Going Diaper Free: Elimination Communication
Thinking of going diaper free? Then you’ll want to read about elimination communication, a method that helps you pick up signs from your baby to help your baby go to the bathroom.
Going diaper free eliminates extra waste, saves money, reduces skin rashes, and is a quicker road to potty training.
What’s elimination communication?
In essence, elimination communication requires looking out for cues your baby may give to indicate that they’re ready to go. From there, it’s as simple as holding your infant over the toilet and helping him/her clean up afterward. Easy as that! From that stage, you will slowly progress to infant toilets.
(This doesn’t work for every parent or child, but is a method some parents have grown to love. Try keeping wipes and towels near the toilet in the early stages for easy clean-up.)
Reasons to go diaper free
Less waste. Disposable diapers just go straight to the trash pile. This is a pro for the environment.
More affordable. With how often infants have to go to the bathroom, the cost of diapers can stack up, especially for families with lower incomes or more children.
Healthier skin, healthier babies. There’s some reason to believe that going diaper free or using elimination communication can reduce the regularity of diaper rashes and UTIs.
Improved parent-child bonding and communication. Elimination communication can set up a line of communication between you and your baby, creating a sense of understanding that would otherwise come much later in development.
How to go diaper free with elimination communication
Keep an eye out for “elimination” signals from your child. These could be grunts, skin redness, squirming, crying, or other things. Establishing a consistent pattern of cues is tough, but possible.
Hold your child above the toilet by the hips, facing away from you. From there, all you have to do is praise them and clean up. (This is a style of positive reinforcement.)
Some roadblocks for elimination communication
Traveling with elimination communication is difficult. If you’re preoccupied with driving a car, or going through security at the airport, it will be difficult to stay in tune with your infant. Not to mention the process of getting to a bathroom in time.
Parents with many children or responsibilities will definitely find it difficult to stick to elimination communication; it’s difficult to notice everything your infant may be trying to “say” during the hustle and bustle of a busy day.
A middle approach
Trying elimination communication doesn’t mean you have to be too zealous about it. Using diapers, when appropriate, is perfectly acceptable, especially during the earliest stages of potty training when it will be harder for your baby to communicate. Ease into it and see how it works for you!
A diaper free tomorrow
The hardest part about going diaper free by using elimination communication is the time commitment. Not everybody, frankly, has the time that is required for this to work without too many hitches. For those with the time, elimination communication is a wonderful way to reduce waste, save money, and bond with your baby.