Comments on Hobo Mama: Reasons to get behind elimination communication

Well, we love EC as it is such a THRILL to connect...

2010-03-25T12:52:25.304-07:00

Well, we love EC as it is such a THRILL to connect with your baby and catch their wee!

Even 5 years down the track, I still fondly remember catching that first wee of maven's in the hospital when he was a day old - WONDERFUL.

I love that EC REDUCES waste, enhances our bond in a different way, gives us the chance to communicate in another way as well.

- Charndra

ECing Mum to Maven and Jett!

Just fyi, Jorje, thrift stores are great re...

2010-01-07T15:44:37.777-08:00

Just fyi, Jorje, thrift stores are great repositories of bowls you won't mind getting pee in! :) We picked up some cheapies there.

We also found half-priced Baby Bjorn potties at the children's consignment shop, and they weren't even used. I think they were overstocks or something. But it's worth checking.

lol, that's funny about the bowls. I indulged ...

2010-01-07T15:22:21.969-08:00

lol, that's funny about the bowls. I indulged in buying the bigger Baby Bjorn potty chair and taking out the insert and using it between my legs when we were out and about. Now he's big enough to sit on the potty chair and uses it for most of his eliminating, so it was worth the investment. But when he was little the BBLP was the best.

I'm still doing it, but definitely on a part t...

2010-01-07T08:46:40.026-08:00

I'm still doing it, but definitely on a part time basis right now. I finally found diaper pins so I can use cloth sometimes. I just want to use them for watching her for signals.

Anyway, we're still using sinks and a hospital basin for potties right now. I am going to get a BBLP or two, but had to put them off to buy a new breast pump.

I keep wanting to confiscate a bowl out of the kitchen, but all the bowls that I think are perfect Sasha-bum sized also happen to be perfect cereal sized bowls and my husband doesn't want to lose them. lol

Yikes, I don't know how I missed your comments...

2010-01-06T22:44:48.678-08:00

Yikes, I don't know how I missed your comments, jorjedatoy! I was sure I checked for a while!

I'm so excited you decided to try! It is a rush, isn't it? Doing it when Michael was a newborn is what got me three those difficult first months of motherhood.

Anyway, I'm so late replying, so sorry! I hope you are still doing EC and that you figured out positioning! It changes as they get older, anyway.

Thanks Lauren! I worry that if I lean her back too...

2009-11-30T07:39:55.867-08:00

Thanks Lauren! I worry that if I lean her back too far, she'll wind up peeing out of the target, kind of over it. I finally figured out that pic at the top, that it is a trash can to catch what doesn't go down. We did fine this morning, catching the morning pee in the toilet, but she hadn't eaten in several hours so nothing to spit up anyway.

I've already begun shopping for a BBLP based on the mention on all the EC sites. I don't think I can get it this week, but I think I probably will get one. Although... the idea of using a big toilet and not having to clean a potty every time sounds great.

Jorje: Hooray!! I'm so excited for you....

2009-11-30T02:07:21.230-08:00

Jorje: Hooray!! I'm so excited for you. I remember now those heady feelings at the first catches. It really is magical.

I'm hoping Lisa has more insight into the positioning question, but maybe if you leaned her back onto your chest a little more, so that she's a little straighter through the middle? Our guy was so chunky and sturdy that we mostly sat him on a little potty from the beginning (this one -- popular with the EC crowd b/c it's so small and portable). Of course, we had to support him till he could sit by himself, but maybe that would be more upright/unbent for Sasha, still leaning her back onto your chest a bit?

3am here, btw. I forgot that I had a question. I h...

2009-11-30T01:11:24.433-08:00

3am here, btw. I forgot that I had a question. I had wondered about the position... it looked like it might encourage spit-up because Sasha tends to spit up if we bend her much in the middle (which happens a bit if she is sat up). She is 2½ months old.

So... any words of wisdom about avoiding this? I tell ya, the spit up was definitely the bigger mess. The poop was no big deal at all!

OMG OMG OMG! I just had my first catch! And I have...

2009-11-30T01:07:48.465-08:00

OMG OMG OMG! I just had my first catch! And I have YOU to thank, Lisa! Your post was the first time I'd heard of EC. I read through a LOT of sites, but put off starting until I could get a book from the library. They haven't come yet, but I started trying tonight... figured we were awake anyway, right?

We had our first catch!! It started out as a miss, but rather than a blowout of a diaper, Sasha pooped all in the sink! No one in the family will be thrilled, but I think I can manage the toilet next time.

Thank you for inspiring me!

I thought my husband wouldn't do it, but when ...

2009-11-26T21:15:06.976-08:00

I thought my husband wouldn't do it, but when he saw it in action, he was on board! I had to tell him what to do, since he didn't read the books and wasn't paying as close attention to our baby's cues, but he really tried. He realized it was a better way of doing things, and was so amazed by our baby that he couldn't help telling everyone that our baby uses the potty. And he was so suspicious of EC before we started it!

I'm with the "Daddy probably wouldn't...

