Having crossed off most hip parenting maneuvers - some victorious, some not so much - pretty early on in E's life, it stands to reason that we would at least consider Elimination Communication somewhere down the line. Elimination Communication, or "EC," is a diaper alternative. In essence, you figure out when your baby needs to potty, and you stick 'em on said pot when that time arrives. I know it sounds bonkers, and maybe it is, but it's not some quirky, show-off move in many parts of the world. It's just how it's done. We started at about 4 months and have been going with it since.
The downsides? Some folks won't like it, and they just might tell you about it. Their concern is usually that you are trying to potty-train a wee babe. But rest assured, as I hold my princess over the pot, singing our potty song and helping her count her toes, it is me who is trained and she who is going to the bathroom Cleopatra style. Another is restricted mobility. Give a baby the knowledge that she needn't poop her pants and she may just call you out on it, giving you a shout or seven while in her stroller when she needs the loo, pronto.
The upsides? Photo ops like the one above. Hello, Edie's Sweet Sixteen slideshow! And so few messy diapers that you have to bite your tongue not to brag about it. (But I do bite it. Karma doesn't like braggarts.)
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ReplyDeleteIf this experience (one day in the future) results in Edie keeping her bedroom and school work organized and clean, you can write a best seller—mind you, humbly—so start keeping notes.
ReplyDeleteYou know... Jason has an aunt who just moved her from China when she got married about 5 years ago.. and she tells me, oh you can do this jus make this "shushushush" sound when you put them on the toliet, she swore she trained her son by the time he was 14 months. My response, was the noise made me go potty and I got a lot ofpee on me.. but if you can make it work... you will be so happy. I keep asking her if she wants Lily for a couple days or months to practice and relive her successes she hasn't taken me up on it yet (might have been the month comment, I told her I would visit)
ReplyDeleteHow cool! Indeed, I never saw a diaper in Africa and I have yet to see one here... but I also have yet to see someone covered in baby droppings so there is obviously a way of making it work :) And this picture needs to be Will's FB profile pic, btw.
ReplyDeleteStina - yeah, I think that in China it's really common. There are these Chinese pants for babies that are split up the seams of the butt so you can stick them on the potty without disrobing. Convenient! If we do this with baby #2, I might snip a pair for him/her!
ReplyDeleteJen - it can work, that's for sure! Though you'll get peed on from time to time unless you sit near a pot and stare at your baby all day long. But not nearly so much as you'd think ;)
Good for you! I have a good friend who's done this with excellent results.
ReplyDeleteI did give it a go but JE would never take this on board, when she was old enough to speak (which was very soon)she told me in no uncertain terms that she would never use the potty. I thought she was going to honor that promise until her amma walked in with a few pairs of big girl undies with shimmery pictures on them. She took off her diaper, sat on the potty until a drop was produced, stood up and put the undies on and didn't wear a diaper again. Needless to say, she likes to call the shots.