Elimination Communication - Infant Potty Training

Ok, this one deserves some explaining. When I was pregnant I read a book called Diaper Free, The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene (aka - Elimination Communication). It said that infants are aware of when they have to eliminate and that they can control when they go. In our culture though, we have not allowed them to develop that ability because of the use of diapers, and very absorbent diapers at that! In cultures all over the world babies are carried in slings by their mothers all day. These babies do not wear diapers. Instead they make sounds and movements such as squirming and grunting to signal their mothers that they need to go potty. Mom simply unwraps them, makes a cuing "psss" sound, and they go in the bush. I was fascinated by this idea.

Well, when we brought Brynn home from the hospital the first two weeks were totally overwhelming. I thought, "there is no way I can do this." But soon I noticed that almost every time I changed Brynn she peed on the changing table. So I decided to start holding her over her pink Ikea potty. It worked. She started peeing in the potty about 80% of the time! Sometimes I catch her squirming and making sounds like she has to go. I discover a dry diaper and to my delight she pees in the potty. Most of the time her diapers are wet and she still goes. I always tell her she is "such a good peer" and "so smart." We do this every day now. Sometimes she doesn't go and sometimes it takes her a bit to go, but she almost always does. This is one of the times when we smile and talk to each other. It's fun.

Now as far as poops go, she only occasionally goes in the potty. Today she did. Those aren't as easy to clean up, but I'm sure they're much better than toddler poops! Babies who use Elimination Communication are often completely toilet trained by 18 months or less! That'll save money on diapers and time and frustration with potty training. I can't wait! I also plan to use sign language to help her communicate when she needs to go when she's a little older.

So this is a picture of me holding Brynn over her pink Ikea potty on her changing table. We are enjoying gazing into each other's eyes.