Berkeley Parents Network: Elimination Communication

Berkeley Parents Network

Elimination Communication

Berkeley Parents Network > Advice > The Potty > Elimination Communication

I want to start Elimination Communication with my 3-month old
Have you Elimination Communication?
I'm very motivated to try EC for 12-month-old
More advice about Elimination Communication

I want to start Elimination Communication with my 3-month old

October 2006

Hi - I want to start Elimination Communication with my 3-month old and am looking for some pointers to start. I'm having some difficulty figuring out some of the details, such as how do I keep my baby naked all day without getting cold. How have other people done EC? Did they ask friends or did they read a book? Is there a class? I'd love suggestions or advice!

Congrats on trying out EC - we did EC with our daughter (now a little over 2) and she's pretty much potty trained. The best place to start is www.diaperfreebaby.org. There's a local yahoogroups listserv as well, EastBayDFB, which is a great place to meet other ECers and get help and advice. To keep her warm, we'd either just cover her naked bottom half with a blanket, or I'd use baby leg warmers (I knit my own, but I think you can buy some). There should be resources to help with this on the diaper free baby web site. Kara

We have a 3 month old as well and have found that we don't have to have him naked all day. What I do at home is have him with a shirt and socks on, sometimes with baby legs on (do you have any of those? they are little leggings for babies). We end up changing a lot of pairs of socks because they get wet! But it's better than changing an entire outfit. Sometimes I do have him in diapers. There is a yahoo group for ec (I think it's just called 'elimination communication') which can be helpful, but be warned it is a very high volume list. You may email me if you like :-) leigh

I read two books: Infant Potty Training and Natural Infant Hygiene. Oakland Public Library has Infant Potty Training.

There's the Yahoo BIG list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eliminationcommunication/

And there's a Berkeley group that meets in the parks, I think. Congratulations! We love EC anon

There is a wealth of information out there about Elimination Communication (EC). I find the best way to get information is to read one of the books on the subject, and then to post any other questions you have about your specific situation on one of the lists. First, check out the main site at www.diaperfreebaby.org. From there, you can find the names of the EC books and also of your local Diaper-Free Baby (DFB) groups, such as EastBayDFB (actually covers Berkeley, Oakland, SF and beyond). There are several people on that list who have babies the same age as yours, and many others who have already been through that stage and who can offer helpful advice. The group is very friendly and no question is too basic to ask; sometimes people post suggestions of times and places for meetings, so you can get to know some other EC moms in person (I met some of my best friends in that group).

Also on the main DFB site you can find the link for the ''eliminationcommunication'' yahoo group, sometimes referred to as ''the big list'', which has thousands of subscribers from all over the world. It is very high-volume, so I would recommend subscribing in digest mode or only checking for postings on the website. It can be very helpful to post a question to that list, however, because no matter how obscure the question, odds are at least one or two people have been through it before and can give you some pointers.

Also, check out the EC Store for all kinds of gear that facilitates EC while keeping your baby warm and comfortable (www.theecstore.com). Good luck, and know that you are doing a wonderful thing for you and your baby! --Barrie

These are great questions. It can be a little confusing at first. I suggest you join the local email group through http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/ -- go to local chapters to join the group. This is an incredibly knowledgeable and supportive community that can help you get started and troubleshoot along the way. There are also meetings and playgroups so you can get hands-on pointers. I've been doing EC since about 5.5. months with my daughter, now 21 months. I still email with this group regularly. Keep in mind that in most places around the world where people practice EC, there are friends, neighbors, family members to advise and assist, so I hope you will reach out as much as you need to. Good luck, hope to see you online soon! Nina

Have you Elimination Communication?

November 2003

Hi, Although my children are now older, I stumbled across the concept of elimination communication (EC) and found it fascinating. (You notice when your baby needs to go, and you hold it over the toilet or potty.) I would be interested to hear from any of you who have tried it, and your comments on it. A couple of messages on the site recommended it. Thanks! Curious

Elimination Communication (EC), or Natural Infant Hygiene (NIH), ranks right up there with breastfeeding, babywearing, and cosleeping as a fabulous way to bond with your baby.

From birth, babies can, and do, signal their need to eliminate, just as they signal their need to sleep, to nurse, and to interact. It's just a matter of learning what to look for. The vast majority of ''fussy'' babies out there are just trying to get someone to recognize that they have to potty.

