Diapers: The Final Frontier

The end is near.  I can sense it, at times even smell it.  Our wallets are tingling in anticipation.

It is, the end of diapers.

3 children, each roughly 2 1/2 years apart...we're talking 7+ years of constantly purchasing diapers.  I'm not even going to pretend to want to do the math on that.  Feel free if you're so inclined.

Aside from the sheer cost of diapers, I'm occasionally racked with the guilt of what this does to our world.  Did you know diapers average a 500 year lifespan?  Again, not doing any math to even think about how many diapers we've gone through, and we certainly aren't the only ones around diapering their children, but sheesh!  Had I known I would have had 3 children, I certainly would have looked into the (now) trend of cloth diapering, but it's a larger up front investment.  However, my intense distaste for doing laundry would probably have rendered that idea counterproductive.

Then I'm reminded of these parents who choose "diaper-free" baby raising.  WHAT????  There is no way you can have any semblance of a life if all you are doing is watching your baby for a signal that they are going to "eliminate".  Catch a nap for crying out loud!  I'll leave it at that.

So, anyways, it's not like we're diaper free yet.  But Baby Belle has shown a definite interest in the potty for several months now.  Some may chastise me for not jumping on that interest and going for the potty training right away, but with all of the stresses from work ending, and then knowing that we were traveling 12 hours in a car at Christmas, I really didn't feel like dealing with potty training.  Yes, I didn't feel like it.  It really is all about me, isn't it.

However, we're home now.  It's winter -- though springtime when we can be outside a lot would be a lot easier...hmmm-- so we have officially started the process.  We bribed.  A few weeks ago we mentioned Minnie Mouse underwear for going in the potty.  (Minnie and Mickey are HOT on Baby Belle's list of the greatest things ever...and this surely peaked her interest!)  She spent a week nearly non-stop talking about the underwear, so we bought some thinking there would be a tangible goal.  She slept with them the first night.  No, not IN them...WITH them.  Snuggled up.  We popped on a pair the next morning, but success only lasted about 30 minutes.  Fortunately the result ended up on an uncarpeted area of floor, so it wasn't too devastating.

I'm not looking for potty training boot camp, potty training in one day, or any of the other parenting fads, so who knows how long this will last.  She enjoys sitting on the potty, but has yet to do anything productive in it, but I'm okay with that.  I'll keep you posted, I know you'll be on pins and needles.