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When my boys were infants, there was a big social push to raise them "bottle free." Everywhere I went, I heard about the benefits of nursing over formula feeding. Special La Leche League-trained "coaches" visited me in the hospital to guide me through the first feedings.

Nursing was a natural and economical way to feed my children, according to all the propaganda. As a new mother trying to do what was best for my boys, I wholeheartedly jumped on the bandwagon.

Today's young women have quite a different bandwagon to consider as they enter into the world of motherhood. While I chose to "go natural" with nutrition, many new moms of today are choosing to "go natural" in another new baby department and forgo diapers.

I'm not talking about the parents who are choosing cloth over disposable diapers. No, the big deal now is whether or not to use diapers at all. After reading about this trend in the newspaper, I had to check it out online for myself.

I Googled "diaper free baby" and got more than 2 million hits. Books, articles, interviews and support groups galore are available on the topic of raising baby sans the diaper.

It's called "natural infant hygiene." I have to say I like the catchy, descriptive name for the process parents use to make it work -- "elimination communication." However, I must also add that I am thrilled that my children are nearly grown because reading baby's cues, signaling baby with special "noises" and holding baby over a pot 12 times a day seem like quite the challenge.

I am truly amazed that more and more moms are going this route rather than purchasing diapers, wipes, creams and other diapering necessities and then packing bulky diaper bags every time they leave the house.

Ever the cynic, I have to wonder about the downsides to this natural infant hygiene craze. Nursing was difficult enough. I always had to find a place to nurse the baby, whether we were visiting relatives, traveling in a car or eating at a restaurant. Of course, there are pumps and bottles that can be used for outings, but that process wasn't a field of roses either.

With natural infant hygiene, it seems to me that the parents would have to get everyone on board. Grandma and grandpa would have to understand the gist and go with the flow, so to speak, so as to not confuse the baby. Of course, I am assuming that one would not go back and forth between methods.

As for dining out with a diaperless baby, I doubt I would be so bold as to try it. I'd be afraid to take my eyes off baby. I'd want to be sure I had enough time to dash off to the ladies' room should baby begin to communicate an elimination need. That's just too much pressure for me.

Although, with all the support groups popping up both online and in homes and community centers, I assume there is a way to tackle the occasional family outing to Bob's Crab Bucket and Steakhouse.

What if grandma and grandpa lived an hour or so away? Strapping diaperless baby in a car seat in the middle of the backseat facing rearward might inhibit the mom's ability to read elimination signals while driving. And there would be signals on the trip -- my kids always arrived with a full package regardless of where I was headed.

After reading about the process and the commitment it would take to be successful, it seemed to me that the natural hygiene thing was a stay-at-home mommy trend. But working moms are out there doing this, too. If the trend continues, child care staff, nannies and babysitters will have to be trained in natural infant hygiene and include that skill on their resumes.

Not having to deal with potty-training when the baby grows to be a toddler could very well be a plus to the natural hygiene method. Since no rewards or punishments are associated with this process, baby will probably be potty-trained earlier with no self-esteem issues to carry into adulthood. And, the parents would save lots of money by not having to buy chocolate candy to bribe their toddler to use the facilities.

All this talk about "natural" ways to raise baby makes me wonder what decisions my daughters-in-law and sons will be faced with when I become a grandma -- many, many years from now. Considering the news lately, I'm thinking the new natural bandwagon will be about toys. My grandbabies will probably be playing with dirt, rocks and sticks -- the all natural toys -- so as to avoid choking hazards and lead poisoning.

Micki Bare is a columnist for the Arkansas News Bureau and the Courier-Tribune in Asheboro, N.C., and author of the book, "Relative Expressions." She lives in Asheboro with her husband and three children. Her e-mail address is mickibare@inspiredscribe.com.