Nappy Free & Childcare

Part Time Nappy Free and Childcare - How do you maintain your connection when you have to leave your baby with a carer, either a family member, daycare or a childcare centre? 

Yes, you can combine being part-time nappy-free with childcare. You'll help your baby or toddler retain their natural awareness and familiarity with a few 'Potty Stops' each day...

If your 'goal' is simply keeping your baby aware of their toileting needs and giving the 'tools' to communicate with you about their needs, part time elimination communication is something to find out more about.

Which description might fit your situation:

You wonder how your baby will go when cared for by another family member or friend who doesn't offer them potty stops?

You wonder what to do when your baby is in basically full time nappies a couple of days a week while you work at home on your home business?

You wonder what to do when your baby is in childcare a couple of days a week while you work at the office?

You wonder what do you do when you work full time during the week and still want to retain your EC connection and help support your baby's gradual toilet learning?

In all cases, being Part Time Nappy Free is your best solution. 

This enables you to retain your connection to your baby's elimination needs when you are together. (which is still a lot of the time) It offers you a way to get back in touch at the end of a busy day - working together, cooperating, connecting on that non-verbal level. This helps us to get back into the 'baby zone' of existence.

Babies are adaptable and will realise that certain people don't respond to their messages (though they may simply yell louder to get them to respond!) They will simply use their nappy when they have no option. It is no different to when you'd miss a wee at any other distracted time.

When you are leaving your baby:

Let them know the times you won't be able to respond - in time they will learn the words, understand, meanwhile you are chatting to them and they like that. 

While your baby is in care:

Your baby will be in nappies, either disposables or cloth, and that's it! Plenty of parents practice EC and their child is in care - it is a myth, or a misconception, that only stay at home mums of only children can do this - you can too, with great success in your communication, great joy at your baby's awareness of their body. You won't be totally nappy free, but so what? Maybe another time, and meanwhile, you'll have lots of nappy free adventures anyway!

If you feel baby's carer's may be receptive to helping your baby, there are simple requests you might consider making, which will mean a little more consistency for your baby, and perhaps even make it easier for carers to decipher your baby's needs:

Three suggestions you might make to the carer of a baby who uses a potty to toilet:

1. Ask them to sit your baby on their baby potty (that you provide) if they are fussing or crying with no apparent cause.  

2. Ask them to sit your baby on their baby potty whenever their nappy is changed - it will only need to be a brief opportunity.

3. Ask them to sit your young toddler on their baby potty whenever the older toddlers have their time on the potty.