Book reviews

Infant Potty Training

I have read Infant Potty Training and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found the book very easy to read and the advice was very practical. It also helped maintain the right attitude and expectations with our progress. It goes through the different phases of pottying from birth until toddler. It also covers late starters (after 6mths of age). It describes all the different methods and has pictures to demonstrate. The book also contains an interesting history and explanation of other cultures and their methods of potty training. I highly recommend this book if you know nothing about pottying (or even if you do).

Adi, Melbourne, Victoria.

Diaper Free! - The Gentle Art of Natural Infant Hygiene

Diaper Free! was the book I read to get started. It really helped me to adjust my mind-set from "Nappies are an inevitable aspect of child care, they have no control or awareness until at least 2 years of age" to "babies are aware and communicate from birth about their toiletting needs, and we can respond to their efforts to keep them dry and clean for increasing periods of time until nappies are no longer needed!"

"You don't need to be totally tuned into your baby to begin. You only need to be open and willing to learn" (p 105). This phrase is important. It gives us the encouragement to begin. It emphasises how Natural Infant Hygiene is a gradual process, and that the communication we develop with our babies is an inevitable consequence of practicing this method, regardless of "catches". The book enabled me to develop a trust in the "process" as well as with Maven. It is inevitable that they improve their skills and abilities and awareness of their body at the timely moments needed. We merely help them along the road to independence as best we can.

I also found this statement to be very true: "when you're just beginning, it may feel more like an impenetrable mystery than clear communication". I think coming from a society which is more focussed on the "achievement" of conventional toilet training being minimal accidents, there is this pressure to be perfect and to catch them all, which is patently impossible, and is not actually important to the process. The link with baby ebbs and flows over the months and within a day.

The book gave me a solid background understanding of the development of "readiness" psychology via the disposable nappy industry via doctors who were involved in the development of nappies promoting this! I also had a good expectation of issues I may encounter along the way, and a basic list of signs to look for. Although the list isn't extensive, it is enough to start with for sure.

I was greatly inspired by this phrase: "The baby slept naked between the parents without an accident" (p 114) I wanted that! It inspired me with my nighttime communication efforts, and I have achieved it! This statement was from a researcher of Huron Indians in 1623, and the exact same thing can be said for our baby in 2005. Wow!

I do get the impression the book was written when her baby was older, as I found it more practically helpful at later stages, as well as for just starting, but felt a lack in a middle stage around 3-6 months, once I was past the early stages. For a while it seemed really idealistic and I was in a stage of a big focus on timing and less on "just knowing". The intuitive factor, which is so strong in the book, has grown clearer over time. I still look in the book for insights now on occasion if I am having questions. I'd have liked to read more about the transition to independence as well. My baby is now 15 months, and has been nappy-free at home from 3-4 months.

Charndra, ACT
www.tribalbaby.org

Alex comments on both Infant Potty Training and DiaperFree!

Diaper free! by Ingrid Bauer is a really good introduction to elimination communication. It gives you an understanding without being to specific. It's a good book to have others in your family to read so that they understand as well and since it's not too specific it doesn't make it too boring for them to read. I really liked reading that book and I did read it first which was good because it gave me a better understanding and I was able to explain what I wanted to do better.

Infant potty training by Laurie Boucke is a good reference book. When I'm unsure about something I go and look it up in that book. It has more specific guidelines which I like to have on hand because this is something that is new to me and no one around me knows anything about this so I can't just go and ask them. So I have this trusted book with all kinds of other people's expeirnces and stories so it helps a lot.

I'm glad I decided to buy both books because the first one gave me a better understanding and allows me to explain to explain properly to others what I am doing and what they can do to help. The second book is my reference book when I'm unsure or have questions. I go back to it a lot to get answers to my questions.

Alex, QLD

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