Is EC Suitable For Modern Environments?
July 21, 2009 by Monica
Filed under Parenting Traditions
One common objection about Elimination Communication as an alternative to potty training is that it’s only suitable for families living in the country side or even that it’s only for those living in the jungle. Their point is that EC could not work in an urban environment.
I believe it might even be the opposite.
I practiced EC since my baby was 10 months old, and it became a great way to deal with motherhood while getting things done as a foreign student in Japan. Over there I shared an apartment and we lived in a tatami room. What could be more delicate than that?
I took my baby to the university lab and library, where no changing facilities other than the regular toilets. Also, we were outside a lot, in parks, the train, metro, our church, restaurants and other places where changing facilities were very common.
Then, when he was 13 months old, and very clear with his potty signals, we came back to Ecuador, in a day long air trip. I took about 3 diapers just in case, and that was enough for the whole flight from Japan-US-Ecuador. I want to mention that I missed his pee cues once or twice, but most of the time I was able to hold him over the airplane or airport toilet with little effort.
Back in Quito, I found EC to be more difficult. Of course, after the long travel and change to a new environment made us loose our almost perfect communication and I decided to have him on light cloth diapers for a while.
I found that ECing in Quito was more complicated, because toilet facilities were not as widely available as in Japan. Other than that, it didn’t change that much, except for the preconception that even cloth diapering was old fashioned and “poor” looking, not to mention EC.
In Japan I got compliments when people saw my baby wearing cloth or no diapers, while in Quito people looked down at me because they thought I was making that choice out of lack of money.
A couple of months after arriving to Ecuador, I decided to stop putting diapers on my son and from that day, before turning 2, he’s not worn diapers again.
When I talk about this with indigenous people they’re not surprised at all. On the other side, if I comment the same fact to middle or high class friends, they would be astonished on how early he was “potty trained”.
All in all, I found EC being easier and more practical while living in modern and *clean* Japan.
I’ve not diapered any baby so I can’t say for sure, but it seems to me that if diapering is possible in a certain location, then ECing might be even easier.
Any thoughts?
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Monica,
I agree that living in an urban area isn’t necessarily a hindrance.
I learned about this from a lady from India many years ago. At first I thought it might be hard to do in a city but that wasn’t the case. I even wrote a book with this idea in mind in the subtitle “Infant Potty Training: A Gentle and Primeval Method Adapted to Modern Living.” It is easy to adapt to modern living.
I’ve had experience with diapering my first two, then using infant pottying with my third and much preferred starting and finishing early with the third.
Here are links to share with others for further readiing and resources:
http://www.white-boucke.com/IPTStuff.html
Infant Potty Training book and Potty Whispering DVD
http://www.pottywhisperer.com
Potty Whisperer summary of infant potty training
http://www.TimL.com/ipt
The basics of infant potty training, translated into many languages
http://aitt.evassist.it/new/index.php International Board for the Study, Research and Promotion of Assisted Infant Toilet Training
Laurie, I appreciate your input as an expert
We’ve been just talking about this with a friend from Europe who’s visiting Ecuador with her 18mo. I’m glad there’re DVDs right now so people can actually see EC in action in both rural and modern environments.
I think that modern clothing choices for babies are more of a hindrance to EC than physical location. If I have to take down pants, unsnap a onesie, undo a diaper (cloth or otherwise) and then sit baby down or hold her over something while the clothes lay in a pile and then hope she goes, and then redress her….. you get the idea.
When we are home my daughter is usually dressed pretty third world (ie: naked) and we are much more likely to rely on diapers for outings because of the hassle.
Monica:
How did your friend react to the idea?
Fascinating that you are living in Ecuador and have also lived in Japan.
Sheryl makes a good point. It’s best to use quick-and-easy-to-remove clothing. We used the equivalent of little sweat pants (pants with an elastic waistband) or just training pants.
Laurie
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Susan
http://toddlergirls.net
Laurie, back in Spain my friend had listened to a podcast about EC in my Spanish blog. She told about it to her husband who told her EC was only for rich people who can afford nannies and cleaning services
We recently met in person and they got to knew my kind of lifestyle and saw other people takings little toddlers to the bathroom. So now they believe it’s possible and are gonna try with her 18mo.
Sheryl , I agree with Laurie that you need to find other clothes. The problem is not EC, but the clothes we suppose babies should wear. I used split pants a lot, with a front open trainer inside for easy access.
They’re not always easy to find, but you can make your own adaptations.
Also, a waist band to hold a light cloth diaper is great . The band holds the diaper attached to the waist while the baby goes, making it easy put and remove the diaper.
Monica,
That’s a new one for me, that only rich people can do it. I’m glad you were able to show them that is not the case.
Even better, you inspired them to give it a try!
Really? I’ve heard the argument EC is for rich people a lot (at first my mom, for example)
It’s like both sides: “only people living in the jungle could do it” OR “only people who can afford to spend 100% of their time with their kids and special clothes and a housekeeper to clean the mess” …can practice EC.
If you look for arguments against EC you really get plenty
Oh, yes, now I see your point. I hadn’t heard it phrased that way, but right you are. I have heard people use that excuse.
Hi Monica,
Yours is a lovely story of ECing, I too have heard many contradictory reasons for not attemting EC, makes me chuckle.
We certainly find it far preferable to full time diapering – wipe up after every pooey diaper? No thanks!
The usual initial reaction seems to be that ‘diaper free’ simply means removing the diaper and letting waste fall where it may – ah, yes, that would leave a mess! The curious and open-minded (and those experienced with toddler training the conventional way NOT being a ‘they did it all themselves” endeavour) look and learn a bit more first.
Charndra
May I add my site on the concept for future readers to visit?
http://www.parttimediaperfree.com/ It is focussed on gradually introducing the concept over a series of weekly emails, accessing an online guided tour about EC – more about adopting the right mind-set for ec to unfold naturally.