My vlog and post for today covers EC’ing and has a lot of Fletcher’s face in it. If you have missed my past vlogs you can catch Day 1 ,Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.

When I bring up the concept of EC (Elimination Communication) with most Americans they give me quite the puzzled look.  The conversation usually goes something like this:

“I like to put my kids on the potty once they can sit up.  It is called EC.”

“You mean, like when they are babies?”

“yes”

“And then they use the bathroom?  How do they know when to go?”

“yes”

“So when do you know when to put them on?”

“You follow their cues or time it to the natural, sensical rhythms, like after a nap.”

“Isn’t that just potty training the parent?”

“sigh”

The concept of introducing the potty to an infant or baby is nothing new.  Cultures around the world use some form of EC (under various other names) and have since the beginning of time.  Diapers are a relatively new invention, even cloth diapers are “new” to the world in the grand scheme of things.

My personal philosophy on ECing is to make it a fun, part time event.  Babies change quickly.  With Fletcher, there was a stretch of a few weeks where we had very few wet diapers.  I had the timing down and he was responding to my chosen signal of “psssssss.” Then he started crawling and wouldn’t sit still long enough.  We still did EC off and on as my schedule and his attitude allowed.  There were good weeks, bad weeks, and weeks where we never did it.

When I was hugely pregnant we stopped altogether and he lost a lot of his interest in the potty.  I was never set on getting him out of diapers before 1, or 2, but I did have the idea that he wouldn’t wear diapers as long as the American Average age of 30 months.  My MIL would have had a fit.  She EC’ed her own babies by putting them on the potty every half hour and they were diaper free by 1 year.

How does this relate to flats?!

Frankly, as we are all on Day 5 of Handwashing our flats, I see why mothers would be motivated to speed up the potty training process.  I have remarked several times that you hardly ever see an old photograph of a toddler in diapers or plastic pants.  Why?  Because they weren’t using diapers.  You better believe their moms were running them to the potty at that first grunt before they soiled their diaper.  Handwashing poopy diapers is certainly motivation to prevent the pooping in the diaper in the first place, would’t you agree? Besides, it has always made sense to me, even if you didn’t know about EC, to run the baby to potty if you KNOW they are about to poop and you have the chance.  When I see parents wait for their kid to poop in their diaper and they have plenty of advance notice, they even remark about waiting, I just don’t get it.

This isn’t an option everyone can implement.  Working parents can’t ask their care providers to EC their children.  However, there is no law against doing it once a day, once a week, or once a month.  Even preventing one poop from a diaper is one less to wash (by hand or machine).  And wearing flats coverless really gives you a picture of their schedule.  By seeing when they pee you and your baby can develop an understanding of their schedule.

For more EC resources follow my Adventures in EC tag (which hasn’t been updated in quite a while).  I also HIGHLY recommend reading The Diaper-Free Baby: The Natural Toilet Training Alternative if you are interested in pursuing EC in earnest.

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At 2 years, 3 months, and 1 day old Fletcher learned to use the potty!  It took 9 days from start to finish.  And now I don’t know what to think!

Last Monday he started stripping his clothes and diaper, so I just never put them back on.  I had already been thinking of beginning the “3 Day Potty Training” method that I had looked into, but just didn’t have the motivation.  Let’s face it, a toddler in a diaper is easier to manage than one who is nude and potentially pooping on your floor.

My main motivation to teach him to use the potty was having to wash diapers less frequently, not gonna lie.  I have been buried in laundry for months.  Every other day I have to wash their clothes, and diapers.  Plus our clothing, bedding, towels, and unpaper towels.  I couldn’t get my head above water for one day!

So when he took his clothes off, they stayed off for 9 days.  No diaper, no underwear (for the most part) and rarely a shirt.  I turned the fireplace on in the mornings to make sure the house wasn’t too cold.

I explained that he was going to learn to use the potty like a big boy, and there were no more diapers.  I prepared a sticker chart and promised a chocolate (usually a pretzel M&M) for each number 1 or number 2.  Each time he pottied I did a ridiculous dance and song “Fletcher pee peed on the potty” to the tune of “La Cucaracha”  and we made a huge deal of things.

Fletcher practicing being diaper free, 6 months You may be able to see the pee in the potty.

This was different than ECing, something we have done part time at our leisure since he was 6 months old.  I did congratulate him for using the potty but not in such a grandious way, and there were no rewards.  My main goal for ECing him was to make sure he never feared the potty, and when we were ready, he would know what to do.  If it saved a few diapers and kept him comfortable in the process that was just a bonus.

