All About Elimination Communication

Have you ever wondered how mothers and babies dealt with elimination before diapers (even cloth diapers) were invented?
Well I did. And Elimination Communication is what answered my question. Diaper free a natural practice that is coming back, and gaining popularity. Keep reading to find out more..

So, what is elimination communication?

Elimination communication (EC) is a practice in which a mother or caregiver use signals, cues, and intuition to understand when their infant needs to eliminate. Mothers then help assist the infant eliminate in a proper location or a toilet. This practice is very common in many parts of the world today. It is common for Mothers, in other countries, who practice EC to carry their baby a lot of the time. This makes it easier to understand their babies  cues. The best time to begin EC Is 0-4 months old. Although, beginning after that time frame can work out well. EC does not have to be full time, some mothers choose to use diapers part time. It can fit into different lifestyles. Elimination Communication is about understanding when your baby has to go rather than training them to go at a certain time. However, understanding the natural timing is key

How to practice Elimination Communication?

Mothers pay close attention to when their infant needs to pee or poo. It can be easier when you immediately go diaper free so you can see exactly when baby went potty and understand the hints and cues that your baby gives off before eliminating. Some cues include crying, grunting, fussiness, concentration, and wiggling. You will get to know your baby with more and more practice. There was also be many accidents, but the more you continue doing it the better you will become at understanding your infant. You can hold your baby in a squatting position with baby's back against your front and hold legs slightly apart while holding baby over toilet or sink.

Your infant can eliminate in a toilet, sink, or potty.  Some people like to make a “sssss” sound when baby begins eliminating, so in the future that sound can let your infant know that they are in a proper place and can go. You will get to know when your baby is done or still needs more time. He or she will seem satisfied or relaxed. Once baby is older around 6-12 months, you can begin using actual words like “potty”, so that the infant can learn to say these words replacing the “ssss” cue.

Also, most babies do not pee or poo when they are asleep. It usually happens right after waking. Infants also wait till right after a feeding to eliminate, or they usually pause from their feed to go, although at the newborn stage it can be common for babies to go during a feeding and that is a good time to hold baby over nearby container of some sort.

EC takes a lot of time and attention if doing full time. It is basically a recipe for a stay at home mother who can attend her child promptly.  But, EC can also be done part time, for example first thing in the morning can be a good option for working mothers to attend their babies before work. Or a mother can get to know when their baby needs to eliminate their bowels, and so poo’s will get taken care of on the toilet rather than diaper. Eliminating the bowels is also a lot easier when baby is in a squatting position causing less straining and pushing (I will have a future post further explaining this natural position of eliminating). Another way of doing it part time is to not go completely diaper free. Diaper can be used like “underwear”, and when your infant needs to go you can help him/her eliminate then put diaper back on. It can be a great option if accidents is something you would really like to avoid

So why do elimination communication?

Well it is a more natural approach. This is what people have been doing for more than hundreds of thousands of years before diapers came about. It is beneficial in so many ways.
First off you are so much more connected with your child. It is so important and I feel that is something mothers lack today because of modern responsibilities. So, this type of communication gives you a stronger connection with your infant. The way it is suppose to be.
Second, cleanliness. No diapers, no wipes, and your baby doesn't have to sit in wet or dirty diapers. Sitting in soiled diapers is not fun or natural for baby, which can then also lead to rashes. It also avoids the use of disposable diapers which contribute to landfill problems. Also, disposables can get expensive. Toilet paper can be used and/or *homemade baby wipes*. Another reason to begin elimination communication is why not teach baby how to eliminate in a proper location from the very beginning. Instead of having your child go in diapers for the first few years, then re-teaching them to go in the toilet because that becomes somehow wrong. It's just a shortcut that is easier and can be less confusing on the child.

My experience with elimination communication:

I began EC with my second daughter, Juliet, at 3 months. I began taking her to the toilet and she would naturally pee. I have a toilet seat by *prince lion heart* that my older daughter Jane uses and so that is where I positioned Juliet. I usually do not have her in diapers at home, and if she is laying down I slide in a pre-fold cloth diaper under her in case she goes without me noticing. This is a good stage to begin EC because you don't have to deal with a mobile baby. I decided to initially strip her off diapers completely so I could really see when she was going. This is where practicing EC from newborn stage can be beneficial in learning about when your baby eliminates, which is something I would definitely do in the future if we ever decide to have another child. There were and still are (but not as many) accidents where she ends up peeing on me (or daddy!). I was feeling discouraged at first, and thinking to myself “this isn't working!” And I felt I couldn’t understand those 'signs' people refer too, but that's common and I didn't give up. Sure enough I became more in sync with Juliet. I began taking her to the toilet after waking up, right after breastfeeding, and before taking naps. There were far less accidents after that.

I notice that she can become fussy or uncomfortable, and many times I thought it was due to her needing to feed or nap. It was actually her needing to go potty, because as soon as she was done going she would be more calm. Like I mentioned earlier, babies don’t usually pee or poo when they are asleep. I had learned that on my own because I noticed Juliet was dry while she slept and even after waking up. It was until soon after that I'd noticed she'd pee.
Once Juliet is on the toilet she usually pees immediately and she  might begin pooping soon after. The best part about this experience is where Juliet has a distinct way of letting me know when she's finished. She begins arching her back and stiffening her body so that her butt is tucked in to try to get off the seated position. I think it is actually funny the way she does it but, It is her way of telling me that she is done.
I usually remain diaper free most of the time even if I haven’t perfected EC, (older sister needs attention too). This risks the case of accidents. I do use diapers if I am in a location where I don’t have restrooms or a private place nearby, and if I know she has to go I squat her and begin the “sss” sound so she can go in her diaper.

When we are at the park which is one of the only places you can find us at this point (besides home), I give Juliet time on a blanket diaper less. If she needs to go I sit with her and squat her over the grass to allow her to go. Yes I do! After all, out in nature is the most natural place to go, and if dogs are allowed to pee on or around trees then Juliet can too. Poo is a different story..

What do you think about elimination communication? Too Complicated? Think I'm plain crazy?.. I know! Have you heard of it before? And would you try it? Any other questions you may have?
Let me know in the comments section below!
Thank you for reading.

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