I’m so thrilled that I haphazardly/dumb luck heard about EC (elimination communication) while thinking of switching to cloth diapers when my daughter was about 7 months old. EC sounded initially wild & ridiculous, but I was so intrigued because truly it ALSO sounded really, really logical and respectful (once I got past all of my cultural conditioning). For a brief blurb on EC, check out http://whatisec.com/

So we gave EC a go and were *blown away* by how much our daughter loved it, how much we loved it, how flexible it was (we started out just an hour or 2 a day, quickly ramping up to whole days, then adding in nights, but taking EC breaks if needed). We were so pleasabtly surprised by how much FUN it was to get in touch with our daughter on that level, how much she appreciated our offering her the potty instead of having to go in her diaper/suffer through diaper changes/etc. I could not believe how much *more* babies are able to communicate to us if we only are aware of their ability to do so.

So, with my daughter, we did EC from 9 months (not really typical potty training, but we never had to go through typical potty trainined because EC was so great for our family) and she was pooping on the potty consistenly from 12 months on (THAT was SO glorious for her AND for us!), was very consistently reliably asking us to take her to the potty during the day by 20 months, and at night she took over responsibility at around 3.5 yrs. The whole process was lovely, gentle, slow, no-pressure, and saved us a TON of diapers and money and stress. I can’t fathom trying to convince a very independent 2.5 yr old that the diapers they’ve been wearing for their entire life are, in fact, not the real place where they’re supposed to pee/poop – what a HUGE change for them, and no wonder so much resistance! I really feel for people who are just starting to introduce the potty for the first time to an independent, active toddler… what a recipe for conflict! We bypassed all of that (again, dumb luck of hearing about EC).

Anyway, all of our family loved EC so much that when our 2nd baby was born, we ECed from birth. And that was even MORE amazing, that newborns are INNATELY BORN with knowing how to signal differently for hunger or for potty to us parents (if we only know to listen, know that it’s possible). Plus, our 3 yr old daughter was able to very accurately tell us when her newborn brother had to wee or poop! The grandparents were also already on board from ECing my daughter, but they, too, were even more amazed that newborns are so capable and happy when given the opportunity to pee/poop into a potty instead of “on themselves” in a diaper. Just that innate mammalian preference!

Lastly, I will say that doing EC instead of traditional potty training had a HUGE, positive impact on my breastfeeding relationships with each of my babies. I wasn’t confusing hunger signs with “gotta poop” signs anymore. Nightwakings were more clear to me – NOT every nightwaking was for nursing! In fact, the first waking was only “gotta pee, then I’ll fall right back to sleep”… With my daughter, before EC, I would always offer the breast (assuming she was hungry or thirsty) when really all she wanted was to pee!

Anyway… just wanted to provide our family’s “potty training” story so that others might know that there are other very gentle, loving, no pressure, relaxed options for potty learning than waiting for years and years and years and using all of those diapers and having pee/poop in contact with sensitive girl & boy parts for all of those years. And so that others might know that YES, if your 16 month old is showing signs of readiness, you CAN follow their lead instead of ignoring it until 2.5 yrs old (by which time they may well have lost interest because, hey, their earlier interest was ignored so these diapers MUST be the place to go).

For local support, if you’d like to meet ECing families, see EC happen in person, ask questions about this approach, see if your city has a local chapter of the non-profit support organization Diaper Free Baby:
http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/

HAPPY POTTYING!

That is the most adorable potty chair I have ever seen!!!

As for the magazine rack, What difference doesn’t it matter, even if he can’t read, he can still look at books, and if not its cute just for decoration.

My son completely potty trained himself at 21 months…And they say that boys are more difficult!

Just a heads up for those mothers who might be pregnant and have children of potty-training age. The “experts” say not to try potty-training your child during a time of great stress, such as a move or when there is a new baby in the house.

We bought our daughter a potty when she was 18 months old. This was so she could get use to it without any pressure. She’s 26 months now and I am just NOW (as in, past two days) starting to really work with her. I’m hoping she will catch on quick, but I also reminded my husband that there is no shame in waiting a few months (or longer) if need be.

Yeah Pink.lioness I agree with you. I read a lot of bad comments about this story. People
were saying that Sean is to old to be in diapers and whatever but X17 is reporting that there was a problem with Jayden and this is why she pulled her car off.

“Jayden had a little accident yesterday, causing his mom to pull over suddenly on the side of the road to tend to her youngest. Britney was coming from her home away from home, the Epitome salon in Beverly Glen (she drove by but didn’t stop, according to our photogs) with Jayden, Sean and her friend Jessica in the car, followed by Alli and her bodyguard in an SUV. On the way home, Britney pulled over to the side of the road suddenly, climbed into the backseat, and started to change Jayden. Alli (whom our photogs think was a little put out by having to ride with the bodyguard) pulled off her sweatshirt to cover the windshield – but our photogs clearly saw her changing Jayden inside (even if their cameras didn’t!) Jessica then got into the driver’s seat and drove the brood back home.”

My nephew took until he was over 3 years old. But my nieces were both quickly trained. I think with Sean will be a bit of a problem, but Jayden will be easy because he will want to be like his big brother. That is how my nieces were anyway. As for Britney not being the one who would do it, who knows. I have noticed Sean has never been shown using a pacifier and also seems to be on a sippy cup and off the bottle – in public at least. I think she’s doing something right even if most people won’t give her credit for it.

Meh, it’s different with all kids. My eldest was about 3 when he fully potty trained. My 2 1/2 year old son is totally dry and sleeps without a nappy at night but absolutely will not say in the day, so I figure he’ll get there when he’s ready. We’re practising elimination communication with our 6 month old girl and catching every poop, not bad! I wish I’d known about EC with my first 2.

My daughter is almost 25 months and I bought her potty when she was about 18 months. I haven’t really pushed her on it until recently. Up until now I just let her play with it, sit on it whenever she felt like it, take it with her (it’s also a step stool so she’s been using it to get into things in high places lol) But now that she knows when she’s about to go “peepee” and “poopoo” I tell her to go sit on the potty. It is DEFINITELY easier to potty train in the summer because you can just let your kid run around naked without having to worry about them getting cold.

Kids will be potty trained on their own phase, you can’t rush it, doesn’t matter how much you want to.
Our Son was trained really fast, within a month? He was not wetting or on diaper maybe a week after his 3rd birthday.
But our daughter? Having a very hard time right now. She does #1 in the potty, but not #2 and still wets her diaper.