Natural Mama: Healthy choices for mother and baby

The official term is “Elimination Communication,” or “EC” for short.  The first time I heard of it, I knew it was for me, but most people are intimidated by the idea, thinking it will be too difficult or time consuming.  Those who do it, however, say it’s totally doable, and only takes as much time as changing a diaper.

So what, exactly, is involved in EC?  The idea is based on the theory that babies do not enjoy sitting in their own waste and will attempt to communicate this displeasure, usually by crying.  They are also born with bladder control and can actually go on command if they need to go.  This means that you can take your baby to the bathroom, cue her to go in the potty, and she will!  She’ll be so happy that she didn’t have to go in her diaper.

Of course, an infant isn’t expected to make it to the toilet every time.  There will be “misses.”  But even if you only practice occassionally, your baby will retain his “awareness” of needing to go, and won’t be forced to get used to sitting in a dirty diaper.  When the baby is older and can go to the potty by himself, it will be a natural progression for him, and you will avoid the nasty control issues that many parents face when trying to potty train a 2 year old.  Best of all, your child will go through his infancy with a cleaner, healthier bottom, and you will go through a lot fewer diapers.

I’m excited to practice EC with my baby after he is born.  Today I got to talk to my sister Holly, who is doing EC with her newborn.  She lives in Idaho so I haven’t been able to meet her little Arora yet, and today was the first time we got to talk about the Elimination Communication.  Arora is 10 weeks old, and has been ECing since she was 3 weeks.  Holly was skeptical at first, but one day she decided to just take her baby to the toilet.  She cued her to go, and she went!  Holly gained some courage and tried two more times that day, and Arora went each time.  Both Holly and Arora love ECing.  In fact, Arora screams every time she wets herself.  Holly knows that if the baby is crying, she most likely is wet.  Arora is even learning to communicate her need to go by yelping.  Holly knows to run her to the bathroom when she makes this unique cry.  She also takes her at predictable times, like when she wakes up or has just eaten.  Holly even takes her to the toilet when she goes to church.  She says it is so easy.

Resources: 

A brief summary of EC can be found on Wikipedia.

Books:  A few books have been written on Elimination Communication.  The one Holly and I have read is called Diaper Free Baby by Christine Gross-Loh.  It’s an easy read and great if you are intimated by the idea of ECing your baby.  Also, there is Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer, who actually coined the term “elimination communication.”

Websites:  DiaperFreeBaby.org, The EC Store.  You can find blogs and support groups by using a search engine with the term “elimination communication” or “diaper free baby.”

Even though I haven’t had a chance to try this yet, I highly recommend it.  It’s good for your baby and it will save you the grief of toilet training a “diaper-trained” toddler.