In Western nations, we have left the natural method of IPT behind for a number of reasons including convenience and indoctrination by psychologists and the diaper industry. For about the last half century, we have been told that babies are unaware of, and have no control over, elimination; that they will self-train around the age of 2-3 years (many do, but many do not); and that we will somehow harm our babies if we gently work with them towards infant elimination training. As a result, the concept of IPT is unfamiliar and seems unbelievable to many of us. Fortunately, several Western lifestyles and philosophies are receptive to IPT. These include, but are not limited to, lifestyles in the following categories: natural living, religious, environmental, thrifty living, continuum concept and attachment parenting. A brief description of the latter two is provided below.
CONTINUUM CONCEPT
Jean Liedloff brought the continuum concept to the Western world in the 1970s in her book "The Continuum Concept." Her ideas are largely based on her experiences with the Yequana Indians who reside in the rainforests of Venezuela. Liedloff emphasizes the importance of constant physical contact between mother (or caregiver) and baby until baby begins to crawl; co-sleeping; breastfeeding on demand until a child self-weans; and a nonpunitive environment.
ATTACHMENT PARENTING (AP)
Dr. William Sears followed on with attachment parenting, which he defines as the five baby B's of bonding, breastfeeding, bed-sharing, baby-wearing and belief in baby's cries (not leaving a baby to "cry it out"). When I asked him for feedback on IPT, he responded favorably and praised the fact that IPT "helps parents learn to read their baby's body language better." His son Dr. Sears, Jr. wrote, "Infant Potty Training is a very interesting approach, and I do agree that it fits well with AP.... I do applaud your approach."
AROUND THE WORLD
As stated earlier, IPT is used in many parts of the world. Here is a list of some of the countries where it is used (readers are welcome to email me with others to add to the list). Countries where it is the norm practiced by much of the population are marked with an asterisk.
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