Human babies are born with an instinct to stay clean and with an awareness of elimination.
common in many modern societies for toilet training to begin during toddlerhood, and many families do find that conventional methods work for them. Other families, however, find that these same methods lead to difficulties: painful diaper rash, stressful power struggles, protracted periods of incontinence or potty refusal, and long-term use of diapers and other resources. Tere is an alternative.
If we tune in to our little ones and listen to what they are trying to commu- nicate to us, the journey with our children past this important milestone can be a joyful, even mind- opening one. Tis journey can begin at any time, as early as an infant’s very first day of life. Human babies are born
with an instinct to stay clean and with an aware- ness of elimination, which they display through body language and other nonverbal ways of com- municating. But if babies are always kept in diapers, they may eventually lose that awareness as they become used to eliminat- ing exclusively in diapers. When infants are constantly in-arms or near a loving parent or caregiver, however, we can learn how to tune in to their needs in the same way we learn to recognize that they are hungry or tired, and can gently and lovingly assist even tiny infants to eliminate in a container, potty, or toilet. Elimination communication (EC), perhaps the best-
Tuning in to your baby is a key
part of successful Elimination
Communication.
known method of gentle infant pottying, is still widely practiced in societies where responsive parenting prac- tices are common and disposable diapers are scarce. EC is now making a comeback in our society as well, as parents figure out how to adapt this time-honored practice to modern lifestyles. Gentle EC principles can be also used successfully with older infants or toddlers. By being open to windows of opportunity to apply EC principles with older babies and toddlers, parents can help their children not to become attached to eliminat- ing in their diapers. When parents or caregivers help
72 mothering | May–June 2010
young infants and toddlers to eliminate outside of diapers even just part of the time, this becomes such an accepted part of those children’s lives that the transi- tion to complete toilet independence is oſten smooth. And because EC is, first and foremost, about mutual communication, it provides parents with another way to understand and lovingly respond to their young children. Not only does EC hone
communication between parent and child, but many parents find it appealing because it is eco-friendly. Whether you use cloth or disposable diapers, when practicing EC you’re likely to use fewer natural resources overall: you’ll probably use fewer diapers each day than if conven- tionally diapering; and, earlier than otherwise, you may be more likely to entirely stop using any sort of diaper. Cloth diapers and EC are a winning combina- tion—I recommend at least partial use of thin cloth diapers or training pants (rather than disposable dia- pers), because cloth helps your child remain aware
of the sensations of elimination. If you’re new to cloth diapering, you may find that practicing EC makes cloth seem more feasible, as there are fewer diapers to wash.
There are many ways to practice EC. Some people
keep their babies in some sort of diaper all the time and potty only occasionally, others might just catch bowel movements and diaper their babies the rest of the time, while still other families might go without diapers altogether. Tere is no single right way to do this, so it’s important to follow your instincts and find a path that feels right for your family. I’m now embarking on this remarkable journey for the fourth time, with my fourth child, Anna, and I couldn’t imagine not doing EC. I love how it has encouraged me to really get to know my new baby and her individual personality, rhythms, and subtle ways of communicating, and I cherish the way she looks at me with trust and love when I care for her in this way.
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