Elimination Communication

Elimination Communication (EC) (also known as “Natural Infant Hygiene,” or “Infant Potty Training”) is a way to facilitate greater communication with our children; help children to meet their hygiene needs early on and not perpetuate a long-term habit of diapers throughout toddlerhood; cut down waste and environmental damage; and come to toilet independence organically and without reward systems or coercive methods.

It can be practiced full-time, part-time or even occasionally, and will be beneficial and rewarding no matter how often you are practicing. As such, it’s a realistic and rewarding process to undertake for most families.

EC can start any time from birth to 18mth (for toddlers and preschoolers 18mth+, visit Potty Training) and can be a lighthearted and casual addition to your parent (or caregiver)-child relationship that can boost confidence and provide benefits for all family members.

There are many myths about EC that prevent families from giving it a try. Here are a few we would like to address:

• EC is not an extreme stereotype like having your baby naked all the time and things getting messy.
• EC does NOT mean rushing to the potty every 5 minutes. In fact, this would be quite counter-productive.
• EC is NOT something that can only be done by stay-at-home parents, but is open to all families no matter how complex their lives may be.
• EC does not need to be started at birth, but can be started with any child 0-18mth. There are pros and cons to starting at any age, but you and your child will receive benefits no matter what time you decide is right for you.

Children are born with an awareness of their bodily functions, and with sphincter control. They possess a natural instinct to not soil themselves, and when given an alternative prefer not to eliminate in a diaper that will make them messy. Babies as young as a day old show that they signal when they need to eliminate and can learn to do so in an appropriate location. Dependence on diapers alone teaches our children that the appropriate place to eliminate is in their pants, setting up potty training challenges down the road when we teach them the exact opposite of what we have expected of them since birth.

You can do this! If you are practicing EC or are interested in practicing EC but you feel you lack community support, please come and join the Go Diaper Free of Toronto Facebook group – it’s a private support group that I just started for anyone practicing EC or Non-Coercive Potty Training. While it’s geared towards Toronto, anyone with interest and in need of support is welcome!