https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 20:51:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-20544 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:36:01 +0000 Miss Adia 20544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a friend do this. It amazes me, but I was in no rush and worked full time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-20529 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:07:25 +0000 Maysprout 20529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the baby bjorn potty trainer, started last month and my LO just turned 6 months. It's great, I've been surprised at how well she knows to pee on the potty. We aren't trying to potty train her just get her familiar with the potty and what it's for. I often put her on the potty between diaper changes just to see if there's anything left before I put a fresh diaper on her, most of the time she pees. Keeps her cute bum dry longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-18357 Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:02:17 +0000 MH.Abroad 18357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We certainly plan to try it! I'm looking forward to it, it sounds great. Definitely better than poopy diapers for three years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-18341 Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:11:29 +0000 HelloNifty 18341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started EC when DS was 6mo. He was always regular—he'd wake up and poop first thing in the morning. I had read about EC while researching cloth diapers, but just wasn't sure it would work for us while I was working full time and DH was a SAHD. However, I bought the Diaper Free Baby book and we gave it a try part time. Eli would sit on the potty in the morning and then I'd take him a couple of times before I'd go to work, and then he'd have naked time when I got home. We learned his cues and eventually DH thought it was pretty neat. He started taking him to the potty while I was at work and cueing him.</p> <p>Once I decided to work for myself when DS was 9mo, we EC'd full time. Sure, we had some pee on the floor and plenty of misses (especially when teething ... anytime Eli was teething, we didn't bother with the potty). Now he's 20mo and tells us when he needs to go and is dry all night. He's been in undies since about 15mo.</p> <p>I was so doubtful about the process, but found it amazing to see the capacity for babies to learn routine. Just like how he picked up baby sign before he could talk, their eagerness to communicate is so much fun. </p> <p>When we decide to have #2, I'm curious about starting from birth. Well, maybe not the first couple weeks ... but earlier than 6 months. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-7947 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:51:34 +0000 mrsnarbonne 7947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@red - so great to hear! honestly, potty training was so easy because of EC, I think.</p> <p>@blushink - my doula did EC with her 3rd child - she had them all in pretty quick succession, so I can ask her how she did it with a newborn and two toddlers! But like @red said, it doesn't take any longer than a diaper change - if he peed, he peed, if not, he'd go back in the diaper - so it's probably just like balancing else with more than one child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-7720 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:08:17 +0000 Red 7720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Blushink, I see your point. I can totally imagine you with the baby on the potty while your toddler is causing havoc, lol......although it really didn't take much more time than a regular diaper change. Maybe try it in the evenings only when your husband is home? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-7683 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:33:19 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 7683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@red interesting. Can't wait to see more results on your end.<br /> As much as I think it would be awesome to try out, i think the concept is much easier when you only have 1 ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-7670 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:08:59 +0000 themcmom 7670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wombat is only 3 months, but I've positioned her over the toilet 3 times now and she's used the toilet twice. Honestly, I need to read more about it because she just laughs on the toilet, so I think she enjoys it. However, it will be part-time and I'm in no rush because I really don't mind the cloth diapers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-7654 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:29:56 +0000 Red 7654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG! I bought "The Diaper-Free Baby", read about 1/3 of it, and started EC'ing my 11 month old last Wednesday. I'm less than 1 week into it and I'm already seeing results. So awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-5899 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:09:37 +0000 mrsjyw 5899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I lived in Korea until I was 6 years old. My grandma and my great aunt used to baby sit me while my mom and dad were at work. They would take me in the yard and I was potty trained at 3 months. (Supposedly). </p> <p>Yep, I was "trained" like a dog. FOR REAL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-5871 Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:29:51 +0000 Red 5871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MSMOM, Thanks for the recs! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-5610 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:20:32 +0000 msmom 5610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey .. hahah pee shivers are the cutest!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-5608 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:18:36 +0000 msmom 5608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put M on the potty when she was around 7 or 8 months old. She's now 20 months and poos in the toilet only. Peeing is a different story... sometimes she'll go on the toilet, sometimes in her diaper. I haven't been as consistent with EC since she's in daycare full time but that's what is great about it.. you can do as much or as little as you want depending on your lifestyle. I have 2 books on EC - Infant Potty Basics by Laurie Boucke and The Diaper Free Baby by Christine Gross-Loh. Some websites on EC: thediaperfreebaby.org, pottywhisperer.com. After reading up on it, it seemed so logical since this is how most 3rd world countries deal with having no diapers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-5472 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:48:12 +0000 Red 5472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting, can any of you recommend a book or a website you like re: EC? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-3667 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:29:59 +0000 chopsuey 3667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got my Bjorn potty today and tried it out on my 6 month old! She pee'd in the potty 3 times in the span of 2 hours. :)<br /> She even had pee shivers after she was done. Cutest thing ever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-3431 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:58:32 +0000 Honeybee 3431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coastinganon - I guess we'll find out soon! #2 is due in April, and we've discussed starting it sooner with this one than we did with DD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-3219 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:15:00 +0000 mrsnarbonne 3219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not anymore work than changing a diaper. Have friends who have done it with their 2nd and 3rd. I was rather lackadaisical about it - would offer the potty when I was changing a diaper anyway - and when you know he has to go, it's so much easier to get it in the toilet than to wipe up a bottom and clean up a diaper. Much less messy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-3099 Sun, 09 Oct 2011 08:37:12 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 3099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow this is interesting. Not sure I could do it though. Seems like slot of work </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-3056 Sat, 08 Oct 2011 21:28:36 +0000 Coastinganon 3056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Quite honestly, I have always considered this a 'first baby' concept...you know...when you still have the time and energy to devote to it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2845 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:19:36 +0000 chopsuey 2845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my friend started her LO at 6 months and at 10 months he's almost fully potty trained.