To diaper or not to diaper?

As it turns out, that is actually a valid question. In an earlier post, I think I mentioned someone joking about skipping the diaper debate altogether and letting their baby go diaperless.

The thing I didn't know is that many people around the world believe diaperless is the way to go. In western countries, it's known by names such as Elimination Communication (EC), Infant Potty Training, Natural Infant Hygiene, or (ugh!) trickle treat.

At first, I thought the whole idea was insanity. However, the more I learned, the less crazy it seemed. The basic idea is that babies naturally show some sign that they're about to potty (scrunch up their faces, make grunting noises, etc.). Once you're familiar with a child's schedule and signals, you can hold them over a toilet, sink, bowl, etc. and let them do their business there rather than in a diaper.

Proponents of EC make some valid points, and I'd say it's worth looking into. If you'd like to find out more, this article would be a great start - it examines contrasting attitudes about diapering in India and the U.S., as well as broader issues like consumerism and parenting.

What's your take? Feel free to comment. :)

Photo by Sean Dreilinger: One day's dirty diapers are at least the size of the baby! (Creative Commons license)