Even though I was ready for him to learn the potty, I wasn’t sure if he was.  He has used it a million times but only when I put him on.  He has only cued me by saying “poop” or “potty” twice before.  Frankly, my son is a man of few words.  He would rather sign certain things, and he only uses brief commands, never sentences.

Using an all naked training method proved to be the most effective for us.  I do have all hardwood flooring though, so this made life easier.  In the beginning he would just start peeing wherever he was.  I started carrying a little potty around and catching it when he did, then making a big deal out of him peeing “on” the potty.  When he just peed on the floor I didn’t admonish him, but I did tell him that wasn’t what he was supposed to do, and I would send him to play in his room while I cleaned the mess.  I used my EC knowledge to put him on the potty when I knew he would need to potty (after naps, after waking in the morning, 10-30 minutes after a big drink, or when I heard flatulence signaling he needed to evacuate his bowels) and this helped tremendously.

Once we got a “catch” it was party time!  He thoroughly enjoyed the stickers, which he liked to pick out himself and affix.  The chocolate was a hit too, of course.

We had good days and bad over the 9 days.  Sometimes it felt like he only peed on the potty once, and the rest was getting caught mid stream or wiped off of the floor.   It was mentally draining for me as well.  Not to sound gross, but staring at my son’s penis in anticipation of a pee, and constantly listening for him to pass gas was not my idea of fun.  Housework, blog work, all were on hold while I catered to his needs.  My poor baby was woken more than once while sleeping in my arms or nursing as I JUMPED to catch a pee or run the boy to the potty.

We really started making more progress when my husband would potty in front if him and when we started having him stand up to pee.  (I purchased a Flippee from Amazon to install on our toilet to make this less messy) I also started the “let’s pee on a cheerio” game which worked to get him excited to pee, rather than want to avoid it.  He liked the sound of peeing in water and liked to see the bubbles being made.  Peeing standing is so much more fun than sitting, plus he can really see what is going on!

On Day 8 we had 3 floor accidents, but we also finally started to have un prompted potty visits.  He just started going!  He didn’t tell me, but I would follow him and he would stand and pee or put the seat on the toilet himself, and go.

On Day 9 he went unprompted every visit except one.  We even went out in trainers and he returned dry, and he went potty a few minutes after we got home, unprompted as well.  Apparently he did have one accident when Daddy got home but I am still calling him potty trained!

Now that the day he is 98% done with diapers (we are still unsure of his ability to go while out in public since he doesn’t ask to go, he just goes at home.  Not possible at Target) and wakes up dry most days from naps and night time, I am is disbelief.  On one hand I an thrilled, utterly thrilled, that it worked.  I am actually very proud of myself for sticking to my plan despite the hardship of it.  I wanted to give up many times.  It would have been easier to just put him back in a diaper and get my life back.  Instead we locked ourselves inside and did it.

I am also tremendously proud of Fletcher.  Once it clicked, it stayed.  And he has been going potty ever since.

27 months is a little early for boys to potty train, though I certainly know of boys who have done so sooner.  I am still very happy to be done with the diaper phase for Fletcher.  I am only sad that he is growing up so fast.  He eats with real utensils, on real plates, drinks from real cups, and uses the potty.  He is a little person!

At least he still needs his mommy for lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles…for now!

I am getting serious about potty learning now.  I started ECing (elimination communication- practicing infant “potty training” by reading a baby’s cues and catching eliminations) my son when he was 6 months old on a part time basis.  In the beginning we were excited about it and sometimes went a whole day with no wet diapers.  But I got busier in life and my son got busier and would rather play than sit on the potty and hang out with me.  We still did it, sometimes 1-3 times a day, and sometimes we would go days or weeks between using a potty.  To me, EC wasn’t an all or nothing thing.  The reason I wanted to EC was to save myself a few diapers of washing and to introduce my son to the potty at a young age to avoid that fear some children have.

At 18 months old my son is definitely not afraid to use the potty.  He has still not shown any signs before he needs to go.  He doesn’t tell me or sign, or go to the potty beforehand.  I am still reading his cues and going by patterns.

He pees after he wakes for the day and after naps.  He pees before his bath.  He poops after breakfast and dinner (usually).  I put him on the potty those times when I can.  I can tell he needs to poop when he passes gas.  If I wait for the “poop face” or grunting it is too late…. the deed is halfway or totally done.

My son practicing being diaper free. You may be able to see the pee in the potty.

Some people might think I am trying too early.  I see it as making him more aware of his bodily functions.  Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) my son cares nothing about being wet or sitting in poop.  He would wear the same diaper all day with no complaints.  This makes it harder.  If he was bothered by those things I would assume he would be more interested in using the potty.

