I tried EC for one week, and I’m never going back. Elimination communication allows your baby to relieve themselves outside their diapers and for you to be in tune with their bathroom needs just as you do with knowing when they are hungry.
This can lead to caregivers becoming more in tune with the baby, giving the baby the option of hygiene, cutting down on waste/laundry, and assisting in earlier toilet training. In many countries today, EC is the standard instead of disposable diapers, just without the fancy name.
Do you use the restroom when you wake up or leave to go somewhere? Well, so does baby, and this is the concept of the four easy catches. If it all sounds complicated, just using time and transition to your advantage is a great place to start. The “four easy catches” are offering the baby the potty upon waking up, at diaper changes, signs of effort, and during the transition (getting in and out of something such as the car seat or baby carrier).
For Mothers (or other caregivers) familiar with EC but have yet to try it because it sounds too daunting, I encourage you to try it!
Before my daughter was born, I knew I wanted to use cloth diapers and implement EC. But I wanted to do these things as they came organically and not force myself if it brought more stress than benefit. By three weeks, I was using cloth diapers, and by 6 1/2 weeks, I began EC with her.
In the first week, my baby had only a few poopy diapers. She usually lets me know when she needs to go. Sometimes, I miss it, and sometimes, I put her on the potty, and nothing happens. It is important to remember why you started and not focus on the misses.
While this article wasn’t meant to be a complete study on the subject, I did want to introduce others to the practice or share my positive experience with those aware of EC.
Many resources online cover the subject in depth, I encourage mothers to read around if this is new to you.
I just wanted to share that it works! I took it slow and still utilize diapers, but I am super happy I began to try and implement EC.
