So the potty has been on the brain lately, as our child has just begun to try hers out. We have lots of interest and some actual “leavings”. So far, so good. I was intrigued then horrified when I came across a link to reviews of two books that are geared towards “a diaper free” baby. The gist is that children in other (i.e., third world) cultures don’t use diapers. Therefore, their methods of training are better than ours, which leave children marinating in their own filth. These methods also reportedly build a closer bond between parent and child and lead to quicker training. And its environmentally friendly. Sounds great.
Here are a few red flags:
- It “requires a pretty big commitment of time (natural elimination does not work in full time day care), and a different way of thinking (pee is sterile, not dirty)” - No jobs for you moms, but you knew that already.
- “It’s going to be a long struggle to get folks used to carrying chamber pots around, or having their baby pee on your lawn, but I think it will happen in small numbers”. Not on my prize-winning begonias!
- It will take a “re-education of the modern public to accept”. And then some. I can see this happening on a future episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Larry becoming irate.
Here’s my favorite: “Our family is long past the diaper age, but if we were doing it again, this way makes a whole lot of sense”. So there you go. My children won’t be taking a dump in the Target parking lot, but you should seriously consider it.