Elimination Communication: Natural Infant Potty Training

When my son began solid food at 6 months, I decided to potty-train him under the guidance of my pediatrician, Dr. Khan. I had read about the benefits of elimination communication (EC), and after my consultation, I was confident I wanted a gentle, more intuitive method. 

If you are also looking at elimination communication to potty train your child, my journey can help you. 

EC is a technique where parents observe their baby’s natural signals, such as facial expressions or body movements, that indicate the need to poop or urinate.

You can start as early as 4 to 6 months by offering the potty at regular intervals, especially after naps or meals.

The goal is to build awareness and communication, helping your baby associate the urge to go with using the potty rather than relying on diapers for all elimination needs.

Elimination Communication vs Traditional Potty Training

When I started practising EC with my baby, it was surprising how quickly he began communicating non-verbally. He understood his body’s natural process and began to signal more clearly as he grew. It was a great win because he understood his body functions early on. 

As he grew into a toddler, I watched him become more confident and aware of his everyday toileting. There were fewer instances of soiling, and potty training was a less stressful experience. 

When I started EC, I was overwhelmed with the responsibility of constantly looking for signs. So, to make things smoother, I created a routine. 

During elimination, I introduced a potty chair and used a cue, like ‘poo-poo’. It took some patience and practice, but gradually, he started associating with the sound and signalling to the chair. We also fixed timings, like after waking up from naps. 

The aim was to approach the training method with flexibility. There were days he was reluctant to sit on the chair, which was fine. Slowly, it became part of his everyday routine, and we worked on understanding his body’s cues to eliminate. 

Identifying Your Baby's Elimination Cues

When I started practicing EC, I focused on 5 aspects to identify my baby’s cues:

• Body movements: I noticed him suddenly stand still when he needed to go.
• Facial expressions: My baby would have a strained face.
• Sounds: He would sound like ‘eh’ signaling his need.
• Timing: I paid attention to the time, like after waking and feeding.
• Patterns: When his body movements, expressions, and sounds were in sync with the time, it helped me understand his pattern.

After successfully potty training my son, I learned a few tips. You can try them to make your life easier: 

• Be flexible: When you begin training your baby, understand that potty training is a process not a sprint. It takes time to learn cues, and even then, there will be days with accidents.
• Key moments: Watch for common times for elimination, like after waking, feeding, or during active play.
• Teach cues: Your child may use signals but cannot associate them with their elimination needs. Guide them with a consistent verbal cue.
• Comfortable setup: Whatever you use should be comfortable for you and the baby.
• Nighttime outfits: If you want to avoid diapers at night, know that messes are inevitable. Choose easy-to-remove clothing and keep a spare handy.

Positions and Techniques for Holding Your Baby 

Since elimination communication is a natural approach to infant potty training, I found squatting the best position. It worked well with my baby because it allowed him to relax and sit while I gently supported his back and thighs.

Dr. Khan shared a few other positions: 

• Over the potty: Where you hold your baby over a small potty, ensuring they’re steady and comfortable.
• Cradle hold: Hold your baby in a semi-upright position against your chest.
• Facing down: Hold your baby with its belly against your arm, with legs hanging down.

Integrating elimination communication into our daily lives was simpler than I thought. It was because I left room for flexibility and focused on my baby’s natural patterns.

Instead of fixing strict schedules about his potty time, I worked around being present during moments, like after naps and around meal times. 

Pooping is a very natural activity, and allowing the baby to give cues can make the training experience less stressful.