Siobhán says it took her almost nine months to feel
confident reading her baby’s signs – which vary with each
child – although she experienced very little mess at home.
Not everyone finds the method so straightforward. Susan
Norton, another EC-er living with two boys on Lantau,
says combining old- and new-world parenting techniques
can be a challenge.
In developing nations, where disposable nappies are
an out-of-reach luxury and washing cloth nappies can
cost too much money or manpower, EC is the norm.
Often children receive the kind of attachment parenting
that ties in well with EC. These babies do not pee while
being held, for instance, says Susan, because they know
an opportunity to urinate will soon be offered. That’s
not always so for Susan’s sons, who are expected to sleep
independently and are not constantly worn in a sling.
“
My baby pees on me because I’ve ignored his need to go
enough times,” she says, with a gentle laugh.
Yet Susan, a Chinese-Australian, feels some part of
her is honouring her heritage – it’s common for babies in
China to be held in a squatting position to pee and this
was the method her grandmother used – and she has
the peace of mind of knowing she isn’t adding nappies
to Hong Kong’s already overf lowing landfills. Her
piecemeal approach of old- and new-world methodology
isn’t always easy, she says, but she persists. “It can be an
art juggling the two, but I’m happy to do that because I
want the best of both worlds.”
Looking for signs
Experts point out that the so-called infant potty
training which Susan and Siobhán describe is
not really “training”. Some EC babies will still
need to transition – making the decision to
go to the toilet by themselves rather than
being prompted. “True potty training is
communicating a need. Children need
to be able to say ‘wee’ and ‘poo’,” says
Yvonne Heavyside, a health visitor
with The Family Zone.
Parents can be intimidated
because they don’t know how
to go about training. Timing
can be everything, says
Yvonne, and tell-tale signs
indicate readiness. Children
might take an interest in
their mum’s going to the
toilet, or start explaining
when they are going.
Conversely, some kids
hide in a closet or behind
a sofa when doing their
business, which shows
self-awareness.
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