Elimination Communication/Infant Potty Training

Elimination Communication (EC)
a.k.a. Infant Potty Training, Natural Infant Hygiene

Interested: Join us for a FREE workshop this Sunday, February 21 at 1pm

What is EC?
EC is communicating with your baby about their elimination needs, just as you communicate with your baby about other needs such as hunger or sleep. Babies are born with the instinct not to soil themselves and parents can assist them with elimination by learning their cues and baby’s natural rhythms. EC is gentle, non-coercive communication and does not rely on rewards/punishment. While early potty training is not the goal of EC, it often results in children being potty trained at a younger age or at least without the struggles some parents have when they need to “untrain” their older child from diapers. Ideally, EC is started early in infancy before baby becomes mobile. EC can be practiced on a full-time, part-time or occasional basis.

Hawaii is an ideal place to practice EC. Baby can stay comfortably warm wearing just a diaper, underwear or nothing at all. This makes it easier to quickly potty your baby or observe their cues and elimination patterns. Many houses have hardwood, bamboo or tile floors making it easy to handle “misses.”

Benefits of EC
• Babies fuss and cry less when their elimination needs are addressed. The need to pee, poop, or relieve gas can cause fussiness or colicky behavior in some babies. EC can provide instant relief!
• No diaper rash from sitting in a soiled or wet diaper.
• Great way for parents and caregivers to bond with baby (especially dads).
• Parents are in tune with baby’s rhythms and can identify digestive or urinary problems early.
• Saves money! Less diapers to buy and/or wash.
• Less disposable diapers end up in a landfill.
• Human waste goes into the toilet where it can be safely processed.
• Reduces struggles associated with conventional potty training.
• Respectful of baby’s needs and developmental stages.

Helpful Tools for EC
• Infant size potty, potty bowl or other vessel for elimination.
• Cloth diapers make it easier to practice EC, but disposables can work. Some parents use training pants or infant sized underwear.
• Baby sling – wearing your baby makes it easier to pick up on their elimination cues.
• Cleaning solution and wipes for misses.
• Baby leg warmers, crotch-less pants or other clothing that makes pottying easier.