Elimination Communication: No More Wearable Toilets!: Re: A challenging article

» msaraann - Re: A challenging article

In response to message posted by Zanzi:

I know that children can un-learn having their elimination signals ignored, because this is what happens with late-starting ECers, and also with conventional toilet trainers, although the approach is somewhat different as EC is communication-based and toilet training is outcome based.

My daughter spent her first eight months in diapers, but adjusted very quickly to our diaperless EC relationship. She was as enthusiastic to communicate about her elimination needs as any other need. Sounds and sign language are easy ways for young babies to communicate.

As far as day care goes, an EC family would need to find a care provider who is willing to meet the child's elimination needs in the EC way. It is a common idea among non-practitioners of EC to assume that the practice requires constant awareness of the child, constant watching and waiting for the child to signal, but this isn't necessarily true. Some attuning to the child's signals is required in the beginning of a new EC relationship, but once this has occurred, most caregivers say that they 'just know' when the child needs to eliminate. This is probably because the caregiver picks up the child's body language subconsciously, so the caregiver need only watch the child peripherally.

ECing multiple infants may or may not be more challenging. I have two EC babies at my house, so I keep multiple potties around. We have never needed both at the same time. I've also run an in-home day care in the past. I didn't find that it was any more difficult to know when my daughter needed to use the potty.

-- posted by msaraann