Elimination Communication (EC) is an intuitive approach to helping your baby communicate their potty needs. If you’re curious about this practice that involves tuning in to your baby’s natural cues and signals for needing to go potty, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re a soon-to-be parent, a new parent, or just someone interested in alternative parenting approaches, we’re here to guide you through the ins and outs of elimination communication.
What is Elimination Communication?
Elimination communication (EC), or infant potty training, is based on the idea that your baby naturally signals that they need to go to the bathroom from very early on. Instead of relying solely on diapers, EC means tuning into your baby’s cues and rhythms to help them eliminate in a potty or a toilet.
Some parents choose to forgo diapers altogether—which means running their baby to the potty a lot—while others use diapers on and off. The best approach to EC is one that fits your family’s lifestyle (if going strictly diaper-free is too disruptive to your schedule, you may want to use diapers when you’re out and about, for example).
Are Elimination Communication and Potty Training the Same?
No, EC and potty training aren’t quite the same, though they share some similarities. EC focuses on building a communicative relationship with your baby around their elimination needs from a very early age. With EC, you’re placing your baby on a potty when you think or notice they’re about to go. This method relies on your observation and intuition rather than the baby’s conscious understanding of the urge to eliminate.
Early baby potty training, on the other hand, teaches toddlers the skill of bowel and bladder management, which typically starts to develop around 18 to 24 months. It focuses more on teaching your child to use the toilet independently and involves more structured guidance and reinforcement.
The History of Elimination Communication
For American parents, EC might sound like a radical new parenting trend, but it’s actually been around for centuries. Before the invention of disposable diapers, and even cloth diapers, parents across all cultures used similar methods to manage their babies’ potty needs.
In many places, it’s still the norm. Parents in Kenya, Vietnam, and China use EC techniques in the first few weeks of life as a standard practice. Something else these cultures have in common? Most toddlers are potty trained at 18 months. (Insert “Mind-Blown” emoji.)
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), most parents in the US begin potty training their toddler between 2 and 3. But that wasn’t always the case—before 1980, American parents began potty training between 12 and 18 months. So why have American parents started to rely on diapers for longer? It’s likely a combination of two factors: Pediatricians and babycare experts shifting their views about toilet training and the invention of disposable diapers.
In the 1950s and 60s, noted pediatricians Benjamin Spock and Berry Brazelton began advocating for a more flexible, child-centered approach to potty training. They recommended delaying training until your child was physiologically ready and demonstrating willingness, usually sometime between 2 and 3.
Disposable diapers are certainly busy-parent-friendly, completely eliminating the need for laundering cloth diapers. They’re also super absorbent, keeping little tushes drier and reducing discomfort from sitting in a wet or soiled diaper. Is it any wonder that the average potty training age began to creep up?
Basic Principles of Elimination Communication
The core principles of Elimination Communication are simple and intuitive. Here are the basics:
- Observation: You’ll learn to recognize your baby’s signals they that need to go. These cues can be anything from a specific facial expression, a particular sound, or even a certain body gesture. Just like learning when your baby is hungry or tired, you’ll begin noticing their “potty signals.”
- Intuition: Sometimes, you’ll have a gut feeling that your baby needs to go. Trusting your parental instincts plays a big role in EC. You might not always get it right, but over time, you’ll better understand your baby’s rhythms and needs over time.
- Timing: Babies tend to have predictable patterns for when they need to eliminate, like after feeding, upon waking, or at regular intervals. By paying attention to these patterns, you can anticipate when they’ll need to go and get them to the potty in time.
- Communication: This is a two-way street. You’ll use verbal and non-verbal cues to signal your baby that it’s time to go. Many parents use a specific sound, like a gentle “psss” noise, to cue their baby. Your baby will eventually associate this sound with going to the bathroom.
When Should You Start Elimination Communication?
EC is most successful when you start between birth and four months. It gives you enough time to observe your baby and learn their cues without needing to unlearn going in their diaper.
How to Use Elimination Communication
It’s actually quite simple to get started with EC. The key is to trust your intuition and pay attention to your baby’s cues rather than sticking to a rigid set of rules. Here are a few initial steps to help you begin:
- Observe Your Baby: Spend a few days watching your baby and learning when they most likely need to go (logging can help). What are their patterns? Do they always go at the same time, like right after waking from a nap or following a feeding?
- Learn Their Signals: Does your baby scrunch up their face or look intently at you when they need to go? Do they wriggle, squat, or suddenly become still? Do they grunt or make another noise when they need to eliminate?
- Use the Potty: Once you spot your baby making a typical elimination cue, remove their pants and whisk them to the potty (either your bathroom toilet or training potty will work). With their back to you, hold them in a squatting position over the toilet.
