What is Elimmination Communication?

I was interested the other day, and asked in a Facebook, Sling and Parenting group not long ago, if they knew what Elimination Communication (EC) was, if they would try if, and why would they or not. The results were so interesting and pushed me to want to write this article even more!

I want to start out saying, I don't think everyone needs to do EC, or that it is for everyone, but with the misinformation, partially because it seems only one style is ever spoken about, I thought it would be nice, just to share, what I think EC is, and how many different ways, I see EC being done out there.

EC- is sometimes called Early Infant Potty Learning, but really, it is the simple idea, that you can build communication, through the simple act of offering your infant the toilet, from a very early age, even day 1.

EC can range from never using any nappies at all, or only offering the toilet for poos, as requested. There is a very wide range of how this can be done. And in my next article, I hope to touch on many of those different takes on EC.

EC historically would have been the norm. I say this because many parents, when questioned, seemed to think of this as a new idea, and one with flaws. But most cultures probably started with variations of EC from the start. Washing endless strips of cloth would have been hard and tedious work, back in the earlier days. Parents instead would have worked to manage the waste in the easiest manner, that involved the least amount of work. More then likely regularly offering small chamber pots in the home and on the road side or as needed when outside. This was the norm in most cultures until the modern era.

Though in many warmer climates, you still see variations of this offering of the toilet to infants even today. In many areas of China, Indonesia and other countries, you can find split crotch trousers for infants, and parents offering the toilet to their children, from a very young age as the norm.

EC can lead to younger potty training, but for all that is not the goal. But, will say that with the steady increase in the average toilet training age rising more and more, since the invention of disposable nappies and wall to wall carpet, it seems like a younger age, even though, it is much closer to the average age from just a few generations ago.

A few things EC is not;

EC is not the same as any other form of Toddler aged Potty Training. The methods are very different, due to the ages of the children, the expectations of the parents in each case, the time taken, is very different, as EC is more of a marathon idea, instead of the standard sprint with Toddler Potty Training and often in the case of the toddler, you are reverse modeling, to partially undo the habit or previous training of  nappy use for toileting. 

But, I think it is hard for some parents at first to see that the models are different, so when picturing EC, you must leave this idea behind as, that often makes parents, see EC as more forceful and even cruel, when the models really, share very little in common. It is age based, to follow what works for infants, not toddler based ideas, put on infants.

EC does not mean constant trips to the toilet, or wasted time asking constantly if your baby needs to toilet. Most parents, start with a simple "schedule" based on when parents observe, their child typically toliets, and then expanding that, until signs, begin to be observed. Also, most parents have a back up for "misses".

EC does not mean bear bums, all the time and baby weeing all over. First, not all parents chose, to go nappy free, many parents, probably the majority, mix nappy free time with regular nappy use. Just like many parents doing nappy free time, who don't EC, you can lay them on water proof mats, when small, and you tend to watch them as they get more mobile, and try to keep them in the garden. LOL!

EC, is not one way, it has so many methods. It is not about force, or pushing, its about following your child's lead, to hopefully lead to more confident potty usage when they are ready.


I hope to branch off into a more full example of several styles of EC, and how parents approach it, but hope that, this helps to start explain to you, what EC is. In a nut shell, its offering an infant the option of using a toilet to void the bowels, instead of a nappy. How that comes about, is on each family, but that is the one truth for all those who practice EC, really.

But we didn't even used to wear seatbelts, and were just fine...... well except that kid down the street.

"My 2 year old, is as big as a 5 year old, so yesterday, I registered them for Reception, since she is plenty big enough."

"My 13 year old is the same height as his 18 year old brother, so we moved him out and got him a job."

"My one year old, is tall and has long legs, so we decided to move him facing forward"



While two of these seem so silly, as to be preposterous, we don't even begin to question the third, and we should. Height and weight are not the only measures of readiness for moving a child from a rear facing seat, to a forward facing seat.

Children are not small adults. Their needs are very different, especially at a young age. A large head, in comparison to a slender neck, can be a recipe for danger to start. A child's bones are more flexible, as they don't begin to harden, until 4 years old. Both the softer, more flexible bones and large head, are why, even if you have a large child, their size doesn't matter, on when you should move them. These growths, and internal changes, are only, effected by age, not by the child's size.

This difference in an accident, can lead to the very deadly occurrence called, "Internal Decapitation", which is where the spine actually separates inside the neck, damaging the spinal cord, typically causing death. Though the recent story, of a boy who was forward facing in his car seat, who was in a terrible accident, was lucky to survive this terrible injury, many have noted that, sadly, if the laws had been different in Australia, he might never have suffered these injuries at all.

