Elimination Communication(EC) is something I've been reading and thinking about since Hattie was born, but hadn't had the time or confidence to try. The theory is that babies, like puppies, do not want to soil the place they sleep and will signal that they need to pee or poop, the same way they signal that they have other needs. But since we put them into diapers we don't have to learn those signals, and eventually we train them to ignore the discomfort of hanging out in wet pants all day. Then we ask them to start noticing again right when they are busy learning about independence and the NO! word-age 2.
So with EC you read your baby's signals and provide opportunities for them to use a potty chair or toilet. For about a week I've been trying to giving Hattie potty breaks when she wakes up from a nap and it has been quite successful. Keep in mind that I often nap with Hattie, so over half the time I wake up and say "I should take you to the potty....right after this snuggle...oh wait, you just pooped. Lets snuggle more!" Clearly, this is me being trained to offer at the right times, not her being trained. But how is that different than being trained to ask your three year old "Do you have to pee now?" every time you see them wiggle or dance around?
Its actually really fun when it is successful. And so much less messy. I just flush the mess away, use one wipe to clean her up and away we go. If it continues to go well, I'm going to try to figure out her peeing cues, although I think that will be harder. Even if I don't get good enough to catch everything, I think this has to be helping her make some connections about what is happening in her body, and I think that is a good thing.
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