on TV now, alternative to nappies

jellyhead · 18 October 2005 at 10:58AM

on this morning (channel 3) in a minute there's something about a mum who says her children don't wear nappies, she's found an alternative. i don't know what it is, just thought i'd post in case anyone's interested in watching.

black-saturn · 18 October 2005 at 11:55AM

Did you find out what it was?

Lemoncurd · 18 October 2005 at 11:59AM

Was it the "hold over the toilet when they show certain signs method"? I heard about this recently but didn't hear any more details.

Queenie · 18 October 2005 at 12:11PM

The "natural" method? As used by 3rd world countries???

jellyhead · 18 October 2005 at 12:39PM

i saw it but wasn't paying full attention, busy with baby things. it was very short. it was based on noticing the signs/movements shown by the baby when the bladder is full etc. and she also made a special noise to the baby while he was sat on the potty. the mum had used this with all 3 of her children, she learned it in kenya. not sure if i could recognise the signs in my 11 week old baby to be honest, and i'm a stay at home mum, my other child is at school so my baby does get my full attention.

i don't think they really wanted to discuss it with the mum in detail, they all went poker faced when she said they co-sleep (it's taboo in this country, against recommendations) and it was dismissed by an 'expert' (can't remember who, maybe a magazine person) as a 'lifestyle choice'. this expert went on to say that using washable nappies has a comparable environmental impact to using disposables, i'm sick of hearing that flawed report quoted all over the media, grrrr! not really sure why she said it - philip schofield said that the no nappies method would save the environment and quoted a figure for how many tonnes of landfill we produce a year in disposables then the expert said 'yes but there are other ways if the environment is your key concern', mentioned washable nappies and then went on to say they have as much impact as disposables - not really sure what she was trying to say. i felt it was just a general dislike of people who adopt a certain 'lifestyle choice' coming from an expert who probably puts her children in childcare for 50+ hours a week and has a totally different parenting style to the mum who doesn't use nappies.

i'd have liked for the mum to talk a bit more though, people looked uncomfortable when she mentioned being in tune with the baby, being close to them all day etc. and i think that a lot of people get defensive when they meet a mum whose lifestyle and parenting style is more 'natural'.

i wanted to hear about her other children - if the 2 year old is now using the potty/toilet on their own with the special noise etc.

Queenie · 18 October 2005 at 12:59PM

It's called "Elimination Communication" or "Natural Infant Hygiene"

There's an article about it online that may be of interest: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2005/08/08/hnap08.xml

black-saturn · 18 October 2005 at 1:03PM

I suppose thats OK if your indoors all day but what about when your out with the pushchair. Surely they use nappies then?

jenpoptab · 18 October 2005 at 1:21PM

I heard about this somewhere recently as well. Can't imagine it's easy and I don't mind washing or changing washable nappies, better than soiling sofa, floor, clothes etc if you miss their sign.

Jay-Jay_4 · 18 October 2005 at 1:29PM

I'm not sure that it's of benefit to anyone

. Is the child happier not having to wear nappies? Is the Mum happier not having to change nappies?

A child isn't mentally or physically scarred by wearing nappies for the first couple of years. Potty training commences when the child is ready to do it so what does not wearing nappies gain?

The Mum did seem a little erm... 'smug' about it but like Queenie says, this method is used all over the world when nappies are just not even an option. Why is the no nappy method any better (environment aside)?

bylromarha · 18 October 2005 at 1:35PM

My friend has returned from a visit to China and she told me that all the babies over there had their bottoms hanging out of their clothes permenently.

There was also staining on the clothing due to previous accidents.

I'm sure it does work as millions of babies all over the world use it, but I'm quite happy with what I have!

black-saturn · 18 October 2005 at 1:43PM

I went to Vietnam last year and they never use nappies there either. I dont know how they do it but the mothers there seem to know when their children are about to go and hover them over a drain or something (not many loo's there either). If they do have an accident they just change their clothes. You can't even buy nappies there.

Also, on the same note women don't use any feminine hygiene either. I don't know how they get away with it but they just let it flow freely. In that heat it must be awful. You can't buy any of those there either so I had half a suitcase full of them.

on TV now, alternative to nappies

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free