To me it is worth the extra effort.  The age for potty training is getting older and older.  I want my son to be on the younger end.  This means less laundry for me.  My son benefits by not having to wear diapers anymore.  He could also play in the Ikea playroom!

Even as I write this I wonder if I am crazy.  Running my son to the potty every time he passes gas…. but it is working for our family.  Even if it takes months of this before he begins telling me he needs to potty, I will still do it.  Plus, not having to spray a poopy diaper is a benefit I can live with.

Tomorrow I will be posting a list of cloth trainers, similar to my swim diaper post, so stay tuned!

I fought the Baby Legs craze hard when I first had my son.  I saw many pictures of how adorable they were on little girls, and even a few boys, but in my mind I couldn’t see a boy in them.  I wanted to love them because they would make diaper changes so much easier.  It wasn’t until a friend told me about a fabulous sale that I gave in.  “Oh, they will just be for around the house.” I assured myself, and my husband.

Since then things have changed drastically!  My Baby Legs are more than for knocking around the house, though they are good for that too.  I like to use them when we go out just because they are cute.  When we fly, I pair Baby Legs and a onesie or t shirt for quick diaper changes on the plane.  We especially love Baby Legs for EC’ing!  It makes access to his diaper or training pants, like his ECA Wear trainers, easy.  They keep his legs warm too!

One thing I wished of Baby Legs was that they have tights (more for girls but if my son wouldn’t look girly in them we would use them in a heartbeat) or matching socks for their legs.

Luckily, now they have both!  Baby Legs has introduced a new line of coordinating socks (2 pair in a pack) that match their Baby Legs.  They have fun patterns that you can mix and match, like argyle, stripes, and polka dots in coordinating color schemes.  Fletcher is modeling argyle socks with striped Baby Legs.  His little legs would get cold while he potties without them!  The socks are aize 12 months, but my son is 10.5 and fits them perfectly.  He also has “chunky” feet.

Another thing I love about Baby Legs is that the back of their package actually says “Makes diaper changing, potty training, and EC’n a breeze.” Plus. there is a Dad using what I assume is an Ergo on the back too.  Granted, he looks a little strange wearing rainbow Baby Legs on his arms but I forgive him because he is wearing his baby girl.

If you are excited to pick up a pair of Baby Legs you should take advantage of this deal.  Use code “Punkin” when you buy one pair of seasonal Baby Legs, and get another pair free!  This is good Oct 8-21.  What a great way to stock up for your little one, or to buy a few gifts!  We just bought 2 pair for a friend’s daughter who just turned one and they love them!

Giveaway Closed.

I was sent a pair of teeny tiny training pants by ECA Wear from EC Wear, a website where you can find products for ECing and resources to help you get started.

The ECA Pants I was sent are first off, the cutest tiniest things you have ever seen.  It is so strange to see a baby without a huge fluffy butt.  ECA Pants are thin enough that they don’t look like diapers, but they have enough absorbency to hold in one pee, just in case we have a miss!  You can get them in snaps or velcro, and waterproof or not.  Waterproof ECA Pants would be great for the baby who is excellent at ECing and who can use a public toilet.  For us, the non waterproof were perfect.  They allowed me to keep checking to make sure we hadn’t missed a pee, and in the one case where we did miss (I had the bath running but hadn’t put him on the potty yet in case he had to go, which he did.  Water works!) the ECA Pants held in the pee without leaking down the legs.  I could tell immediately that he was peeing and started making our cue “pssst.”  Even though we missed, I still want him to associate the “psst” sound with going, in a diaper or on the potty.

What I have to convey to you is how easy these make ECing.  Because they have an elastic band in the front, when you undo the front of the pants, just like you would a side snapping diaper, the pants stay on.  Essentially, you just remove the front so that they can go, and push it to the back.  When your child is done, just flip the front back up and resnap.  I can even resnap him as he crawl away!  Something that does not work with a diaper since it isn’t attached to him.

If you are an ECing parent, these aren’t a must have, but they do make your life so much easier!  Sometimes I find myself being lazy about EC (especially for a few weeks where we took a “break” with life being so hectic) and when I think about having to take off pants, undo diaper, potty, then chase the baby while I try to put a diaper and pants back on, I get exhausted by the thought.  Having an easy way to EC can certainly keep me focused on my son and his needs, even when the day is jam packed.

