Tag Archives: #Ecchat

Elimination Communication is for Everyone!

#ECchat This post was original written for “The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms” last May.

I stumbled upon Elimination Communication (EC) when I was pregnant. The minute I realised that there was an alternative to years of changing diapers I was sold. Ironically EC is considered to be a controversial stance in infant hygiene although it is far from new and it is practiced by billions all over the world. They don’t have diapers in most countries outside the industrialized world!

Not everyone will understand!

When I mentioned EC to my friends the usual response was “What?” and some had fairly strong views on the subject:

“babies are not aware enough to understand what’s going on”

“children should not be potty trained until they are old enough to be interested in it”

or my favourite “I simply don’t have time to sit around watching my baby for signs that it needs to pee”.

Even my pediatrician told me that babies are incontinent until the age of 18months at the earliest.

What is Elimination Communication (EC)?

Described as a toilet training practice, “Elimination Communication (EC) is when a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to address an infant’s need to eliminate waste”

Basically, you tune into the rhythm of your baby’s need to pee or poop – usually babies need to eliminate 10 minutes after a feed or upon waking so that’s when you whip off their diaper and put them on the potty, over a bowl, over the toilet, in the garden – whatever works for you.

Isn’t it just potty training?

Yes and no. Babies are born with the instinct not to soil themselves and we actuallytrain them to pee and poop in a diaper and then we un-train them to go in the potty/toilet years later.

Through EC your baby starts to become aware of their need to eliminate and will start to let you know when they need to go.

So, when did we start Elimination Communication?

We started EC when Baby in Provence (BiP) was 3 months old. I bought a potty and held her over it 10 minutes after her last feed which was roughly about the time when she would usually pee.

I cued her by making the sound “Psst-psst” and a minute later she peed. I was sold. The day I caught her first poop in the potty I was elated. So was she! She hated being wet so it was a win win!

We take each day as it comes. It is not a competition. I don’t get upset about the misses. We celebrate each catch in the beginning and go with that. Some days BiP never makes it to the potty and that is absolutely fine. Life is stressful enough without adding to it.

What are the benefits of EC?

There are loads of benefits to EC. Too many to list here. For us it was simple. BiP hated being wet so she screamed everytime she peed so we went through masses of diapers so through EC we saved the crying and the diapers! It is much cleaner when they poop. We still have the same tube of diaper rash cream from when she was born as she almost never has diaper rash. I’ve read that it can help prevent UTI’s, thrush and other skin problems. Also the traditional method of potty training will be a stage you will probably sail through.

What are the downsides?

Like everything there are downsides! Once BiP got used to the feeling of pooping outside her diaper she would go crazy if I was missing her signal to go. If I did miss a poop she would cry inconsolably whilst I cleaned her up.

One time we were out and she refused to go in her diaper so I cued her in a car park – she pooped and was happy – I wasn’t. If your baby decides that they want to go when the diaper is off you can face problems when you are out.

Elimination Communication for Everyone

Everyone can do EC. It’s not exclusively for stay at home mothers. You can practice it full time, part time or occasionally – there are no hard and fast rules. It has to be something you can fit into your everyday life. I do encourage everyone to try it before they knock it. Now we’ve been doing it for 1 year and I can’t imagine having done anything differently.

Are you interested in practising Elimination Communication? Are you ECing your baby? What tips can you share?

Taking EC to the next level!

11 Replies

ECing We’ve had a great Elimination Communication journey with BiP to date – we’ve had some impressive times when it’s backfired too! Over the last couple of months I have noticed that she wakes up with dry diaper every morning so I decided this week to take things to the next level.

The first night I let BiP sleep in just her pajamas and no diaper. I put a towel under her just in case. She woke up dry, had her morning feed and then peed in the potty. The next night it was really hot so she was just in a t-shirt and cotton bloomers/panties (the ones that come with cute dresses) and she was dry all night (in spite of being up 3 times in the night and I didn’t potty her). I took the towel away because it was getting bunched up. 5 nights on she is still diaper free for over 12 hours and dry. At 14 months! It’s all her doing! (I realise posting this will probably set us back into a regression but that is ok! I do have a mattress protector so all is fine.

We have had a fair share of potty pauses and days where I just can’t do it. It’s important to remember that it has to be manageable – it’s not a contest and it doesn’t have to be full time.

Interesting signs I have noticed with BiP recently:

She’ll bring the potty to me
She will wait until she is taken out of her highchair or car seat to pee
She will get off the bed or sofa to pee (even if it’s just on the floor)
She won’t pee on me
She has started putting her doll on the potty
She likes peeing in the garden
Poops are harder to catch with a diaper free baby
We’ve had misses and sadly it’s the dog who seems to enjoy the delicacy (*gag*)

By allowing BiP to be diaper free at night, I’ve noticed that she is more into ECing during the day, I realise that I am too. She brings the potty to me, she spends hours playing with her potty and practising getting on to it (previously she was the master of getting off it and peeing nearby!) She is completely aware of her elimination and tells me (non-verbally) when she has to go or if she’s had an accident. I know many EC experts say that the goal of EC is not to potty train early but it looks like it’s already happening naturally.

