Elimination Communication

This last week I have begun Elimination Communication (EC or Infant Potty Training) with Princess. I am not obsessed about it, I just give her a pottytunity each time I change her cloth diaper. I try to always change her in the bathroom so that I am close to the sink/toilet/bathtub (someplace I can wash away any remains quickly and easily) So far I have been using the sink. I take off her diaper and hold her over the sink making a "ssss" sound. I usually hold her there for about 1 minute. If she needs to go she does and then I can wash away the elimination (and disinfect the sink). So far I am catching about 2-3 pees per day and 1-2 poops. I am also starting to notice her cues more which is really cool. She makes a really funny grunting sound when she needs to poop. Coach tried it last night and was so excited when his little girl urinated on the "sssss" cue.

Now some of you may think this is awfully strange, but in Mongolia where Coach and I served in the Peace Corps there were no disposable diapers or cloth diapers. People used Elimination Communication and split pants. At first I thought this really strange. I asked one Mongolian Mother how she knew when her baby needed to go. She said to me "The same way I know when he is hungry, or thirsty, hot, cold, or tired. I listen to his cues." So when I found out that a few of my friends in America were actively encorporating Elimination Communication in the USA it seemed to make sense to me. The book "Infant Potty Training" by Laura Boucke was very helpful in preparing me to use it with my daughter. EC is used through-out the world: China, India, and most of Africa are just a few of the other places where this method is used.

There are actually 3 or 4 other mothers in my Le Leche League group that practice Elimination Communication with their children as well as my niece who lives in New Mexico. I love it because it makes it so my baby doesn't have to get feces all over her. It protects her skin and the better we get at it will help with saving water and less cloth diapers to wash. For those who would be using disposable diapers, it helps protect the enviornment by using less diapers. Everyone has to do what works for them, but I am excited about listening to my daughters cues in yet another way.