About EC Wear:

EC Wear LLC, based in New York City, is owned and operated by Marija, a work-at-home-mom (WAHM).  Marija and her husband Chuck have been practicing Elimiination Communication with their son since his birth.  Initially, their interest came out of concern for the environment and dislike of disposable diapers.  Eventually, they realized the best benefit of EC was for their son’s health. At EC Wear you will find clothes in sizes newborn to 24 months that are made in USA, Canada, Europe, or Australia, fair trade, or made by women in their homes or in workers’ cooperatives. It is our priority to disclose the origins of every item we sell. Of course, nearly all of the clothing is suitable for any parents who are looking for convenience in clothing and diaper changes, whether practicing EC or not.

About the Author: Christine Gross-Loh is a freelance writer with a PhD from Harvard University. Her writing has appeared in Mothering, Shape, and Parenting. She is very involved in DiaperFreeBabyTM, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 to promote awareness of EC. She has appeared on The Early Show and Paula Zahn Now, among others. Gross-Loh lives in Tokyo, Japan, with her husband and children.

Many times parents who are interested in being in tune with their child are also committed to living a life that is gentle on the earth, so many of these groups of people overlap. A lot of times you’ll find parents who are initially interested in cloth diapering and then discover that it is perfectly compatible with EC.

Read my review of The Diaper Free Baby here or find my other posts about EC here.

This is part one of a two part post.  Tomorrow stay tuned for a Q&A with Christine Gross-Loh about her book.

My journey to Elimination Communication has only just begun, and since I came to it knowing little, to nothing about how EC works,  I decided internet research alone could only go so far.  The internet did lead me to an excellent book to read which has helped my journey tremendously.  The Diaper-Free Baby: The Natural Toilet Training Alternative, authored by Christine Gross-Loh, is an invaluable tool to anyone hoping to practice EC.  The most important thing that the book hopes to get across is this: EC is not an all or nothing endeavor.  When my friends find out about my son using a potty at 6 months old, I can only imagine what images run through their minds.  Do they picture me holding him captive on a potty while he screams and squirms to be released from my icy grasp?  Or, do they imagine my son naked, spraying his urine wildly in the air like a fire house, with no control over his bodily functions?  Maybe they think I am constantly scrubbing my carpet?  I honestly don’t know what they think, nor do I care.  I only wish they would all read this book!  Christine breaks EC into categories, or tracks, based upon the time and effort you wish to put into it.  You can practice EC on a full time basis.  A full time ECer would aim to catch (a term ECers use when referring to their child peeing on a potty, or into a diaper) virtually all of their child’s eliminations.  A part-time ECer wants to practice when they can, but probably won’t let their child be completely diaper free.  They would also probably not practice EC out of the home.  They may also only catch bowel movements, which for most children are the easiest to predict.  An occasional ECer may only catch 1 pee or poop a day, if that.  They may be working parents who have only evenings and weekends to attempt.  Or, they might just offer a potty break during prime times like in the morning or at a diaper change.  Between the three tracks there is tons of wiggle room.  That is what I love about EC!  My first day I caught 7 pees!  I was extremely intent on my new hobby.  But, life gets hectic.  If I am running errands I fall back to diapers and only attempt potty time 1-3 times that day.

My son practicing being diaper free. You may be able to see the pee in the potty.

The book is laid out based on these tracks, and also the time at which you have decided to start trying EC with your child.  I found it extremely helpful that the book was organized as a reference tool.  If you didn’t start until your child was in middle infancy, you could turn to that section.  She went over the basics all over again, briefly, and then offered suggestions on the best ways to begin EC with a baby at that age.  And, if you started from birth, you could skip to how to practice at that moment, without reading the introductions.  I had no idea there were so many ways to practice EC.  If you began from birth, she discussed the different holds you could use to position a newborn over a toilet or sink.  As the baby ages and potties can be used, there are tricks on how to make potty time fun.  All of these things will help in my journey.

When I had just barely read the introduction, I started my first “half” day of EC.  I had just gone to Babies R Us and purchased my little potty, and was ecstatic to begin using it.  I knew that day my son needed to have a BM.  I had him sitting on his potty, but he wanted to stand.  He kept his legs straight, and his knees locked.  This is not conducive to being a boy, and peeing.  When he did pee, he peed on me.  This, my friends, is what you call a “miss”.  Except, instead of not knowing he had to go, and letting it happen in a diaper or on the floor, it happened on me.  While I focused on the fact that he must have some more pee coming… he was focused on something else.  He secretly, and very quietly, with no facial expressions or grunts, crapped on the front of the potty, and on the floor.  I had no clue until I felt the crap- with my foot.