My son is 16 months old, we've been practicing EC with him since he was 2 months old. He hasn't pooped in a diaper since he was about 3 months old, and is nearing total potty independence now. At only 16 months, the fact that he will stop playing, walk over to his little potty, and point at his pants to indicate that he has to go, is not remarkable or extraordinary; just what all babies are naturally capable of.

I'm one of the moderators of a YahooGroup that discusses EC. If you'd like more information, or would like to check out the list, please drop me a line. You could also check out some of the fabulous resources on the web:

http://www.freewebs.com/freetoec/
http://seafish.freeyellow.com/
Or read either of the excellent books on the topic:
http://www.natural-wisdom.com/
http://www.timl.com/ipt

Laureen

I was facinated by the idea of Elimination Communication (EC) when I heard about it from our diaper service. Our 2nd daughter was 3 months old at the time - supposedly just in time to start EC before infants loose their awareness of their elimination activity if left in wet diapers. The first time I held her over the toilet and said ''pssss'' she peed right on cue! She's now 6 mo old and hasn't pooped in her diapers since. I realized that if I heard her grunting (and smelled her farting) I could take off her diaper and she'd hold it until I got her over a toilet (I hold her between my legs). Though admitedly, she's still only a once-a-week or two pooper. She still has wet diapers - I don't work that hard at trying to read her signals or time her peeing, but for the past few weeks, every time I hold ! her over the toilet and say ''psss'', she pees, even if it's just eeking out a few drops to assure me she knows what we're doing. A more concerted effort might get her dry sooner, but I'm happy with where we're at, and imagine we'll make more progress when she can tell me with words or some obvious signal that she's ready to go.

It's been great for us - we wash our own diapers now (one less bill!) and it's fun (our 5 yr old daughter enjoys accompanying us in the bathroom). More than everything else, it was wonderful to recognize how much she knew about herself and could control even at 3 months. ECer

Thanks to those who shared their experience with EC. Also the websites were very informative. If I ever have another baby I will try it! Also, it's funny that a diaper service recommended EC!

I'm very motivated to try EC for 12-month-old

September 2002

I read the advice given to the ''potty training 3.3 yr old'' posting on Elimination communication(EC) by ''Kathy''. I visited the EC website and found it very helpful, and would like to learn even more about it.

I have a 3 yr old just coming out of diapers(thank goodness!), and a 4 month old boy. I absolutely DO NOT WANT to see my second son in diapers till he's 3 yrs old! I was potty trained by 12 months old, and my mother who is Asian thinks its absurd to see any child ''who can chew food'' not going to the potty.

If ''Kathy'' or anyone else has tried EC and either been successful or not with it, could you please email me? I'm very motivated to try EC, and would like to hear other's experiences. Thanks! The potty's the place! maya

I first heard about elimination communication through this list. I was super motivated to try it and did for the first few weeks with my baby. But, then I got exhausted and simply stopped. I think ec'ing a newborn is too hard. My baby is now 7 months old and I want to try again. The lack of support is very much an issue for me. I subscribe to the EC list, but I would love to connect with other local people to discuss the ups and downs. Hae

More advice about Elimination Communication

August 2005

Re: Cloth Diapering - What Are My Options?
Another nice way to reduce diapering costs and hassles, no matter what type of diapers you use, is to practice Elimination Communication, where you start teaching your baby to eliminate in the toilet (or somewhere besides his diaper) as early as a few days old. This system is practiced in much of the developing world and was even common the US until 60 or 80 years ago. You can read about it on the internet or get a book about it (it is also called Natural Infant Hygiene, Infant Potty Training, and other things). One East Bay group that meets weekly and exchanges emails is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EastBayDFB. EC has worked for us so far--with a moderate level of effort, our 14-month old now averages fewer than 6 diapers a day. A Dad

April 2003

Re: Cloth diaper logistics
We EC (use Elimination Communication) but did do cloth diapers with the first 2 with a service. I simply placed all diapers in the service bag and left them with the service. ... Since you're not yet doing diapers, why not check out EC? I did it with my last two and would never go back to diapers.

http//groups.yahoo.com/group/eliminationcommunication/
http//www.vavoova.com/diaperfreestuff/links.html

Kathy

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