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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.

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.

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.

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.

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!)

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!

I have heard of this & 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 & she said that's how her mama raised her & her brother & was very successful with it.

@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

my friend started her LO at 6 months and at 10 months he's almost fully potty trained.
another friend is also using EC and it's working well for her 7 month old.
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!

Wow this is interesting. Not sure I could do it though. Seems like slot of work

@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.

Interesting, can any of you recommend a book or a website you like re: EC?

@chopsuey .. hahah pee shivers are the cutest!!!

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).

Yep, I was "trained" like a dog. FOR REAL.

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.

@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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.