Sadly, there are so many myths, that have lead to many parents, feeling that extended rear facing, is just "overdoing it", or "coddling", or something only, "over protective parents do". But over time, as more, and more tests have been done, accidents have been analyzed, this topic, has become less about parenting choices, and more about general, accepted safety standards. Laws, are proving this, as more and more, countries and states, are changing their laws, to push a minimum 2 year wait before, switching children to forward facing.

This is because, the science is there, and is proving, to save lives. Just like, people once argued against, seat belts, we have parents, sadly still arguing against this basic safety precaution, that has proven to save lives. But hopefully, also like people who once said, "parents are wrapping their babes in cotton wool", and over doing it, by using car seats or even seat belts,  at all, those parents will see the need for this new requirement, for basic safety, that will save more children every year.

Two years is soon to be the bare minimum, standard, for all children for forward facing seats. With the speed of change we are seeing, this will be the law of the land, in many countries, as laws that have already been passed are rolling in, to enactment over the next two years. European standards are changing, Canadian and US laws are changing, as has talk of change been occurring in countries like Australia. Children forward facing before 2 years old, is doing less then the bare minimum for your child, and that is being acknowledged, now not just by doctors, but by the laws. For the best safety, you really should keep your child Rear facing till 4 years old, but until we see more seats, designed like those offered for sale in Sweden, I do agree, it will be difficult, but with the changes, it will be wonderful to see the changes that occur in seat development, that offer seats for children to be rear faced longer.

You want the science here you are!

Abstract from 2007 which states children are more likely to be injured in crashes when FF

Statistics on RF

A animation, of rear facing, verses forward facing.

Actual crash video, showing how, a baby is "cuddled" or "pushed", into their seats in a crash, while rear facing, but the fragile neck of a baby, is thrown forward in the same crash.



And because it has been tackled so well before, I thought, I would leave you with this blog, that so wonderfully, touches on all those myths, that many parents, claim, to argue against, extended rear facing, including, too big of a baby, long, legs, and more.

Another bloggers take on the Myths against RF

And because, this Grandfather's story, when my first was small, set me off to look into this very topic, I offer this video, of Joel's Journey, another wee boy, who suffered internal decapitation, from a forward facing accident as a small child.

Well, so much going on right now, little girl is getting ready to turn one at the end of the month, my birthday is coming up, half term break for the boy and we are planning a trip, back to California, to see family and friends. That should be a lot of fun.

But before we go, I have been looking at a few ideas for birthday gifts for wee girl. I try to stay a bit more environmental, love to support small businesses, and since I often buy second hand, sometimes I like to splurge. One of the many things I would like to share here on this blog, are some of these  great finds, I come across. The first is the fantastic site WAHM Emporium

WAHM Emporium, I am sure is going to be getting me in a lot more trouble in the months to come I suspect, if this stocking, was any line to judge by. Basically, the site is a co-op group of small shops, run typically by "working at home Mums", aka WAHM, that sell a wide variety of different clothing, baby items, cloth menstrual pads, glass ware and more. All the items, are offered by the sellers direct, but by showcasing the items in one shop, you can see a bigger variety, without going all over Facebook to find these shops.

WAHM Emporium, showcases the items before they go on sale, giving you a chance to see what is on offer, then opens the shop for a set period of time. First to comment is first to buy, so fast fingers are key to getting more popular pieces. But I think I did very well for my first time, as I was able to buy all the items I had my eye in, without a hitch.

WAHM Emporium is not the only site like this on Facebook, but with such a nice mix of WAHM shops, I know I will be back.

Two the pieces, I didn't buy this time, but I suspect, I will buy from these shops soon;

TheMotherknit- how cute is this little handbag? I love the print so much.

 

 

WendysGlassHouse- I love this little witch. The colours are so pretty and I think the design is so sweet. I think I will own a piece of her glass before too long.

 

 

                                           

Like I said though, these are pieces I didn't buy. But in the next two days, I will be sharing what I did, and I will tell you all, I could not have been more pleased.

Dinner time now, on the menu tonight, Chili Dogs, before PTA business.

How do I begin?

Well I guess I start out, by introducing myself, I am Heather, an American Expat Mum, living currently in England. I am married, with two kids, one 6 year old boy, and one almost one year old girl. I am sort of crunchy, but not always, but do love cloth nappies, baby carrying, and EC (elimination communication, or a fancy name for offering the toilet from early on).

As mentioned in the title of my blog, I am also a dancer, in particular, I am a multi-style belly dancer. I have been dancing for almost 10 years, in fact I danced and even performed through both of my pregnancies. I love dancing almost as much as my kids.

What to expect here, I want to share stuff I love, chat about the silly things in my head, talk about parenting hacks I have learned and fallen in love with and in general, just have some fun :)



Photo of me at almost 8 months pregnant in dance gear, I even did a back bend like this.