- Pick Your Cue: While your baby is relieving themselves, make a noise (like “psss”) or choose a phrase (like “go potty”) they’ll learn to associate with eliminating.
- Repeat the Cue: Any time you see your baby signaling it’s time to go, repeat the cue. And repeat it again once they’re over the toilet or potty. Eventually, your little one will associate the cue with the reflex to pee or poop.
- Relax About Accidents: If you go on the EC journey, accept that it’s messy, and that accidents will happen. And when they do, stay calm and relaxed.
What About Overnight Elimination Communication?
We won’t sugarcoat it—practicing EC overnight is challenging. You can opt for diapers (cloth would be best), but if you’re fully committed, take a few steps to make it easier for yourself:
- Use easy-to-remove sleepwear, like a sleep sack or two-piece pajama set. Even zippered footies will take too long to remove, and don’t even consider anything with snaps.
- Do yourself a favor and keep a potty right next to your bed to minimize disruptions.
- Place your baby on the potty according to their typical schedule (after feedings, for example) and continue to use your cue.
Gear for Elimination Communication
You don’t need a lot of fancy gear to practice EC, but a few items of baby gear can make the process easier:
- Training potties. Portable potties are great for catching those quick eliminations and (we feel) are must-haves if you plan to use EC overnight.
- Cloth diapers: Using cloth diapers can make it easier to notice when your baby is wet, which helps with timing. Cloth diapers can also make independent potty training easier in the toddler stage.
- EC-friendly clothing: Have clothes that are easy to remove quickly, like pants with elastic waistbands or dresses, to make the process smoother.
- Waterproof pads: These can be handy for protecting your furniture or floors during diaper-free time. Your rugs must be protected!
Benefits of Elimination Communication
By understanding and practicing this intuitive approach to managing your baby’s elimination needs, you can foster a deeper bond, promote early potty awareness, and reduce reliance on diapers. These are some of the benefits of practicing EC with your little one.
Environmental Impact
One of the biggest perks of EC is its positive effect on the environment. Traditional disposable diapers can take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing significantly to landfill waste. By practicing EC, you’ll rely less on diapers, which means you’ll be reducing your family’s carbon footprint. Think about it: Fewer diapers in the trash means a cleaner planet for your little one to grow up in.
Health Benefits
Many parents find that EC helps keep their baby’s skin healthier. Diaper rash, a common issue, often results from prolonged exposure to wetness and irritants in diapers. Since EC means spending less time in diapers, your baby’s skin will get a chance to breathe.
Bonding
EC requires paying close attention to your baby’s cues and signals. This kind of deeply attentive parenting strengthens your bond and the emotional connection you share. It’s a two-way street—your baby learns to trust that you’ll respond to their needs, and you become more attuned to their unique ways of communicating.
Wallet Happy
Parenting reality check—diapers are expensive! Using fewer diapers by implementing EC saves you boo-koo bucks over time. Whether you use fewer disposables or rely more on cloth diapers, EC can make a noticeable difference in your budget.
Drawbacks of Using Elimination Communications
While EC offers many benefits, it’s also important to be aware of some potential drawbacks. Here are a few challenges you might encounter:
Time and Commitment
EC requires a significant amount of time and attention, especially in the early stages. You’ll need to closely observe your baby’s signals and be ready to respond quickly. And that can be demanding, especially if you have a busy schedule or multiple kiddos. It’s not always easy to find the time for consistent observation and potty trips amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Mess and Clean-Up
Let’s face it, EC can be messy. There will be misses and accidents along the way, which means more clean-up for you. If you’re not prepared for the occasional mess, it can feel frustrating and overwhelming. Keeping a positive attitude and having cleaning supplies handy can help manage the extra work.
Social and Public Settings
Practicing EC in public places can be challenging. Finding suitable spots for your baby to go potty when you’re out and about isn’t always easy, and you might feel self-conscious or receive curious looks from others. It requires a bit more planning and flexibility to make EC work outside the home.
Caregiver Coordination
If your baby is cared for by other family members, babysitters, or daycare providers, coordinating EC with them can be tricky. Not everyone may be familiar with or open to practicing EC, which can create inconsistencies and potential setbacks. Clear communication and providing guidance can help, but it might not always be feasible.
Initial Resistance
Some babies might resist EC at first, and it can take time for both you and your baby to get the hang of it. This initial reluctance can be discouraging, but it’s important to be patient and persistent. With time, most babies and parents find their rhythm.
Finding What’s Right for You
Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents and hope you feel empowered to find the right baby gear for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or [email protected].