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infant potty training
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Anonymous
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i have been doing online research on EC and am interested in talking to people who have tried it. this is a controversial topic and i understand why many people are against it, so please don't flame me or responders. if you are one of the people who are against infant potty training please don't respond here. if you have tried it and are willing to talk about whether or not you would recommend it, if it worked, how long it took, and other such information, then please do respond.
i do realize that this is a method of communication between parents and baby, almost more parent training than baby training. i am a sahm and am willing to put the work in. am also comfortable with knowledge that if this doesn't work, we can always start tot potting training at at more traditional time. everyone i know has done the traditional pottytraining route and some of my nephews and friends were still pottytraining at 4! i really don't want to be changing diapers for 4 years, it seems to be a waste of money, time, and is bad for the enviornment, not to mention a pain in the butt (mine and my ds's  ) though there is a lot of online information, i am nervous about trying this method of potty training with my ds without talking to people who have tried it.
i would love to hear your thoughts and insights. thank you. |
Anonymous
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I have known several people who have done this. It was still a couple of years before their children were actually potty trained. One little girl, at the age of five, still isn't night time trained.
I went the traditional route, and both mine were out of daytime diapers around the age of three. That didn't mean that they weren't somewhat potty trained, just that they weren't fully trained. I did a lot of reading as well, and decided I was much too lazy to try this, as it isn't the baby that's being potty trained, but the parent who is trained to watch the baby's clues. |
Anonymous
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There is a local EC group that meets once a month. They also have a yahoo group where you can post questions. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MD-VA-DC-DiaperFreeBaby/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=3
I just started doing this with my now 5 month old son about a month ago, and I am really glad that we are doing it. You don't have to EC all the time - many people only do it for an hour a day or even only occasionally. If you havent already, check out www.diaperfreebaby.com for more information and resources. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| thank you PP's for your insights and valuable information. |
Anonymous
| People meet every month about baby poop? |
Anonymous
| you'll find some women who attend LLL that practice EC with their babies...I dont practice with my 2 kids but totally support it and think it's the most natural thing in the world! The Attachment Parenting Community would be a place for you to find some mentors...best of luck! |
cmkeough
Member Location: Arlington, VA
Offline
Member Location: Arlington, VA
Offline
KUDOS to you for thinking about doing this and if you succeed will you come and live at my house in another 6 or so months? 
On a serious note. I personally do not have any experience in the potty training department of infants but was rather a potty trained infant. My mother who was a SAHM some 38 years ago taught me at age 1 how to use the toilet. I could walk and at my first birthday my mother no longer wanted to wash diapers any longer. She says that within 2 weeks I was potty trained. I would walk into the bathroom and bang on the toilet (small 1 bedroom apt) when I needed to use the toilet. Personally I would NEVER be able to do this with my lifestyle but I think if you have the patience and ability (only guessing the following would make it easier) to stay home with few trips out (needing immediate access to a bathroom) it could be done. Best of luck to you and please let us know how it goes. Would love any tips for later on down the road. |
Anonymous
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We did not go this route, nor did I really research it as I did not have the patience for it. There is a sub-forum on http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=227 under "Diapering" that is dedicated to EC.
Good luck with whatever route you decide! |
Anonymous
I thought the same thing. I think some have too much time on their hands. |
Anonymous
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I have a friend who does this with her son, and frankly I think she's nuts. (I mean that in the most non-judgmental loving way I can).
She does it for two reasons: 1) In theory, her child is "potty trained" (and has been since about 12 months) ... so she doesn't have to mess with diapers. 2) She believes that diapering traumatizes a child. This is my reaction to those two reasons: 1) What she has been through to get the child "potty trained" is, IMO, INFINITELY harder and messier than just changing a diaper. So I really don't think it is a time saver. To the contrary, I think it is a tremendous time suck. Even now, when her child is 2.5, he can't get his pants on/off, so she still needs to assist him with going to the potty... and wiping. 2) She has explained to me the research about how diapering traumatizes a child, and frankly I just don't buy it. That's me. I potty trained both of my children the "traditional" way. I started early with DS #1 (too early), and then realized that there isn't much of a point to having a potty trained child that is too young to do the whole thing by himself (or with minimal help). I waited a bit longer with DS #2, and I think that was better. So, I guess my advice is this: If you believe diapering is going to traumatize your child, I think that's the better reason to do it. I don't personally buy it, but if you do, go for it. I would not do it because you want to avoid the work/hassle of diapers... because I think EC is a much bigger hassle. |
Anonymous
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Well to each their own. But diapers traumatizing babies? If my baby can be emotionally scarred by a personal care product, then he should not be allowed outdoors, because he is far too tender for anything other than his doting mother's lap.
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Anonymous
I know toddlers that fight like crazy on the changing table--my guess is that's the trauma that some parents want to avoid. (My DS runs and screams when it's time to put sunscreen on his face. But I just wrestle him to the ground and tell him that Mommy is not going to give in on this one--I sometimes feel a bit bad, but I really don't know of any alternative.) |
Anonymous
My DD and I did EC (elimination communication) starting when she was 5 weeks (and unfortunately ended at around 10-11 months when she started walking and didn't want to sit on the potty). It is in no way potty "training"; it's giving the baby an opportunity to pee or poop somewhere other than a diaper. For example, when my DD woke up in the morning, I'd sit her on the potty and she would do her morning business. It was neat and clean. On the occasions that I missed a poop, I would be grateful that I didn't deal with that all the time! It takes no more time than dealing with changing diapers (I've done it both ways) and when we were EC'ing, DD never had a diaper rash or "blow-outs" or anything like that. It's really not that weird at all 
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Anonymous
| I imagine it could be isolating... it might be tough to find other like-minded parents in the community. My SIL's friend is doing it and it seems to be working out well but SIL did say that the baby isn't diapered when they're out and about and will still pee on people, furniture, etc every now and then. Apparently the baby's mom is unfazed by it and very laid back but I would be a nervous wreck. |
Anonymous
Babies (People) poo every day. If you're using disposable diapers, you might consider the impact you are having on all of our environment every day. Considering as much, I say "hats off" to a support group for people who would like to reduce negative eco impact and improve communication with their babies. A natural by product of perfecting this technique could ultimately be more time for the caregiver that is not spent changing, buying or worrying about diapers (rashes) and the like. Do you not have enough time to recognize the importance of such things? |