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Benefits of Infant Potty Training

© Laurie Boucke

Benefits of Infant Potty Training

There are three main benefactors of infant potty training (IPT): baby, parent(s) and the environment. Here is a list of some of the main benefits to each of these.

BABY . . . BABY . . . BABY . . . BABY . . . BABY :-)

-- Communication. IPT involves natural and unique communication.

-- Bonding. The closeness you experience is a wonderful form of bonding.

-- Closeness with other caregivers. Allows dad, sibling(s) or other close, trusted ones to bond and communicate with baby.

-- Responsiveness. What could be better than to be responsive to your infant's signals and needs?

-- Sensitivity period. Taps into first window of opportunity for toilet learning.

-- Development. Allows baby to develop elimination muscular and neural control at the earliest moment possible, per his or her own natural development.

-- Hygiene. Provides excellent hygiene for your baby (no wearing a toilet).

-- Respect. Demonstrates the utmost respect for your baby. Many babies cry when they are wet or soiled, but we ignore their signals and communication, teach them to use a diaper as a toilet, then expect them to unlearn this behavior later.

-- Freedom. Lets baby learn early control (reasonable control starts around 9-12 months) and complete potty training at a relatively young age (around 24 months).

-- Diaper reduction. Gradually, then drastically reduces diaper use.

-- Restriction of movement. Frees baby from diaper bulk, making it easier to roll over, crawl, walk and perform other activities at the earliest moment possible.

-- Continence. Avoids/eliminates enuresis (bed wetting).

-- Prevents diaper rash. Reduces/eliminates exposure to chemicals in disposables and to urine/feces in both types of diapers.

-- Exploration. Allows toddlers to be free to play and explore rather than spend a lot of time unlearning the use of diapers.

-- Toddler self-esteem. Eliminates embarrassing "accidents" for toddlers.

ENVIRONMENT! ENVIRONMENT! ENVIRONMENT!

IPT is the ultimate solution to the cloth vs. disposable diaper argument: Reduce and end the use of both as soon as you can! Here are the environmental benefits of IPT:

-- Reduces/ends diaper use.

-- Conserves water. Far less laundry to do, not only in terms of diapers but also in terms of soiled clothing, bedding and towels as well as rinsing or washing dirty baby bottoms, hands, legs and other body parts.

-- Reduces wastewater pollution and sludge. Water is polluted by laundering cloth diapers and manufacturing disposables. Flushing disposables down the toilet creates tons of sludge every year.

-- Reduces groundwater contamination. Groundwater can become contaminated by viruses carried in the human feces and urine from disposables. Flies and other insects can spread viruses and bacteria.

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