You may recall me writing about Elimination Communication some time ago. (I tried to find the old post, but can't locate it.) You may also remember the cute picture of Abi sitting on her potty, or maybe on Corey's toilet (did I post that one?). Incase you don't remember, Abi has been peeing and pooping in a potty (or bowl or toilet) for over a year now. I don't recall right now when we started and I can't be bothered to look it up. It's been a long time, enough said. We practice what is called Elimination Communication. This does not mean that Abi is being "potty trained". In fact, she won't need to be. Rather, it means that as parents we are aware of when Abi has to pee or poop and we provide an opportunity for her to do so in a container. (This is called "catching" in EC terms.) It is so much easier than changing a dirty diaper! Since we are out a lot, Abi was really only part-time ECing and otherwise wearing cloth diapers. However, as summer came along and Abi had more opportunities to run around diaper-free, she quickly took to using the potty all the time. At first we only had the small red potty and I was always bringing it up and downstairs with us. It is very portable and came camping with us. Abi did so well using the potty camping that I barely used any diapers and even when I did put on a diaper (for sleep, meals, rituals, etc), she often did not use them as she prefers to use the potty. This summer I bought her a classic wooden chair potty for the living room. Once that was set up, there was no diapers necessary at home most of the time. When she has to go, she walks herself over to the chair and does her business - even if I'm not nearby. If she does start to have an accident, she will stop herself and move to the potty. (Spills are easily cleaned on the laminate flooring.) This was all well and good, but the real indication that she is almost done with diapers was when she awoke from a nap while we were downstairs and went pee and poop in her potty all by herself. We did not even know she was awake until we heard her crying. (She was sleeping diaper-free on a very large change pad on our futon on the floor.)
Needless to say, I am very proud of her. And I am very pleased to think that she will soon be done with diapers!! No "potty training" for us.
In unrelated footage, here is a cute video of Abi exploring a slide. At first she was going down feet-first on her belly (just like she goes down the stairs), but she quickly shifted to sitting up. Unfortunately, now she also tries to go down stairs this way, and if you hold her hand on the stairs, she will try to slide down them on her bum.
Abi on the slide:
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2 comments:
That is so brilliant! You are an inspiration to us!! Does she need to have a naked bum in order to use it on her own, or can she remove underpants etc? I am just not brave enough to let Elsie go bottomless. She does all her poos in the potty but we've been lazy about peeing the last few, six?, months! I am about ready to tackle peeing more though and she's about to start walking so really hope she will start to go to the potty when she needs it. Let me know about the above. Curious! And, again, well done!!
Well done Abi!
I would guess the wooden potty seat is warmer than a plastic potty, too. Our wooden toilet seat certainly is more comfy in a midnight run to the loo!
Ahh, EC is such fun, a great way for your child to reveal their brilliance!
Charndra
@ Heather - my son used it more easily when nudie bum - what if you just tried that in the mornings for a while? Once there are say 3 misses, pants back on!
Loose pants are best when they get to the stage of pants on and off - and I found trackies best for that. Too complicated and they'd have a 'wardrobe malfunction' getting their pants down. In fact, that WILL happen on occasion, guaranteed!
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