Another quest

So while changing the third diaper within probably a twenty minute span, already fuming about the entitlement/wasteful attitude of American's (good story as to why, but that's another post that probably won't happen as I will sensor myself to avoid hurt feelings- you can ask personally if you want to know) I wondered to myself how people who use disposable diapers do it; and even more how they can live with themselves and what they're doing to the environment. Not to mention the financial cost of being so wasteful. Now I'm not judging them entirely, many people have really good reasons for using those things; and they definitely don't change the baby every time they get wet, but still, that is a lot of diapers. I feel guilty about throwing out the 'disposable' wipe after it's fourth time through the wash and there is barely anything left to it. And as I threw the cloth diaper into the laundry bin and see the growing pile of laundry I also feel the guilt about the water and electricity that it will take to clean the pile. The fact that our HOA won't let us put up a clothes line and we have to use the dryer (not that our HE washer and dryer use much electricity/water but still...) makes me even more upset. I then began to question how people in other countries deal with the waste disposal of their infants. I mean when I visited Haiti no one had any clothes, so I'm pretty sure they didn't just turn to a stack of Huggies when baby needs to poo. So I started doing some research, and found out what I'm sure they probably do and how it makes so much more sense than the torture we put ourselves through here in the states with diapers and then toilet training. They call it EC or Natural Infant Hygiene (lots more links if you're interested let me know) and it's basically potty training your baby from birth.
I joined a few of the Yahoo groups on the subject and have to say I really agree that it's silly to teach a baby to ignore their needs of elimination for the first two years of their lives and then suddenly expect them to change once they reach a socially acceptable age. I know that Kaylee is aware of when she has to go now, and also that she can control it. The fact that she stops once she realizes she's wet and that that is uncomfortable to her (why I change so many diapers in such a short timespan) is evidence of that. I just need to learn her cues a little better (I've figured out the hungry, tired, and wet cues why not learn the pre-wet one?) and then help meet her needs.

The concept is part of the attachment parenting theory of parenting, which as a whole I don't buy into. It does have a few good aspects. I like EC; it makes sense. I think babywearing is great, but don't think that it should be an all the time thing, as most AP people do. I strongly believe that children need to be on their own some. They don't need to be constantly attached to their mother. (Nor do I think they enjoy it- the happiness I see on my little girl's face when I take her out of the sling so she can move around and interact is evidence enough of that for me). I also believe children need structure in order to foster their independence; they shouldn't have a boob stuck in their mouth whenever they cry, but should be fed when they are hungry. They should sleep on their own and not always have to be in bed with mom and dad. I don't think that creating a supportive and loving environment should require parents or children to sacrifice their entire independence. Now these are just my views, I don't expect others to agree. However having these views, makes me not fit in so well with the AP crowd, and my openness to other not so traditional ideas (cloth diapers, babywearing, EC) tends to cast me out of the traditional groups... what's a girl to do?