What are your recent EC experiences?

If you are looking for ways to start ECing your baby check out my 5 Tips on how to start

Why I hate cloth diapers.

32 Replies

When I was pregnant with BiP I contemplated cloth diapering … then I thought about it and decided that if we were going to practice Elimination Communication then maybe we’d be better off just skipping the whole cloth diapering thing. In all honesty I am not sure how much more environmentally friendly they are – ok shoot me … yes, disposable diapers clog landfills but cloth diapers use gallons of water and electricity – in many cases, the jury is out on what is better for your baby’s butt.

My fluff stash

But do you wear paper panties?
No, I don’t wear paper panties but, quite frankly, BiP knows the difference which is why she now prefers to pee in the toilet at 13m. I am not a hardcore ECer – I practice it when I can and the fact of the matter is, cloth diapers are more of a hindrance than a help.

The guilt
I feel guilty on so many levels.

1 – that I didn’t start cloth diapering sooner (we started at 9months)
2 – at the financial investment that I made in the whole system
3 – that I hate using them so much that I force myself to use them

The love affair that never happened is over.
Forget the laundry – that’s not an issue … I actually LOVE doing laundry (I just hate putting it away) I just find them too bulky and too hard to take off. I did try to love them but the love affair never happened.

Yes, I guess I am an eco-terrorist but cut me some slack – BiP looks like she will be diaper free in a few months and at the moment our diaper consumption is enough to make Pampers cry.

They ARE super cute, they are adorable – but I don’t plan to traditionally potty train so I know I won’t make the best use out of them!

Long story short they are boxed up and ready to be shipped to a new home to someone who will most likely have a lot more fun with them than I did!

Anyone else failed at cloth diapering?

Elimination Communication in Macy’s NYC?

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Macy's New York City

We are on a family holiday to New York and, as you do, we hit the shops! My husband was watching BiP as I went in search of some new, breastfeeding friendly clothes (I’ll save that for another post) when I heard “Ameena, come quick! You HAVE to see this! Now THAT is hardcore Elimination Communication!” “What?” I thought, we are on the 3rd floor of Macy’s in downtown NYC, he was outside the fitting rooms next to Starbucks so what on earth was he talking about?

Amidst the flurry of shop assistants yelling and screaming there was a mother holding her baby over some Starbucks napkins. The baby peed. The grandmother arrived with more napkins and then the baby pooped! The shop assistants screamed “You can’t do that here! That’s disgusting! Call security!” I could not stop laughing. It was hilarious. The mother and the grandmother were ignoring the attention (they were from the Far East and clearly tourists). The grandmother picked up the soiled napkins and headed for the Starbucks bin – another drama ensued!

So, how do you practice Elimination Communication in a department store? Unless you plan to take your baby to the bathroom I suggest you don’t but I guess other’s think otherwise!

When Elimination Communication Backfires: Potty Pause

21 Replies

“Potty Pauses” are a normal part of Elimination Communication particularly when your baby is hitting new developmental milestones such as crawling, standing, walking etc … Like anything, there are always drawbacks, setbacks and times when it just backfires! Recently we have been having a serious potty pause to the point that I wonder if I have any wisdom to share anymore! I have 2 options; to cry or to share some of our recent distasters and hopefully some of you will laugh with me!

Ok, I wear Birki's and yes, that's BiP's pee on her sock AND my foot! (excuse the lack of pedicure)

What’s a Potty Pause?
“Potty Pauses” are when your Elimination Commuication efforts with your baby grind to a halt! You’ve had weeks of straight sailing; catching pee’s and poops as if your tiny baby is already potty trained and then it stops! Overnight all your efforts are no longer going down the toilet (well, potty) they are going everywhere else!

When the floor just isn’t good enough
Standing up and peeing in the bath is a common favourite and that’s ok – peeing on MY feet has become a favourite that I don’t love that much but I guess I’m lucky to have come this far without being peed on!

Diaper Free Time on the Terrace
Spring in Provence is warm so BiP runs around outdoors diaper free with a potty within easy reach. She misses and that’s fine when it’s a pee – until she decides that she is going to pee on dolly. Poor dolly. I’m OK with this for now – I’m not so cool when it’s a poop – and yes, we’ve had poops. TIP: Keep a watering can close to hand!

Poor dolly!

When a dog becomes your best EC friend (warning this is NOT for the squeamish)
Just today BiP was playing in the garden playing with the dog and wanted to poop. I whipped off her diaper and held her in the bucket hold and she went. Just as I was cleaning her up I turned around to see that the dog had eaten her poop *gag* OMG! I was almost sick. Damn dog won’t eat the rice she drops on the floor but he will eat that *YUCK!*

SO, there you have it, the glamour of EC backfiring royally! I swear if that dog DARES to lick BiP’s face he’s going straight to the taxidermists!

