Thursday, May 3, 2012

Elimination Communication, revisited


I started the Elimination Communication (EC) adventure with Jubilee last week, and we've had a lot of success.  I have to tell you, it's really exciting to be able to meet my baby's needs in this way. I think we started doing EC with Evangeline a little over a year ago when she was probably about five or six months old.  I had intended to do EC from birth (with Evie) but it totally slipped my mind... for many months! I wrote about EC here on this blog back then, so if you're curious about the method, you can read more about it by reading the posts labeled ELIMINATION COMMUNICATION

Last week, on the first try, Jubilee peed and pooed in the toilet, and we've been at it ever since.  I've always been really laid back about it. If we don't make it to the potty, so be it. I don't beat myself up about it.  I'm also not going to hold her over the toilet for five minutes hoping she'll go.  If she doesn't potty in about 10 or 20 seconds, I put a diaper back on her and get on with the day.

Evie has been doing pretty well too.  Hopefully she'll be completely potty learned by the time she's two.  That would be so awesome!  We went through some EC struggles, especially after she started solids (introducing solids changed everything as it slowed down the poo elimination process), and then she went through a phase where she didn't want to sit on the potty (but she would carry it around all over the house, silly girl). I bought her a package of underwear... so maybe she'll be wearing them soon!

Jubilee seems to know that, when I rest her over her little IKEA potty, it's time to let loose!  Here's a snapshot from this morning. The IKEA potty is perfect for EC as it rises up in the front and back so pee (or poo) doesn't spray OUT of the potty.  Plus, IKEA potties are so cheap, you can buy a couple and have them in different areas of the house.