Benefits of Baby-led Pottying (blpt / elimination communication)

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Benefits of Baby-led Pottying (blpt, elimination communication)

A Deeper Bond (for both parents)

In pottying, all parents are equal. Dad can bond just as closely as Mum. The feeling of connection, communication and understanding is well worth the bit of effort involved.

A Clear Bottom

Nappy rash is a common occurrence for babies who spend most of their lives in nappies. The recommended cure (or even prevention) is often a thick layer of barrier cream. Fresh air and dry cotton are nicer (and probably more effective)...

A Happy Baby

Less fussing. No unexplained 'colic'. Parents who listen and respond. A soft bottom in comfy clothes. Happy baby!

Greater Expectations of All Types of Communication

This approach requires patient continual communication. You respond to your child and you explain what is happening and where it should be happening (and probably why too).

Then you do that for everything.

You watch and listen to your child on all subjects. You want to know what they have to say. So you teach them baby signing and you consider their views and you expect them to have opinions and comments on all aspects of their day - and very rewarding it is too.

A Cleaner Baby

When you catch that first pre-weaned poo you'll be amazed at how little mess there is to clean up. One dab with loo roll. No lasting smell, no pile of dirty wipes, no wet sticky baby.

Fewer Soiled Nappies (fewer wash cycles if you use cloth nappies)

For many cloth nappy users the idea of fewer soiled nappies is very appealing - and it's a realistic goal.

With my eldest daughter we started this at 6 months and had a handful of soiled nappies over the course of the next year. Starting from birth we didn't even bother with a nappy bucket.

(Your wet nappy count might go up, though - because as you understand how frequently your child wees you become more aware of when they are wet and more likely to change them on that basis rather than by the clock.)

If you use disposables you can ditch the nappy bags (and the accompanying awful smell) because wet nappies aren't that offensive. Leave them open and toss them straight into the bin - it gives the eco varieties more of a chance to decompose.

A Fresh Outlook and Greater Confidence

Once you start to respond to your baby in this way, and begin to really believe that it's the right thing to do, you trust all sorts of personal instincts over modern day convention.

A Window into Attachment Parenting

Wanting to understand your child, respond quickly, listen to them, show them due consideration - all of these things fall within the attachment parenting approach. If you give this a go and enjoy it, you might find that other attachment parenting ideas also appeal to you.

Save money (and the planet)

How much money you save will depend on your approach.

Cloth nappies: If you're already using cloth nappies then you've made your outlay and the savings will be in terms of fewer soiled wash cycles rather than hard cash. As your toddler approaches conventional potty training age (say 18 months) you could be using far fewer nappies that you otherwise would be.

Disposables: Initially you'll spend more because you're likely to change your baby more frequently than other parents. However, as the misses decrease you'll use fewer nappies.

Wipes: You'll barely need any. The wipes I had in the cupboard seven years ago when I started pottying my first daughter are still being used on picnics.

You might also hope that your child is fully potty trained 'early' (i.e. before you would have started conventional training) but there's no telling whether that will happen until you get there. However, having given your child understanding and practice you can hope that they'll be dry as early as they can be.