Have you heard about Elimination Communication, momentarily thought:

"Oh wow, I'd LOVE to spend less money on diapers!"

"I'd LOVE to have less poopy nappies to wash!"

- only to think next that it would be 'too hard', 'too time consuming', 'impossible with

more than one child',

and that 'I can't watch my baby all day for sign's she'll wee!' ?

Well, Practicing EC is actually quite flexible. Your baby can wear a diaper between potty breaks. Afterall, they can be wearing a nappy, yet not use it... Plus, you can do EC part-time, such as when their diaper or nappy is already off for a change - pop them on a potty and see if they go - a super-easy way to go that might just keep that next diaper dry for longer.

'Practicing' is the key word there, as EC isn't an activity for perfectionists!

EC helps you to dramatically REDUCE your use of diapers, 'catching' their waste in a potty rather than a diaper whenever possible, and diapers are there for decorum, 'backup' (as you can't catch them all) and peace of mind at other times. When using cloth diapers, you have the benefit of less washing to do along with an enhanced awareness of your baby's elimination needs. It's great fun, anyone can give it a go - striving for one less diaper a day is a wonderful daily activity to 'play' with your baby.

Here are three simple ways your baby gets a bit of diaper free time in their day, that will help you get to know their rhythms a bit better as they enjoy bare bottom time at home.

1. Have Regular Diaper Free Time Each Day
Time each day without a diaper on helps your baby to stay more aware of the processes of their body. It allows them to roll about unencumbered by a diaper too. They get to feel the air on their skin and it helps prevent and cure diaper rash.

2. Offer a Potty Opportunity When Your Baby Wakes Up in the Morning or After a Nap
When your baby wakes up you'll need to attend to them. Next time, simply have a fun cuddle on the way to the change table, remove their diaper and pop them on a potty, with your smiling face giving them encouragement and a toy to play with! This is called a 'timing' opportunity, and is a great way to begin building associations for your baby - knowing that a potty is a good place to relax and pee!

3. Discover Simple Ways to Protect Your Surfaces With a Waterproof Diaper-Free Time Mat
Worried about puddles or messes? People often are. Luckily, there are many simple solutions you can use to protect your baby from cold or hard surfaces, and your soft surfaces from the tinkles of a little baby! Visit this visual directory of online stores that offer waterproof mats from shops all over the world.

You can practice elimination communication part-time, and use diapers between potty visits as your confidence grows. EC is a natural way to reduce time your baby wears a diaper, and thus the severity and frequency of any diaper rash. Daily diaper free time is good for baby's 'cheeks' and good for the Earth!

We find it great fun to sing a song with your baby on the potty each morning, and when they wake up from sleeps, it's the easiest way to begin. Hey presto, there's a couple less diapers each day.

Considering between 6 and 8 thousand diapers are estimated to be used when full-time diapering, with between 1- 2 tonnes of 'disposable' waste produced, reducing that a little is a very green thing to do!

What I found wonderful about EC with our first baby, as new parents, was that this was the reason for a lot of fussing and crying - he needed to WEE and his bladder was uncomfy, so he cried! A timely potty break (holding him over the laundry tub - and BAM, he'd fall asleep settled after a good poop and a piddle. Imagine the empowerment we felt! I love practicing EC. We have two sons. The youngest is one year old. Since birth we have only been using diapers part-time with him. With our 4 year old we did the same. In his first two years we estimated we spent about $5 a month on diapering supplies with him, by minimising our diaper use with Baby Pottying, using washable cloth diapers and training pants, and simply 'catching' his wees and more in a little potty. So, I made up a site about helping you to ease into EC gradually...

I encourage anyone curious to explore the idea a bit more and give it a go!

Charndra

P.S.I'd recommend a visit to Adventures in Part-Time Baby Pottying to read some real-life stories of mothers practicing EC with their babies. You'll be encouraged to begin, and to build your own confidence in elimination communication gradually. A free online guided tour will help you get going with a positive mind-set.

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Charndra is the woman behind the popular elimination communication courses and resources at Part Time Nappy Free, Part Time Diaper Free and Tribal Baby. Visit her websites to learn how you can reduce your nappy or diaper use.