Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene (Paperback)

~ (Author) "I never dreamed I would end up living with a diaper-free baby, in a culture where having a baby is synonymous with diapering..." (more)
Key Phrases: infant hygiene, elimination rhythms, toilet independence, North American, East Africa, Berry Brazelton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...bolstered by Bauer's exhaustive research... Success stories and detailed practical advice make it seem possible. An interesting read." -- Susan Spicer, Today's Parent, Pregnancy and Birth Special Edition, Fall 2001

"I highly recommend this warm enjoyable book, packed with information, examples and support to any pregnant woman or new mother" -- Teresa Pitman, co-author of "Pregancy and Birth: The Best Evidence"

Product Description

Throughout most of human existence, parents have cared for their babies hygienically without relying on diapers. In many cultures around the world, mothers still know how to understand and respond to their infant's elimination needs to keep them clean and content.

Bauer has written a unique parenting guide that shows contemporary mothers and fathers how to practically incorporate this knowledge into their daily nurturing, with or without diapers. This warm comprehensive book with over 45 photos clearly outlines the benefits, the practice, and solutions to potential challenges. The author interweaves personal experience with medical research, cross-cultural examples, extensive pratical how-to support, and parents' stories. Her empathic writing style brims with encouragement and insightful parenting support.

Practicing Natural Infant Hygiene fosters a close bond and communication, prevents conventional toilet training and diapering struggles, supports a healthy body image and early toilet mastery, saves money and the environment and offers another opportunity to respond fully to your baby's needs.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Natural Wisdom Press (April 1, 2001)
• ISBN-10: 0968751903
• ISBN-13: 978-0968751909
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #412,414 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Look before you decide, January 28, 2008

By	Nathan Rawling (West Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene (Paperback)

My wife and I bought this book, which was recommended to us by a friend who has successfully used Natural Infant Hygiene with their child. I finished reading it the other day, and my wife and I are talking about trying it.

Perhaps others have had different impressions after reading the book, but I think that only about 10-20% of the total text was actually helpful. The rest seemed more like marketing material. Over half the book is more focused on why you should practice Natural Infant Hygiene rather than how to actually do so.

I'm not sure I would buy it again.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, intuitive, lovely book!, October 12, 2002

By	K. Scott "kaayjaay" (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I can't recommend this book highly enough... any loving parent wanting to increase the communication between themselves and their child should buy this book. But be warned, you'll end up lending it out to all of your friends, so maybe you should buy two! :-)

Ingrid's own experiences helped encourage me to try this with our own son, with astounding success... our son is out of diapers, but more importantly we are continually communicating about his needs and providing response to his inborn instinct not to soil himself. This is a great gift for an expectant mom, as Natural Infant Hygiene is best approached with an infant, although older babies and their parents can adapt the principles. A treasured book on my parenting shelf.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bauer's a little wacky, March 22, 2006

By	Rebecca Allen (Brookline, NH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

But this is nevertheless a worthwhile read. Bauer is definitely the crunchiest of the three authors of early-potty-training/elimination communicating books. Boucke has more cross-cultural information. While I have not yet read Sonna, it looks like she has the most historical/research based information.

Bauer spends a lot of time describing ways to increase the bond between mother (parent, caregiver . . .) and baby, including, obviously, natural infant hygiene/elimination communication, but also including baby wearing next to the skin and, in general, lots of skin to skin contact. She is, in her own quirky way, an inspiring mother.