Journey To The Toilet - 8 Months

Check out our 7 Month Journey To The Toilet post to see where and how it all started :).

Why we chose to do Elimination Communication?
Jydan poops at the SAME time everyday, or just about. 5.15pm. everyday. So what started out as 'we might as well just put him on the potty or toilet for it' ... well, why not? We know exactly when he is going to do a #2. We decided that once Jydan could sit on the potty independently, we will pop him on at 5.15 for a couple of minutes. Saves washing poo of a cloth nappy! So that's how we will start, just poops in the evening. Researching about it all I fell in love with the idea of Elimination Communication. Teaching a habit is easier then breaking a habit. Teaching babies a new habit (by using the toilet) instead of breaking a habit (that they poo and wee in a nappy).

What is Elimination Communication?
Elimination Communication is a toilet training technique using cues, signals, and being 'in-tune' to your babies needs to figure out what they do when they wee or poo and use those cues and signals to put them on the potty or toilet before they actually wee or poo. The theory and technique comes from countries like Africa where babies and children are nappy-less, accident-free and toilet trained by the age of one! Here, studies show that by using the elimination communication technique babies are toilet trained BY the age of two. Where the average age of the usual toilet training begins around three! However, EC is more about communication between mother and baby, or the carer and baby, then the final outcome (toilet trained).
Elimination Communication isn't seen as 'training' as such, more that we are meeting the babies needs, but for the sake of this blog, and to better understand what I'm talking about for those who don't know much about EC, lets just say toilet training.

Benefits of EC:
Bonding- Elimination Communication creates an extra bond between the career and baby by being more in tune with their needs and wants. Learning more about their communication and routine.
Saves Money & Environmentally Friendly- Many ECing parents or guardians don't go nappy-free 100% of the time, especially at night, but when they do they save money and waste on nappies. And being that children that have used the Elimination Communication are usually 'toilet trained' earlier, they are out of nappies completely sooner.
Less Bacterial Rashes & Infections.- 'Nappy Free Time' has always been used to help keep nappy rashes under control. EC allows the child to have less nappy time = less bacteria on their back and fronts, preventing UTI's.
Reduces Constipation - EC reduces the risk of constipation dramatically in children. It's much harder for a baby to poop laying down then sitting on a potty. Just imagine it.. can you poop laying down? Sitting up reduces strain and pushing which can sub consciously stop a baby from pooping.

Our Progress:

 Jydan is currently on iron liquid due to his very low iron levels. Because of that he hasn't been doing his usual 'poop' routine (which was 6.15pm) it's been really hard to catch his poopies! I'm so glad that we didn't get the constipation issues that come with it though.. we got the opposite!! ekk. To be honest I think I've only put him on the potty a handful of times this month and we haven't even caught a wee! With his iron liquid and Jydan being fairly sick it just hasn't been on our mind. I figure we still have another year or so until we have to seriously think about toilet training anyway. Let's hope for a better month this month :).