Any EC backfiring stories you’d care to share?

Motherhood. Is it a Popularity Contest?

25 Replies

Most women, having just given birth, have the feeling that they have done something amazing. They have. Most women do feel like Mother Earth the moment they hold their baby. At the end of the day they have given life to another human being!

Super mum Now, how many women have been made to feel that they should be banished for having an elective c-section or an epidural or even worse, AN INDUCTION? Who’s been made to feel bad that they selected to deliver in a hospital rather than have a home birth? How many have been made to feel they should apologise because they haven’t breastfed because they needed medication to deal with the aftermath of childbirth or because they just didn’t want to? Hands up. Be honest. Is the first year of motherhood a popularity contest?

The pressure of the perfect birth

There is so much pressure out there to have the perfect birth. What is that exactly? Surely it’s different for everyone? I had one blogger make me feel like there was something wrong that I had a hospital birth … ummm … that’s what I wanted and I never asked for her opinion. I am happy she wants a home birth but I certainly wouldn’t tell her that I think it’s a risky choice which could be considered downright irresponsible in today’s day and age. So why did she feel she could pity me for my “substandard delivery?” I dread to think what she’d say about my induction which turned out to be the perfect choice for me. Every situation is different, everyone has a different pain threshold, a different agenda and guess what? That’s OK.

The pressure of breastfeeding.

Often I meet mothers who, when I say I breastfeed, automatically jump on the defensive saying that they couldn’t breastfeed for whatever reason. I never asked, I don’t care, feed your baby, love your baby, that’s all the matters. Yes, I breastfeed but that is my choice! It’s not easy and it’s not for everyone. If you have done your research then I will leave you to make the choice that works for you, your baby and your family. At the end of the day we are lucky to have alternatives. Ok, those who do breastfeed do look for support and celebration for reaching milestones – I know as well as anyone how much I NEED that encouragement and support but it doesn’t make me look down on someone who stopped before I have. EVER.

So, where is my medal?

I don’t do any of the things I do with BiP for any other reason than that is what I WANT to do with her. Yes, I breastfeed, yes I do Baby-Led Weaning (BLW), yes I part-time EC (Elimination Commuincation) her, yes I occassionally cloth diaper her, yes I occassionally, every minute of the day, love her. Do I get a medal? NO of course not! No medals for dealing with pain from childbirth, no medal for refusing an epidural when you can’t take the pain, no medal for dealing with chapped nipples or that first bite that you daren’t look down at for fear that your cherub has actually bitten your nipple clean off, no medal for struggling losing the weight, or for being tired … no no no! NONE of that!
So, what’s the deal? I’m all for putting the info out there and encouraging other mama’s but we all have to do what we CAN within our capabilities and sensibilities.

What do you think? Is childbirth and the first year of motherhood a popularity contest?

Making clothes more EC friendly!

14 Replies

Do you have a lot of bodies that you don’t put your baby in because they are pain to EC with? I know I am sick of having to deal with the snaps and make sure they don’t dangle into the potty.

Collection of lovely new bodies which are totally EC unfriendly!

The few times that BiP has peed on the bit that fell down into the potty were enough to make me reconsider using them at all – not to mention the issue of having to whip off the leggings, then undo the snaps then get the diaper off … you get the picture! Problem is some of the bodies are so cute! A lot of sets come with matching bodies so it seems a shame to wear them. So, I decided it was time to get creative!

I don’t consider myself to be very crafty at all. I can sew if I have to but I certainly do not enjoy sewing hems and I don’t know how to use a sewing machine! Here is one way to make your baby bodies more EC friendly and without a needle and thread in sight!

What do you need: A pair of scissors, some wonder web and an iron. Yes! That’s all!

Step One: Cut the bottom of the bodies off just above the seams for the legs so you have enough space to put a hem. Throw the bottoms away.

Cut the bottoms off

Step Two: Turn the body, now, t-shirt, inside out. Fold the bottom to make a hem. Iron in a crease. Lay wonderweb and then apply heat so the fabric sticks together making a nice tidy hem! Done!

Done!! All the tools you need (iron not featured)

Not bad ... almost perfect hems!

That’s my tip! How do you make your baby clothes more EC friendly?

Diaper Free Oops!

67 Replies

Now the weather is warmer in Provence I have decided to let BiP spend a lot of her days diaper free.

However, I’ve been missing a few of her signs to go to the potty which are pretty obvious; she walks over to me and starts fussing, a minute later she pee’s.

Elimination Communication Mishap I got it this time when she peed on her feet and my shoe! Thankfully I have tiled floors but still! Guess this is could be filed under When ECing Backfires!

MUMMY IN PROVENCE

Bridging gaps in global parenting