Q: Some of the women in my mothers' group have talked about potty-training their infants. Is this possible? How does it work — and, moreover, does it actually work?

A: If you want to avoid diapers with your infant, here's what will be required of you:

• Keep your baby's bottom uncovered or in panties.

• Hold your baby next to you morning, noon and night.

• The moment you sense your baby's pre-wetting or pre-bowel movements — or facial expressions, or feel something coming out of your baby's body, put him on a little potty.

• As your baby uses the little pot, mimic the sound.

• Proceed in this fashion consistently, which could be up to 20 times a day.

• Pay attention to how often your baby or toddler needs to eliminate waste, which is about every hour.

• Then, every hour or so, set your child on the little potty, and make the appropriate sounds.

Most of the time, your child will perform. Gradually, your child will gain toileting independence and will use the potty on her own. This ability likely will occur between the ages of 2 and 3 years, the typical age that most American children learn to use the toilet.

The positive side of infant potty-training is that you avoid using diapers and all the products and expense that go along with them. Also, because you'll be keeping your child next to you at all times, you'll likely enhance the emotional bond between you and your baby.

The negative side is that you're the one to take charge of the task, not your child. Plus, you must be available to her 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It's unlikely that your nanny, childcare provider, spouse or mother will be as attuned to your baby's cues as you. So you'll be unable to leave your baby in another's care. Another downside is that no matter what you're doing — nursing, rocking or cooing — with your baby, the instant you sense his needs to go to the bathroom, you must interrupt that activity and set your child on his little potty.

In many developing countries where diapers are not available, parents, who by cultural norms keep their child close at all times, are very good at infant elimination training. But in this culture, it will be difficult for parents to take on the task in a similar fashion with the same results.

Today, many American parents unnecessarily delay potty training by keeping their children in disposable diapers or training pants far too long.

While most American parents won't train their infants to use the toilet, many can be more diligent when it comes to potty-training. You can do so by working toileting into your child's routine at about 18 months. At this age, the only task is for your child to practice and become familiar with sitting on the toilet. Then when the child turns 2, watch for readiness signs.

Next, get your child out of diapers and into disposable training pants when away from home and into cotton underwear while at home. Some parents put rubber pants on over their children's cotton underwear to manage accidents. You'll need to take your child every hour or so to use the toilet; in time he will perform.

Patience and persistence are the attributes you'll need to cultivate in yourself. Be sure to communicate that learning to use the toilet is an expectation, not a choice. If you decide, like some parents today, to take on infant potty-training, be prepared to set aside your life to focus on your child's elimination habits in the same way you focus on your infant's sleeping, eating, crying and attention behavior.

Jan Faull, a specialist in child development and behavior, answers questions of general interest in her column. You can e-mail her at janfaull@aol.com or write to: Jan Faull, c/o Families, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists