Diaper Free: Natural Parenting vs. Daycare

Is Infant Potty Training Possible if Parents Work?

While by far the minority, a growing number of parents are interested in the natural parenting concept of "diaper free" potty training. The idea is that babies are aware of their elimination needs and can consciously release their bladder and bowels by the time they're a few months old. Parents watch their infant for signs that they need to eliminate and then take them to an infant potty. Proponents of the natural parenting movement tout that it promotes an infant's self-awareness and heightens communications between parent and child. Others like the cost savings as well as environmental impact as well as a decrease in diaper rash incidents. But can parents who support this concept reasonably ask that caregivers adhere to the practice and schedule it requires? Most often the answer is "no."

Child care providers, whether institutional or in-home care, typically watch several kids at once. The very notion of a provider being able to supervise other kids while at the same time nurturing an infant for these elimination cues successfully is unlikely. In addition, licensed caregivers have stringent safety and health protocols and parents of other kids in their care may not take so kindly at the inevitable accidents that would occur...often right in the Grand Central Station area of care activities.

Using hygiene and overall health/safety of all kids in care as a reason, care providers almost always require tots who are not fully potty trained to wear diapers or training pants. That's not to say providers won't assist with potty training efforts by taking a youngster--even an infant--to the bathroom at regular intervals or based on a regimented schedule. It's just that the "au natural" watch for visual cues method simply isn't practical and achievable for adults watching multiple kids.

Parents who work but feel strongly about utilizing infant toilet training practices should consider hiring a private nanny or care provider who provide in-home care on a one-on-one basis and would agree to follow a specific routine and cue-watching.

What type of discipline is required by parent/caregiver for diaper-free training?

• Learn the schedule. Many infants eliminate on consistent intervals after eating or waking up. Write down times and you may note a pattern.



• Watch for clues. Many babies show obvious cues, such as fussing, stopping an activity and concentrating, or even reaching for a parent or caregiver.



• Begin cueing your infant. Diaper-free baby proponents say that when you suspect he needs to go, take him to the potty, hold him under the thighs in a deep squat-like position with his back to your stomach, and make a cueing sound like "sssss." If he really does need to go, he should do so within a minute. If there is resistance or no results, simply try again later.



• Keep things stress-free and relaxed. The concept emphasizes communications between parent/provider and child vs. the more regimented thought behind "training."