Asher Is 16 Weeks Old
Elimination Communication or Natural Infant Hygiene
So, because Kimmie posted about EC on her LJ back in January(?), I checked out a book from the Sac Public library called Infant Potty Training. I read the book with a healthy measure of skepticism, but by the end, I was pretty excited about the possibility—after all, much of the world doesn’t use diapers of any kind, and they raise gobs of babies. I did not do much beyond puzzle about how to accomplish it logistically and begin making the cuing sounds (ssss or a grunting noise) whenever I was aware that Asher was actually eliminating, in the hopes that he’d learn the association of the action with the sound.
(Aside: I read a book a few years ago about the importance of women’s work in ancient world, specifically about weaving and how woven cloth was highly valued and functioned as trade currency in ancient Mesopotamian society. I remember wondering at the time how these ancient people kept their babies clean and dry if cloth was, in effect, the most valuable item in the household.)
EC is not about “training” your baby. It’s about becoming familiar enough with his rhythms and watching for his signs and communications that he needs to go, then giving him an opportunity to go into a receptacle of your choice. It’s also about refusing to let your baby sit in a messy or wet diaper for any length of time if you can avoid it. It’s about knowing your baby so well, and helping him learn about where to go potty, so that he can go diaper free!
Last Wednesday, on May 16, I went to a talk about EC given by two mommies who are members of the Mothers’ Support Network and are practicing EC with their daughters. One mommy has been practicing it since her daughter was around 4 months old (the child is 11 months now) and the other mommy has been doing it since her daughter’s birth (the child is now 4 or 5 months old). I went to the talk because I was intrigued and wanted to hear about the practical application of the things I read in the book. It was useful and inspiring. I bought a book that day called Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene and drove to Goores to buy a tiny potty seat (the same one that these mommies use).
The next day Asher and I tried to use his new potty. It was midafternoon. I put him on it and made our cuing sounds…. And. He. Pooped.
Holy Diapers, Batman!
Thurs, 5/17: caught a poop
Fri, 5/18: caught a pee
Sat, 5/19: caught three pees in a row around midday
Sun, 5/20: Although I tried a number of times, my timing was off. Ian, however, tried one time and Asher peed in the potty. Ian had to come and ask me if the potty had actually been dry before he sat Asher upon it, because he didn’t quite believe that it had worked.
Mon, 5/21: caught 5 pees and 2 poops
5/22: about 4 pees
5/23: 5 pees and a poop
My God. It’s working.
http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/5-diap/42-natural-infant-hygiene.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination_communication
http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/shop/index.php/action/item/id/12/
May 24, 2007 at 8:03 pm
holy crap, that’s awesome.
May 24, 2007 at 11:20 pm
That is amazing. Amazing!!! I’ve never heard of this method. Good on ya!
May 25, 2007 at 12:20 am
wow that’s kewl!
May 25, 2007 at 11:58 am
I read about EC when Kimmie posted the link too. My mind was blown. I’m so glad you’re having positive experiences with it!