I found out about Elimination Communication (EC) while looking for a Parenting Book when I was pregnant. I bought two books on the subject and read them; I thought it was the greatest idea! It was good for parent / infant bonding, better for the environment and promotes a more natural lifestyle. When I first decided to use Elimination Communication with my son, I told my husband. He was very supportive and was eager to practice EC as well. When I mentioned this to others, I think most of them thought (or still think), that I was nuts! For a long time, I didn't tell anyone else, just did my own thing. Then, after having e-mail discussions with the author of one of the books I had read, I found out there are groups available for support. I found DiaperFreeBaby.org, and joined. Then, I found out that they have a group that was based out of Ann Arbor, which was close to my home. I was very happy. You could read about others' experiences and ask questions, or just vent when things went wrong. I became a contact for Michigan through this group. It has been very nice to have like-minded mothers to communicate with.
When I delivered Aiden, I ended up having a C-section (after trying really hard to have a natural birth). Because of that, and being up every 2-4 hours to feed my new baby, I did not start practicing EC until my son was three months old. When we first began using EC, we would hold our son over the toilet or sink in the squat position (with his back on my belly). We turned water on or made the sss sound. When he peed, I said "PEE PEE!" and gave him lots of praise. At first, it was a little challenging, he peed a lot after removing him from the potty. I continued to reinforce the wording (even if it was not in the optional receptacle). But, after a short time, he consistently peed over the potty held in the squat position. Also, he would signal that he had to go. After a while, I was not as comfortable standing or squatting while holding him; he was getting bigger and bigger. When he was four months old, we decided to buy a little potty for him. After some research, we decided to get the Baby Bjorn Little Potty (BBLP). This was because his legs were too short to fit on most potties. The knees are supposed to be bent and not sticking straight out, for normal circulation. The BBLP worked out great, we sat it on our bathroom counter and he could look at himself in the mirror. He was very comfortable and liked to play while sitting on the little potty. However, sometimes his play interfered with the business at hand!
When Aiden learned to stand up, we learned that he had outgrown the little potty. Each time we placed him on the little potty, he would stiffen up his whole body and try standing on the bathroom counter. That weekend, we went shopping for a toilet seat insert. After an exhausting search, we decided on the Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer. This adjustable seat seemed to fit the best on all toilets, and does not slip at all. We also thought this might work out better because we would not have to empty out the container. It did! Aiden really liked it, and he seemed to enjoy growing up and advancing up to the big boy potty. We took the Little Potty and the Toilet Trainer on vacation with us. When we stopped at rest areas and Aiden had to pee, I took in the Toilet Trainer and put it over the public toilet (which is also much more sanitary). One time, we were stuck in a major traffic jam, dead stopped for over 20 minutes. Aiden really had to go. Thankfully I brought the Little Potty. Even though he had outgrown it, he was able to use this to pee while we waited in the car. We are still using the Toilet Trainer at home, and are quite happy with this choice.
When we are at other people's homes, or out in public, it is no problem to remove his clothing and hold him over the toilet in the squat position if we don't have the toilet trainer. But it is easier and more comfortable for him to sit on the toilet with his own seat. The one problem that I have is when we are in the car and I know he has to pee but I cannot stop in time. I tell him I know he has to go, but we can't stop right away. I also tell him it is okay to go in his diaper this time, if he can't wait. The plus side is even if you can't respond to EC at all times, your baby will not forget to use EC.
