Ever since becoming a parent, my number one enemy has become DIAPER RASH! My son has been to the doctor 3 times, had 3 separate prescriptions, given up wipes, and tried cloth diapers for several hours (a couple of days). With each new strategy, the rash gradually disappears over a day’s time and we think we’ve beaten the darn thing. But alas, within a day or two, it returns!
While I was researching cloth diapers as an alternative, I came across Elimination Communication (EC) which is also called Natural Infant Hygiene (NIH) and Infant Potty Training (IPT). I was skeptical. Can one really begin to train an infant to potty? My curiosity got the best of me and I had to find out more. I checked out Diaper Free Baby by Christine Gross-Loh from the public library and began to read.
The basic premise is that babies, just like other mammals, instinctively dislike peeing and pooping in their “nest.” It’s seen as unnatural. By a combination of parent training and behavioral conditioning of the infant, one can successfully potty an infant starting at birth. Apparently, many cultures where diapers are a commodity practice this type of method as the norm.
It seems reasonable, doesn’t it. So I’m trying it part-time with my 2 month old son. First, I started by making a “pssst” sound every time he was in the process of eliminating. Now, I hold him over the toilet after eating, awakening from a nap, or when he begins to squirm and make a “pssst” sound. I have had more success with his pee’s. We catch quite a few in the toilet. The poops are very difficult to catch because pooping can take him 30 minutes to complete at which point my arms would be killing me and he would be very uncomfortable. So I’ve decided to take it slowly with the pooping.
The only curious thing is how he squeals and cries when he’s pooping whether I potty him or not. It really is an unpleasant event. I suppose it is the diaper rash and I’ve read that this is fairly normal for newborns. But it kills me to see him suffer like that. Does anyone have any suggestions? He is fully breastfed. So he’s not constipated. His stools are very watery like those typical of breastfed babies. Any suggestions are welcomed.
Sites that I have found useful on this topic include the following:
3 Comments
August 1, 2008 at 9:58 am
Hi. Just a thought on the squealing-pooping thing.
At two months, elimination muscles are still pretty immature, and so babies want to poop, but it takes more effort than it does for us. As he gets older and stronger, pooping should be easier.
Hopefully, the crying is either frustration or his only way of contracting those muscles. Maybe he’s found that crying helps him poop, because it involves his lower abdominal muscles. Maybe, we can hope, it’s not suffering but a very clever learned technique.
August 3, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Very nice!!
December 27, 2008 at 2:26 am
Hi! My daughter is fourteen months and completely diaper-free. I read Diaper-free baby while pregnant and caught my her first pee two days out after birth. We still have occasional misses, but she looks really cute in clothes without a diaper. EC can be successful, we are living proof!
Now, considering the crying poohs, my daughter did a lot of the same, more when she peed. Perhaps its a way of coping with the discomfort, or reacting to the new sensations. I always did my best to let comfort and relax her. Gently exhaling on the top of her head, whispering nice things in her ear, checking to see that I wasn’t tense. I still use this method alot because she’s very busy and doesn’t want to stop playing to go. She might resist at first, and even struggle with being held, but I stay calm and tell her that its ok to take a break to pee and eventally she relaxes and goes. She still cries out a bit when she has to go at night.
Good Luck with EC! It is such a rewarding practice!