- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
December 2015 Moms
missphil
member
Options
Elimination Communication
missphil
member
Who is doing it / going to do it?
Thoughts? Challenges? Successes?
I'm a FTM but I have been reading up on it and it's definitely something I want to do. It helps build trust between you and your baby, as well as cutting down on laundry and landfill.
For those who don't know, Elimination Communication (aka EC aka Diaper free aka Infant potty training) is basically forgoing diapers on a full time or part time basis by reading your baby's cues as to when they need to go to the bathroom and then having them go on a potty instead of a diaper. This can be done at birth or at any time and it helps your baby learn how to momentarily hold it in before you put them on the potty; it also helps them get used to the idea of potty training early on instead of relying on eliminating in their diapers until someone changes them. Some use EC for poops mainly, and then use regular or cloth diapers to catch the pees. Others EC for every type of elimination.
Here is some literature:
https://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/elimination-communication/
Books:
https://www.diaperfreebaby.org/booklinks.htm?&MMN_position=95:94
There are also YouTube videos
Thoughts? Challenges? Successes?
I'm a FTM but I have been reading up on it and it's definitely something I want to do. It helps build trust between you and your baby, as well as cutting down on laundry and landfill.
For those who don't know, Elimination Communication (aka EC aka Diaper free aka Infant potty training) is basically forgoing diapers on a full time or part time basis by reading your baby's cues as to when they need to go to the bathroom and then having them go on a potty instead of a diaper. This can be done at birth or at any time and it helps your baby learn how to momentarily hold it in before you put them on the potty; it also helps them get used to the idea of potty training early on instead of relying on eliminating in their diapers until someone changes them. Some use EC for poops mainly, and then use regular or cloth diapers to catch the pees. Others EC for every type of elimination.
Here is some literature:
https://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/elimination-communication/
Books:
https://www.diaperfreebaby.org/booklinks.htm?&MMN_position=95:94
There are also YouTube videos
Re: Elimination Communication
Yeah. No.
Edited for typo
If you have the time and interest to do this, knock yourself out. I'm on kid #3 and think it sounds absurd and incredibly stressful. There are plenty of ways to "build trust" with your baby. My suggestion is to wait and decide after you've been tending to a newborn for a few weeks. If you still have the energy, patience, and interest, then I wish you good luck.
Jamie
I did this for mostly selfish reasons - I hate sh*tty diapers and was ready to be done with them. I also felt it was dumb to wait until later (2+) when he was capable of performing the basic functions then. Plus it was over time so it didn't feel like a drastic change in his routine, so he didn't resist like some toddlers may because there was no sense of urgency.
If you choose to go this route @missphil my advice would be to be sure this is what you want to do because consistency is key... no half @ssing lol. The people in his life (sitters, daycare, grandparents, dad) all have to be supportive because this can be derailed easily. It takes time but for me it's worth it... this kid has been diaper-free for half his life and God willing his sibling will be as easy as he was.
With my second, we didn't do EC quite as often. I'm not sure my husband did it at all. She is now approaching two years and is much less interested in being potty trained. She will sit on the potty and if we catch her at a good time, she'll go on it, but she has very little interest in telling me when she has to go BEFORE she goes in her diaper.
So, based on the difference between the first two kids, I'm much more motivated to work harder on it with the third.
It could be just a difference in the kids - different personalities, different development, etc. - but having the first reliably out of diapers so early was so worth it to me.
The big thing to me was to make it a no-fail system. If she went in the diaper, no biggie. If she went in the potty and the diaper was dry, super awesome. The more verbal she got, the more we talked about using words to tell me when she had to go.
I know when you see videos and read about the concept, it seems stressful, but it is possible to do it in a less stressful way.
I have never heard of a daycare being on board with it, so it is obviously easier if you are with your child all day/night. But even if I weren't, I think I would try to work on it on nights and weekends.
Oh, and as for sphincter control, I read that it is something that babies are capable of controlling and then lose the ability (if they don't need it because they are in diapers all the time) and then have to re-learn later, which is why kids (in North America) take longer to potty train. But if a baby learns/knows you are taking them to the potty, they can hold it long enough for you to get there.
Also, I was doing potty training with my second child before I realized I had never had to clean poop out of underwear = priceless.
From what I have read, there's a few terms that get thrown around that are a bit misleading. For one, I think diaper free is a bit misleading. Like many parents, we'll still use washable diapers but will try not to rely on them. Eg when the baby starts doing that thing where you know it is going to poop, off to the toilet. Also it's not about potty training, some end up out of diapers way earlier, some don't. Its not at all about rewarding the baby for "being trained", It's more about the parents learning to catch more and more.
I have read that it can still work part time eg when a primary caregiver goes back to ft work.
That said, all my knowledge is merely theoretical! We'll see in a few months!
Interesting blog by someone who found that elimination communication worked for them
I also believe Diaper-free and Infant Potty training are misnomers as @belle750017 stated.
I think there are a lot of misconceptions about EC. It does not mean that you're going to have your baby poop in the middle of a restaurant or run around naked all day. It's just about putting him or her on the pot upon waking, before/after feedings, and whenever you see any cues. It minimizes the amount of diapers that get soiled. From what I have read, most moms find that it is worth it. We must remember that this is what millions of mothers do around the world. Not everyone has access to diapers, so the concept is not as crazy as it sounds.