. They say it’s best to start in the first couple months of your child’s life, however, they do provide some tips for “late-starters”. Since Jonah would be considered a late-starter, I checked out that section and decided I would give it a short trial. Let me tell you how it went.

First, know that Jonah does have some potty ability. He can usually pee on command and will attempt to aim it into his potty, although since he usually stands, he needs aim assistance. We let him stand because the potty we have is a bit too big for him. I haven’t been able to find one that I really want in any stores. Here’s what I’m looking for:

I want this kind of potty because it’s nice and short. I think he would be able to sit on it all by himself, without a hitch, and be comfortable, and definitely not have any aim issues. So if you know where I can get one in Cambridge, Ontario, help me out. I just don’t feel like shopping for a potty online.

Anyway, back to the trial. Since I know Jonah often has bowel movements soon after eating, the moment he was done eating breakfast I whisked him off downstairs to strip him nude and show him his potty. I brought it out to the living room where he wanted to play hockey. He peed right away and went off to play. Very soon he had a very brief pause in activity and I thought – uh oh! Luckily I was very close and was able to get him on the potty very quickly. And he did it! He wanted to get up quickly though, so I wasn’t confident that he was done. Nevertheless, we went to the bathroom to deposit the turd, wipe the butt, and flush it all.

While I was rinsing the potty out, Jonah left the bathroom briefly and came back calling my name and pointing. Yes, you guessed it, another small turd just outside the bathroom on the floor. I explained to him what happened and I grabbed toilet paper and picked it up, and flushed it. I was very impressed with how easily it came up off the carpet. Wiped again. Flushed again. Back to hockey. Oh no – he’s holding onto the couch and pausing. I’m not close enough! Another 6-incher on the floor, and some pee! Oh well!?!? I think I’ll put this whole process on hold. Here’s why:

1) We need a comfortable potty – one that he is willing to sit on for several minutes after eating to allow a complete deposit. (Of course, we will stay with him and read books or something to distract him.)

2) I’m not confident that Jonah really knows how to empty his bladder. As you saw in the example above, he peed, but then moments later, peed again. He also peed again another 10 minutes later, also on the floor. He often pees twice before a bath, in the bath, and then has a big pee after the bath while running out to the living room nude. That said, you can see why I don’t feel totally committed to this pottying thing… I don’t feel like causing him stress (from constantly having to change his clothes) and me a lot of work (cleaning up bowel movements and pee off floor and clothing).

There are also contrasting viewpoints on this early potty-training issue anyway. Some argue that early potty training has really messed up some people, even into adulthood. Others say that by diapering, we are teaching our children to be OK with having their own waste up against their skin…. Comfortable in poop… doesn’t sound too healthy, does it?... and delaying their ability to have control over this aspect of their lives.

As a former preschool teacher, I’ve seen a lot of stuff. I’ve seen children who are potty-trained at 2. I’ve seen children not potty-trained until 4. I’ve seen 3- and 4-year-olds with severe control issues around bowel movements. I wish I could say that I knew the right thing to do, but I don’t. Child Studies is a very young science, compared to things like math, astrology, physical science, etc. We haven’t figured it all out yet. It could take a while.

I’m sticking with diapers for now.