There's no way that anyone on DCUrbanmoms is this crazy (right?)

[georgiegirl]

I'm hardly ignorant. I'm trying to point out that you're comparing apples to oranges.

This method only works well in areas where women are primary caretakers. While it may be effective if you're willing to put in the time, it certainly conflicts with our lifestyle in the US.

So while less industrialized nations may find the method useful, I'm fairly certain that most working women in the US (and women in other industrialized nations) would rather sacrifice a bit of their salaries for diapers and use the rest to pay bills, to add to their 401(k), and to pamper themselves from time to time.

On a personal note, it's a bit too Pavlovian for me. The thought of drooling each time my child grimaces while passing gas is not appealing.

Anonymous wrote:

georgiegirl wrote:Find me credible statistics that show this is a prevalent practice in other "developed" countries. I only find connections to "less industrialized countries" and "hunter-gatherer cultures."

I did come across Ingrid Bauer but unfortunately will not be purchasing her book, Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene. Does she perhaps include statistics on this practice?

If you do respond, please spare me any Dictionary.com definitions.

Anonymous wrote:

georgiegirl wrote:I did post a link for entertainment purposes, yes. It was funny . . . to me - and perhaps to others.

Your "ignorant" comment was not necessary, however, as we do realize that unless a mother has as many hands as an octopus, she will not be able to care for her entire brood at the same time.

But you did mention that mothers in other countries were responsible for the house as well as for the other children, which means that they stay home. So although these mothers may not be clucking after each kid 24-7, they are indeed SAHMs, which helps with this EC process.

I can't see myself doing this as a working mom.

Anonymous wrote:Do you folks realize that mothers who do it in other countries also care for the house and older children at the same time? They're not all day sitting looking at the kid and running towards the bushes once the kid's face gets red...
Are you all this ignorant really? or you're just pretending to keep others entertained?

ignorant, according to the dictionary, means:
1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3. uninformed; unaware.
that's what you all are when you start talking about a subject that you don't know.
sorry if it sounds harsh but it's true. if you don't know something you're ignorant re to that issue.
and nobody is asking you to do EC with your child. my comment was addressed to the person who thought that EC was done in underdeveloped countries due to lack of financial resources to afford hygienic products like diapers what is not true. what's known as EC here in the US has been common practice in other places for centuries, long before pampers and huggies were invented.

I never said it was common practice in other developed countries. I said it's common practice in other places around the globe. Some of them were big empires centuries ago like China for example.

And what's wrong with a dictionary definition? I meant to clarify my point calling some of you ignorant. What you're still showing you are. You lack knowledge in the subject so you're indeed ignorant.

[Anonymous]

"The thought of drooling each time my child grimaces while passing gas is not appealing."

Wow...you certainly feel very strongly about this matter without ever having tried it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:@ 22:20
in some orphanages the ratios are way higher than that and still caregivers can handle EC just fine. it all depends on the caregiver's priority.
my friend adopted a child from China and she was fully PT at age 10 months. she held her feces and urine until after meals when she was used to be placed over the latrine to do her business.
it took them quite a while to get her used to go in her diapers and she was never really happy with it. she was not comfortable in a wet/dirty diaper.

22:20 here.

I believe that what happens in orphanages in China isn't exactly "elimination communication", i.e. the focus isn't children being able to be aware that they need to go, and then communicate to a caretaker that they need help to do so.

I think they use a method that meets the needs of the institution, but essentially gets the child on a schedule at an early age (feeding and elimination). The infants are all fed around the same time, then they are sat (once they can sit) on a potty and basiclaly not let up until they have gone.

Apparently this method does work, and essentially trains the child to move his or her bowels right after eating, but it just doesn't seem respectful to me.

It does turn out babies who don't need diapers, and makes life easier for the caretakers.

[Anonymous]

georgiegirl wrote:I'm hardly ignorant. I'm trying to point out that you're comparing apples to oranges.

This method only works well in areas where women are primary caretakers. While it may be effective if you're willing to put in the time, it certainly conflicts with our lifestyle in the US.

At this point, you are kind of coming across as willfully ignorant.

The method works well where someone is a primary caretaker, someone who is willing to pay attention to the child and listen to him or her. Unlike with breatfeeding, where you really do need a lactating mother for part of the process, with EC anyone can use this method -- could be dad, nanny, grandparent, babysitter or daycare worker.

Not sure why you think it has to be the mother. Can you explain? Do you think only moms change diapers? Do you think only moms can potty train the children? Can't dads or nannies or daycare workers do that too?

On a personal note, it's a bit too Pavlovian for me. The thought of drooling each time my child grimaces while passing gas is not appealing.

Not to beat a dead horse, but again you seem willfully ignorant.

To repeat -- when you baby shows (through a cry or whatever) that she needs to eliminate, you do not drool. What you do is you take her to the bathroom.

If your baby grimaces while passing gas, that isn't a signal that she needs to use the bathroom. If you use this method, you quickly learn to differentiate cries, just as a parent usually can tell the difference at 6 months from a "I"m starving" cry versus a "I'm in pain" cry, or even a "I'm frustrated" cry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

georgiegirl wrote:I'm hardly ignorant. I'm trying to point out that you're comparing apples to oranges.

This method only works well in areas where women are primary caretakers. While it may be effective if you're willing to put in the time, it certainly conflicts with our lifestyle in the US.

At this point, you are kind of coming across as willfully ignorant.

The method works well where someone is a primary caretaker, someone who is willing to pay attention to the child and listen to him or her. Unlike with breatfeeding, where you really do need a lactating mother for part of the process, with EC anyone can use this method -- could be dad, nanny, grandparent, babysitter or daycare worker.

Not sure why you think it has to be the mother. Can you explain? Do you think only moms change diapers? Do you think only moms can potty train the children? Can't dads or nannies or daycare workers do that too?

On a personal note, it's a bit too Pavlovian for me. The thought of drooling each time my child grimaces while passing gas is not appealing.

Not to beat a dead horse, but again you seem willfully ignorant.

To repeat -- when you baby shows (through a cry or whatever) that she needs to eliminate, you do not drool. What you do is you take her to the bathroom.

If your baby grimaces while passing gas, that isn't a signal that she needs to use the bathroom. If you use this method, you quickly learn to differentiate cries, just as a parent usually can tell the difference at 6 months from a "I"m starving" cry versus a "I'm in pain" cry, or even a "I'm frustrated" cry.

Thank you!
I was about to answer her but I could not have done it better than you!

and @georgiegirl,
it doesn't matter who is taking care of the child - mom, grandma, nanny, daycare employer. if there's someone watching the child willing to take them to the toilet whenever they give the clues the method can be done. i have 2 friends working with their nannies. nanny does the weekly routine and moms keep the work going during the weekend.
let's stop with this pity party already. just because you chose to work out of your home it doesn't mean the child is alone at home just waiting for you to come back. whoever is taking care of the child can use this method. like they do whatever else you ask them to when you're out like changing diapers or feeding the child. so easy.