The Diaper-Free Baby

January 1, 2007
Tokyo-based freelance writer Gross-Loh addresses the hows and whys of an increasingly popular trend: elimination communication, or EC. This technique calls for parents to read an infant's "elimination signals" (i.e., restlessness, squirming, arching of the back) and hold the child over a potty or toilet. In essence, parents create an association between "elimination" (urinating/defecating) and a particular sound (such as "pssst") and a position, so that eventually hearing the sound and being held in that position encourages the baby to go to the bathroom on a consistent basis. Gross-Loh discusses her subject with knowledge and enthusiasm, but some readers may be annoyed by the EC lingo (including the constant use of EC as an adjective, noun, and even a verb). Perhaps most notable, however, is the author's flexible and nonjudgmental attitude, as she encourages parents to try the method only occasionally if they choose with a baby of any age. Linda Sonna's "Early-Start Potty Training" is much more prescriptive, while Ingrid Bauer's "Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene" covers much of the same material as Gross-Loh's book, though with a New Age orientation. Laurie Boucke's "Infant Potty Training" provides more historical and cultural information, with less focus on practical tips. Libraries will want to purchase at least one of these books, and Gross-Loh's would be a useful choice for larger collections.Rachel Q. Davis, Thomas Memorial Lib., Cape Elizabeth, ME

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