2009-11-26T10:19:41.064-08:00

I'm with the "Daddy probably wouldn't do it" crowd, at least at first. So I'm thinking if I can get the hang of it, then he can join in the fun. I've requested the suggested book from my local library and have it soon. Thanks!

Lauren - I used to hold my baby naked and just have a lap pad under her. I want to do some of that with Sasha, too... but I need more lap pads.

Thanks Lauren, you caught some points I mis...

2009-11-25T21:10:56.023-08:00

Thanks Lauren, you caught some points I missed in the comments.

I just want to point out that practicing EC is unique to every child and family situation. If it's too stressful, you can take a break and start again later. But I prefer to see it as a fun thing. You don't have to get it just right, you know? Reading one or more of the EC books is very helpful for getting an idea of the concept, but until you actually try it, you can't totally "get it."

feministbreeder: Don't rule out part time EC! Or "occasional EC"--yes, there is such a thing! Just helping them retain that awareness and being familiar with the potty can really help with later potty independence.

We have a really great video on this called "...

2009-11-25T15:01:47.087-08:00

We have a really great video on this called "The Potty Whisperer." My mother-in-law found it for us.

I think it's a great concept, and I would love to be that type of parent, but the truth is the whole thing just stressed me out too much. I've thought briefly about possibly trying this with #3... but already having 2 kids around to look after makes me think I won't have the kind of time to commit to this that one would need.

And by the way, my 3 1/2 year old absolutely REFUSES to potty train. Don't I wish I had started this with him when he was a newborn! I'm certain I wouldn't be pulling my hair out over his pooping-in-the-pants now.

Thank you, Lisa, for your article! I can...

2009-11-25T13:25:35.675-08:00

Thank you, Lisa, for your article! I can't believe you found a list of 75 benefits after writing this one. :)

Olivia: Just to add, we did EC part time. We work from home, but we just felt too exhausted sometimes to go whole-hog. I found it was still really beneficial, and his transition to potty learning has been more or less painless. I wrote more about our journey here, and included other EC resources and tools, if you're interested.

Just a thought on your husband's involvement -- Sam wasn't too keen on taking charge, which is one reason we were part time for so long. But as I relaxed into doing it more, and as Mikko got older and able to sit on the little potty himself, Sam got into it and becamse an equal partner in ECing. So things might change at your home, too, just to project a little. I think you and your daughter also would get used to it and unclench (!) the more you tried it. The undressing thing is one reason we always dressed Mikko in as little as possible down below! Shirt, diaper/cover, BabyLegs, and we were good to go, at home at least.

Also, can't resist linking to this thoughtful post: Arwyn at Raising My Boychick talks about how we use EC from a position of privilege -- that it's good, but it has some unspoken assumptions behind it, such as that (usually) the mother is free all day. So you'll have to decide what works for you and if it will help your family or stress you out. I found it easier as time went on, and I'm really glad now that we chose it, for all of the reasons Lisa listed and just for seeing its effect firsthand on our son.

Jorje: Usually you'd only do the bowl under the bum while eating thing with a newborn, because they can be kind of like birds, just going all day. :) I found it tricky to coordinate, especially since Mikko was so heavy. Some people use a cloth diaper just laid out underneath instead. But after a few months, it tends to be clear that they pee after nursing or during a break in the middle, so it can be possible to guide them to a bowl or potty then instead. Don't worry -- our 2-year-old doesn't still go while eating! :)

P.S. Lisa: Sorry to hijack your comment thread!

jorjedatoy: I recommend "Diaper Free B...

2009-11-25T07:37:04.477-08:00

jorjedatoy: I recommend "Diaper Free Baby" by Christine Gross-loh if you are just learning about EC. At the DiaperFreeBaby.org website, you can find links to more resources.

olivia: You CAN do EC part-time and still reap the benefits. Your baby will still be able to retain an awareness of her elimination needs and how to release. She will also be familiar with the concept of using a potty instead of a diaper when she's ready for potty-training (some children are SO diaper-trained by age 2 that it's really hard for them to grasp the concept of using a potty--but with EC they are already used to it). Part time EC can mean that you do it only in the morning, or only after naps, or only on the weekend, or only during diaper changes. The Diaper Free Baby talks a bit about it: part time EC

Also, I just saw on DiaperFreeBaby 75 Benefits of Elimination Communication and remembered some of the other reasons we've done EC!

I'm curious how people do EC part-time and if ...

2009-11-25T06:49:00.967-08:00

I'm curious how people do EC part-time and if it is effective at all. I work full-time, and I know my husband isn't up for EC during the day.

I tried EC a couple of times when I knew she was ready to poop, but all the hustle to get her clothes and diaper off made it so she couldn't relax over the toilet.

This is fascinating! I can't believe I've ...

2009-11-25T06:20:10.741-08:00

This is fascinating! I can't believe I've never heard of this before.

My mom says that in England people will hold a small toilet under their babies while they eat. I can't imagine trying to hold a potty while nursing... that doesn't seem worth it. It also makes me think you would be associating eating with the bathroom, basically.

But I definitely plan to look into this Elimination Communication! Do you have any book recommendations?