Beginning EC with an older baby or toddler

Baby Awearness EC Support Group - every 4th Sunday of the month
Next session: August 22 at 10:30 a.m. led by Holli Shiro

If your baby is past the ideal window (first 6 months) for starting EC, don’t despair! You can start with older babies and toddlers too. Here are the basic steps to starting:

1. Older babies may have become so accustomed to using diapers that they have lost awareness of their elimination functions. Providing diaper-free time each day (for at least 20 minutes - as long as you want) can help them re-gain this awareness. If you don’t want to go completely diaper free, a cloth training pant or coverless fitted diaper will work too. This will help your child experience wetness or actually see what their body is doing when they eliminate. Diaper-free time allows you to observe your child’s elimination patterns and signals, which will help you know when to offer the potty later on.
   
2. When you notice your child eliminating, acknowledge it out loud. You can say, “look, you’re going shi shi” and you can even sign “toilet”. If the potty is close by, you can attempt to catch it, but don’t worry if you don’t, because this stage is about helping your baby learn what their body is doing.
   
3. Once you feel that you have a good grasp on your baby’s patterns and your child has become aware of when they are eliminating, try introducing the potty. It can be helpful to have multiple potties in the house or child-size toilet inserts in the big toilet. Some children do better if you can bring the potty to them. Not every baby will use the potty willingly at first. If your baby doesn’t, be creative! Try other containers or bottles or going outside or just waiting a little longer before introducing the potty.

Remember, EC does not rely on bribes, rewards or punishment. Instead, elimination is treated very matter-of-fact, like sleeping and eating, and is about helping your baby retain (or re-learn) awareness of their elimination. If it gets too stressful for you or your baby, scale back your efforts to a previous step until you’re ready to move forward again.

~ Holli Shiro

Also, don't forget to come to our EC group on Sunday, August 22 at 10:30 am.

Elimination Communication (EC) Support Group

EC Support Group at Baby aWEARness
Sunday, June 27 at 11:00 a.m.
FREE

We talk about diapers in every shape, size, and form every day, every hour but what happens when baby is ready to move up to the next step in life?

Find out how you can make potty training easier for you and your little one at our EC support group led by our veteran mom and team member, Holli Shiro. Some of you may remember that we held our first meeting way back in February, and we are hoping to make this a monthly discussion forum for all parents. Join us this Sunday to learn as well as share what you may already know.

We can help you make this often seemingly formidable task less stressful by presenting tips and suggestions as well as introduce you to eco-friendly options for potty training.

Oh, our babies grow up so fast, don't they?

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.

New Classes and Events at Baby aWEARness

Hi Everyone, Hope this email finds you all doing well, relaxing into our fall rainy season. As usual, I can't say enough about how busy and blessed we are over here. Mom & Baby Yoga starts on the 31st. There are only a few spaces left, so call in and reserve your spot! Are you interested in potty training your infant? Has the potty training process got you feeling a bit frustrated?? I'm thinking about starting an Elimination Communication Workshop and Support Group. Please email me if you are interested in the topic or have practiced elimination communication yourself! I know I own a diaper store, but a diaper-free world seems like an amazing place to be! Also, I would love to have more moms attending our breastfeeding support groups! Breastfeeding can be a lonely and stressful process if you don't have proper support. This is only amplified if you are a working mom, struggling to attain a proper work/life balance, complete with all day pumping regimes. If you've got a good system going, come in and share! There are moms just waiting for your advice. Join us the first Monday or the 3rd Saturday of every month at 10:15am. For all you Allens Detergent lovers, I finally ordered some, so come on in! ALLENS NATURALLY was developed over 19 years ago in cooperation with a Store Front Cooperative by the name of Stone Soup (which has since closed) whose members wanted home care products free of dyes and perfumes. Many of the members were involved in the Feingold diet. Dr. Feingold's theory was that children were hyperkinetic because of dyes in food. It was the belief of the co-op members that the dyes in national brands might leave a residue that could possibly migrate through the skin into the body. Other members of the Cooperative experienced MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) and felt perfumes to be a major culprit. As a result, ALLENS NATURALLY developed a complete line of home care products free of perfume and dyes. Read on for more class details. We look forward to seeing you all in store soon! Cheers, Ashley and Nicky

Healthy Cooking for Thanksgiving With Heidi Rupke Saturday, November 14th, 4:30pm Cost: $20 Does your sweet potato casserole with mini-marshmallows need a make-over? Are you hoping to bring something fabulous to your family's Thanksgiving table but aren't sure what? Would you like to make three dishes that are simple, healthful, and speedy? If so, join home cook Heidi Rupke for a hands-on course that will inspire your culinary ventures and leave your taste buds tingling. We will be making and sampling: Sweet Potato Salad, Green Bean Almondine, and Fennel-Orange Salad. Saturday, November 14, 4:30-6:00 p.m. at Baby AWEARness.

Baby Boot Camp - Pre-Natal Fitness Class
Moving to Wednesdays @ 5pm, starting November 4th

Come Join us for some Pre-natal Fitness & Fun! Keiki Welcome!

Specifically developed for pregnant women, Prenatal Baby Boot Camp combines a balanced variety of modified strength-training exercises and stretches to prepare pregnant women for delivery and the demands of motherhood. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, and BBC programming is fully compliant with the latest American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines.

Ashley and Nicky

Wool Covers are Back!

Come check out our new wool diaper covers, a premium diaper cover that allows maximum air circulation while still offering the best protection against leaks. This high quality cover allows you to take advantage of the benefits of wool, without giving up the benefits of a wrap cover. The soft loop closure makes diaper changes simple and eliminates the use of pins. This cover also has snaps for added security in sizes Medium, Large, XL, and SL. Made of Merino wool.

Holiday Photos by Diana Lorge

Interested in giving the best present a grandparent could ever ask for?? Give the gift of a wonderful family photo this holiday by signing up for a holiday sitting with Diana Lorge.

$120 sitting fee (outdoor or indoor)
30 min. session
Up to 100 images
All images uploaded to a private album for viewing/ordering
5x7 to 30x40 print sizes available (canvas and premium quality papers)

Session includes group and individual poses as time permits!

Please feel free to contact Diana via e-mail at: info@dianalorge.com if you have any questions!