<br /> another friend is also using EC and it's working well for her 7 month old.<br /> i'm going to start my LO on EC as soon as the Boon potty i bought arrives! (in 2 days!) she's pooping solid poops now and i have an idea of when she likes to go. excited! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2591 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:10:29 +0000 Honeybee 2591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Katdevargas - We started with DD doing full-time EC, but switched to just part-time when we put her in daycare at 9 months. The experience was still really positive for all of us, even just doing it nights and weekends. :) It's definitely possible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2570 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:09:29 +0000 katdevargas 2570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsnarbonne - thank you so much! It'll be a while before I try it {I'm only 20 wks}, but I'll keep that in mind :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2565 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:20:06 +0000 mrsnarbonne 2565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Katdevargas - you can be as flexible as you want to be; my mom worked full-time and did it with my brother after work and on weekends and he potty-trained by 18 months. I never recognized the significance of this until I became a parent! Go for it! And if you have any questions, I'd be happy to share from my experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2525 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:43:42 +0000 katdevargas 2525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have heard of this &amp; am seriously thinking about trying it, especially if I'm able to stay at home, as I think it would be good to have the consistency. I was talking to my gran about it &amp; she said that's how her mama raised her &amp; her brother &amp; was very successful with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2484 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:39:21 +0000 LazyLightning 2484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh wow, crazy! My mom told me I 'hated' using a diaper and was toilet trained shortly after 1 year. I made a 'bad' face and wouldn't sit down if I had a wet diaper--I hope my future kids are that way--would make it easier! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2434 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:39:07 +0000 mrsnarbonne 2434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is potty trained at 2 years old, with no bribing, tears, or coercion on our part. It was all very natural, and I credit EC with it.</p> <p>Like @Honeybee, we were pretty relaxed about it. Remember, it's what's done in the rest of the world and what was done in the Western world before the invention of disposable diapers, so it's not anything revolutionary.</p> <p>I didn't start until my son was around 3 months (when I was more comfortable with my parenting rhythm). We would just offer the potty whenever we were changing his diaper, he would always pee after waking up (just like adults!) and quickly understood our cue sound. At around 18-months he would let us know if he was about to pee or poop and we'd just take him potty then. Praise whenever he pooped in the toilet, and a matter-of-fact "next time we can try in the toilet" when he missed.</p> <p>And honestly, it's WAY easier cleaning up a child when they've pooped in a toilet instead of a diaper. If your kid has a predictable pattern and you know s/he is going to poop, I would definitely offer a potty or toilet. (Just think of what's messier as an adult: pooping over a toilet or in your pants!)</p> <p>We're so glad we did EC. To me it's the same as recognizing a child's sleepy signs or hungry signs: when they're tired you offer them a quiet place to rest, when they're hungry you feed them, and when they need to eliminate you help them to do so in a appropriate place. I highly recommend trying it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2280 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:27:15 +0000 Honeybee 2280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started with DD when she was 3 months; she's 16 months now, and we're hoping to have her completely out of diapers by 18 months. We've been pretty relaxed about EC; the great thing is that you can do it as much or as little as is comfortable for you, so it's very adaptable to individual lifestyles. </p> <p>We're thinking about starting earlier with LO #2. I'm not sure we'll start at birth, but maybe at a couple weeks or a month old. It was actually very easy for us to incorporate into our regular routine; we'd just put DD on the potty directly before/after eating, naps, and outings, when we'd regularly change her diaper. We kept her in disposables the rest of the time, and until recently (we just started "more serious" potty training) we never even had an accident! All in all, it's been a very positive experience for our family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2134 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:12:06 +0000 looch 2134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I can tell when DS is having a bowel movement, he's almost 10 months. I've thought about trying to something more formal in terms of his elimination, but I haven't worked out a plan as of yet. I would like him to be at least pee trained around 18 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2102 Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:10:05 +0000 mrs. wagon 2102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard about this... someone said that their friend potty trained their baby at 4 months. !!! Craziness. I honestly don't mind diapers that much so I'd rather just wait til baby shows readiness. There's more than enough for me to stress out about in the infant stage. I'm so neurotic about eating and sleeping, I can't imagine adding another thing to the mix. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-tried-elimination-communication#post-2069 Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:11:30 +0000 mrbee 2069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first time I heard about this, it blew my mind!!</p> <p>"Elimination communication (EC) is a toilet training practice in which a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to address an infant's need to eliminate waste. Caregivers try to recognize and respond to babies' bodily needs and enable them to urinate and defecate in an appropriate place (e.g. a toilet). Caregivers either use diapers as a back-up in case of misses, avoid the use of them altogether, or do a mixture of the two. EC emphasizes communication between the caregiver and child, helping them both become more attuned to the child's innate rhythms and control of urination and defecation."</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination_communication" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination_communication</a></p> <p>Is anyone out there doing EC? Was thinking about trying it with baby #2, and would love to hear some personal experiences! </p>