A REFERENCE IN THREE PARTS
To facilitate its use as an ongoing reference, this book is divided into three parts. Throughout the book, case studies, research, and cross-cultural references illuminate the text. Numerous photos illustrate each chapter. A resource section, bibliography, and index close the book.
I have chosen to present Natural Infant Hygiene as an integral part of an intimate relationship between parent and baby. In this context, I approach diaper-free infant-care as one piece of a larger hologram of compassionate and responsive nurturing, and not as yet another parenting technique.
Part I explores this foundation, and the basis and principles of Natural Infant Hygiene. You'll find an account of my personal discovery and experience, a chapter on the importance of responding promptly to babies' needs, a discussion of benefits, a look at the origins and misconceptions of contemporary toilet training beliefs, counter-research that shows babies are "ready" from birth, and an explanation of the physiology behind elimination.
You may be itching to begin the practice and jump ahead to Part II. Or you may have a specific concern and skip to Part III. Both are fine. But please take the time to come back and read Part I at some point. This section reveals that Natural Infant Hygiene can go far beyond just keeping a baby clean, dry, and happy with less diapers.
It offers an opportunity for compassion, trust, and respect that lays the groundwork for a lifelong intimate relationship with your child. You'll also find the basis here for answering inner doubts or outer challenges, and for making the paradigm shift that will support you in your practice. Even parents experienced with Natural Infant Hygiene will likely find something new.
Part II outlines the practical points of Natural Infant Hygiene: the "how to" aspect. You'll discover when and how to begin the practice and the best positions to hold your baby in. You'll learn how to use the four practical "tools" to diaper freedom: baby's signals, timing rhythms and patterns, intuition, and parent's cues. This section offers lots of flexibility and options to individualize your family's approach, and includes examples from other cultures, as well as our own.
In Part II, you'll also find suggestions for daily living with a diaper-free baby such as naps and nighttime, outings, large families, the role of fathers and other caregivers, and how best to use diapers during the process. A comprehensive section deals with special situations and possible difficulties, including the concern about messes and lapses. I explore both concrete solutions to potential obstacles and positive ways to eliminate stress. The last chapter in Part II addresses cultivating a compassionate and gentle attitude that makes Natural Infant Hygiene enjoyable and easier, developing parental intuition, and creating internal and external support for yourself.
Part III appears in question and answer format. It contains responses to common questions and specific concerns I have been asked about Natural Infant Hygiene. The questions came primarily from face-to-face, email, and phone consultations with parents during the past three years. These parents include those who were just contemplating Natural Infant Hygiene, those in the beginning stages, and those who had practiced it for some time or with more than one child.
Part III is designed as a quick check reference section that can easily be consulted again and again, no matter what stage you are at. Questions are cross-referenced with relevant in-depth sections in Parts I and II. The index at the back of the book helps refine your search, and the resource section offers websites and books for further reading on this and related topics.
On a technical note, I have chosen to use Canadian English spellings, grammar, and style in the book. Gender references fluctuate between masculine and feminine pronouns. Perhaps for the first time in English literature, the verb "to pee" appears in a unique transitive form, as in "I pee the baby." This is, of course, quite different than the baby peeing on me!
Easy-to-print version of the Introduction.
Copyright © by Ingrid Bauer
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This one-day-old diaper-free infant prefers the warmth, comfort and security of skin-to-skin contact.
