Attachment Parenting

Diaper Free Baby From Birth

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Elimination Communication is a growing practice among the natural parenting community in which parents minimize or eliminate the need for diapers by “catching” their baby’s elimination either through timing, cues or non-verbal communication.

Can newborn babies do EC?
One of the primary arguments against EC, is the claim from “professionals” that state that babies have no sphincter control and are not able to “hold it” or release it at will. Without making a huge argument out of it, simply observe the millions of parents and babies around the world who successfully practice EC and that is usually proof enough that newborn babies can in fact hold it and release it on cue. Thank goodness the “experts” are wrong because EC works and parents never regret their decision to practice EC, but they frequently regret finding out about EC too late.

The drawback of newborn EC
Just because babies can hold it until given a cue that it is time to “go”, does not mean that they can hold their bodily functions in forever any more than you can. A newborn baby will urinate every 10-20 minutes while awake and every few hours while asleep (although they do wake up enough to alert mom or dad and then use a receptacle).

If you baby needs to pee three times an hour, then it can be difficult to go totally diaper free if you will be in a car, store or restaurant for more than 20 minutes. A busy, modern life is simply not conducive to full time EC, which is why many, if not most parents are unable to go 100% diaper free until their babies are a bit older and there is more time between eliminations. Many parents are very relieved to find out that part time EC works great if they want to use diapers during part of the day or week.

Why EC from birth
Despite the frequency of elimination, many parents choose to EC immediately after birth simply because it is much easier in the long run, it saves a ton of money and it is great for the environment.

“It’s not as if the Chinese don’t use disposables at all. They do. More and more young parents are using disposables at night so that they don’t need to get up in the middle of the night to EC. They might also use them briefly, say in a nice restaurant, if they know the opportunity to EC will be difficult. Still, disposables are a temporary solution. Since “bum breathability” is so crucial, I doubt that the Chinese will ever switch to full-time disposable use.” EC Blog #1

It may seem to be more work to an outsider, but it takes substantially less time, less clean up and less gross factor to empty a potty than to clean up a messy, writhing, crying human being. It is also a matter of basic human dignity.

Parents who go 100% diaper free from day one have the easiest time with EC because their babies will always know where to “go”. This will work best when at least one parent can stay home with the baby, the baby is worn in a carrier, slept with and breastfed.

Not you? Don’t despair. EC works just fine on a part time basis. You can use disposable diapers, cloth diapers or G diapers as a backup for outings, babysitting or other events when you are unable to closely monitor and respond to your baby’s signals.

How to EC from birth
It does not matter if you start EC at birth or start “traditional” toilet training at 3 or 4, you are going to have accidents, period. If you plan to go diaper free from the beginning, the best thing you can do is be prepared for accidents and use them as opportunities to teach your baby the cues and track your baby’s elimination patterns.

The best way to prepare for accidents is to always have something washable and absorbent, such as an open cloth diaper or flannel blanket underneath your diaper free baby. Ideally, you will take a babymoon in which you spend alot of time in bed or lying down with your baby in the first week or so. Simply keep your baby on the pad or diaper next to you or inside the sling you are wearing and replace it when it gets wet.

“Have plenty of diapers or cloths handy where you’ll be spending most of your time with your baby (in bed would be the best place to spend that first week!)” Naturalbirthandbabycare.com

Keep a Baby Bjorn Little Potty or a little bowl next to you all the time. Carry a small plastic bowl with you rather than a bulky diaper bag when you go for a walk and keep a potty or other receptacle on your nightstand. Anticipate that your infant will need to go 3-6 times and hour and offer the potty with the appropriate cue before your baby gets uncomfortable and restless. Think efficiency. It is not necessary to rush your newborn to the bathroom while stripping of his clothes in a mad rush to “catch it”. That will stress both of you out. Take it easy, keep your baby close, and keep a suitable receptacle just as close.

As you feel your baby eliminating, make the noise that you intend to use as an EC cue. For the uninitiated, that means that as you and your baby become accustomed to EC, you will “cue” your baby that it is time to eliminate with a noise, usually a “pssssss” for pee and maybe a raspberry type of noise to cue a poop. You want to make the cue noise each and every time your baby goes so the noise in inexorably linked to that bodily function in your infant’s mind. You will be shocked and delighted the first time you hold your baby over a receptacle at certain times or when your baby indicates the needs to go, you make the noise, and they actually go. It is not what we are used to, but it really works.

The other component of infant potty learning, is the timing. First of all, most people, not just babies, go immediately upon waking. Your baby will go after all naps and will also stir in the middle of the night with a need to go. Babies will also predictably eliminate either in the middle of breastfeeding (or bottle feeding) or immediately after. It can be very helpful to track your baby’s schedule so you can make some sense of it. Without a written record, it will just seem like your baby pees all day long. If you know your baby is on 20 minute intervals, then you can anticipate the need, and take a second, hold your baby over a receptacle and give the cue.

The final component of EC is non-verbal communication. Your baby will communicate their need to go. Whether or not you respond to it is up to you. In the first few weeks of your baby’s life, get to know how your baby squirms, fidgets or cries immediately before eliminating. Paying attention and being in the moment with your child will ensure your success.

How EC evolves with your child
After the first week or two, you will know your babies signals and timing and your baby will know what the cue sounds mean. After the first three months, during which you stay close to home, lay low or use diaper backups, you will be in a lovely routine in which the frequency of elimination has reduced considerably and communication has increased. By the end of six months, your baby may be sleeping through the night, and only going once an hour while awake. By the end of ten months your baby may be able to use sign language or even say a word to signal their need to go. It is all uphill from there.

Think of it this way. If you were incapacitated today, would you prefer that someone take some time to hold you over a receptacle or put you in Depends because they are too lazy or too busy to help you to the bathroom? This is a very real issue in nursing homes today and it boils down to preserving dignity and treating people with respect. Other people call it the golden rule.

Additional Resources:
75 Benefits of EC
Natural Infant Hygiene - FAQ
Getting Started With EC’ing

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/revjim/471867006/

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