Babies and diapers are inseparably linked for most of us. But that’s not the case everywhere: in many cultures, babies are naturally held and (partly) raised without diapers. What exactly this means, what advantages and disadvantages it has, and why holding and diapering aren’t mutually exclusive, you can read here.

What does "Windelfrei" mean?

In this country, "Windelfrei" refers to a method of toilet training that involves the conscious and needs-based handling of excretions — even with babies. There are a variety of approaches and interpretations of excretion communication depending on educational background. However, every approach has the same goal: to avoid using diapers — as much as possible. :) Instead of diapers, your child does their business while being held . Since every child has their own individual pace, different concepts are often mixed in practice. There are no strict rules to follow; it all depends on you, your child, and your daily routine. In everyday life, complete abstinence can sometimes be difficult to implement. Therefore, for example, within Montessori education , a basic approach of using diapers for safety is completely fine. With such a part-time diaper model, you don’t have to worry about your little explorer going without diapers all the time. Instead, the focus is on promoting independence and your child’s natural instinct to manage their bodily functions. Unlike classic potty training , the primary goal isn’t to become dry, but rather to support your child in meeting their basic needs. According to this approach, the ideal time to start with the diaper-free method is the sensitive phase up to the 3rd month of life — during this phase, your child is particularly receptive to acquiring certain skills, such as managing their eliminations. But you can also practice potty training with your child later on, as our midwife Sissi knows:

When potty training, you pay close attention to your baby’s signals and recognize when they need to go. This way, you can place them on the or the so-called in time. At home, you can of course also hold your child over the sink, toilet, or bathtub until they can use the potty independently. Our midwife Sissi reminds you to clean the diaper area afterward as usual with a .

How does the holding work?

To make it successful, the first step is communication between you and your baby — the A and O. Pay attention to signals like a grimace, crying, trembling, or restlessness. These early signs give you the cue that your child needs to have a bowel movement — and then it’s time to act quickly. As soon as they do their business, you can make a certain sound , for example, "sssccch" when urinating or "uuuh" during bowel movements. This teaches your baby to respond to these key sounds and eventually to use them themselves. Baby sign language can also be a helpful signal as part of nonverbal communication, so your little explorer can express their needs. This way, you’ll gradually develop a sense of the right timing. For orientation, you can also use recurring everyday situations — before or after sleeping, wearing, drinking, or feeding. It also makes sense to offer your little one the opportunity to be held beforehand during longer excursions or car trips . Since you might be distracted while out and about or visiting friends and family, it can sometimes be difficult to pay close attention to your baby’s signals — in such situations, it’s therefore advisable to use diapers.

In addition to communication, there is also the holding technique for a successful attempt. Midwife Sissi recommends always holding your baby or toddler close to your body. This way, you have the best feel for your child, and they feel your belly directly against their back — providing a reassuring sense of security. After all, your baby needs to feel relaxed, and you should also be comfortable and avoid getting tired arms.

No matter which hold you choose, make sure your newborn’s neck, little head, and spine are well supported. When your baby is older and may no longer want to be held, you can place them on a potty and, if necessary, support them further.

And appropriate clothing can also make holding easier. Special pants with a foldable section or slit are especially helpful when you need to act quickly. In contrast, bodysuits or rompers can sometimes take too long to remove. Overall, when buying clothes, keep in mind that they should be easy to put on and take off, and comfortable. A tip for days at home: baby leg warmers. They help your little explorer stay warm, and no pants get in the way of holding.

Even if you try to make potty training as comfortable as possible for your child, there may be times when it simply doesn’t work — or when your child starts a refusal strike . Sissi advises you not to put pressure on yourself or your child. If your little explorer doesn’t want to continue right now, simply put them down again and try later. Not every baby can relax during toilet training and urinate or have a bowel movement exactly at that moment. Especially during a growth or development spurt, babies often can’t send clear signals because there is so much to experience. During such a phase, or if your child is constantly wet, it’s better to use diapers so they feel clean and dry — and so you can avoid frustration, too.

Advantages and disadvantages of abstaining

Many parents who choose a diaper-free upbringing, or part-time diaper-free, do so with the environment in mind. After all, during the diapering period, a baby uses a lot of diapers, which in turn require resources. But there are also other advantages :

• Your baby learns from birth to communicate their need to eliminate, becoming aware of their eliminations and gradually gaining control over them.

• You learn to interpret your little explorer’s signals better and pay closer attention to their needs. This strengthens your bond.

• Reduced diaper use is not only good for the environment, but also noticeable in your wallet.

• The risk of a sore bottom or diaper dermatitis is lower.

Of course, there are also some disadvantages to the diaper-free method:

• Especially at the beginning, you need a lot of time and vigilance to react correctly and promptly. Often, there isn’t much time between your baby’s signal and the actual pee or bowel movement.

• Not every baby gives clear signals or can relax while being held. This can lead to stress and frustration if the attempt isn’t successful.

• It’s almost unavoidable that something will go wrong sometimes. :) Especially when you’re on the go, you might not be able to hold in time. One or two accidents are completely normal.

• If you also want to go without diapers at night, you’ll probably sleep restlessly at first to avoid missing any sound from your baby.

• Not every nursery or daycare is able to support holding in an organized and hygienic way. Talk to the educators beforehand about holding your child. To prevent accidents, training pants or diapers are often a good compromise during childcare.

• Since your child gets used to you or other familiar caregivers, stool retention could occur if, for example, teachers or babysitters try to hold them but your child resists.

As you can see, diaper-free parenting has its advantages and disadvantages. And let us say it again: diaper-free does not automatically mean completely giving up diapers. For many parents, a combination of diaper-free and diapers works wonderfully, because it’s easier to integrate into everyday life — at home and on the go.

Whether holding is right for you and your baby is something only you can decide together. If you don’t want to completely give up diapers but still want to focus on sustainability and skin-friendliness, try our and . They avoid plastic wherever possible and instead use natural ingredients such as unbleached pulp in the diaper core and more sustainable paper packaging. Like all LILLYDOO products, the green diapers and Pants are free from artificial ingredients, perfumes, and lotions, making them gentle on both the environment and your baby’s skin. Whatever you decide — we wish you and your baby a wonderful time!