The Diaper-Free Baby: The Natural Toilet Training Alternative [Paperback]

Christine Gross-Loh (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 2, 2007

Imagine infants free from painful diaper rash, new parenthood without thousands of dollars wasted in diapering costs, toilet training that is natural and noncoercive, and, most important, happier babies and parents

As Christine Gross-Loh reveals in her progressive, enlightening book, all this is possible and more. Infants are born with the ability to communicate their need to "go," just as they communicate hunger or sleepiness. Gross-Loh, a mother of two children who were diaper-free at eighteen and fifteen months, uses the tenets of "elimination communication," or EC, to teach parents how to identify and respond to their baby or toddler's natural cues.

Unlike the all-or-nothing approach of some parenting books, The Diaper-Free Baby addresses three categories of parents: full-time, part-time, and occasional EC'ers. Parents can practice EC as much or as little as fits their family and lifestyle. A support group within a book, The Diaper-Free Baby also includes inspiring testimonials throughout every chapter. Parents who have successfully practiced EC identify common struggles, share experiences and problem-solving tips, and provide encouragement for those new to the technique. Their motivational stories together with Gross-Loh's practical advice will appeal to all parents interested in a fresh alternative to traditional toilet training.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christine Gross-Loh is a freelance writer with a PhD from Harvard University. Her writing has appeared in Mothering, Shape, and Parenting. She is very involved in DiaperFreeBabyTM, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 to promote awareness of EC. She has appeared on The Early Show and Paula Zahn Now, among others. Gross-Loh lives in Tokyo, Japan, with her husband and children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (January 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061229709
• ISBN-13: 978-0061229701
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 85 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Didn't believe it.... August 9, 2009

By J. River

Format:Paperback

I purchased this book because I was expecting a son and have two nephews who were not completely potty trained until they were four. It was not my intention to intensively EC. I really just wanted information on different potty training methods. I still do not intensively EC. What I DID do is follow the directions on giving the baby cues in an effort to just keep my son aware of his bodily functions. I honestly did not expect it to really work but I gave it a shot. Well, after that one thing led to another and my son now goes poopy on the potty! Now that he is 10 months I can't even tell you that I am sure what happened. Just taking this element from the book casually led us to this point. It's really terrific. My son has never had to "sit" in a dirty diaper. I have always been kind of on top of it because of trying to give him the cues. Now that he goes in the Little potty, it is so much easier to clean him up after a bowel movement and he is so much more comfortable. He has NEVER had diaper rash and I attribute it to this. The other day while he was eating he even "told" me he had to go potty. I was so amazed when he actually went. My husband was really skeptical when I told him we were going to casually try this but now he's happy with the results. I haven't been brave enough to try it with pee too much but I intend to start soon. Just to note...I did read the book by Laurie Boucke, it's very informative but kind of overwhelming and repetitive. If your just considering this method, start here. This book has the essential points and is a very easy read.

68 of 73 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Concept, Good Book January 14, 2008

By Ukulele Significance

Format:Paperback

The concepts contained in this book could be put into a pamphlet. The remainder of the book is testimonials by people who have tried to toilet-train their babies and been amazed by their success. This book was a good introduction to elimination communication for us and gave us what we needed to get started. And off we went with good success.
The thesis of the book is that if you pay attention to your child you'll figure out that she gives cues just before going to the bathroom. You can use those cues to dangle your child over the toilet. Since you'd be changing a diaper anyway it doesn't require more time investment. If you get it right, you and your child are both happy - and if you miss then you change a diaper. Give it a try - it's pretty fun.

83 of 94 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed in this book May 7, 2008

By Kitty

Format:Paperback

Maybe my expectations for this book were too high. I'm a big ec supporter and was so looking forward to it but felt let down when I finally read it. I found the books by the more established authors Boucke Infant Potty Training: A Gentle and Primeval Method Adapted to Modern Living and Bauer Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene far more complete and informative, so if you only plan to read one ec book, go for one of them instead.

I do like the writing style of this book (same goes for the other two ec books) and applaud the author for providing another book in this genre. A strong point is that this book urges parents to take things slowly by using ec part time or just occasionally, however this point and some others are made over and over again.

I didn't find much original material in the book. In short, a rehash with a slightly different emphasis and flavor.

27 of 33 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Buy this later July 26, 2008

By Nerdus Sociologus

Format:Paperback

This book might be worth it if you already have a more organized book about EC itself and want to hear about it from others. Reading quote after quote from parents who are learning/doing elimination communication strikes me as a waste of time and shows poor editing. The quotes might make you feel good, but they won't help you learn to "catch."

27 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best EC book out there, hands-down! October 2, 2007

By C. Da Roza

Format:Paperback

When I first heard about EC, I immediately wanted to read more about it, so I bought Ingrid Bauer's "Diaper Free!" since it was the most well-known EC book. She scared me so much with her preachy, holier-than-thou, all-or-nothing tone that I thought EC was not for me. Also, her other crunchy ideas about parenting are so different from most modern moms I know - I just couldn't relate.

Thankfully, I found "The Diaper Free Baby" soon after, and am fully on board with EC again. It is down-to-earth, non-judgmental and oh so practical. I love how Christine takes all the pressure off, and is so gentle and warmly encouraging. You never feel guilty for anything you have done or will choose not to do. All moms have different philosophies and come from different backgrounds, and she always takes that into account by providing different options so you can make EC work for you.

After reading this book, I am so excited to try EC (from birth!) with my next baby. If it were not for Christine's reassurance that part-time and occasional EC is just as good, I wouldn't even consider it. I hope everyone considering EC can get a copy of this book - it's honestly the best EC book out there.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Supportive Book January 4, 2011

By K. Carson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am training my one-year-old, and I bought three books to help me in this endeavor. I read this book last because I thought that, at 12m, my daughter might be too old for true EC methods.

I'm happy to report that this book does include a chapter to help children between the ages of one and two. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that it offers strategies for using EC part-time which is imperative for a working mom like myself. The book does a good job of offering flexible options.

The strengths of this book are its method-based organization (it clearly outlines strategies for several ages of baby and several family situations) and the supportive, gentle tone. It is full of anecdotes from families that practice EC, from their successes and challenges to the social side of choosing the road less traveled in the oft judgmental world of parenting.

My one main complaint about the book is that I don't feel it has very much scientific or anthropological context. It's not the end of the world, that's just no the role this book chooses to fulfill. For instance, there is no mention of average age of potty independence, and this is a deliberate choice to keep the emphasis on the journey rather than the destination. If you're looking for facts and figures and studies and research, pick up another book instead (I liked Early Start Potty Training for this). If you want a soft-cover support system for introducing EC or the potty to a child well under the age of 2, or if you're just curious about elimination communication, then this is a good choice. I'm glad to have both in my library.