A few nights later I finally got the time to read more of my book.  I was feeling pretty bad about my only experience with EC.  My hopes were high that The Diaper Free Baby could give me some miracle answer to save my EC attempts in the future.  I wouldn’t call it a magic answer, but I did learn things that saved our EC journey, and put it back on track.  First, it suggested to try offering the potty at certain times of the day, when babies are most likely to pee.  Of course!  I offered the potty to my son the morning after I read this.  He peed!  Oh how exciting, I cannot even express how cool that was!  I continued offering him the potty after he awoke from naps, and after nursing.  By just offering at those times I caught 7 pees.  I missed about 4 in diapers which were placed on him, or under him.  The next tip: use “cues” to help baby understand when to potty.  Basically, every time your baby pees, even if it is in a diaper, you should make a “psst” noise, or say pee.  And for poops, a grunting noise, or say poop, or whatever you want.  Eventually, your baby will associate the noise to the action, and can then be “cued” to do it by the noise!  If you think that is crazy, it isn’t.  My son has a pavlovian response to the click of my nursing bra.  His mouth opens, and he gets into position!  Maybe I am imagining things, but after a few pees with the “psst” noise, I noticed he began contracting his stomach muscles and forced himself to pee when I cued him on the potty.  It wasn’t always like that, but it happens sometimes.

The book also lays out some essential tools you will need for practicing EC, and some not so essential, but helpful, items.  I remember my uncle telling me how odd it was to see babies and toddlers walking around China wearing crotchless pants.  Of course now I realize these babies were ECing, and the parents decided to make life easier by letting them be diaper free, but decided to keep their legs warm!  I already owned Baby Legs, which make diaper changing easy; they also make diaper free time easy as well!  Potties are mentioned as well.  I purchased the Baby Bjorn Little Potty.  She even gives a mini introduction to cloth diapers, and outlines the types and functions of the diapers available.

7-08-09 My son finally sat on the potty to pee!!!

To anyone even slightly curious about Elimination Communication, go to your library and check out The Diaper Free Baby.  Or, purchase your own copy.  It is an invaluable resource for someone starting EC, and a good read for anyone just curious!  By reading the book, you aren’t guaranteed success, and it won’t impart to you the perfect way to EC.  Every child is different, and so far I have been very lucky.  We may hit a potty pause, which is also addressed in the book.  For now, I am enjoying keeping my son comfortable and dry, and saving myself some diaper laundry.  The book also notes that just because you EC, if doesn’t guarantee that your child will be potty TRAINED at an earlier age than other children.  Your chances of that are very high, but not guaranteed.  So, if you are intrigued, please give EC a chance in your home.  Just try putting your child over your own toilet once, just once, first thing in the morning.  You may catch a pee, and be hooked!

*** I really debated about whether or not I should show this video I took of my son peeing on the potty.  I may take it down quickly, but I wanted to show what EC looks like.  A word or warning, there is full frontal baby nudity.  Obviously this is not a sexual thing, but if you are offended by a baby penis then don’t click on the video.  Also, I want to add that since taking this video he has learned to sit on the potty to pee.***

If you want to purchase a copy you can find it on amazon.com

hanging out by the potty

Mom, I just peed in the potty!

Bonus WW.

My son with his future wife. Awwww…

More Wordless Wednesday fun here

Yes, my husband wasted 4.5 ounces of my milk.  *cries*

BONUS WW.

Practicing being Diaper Free.  Notice… he has scooted mostly off of his “diaper.”

He woke up at 8:30.  I heard the rustling, so I ran into his room and promptly undressed him.  He was airlifted to the little potty, which I had set up this morning.  A Sham Wow had been placed underneath, just in case.

I sat him on his potty.  He was more willing to “sit” but still tried to squirm, letting me know he was not 100% about the cold potty he was on, or his sitting.  But, within seconds he started to tinkle!  He was very close to the edge so some hit the pee guard was went over.  Still, he peed on, and *mostly* in the potty!  And a few minutes later he nursed, and right after I put him on the potty again.  This time, he made some gas so I was expecting a poo.  But instead he peed.  Which again, mostly when in the potty since he was in a semi standing position.

I am not worried about it not going all in!  I am just excited that I have been able to time our potty time correctly, twice.  One thing about EC is that it can get very discouraging after missing many times.  For now, I plan in leaving him diaperless for times right after he pees in the potty.  When he is at home, I will keep him in coverless diapers the other times.  This way if I miss one, I am able to tell right away and still mentally log what he was doing when it happened.  And what time it was.  Did he just eat?  How long since he was breastfed?  Etc.

I have saved 2 diapers already today!  What is better than cloth diapers for my baby and the environment………. NO DIAPERS!!!!