It's a given that most babies wear diapers…

It's a given that most babies wear diapers, in western cultures anyway. But diapers may trap more than waste—they may also confine a baby's 1 to walk. Scientists compared the walking gaits of 60 babies who were either naked, wore a thin disposable diaper or a thick cloth diaper. Half the babies were 13-month-old novice walkers and the other half 19-month-old 2 walkers.When the 30 13-month-olds walked naked only 10 fell, but while wearing the cloth diaper 21 of them fell, and while wearing the disposable 17 of them fell.Among the 19-month-olds only four fell while naked or wearing disposables, while eight fell when wearing cloth diapers. But both age groups took wider and shorter steps while wearing diapers as 3 to walking naked. The research is in the journal Developmental Science, the study cannot predict if wearing diapers has a long-term impact. Nonetheless, the researchers believe walking naked would speed up walking 4 . But then we are left with the issue of covering the entire house in plastic and relying heavily on the child's ability to 5 his or her elimination intentions.