Our Zen Family

As many of you are aware, we are practicing what is called Elimination Communication (EC) or Natural Infant Hygiene. It is not really potty training per se; but a similar concept in which the child learns to eliminate in a receptacle rather than a diaper. Hence, why EC is sometimes referred to as going diaperless. The idea is, instead of letting the child get used to going in their shorts, you show them the eco-friendly, diaper-rash preventing, more natural alternative. It is more hygienic and helps strengthen the babies urinary (and core) muscles from early on. Waiting until two years of ages renders a more difficult process as the child has never used many of these muscles and is used to simply ‘going’ wherever, whenever.
While I was pregnant, I read a book by Ingrid Bauer (the North American EC guru) about raising a diaper free child. http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/ingrid_bauer.html I found the book to be extremely interesting and it really resonated with how I would like to raise my child (she also discusses breastfeeding, co-sleeping & attachment parenting). Many people guffawed at the idea and said it wouldn’t work and/or last. At the very least, I thought I would give it a go.

It is by no means a new concept. So many cultures in the world practice this method: Africa, Asia, South America, even much of Europe. Different cultures begin EC at various times- some from birth; others at 2-3 months (when poops are more regular and predictable) or  5-6 months (when child can sit up on their own/have better neck control). As an FYI, Ingrid Bauer started from Day One. She’s my hero! I had read that infant’s poops can be messy and frequent the first month. In fact, Taio eliminated 10-12 times daily for the first 5 weeks. I had decided before Taio was born that I would wait until about 6 weeks when he was more regular and I became more familiar with his elimination signals and cues. Plus I figured I needed time to adapt to breastfeeding.

This ended up being the perfect amount of time in this situation (remember, every child is different). From birth, Taio hated having dirty nappies and would scream bloody murder (he’s not as bad now). So I should not have been so surprised that he learned EC so fast. I didn’t think it would be this easy, but Taio has caught on so quickly. Honestly, I think he understood the process from the get-go.

Elimination communication (EC) has undoubtedly been a grand success from the start! Two Sundays ago (Nov.21^st) we woke up to Taio’s usual morning grunting and squirming. I said “He’s about to go poo!” Clint suggested that I go get the potty which I did while he undressed the little man. I held Taio over the potty while I said the cueing words “poo-poo and pee-pee” and made the noises “pssss…” Within seconds he had successfully peed and pooped in the potty. We both thought “that was easy!” So was it beginners luck? NO WAY! That day alone Taio took another poop and 10 pees in the potty. And the trend continues. He goes pee nearly every time it’s offered. It is very common now for him to wake from a nap with a dry diaper and go in the potty instead. And he’s only gone poop in his diaper once since starting EC; which I caught in time enough for him to finish on the potty. What a superstar! What’s even more amazing is last week we were traveling the 5 days (to Calgary and then spent a lovely weekend in Banff) and we were still able to maintain EC. In fact, Taio went pee and poop over the toilet at two separate friends houses!

Basically how it works is that I offer him the potty at various times of the day (first thing in the morning, after naps & feedings). He may or may not go (though I would say 90% he does at least go pee a little). I also use intuition as well as reading his body language. I hold him over the potty in a supportive position until he can do it for himself in the future. He may or may not go and it is simply an offer to assist him in going on the potty rather than his diaper. We always praise his successful eliminations and if he doesn’t want to go we let him know it is always just an offer.

What I’ve learned from this so far is that we grossly underestimate the amazing abilities of babies.  This process has allowed us to really tune in to our child and communicate effectively through body language, eye contact and sounds. What we love most is his incessant chattiness while on the potty. What an amazing process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmM4Togmrfw

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