Diaper Free Before Three? EC? We'll see...

So much has happened since the last post! But rather than spend this post trying to fill in all the details of the last 6 months, here are some highlights (the kids are ow 15 months):

• Peter's been walking since 11 1/2 mos. Joy is just now taking her first steps.
• The kids love to babble and sit and "read" books
• They say a few words...more, kitty, daddy, cheese (Joy), baby (Joy).
  
• Joy seems to be more interested in speaking and signing, and Peter seems to be more interested in banging and climbing! The doctor says this is typical.

Enough about that though, and on to the subject of this post! It all began when I heard about a few kids who had trained before age two, and it continued when I happened upon a book at the library called "Diaper Free Before Three". I read with interest, although skeptical that it might be a gimmick.

WHAT I FOUND OUT, AND WHY IT MADE SENSE TO ME:
In the book it gave the history of potty training, and discussed how potty training is done throughout the world (only Western countries use the "readiness" technique; the rest of the world does infant potty training, or some form of Elimination Communication--EC). In addition, children in the US are potty-trained later and later, largely due to disposable diapers and the fact that children aren't aware of their elimination patterns because they can't feel it. This is because disposables wick moisture away and keep the child feeling dry. American mothers used to do infant potty training since the pioneer days, and even in the 50's, a child who was trained by 18 months was considered a late trainer. Another reason children potty train so late now is because of the "readiness" technique, which was originally advocated by Dr. Terry Brazelton, who interestingly was supported by the Pampers Company. Basically Brazelton's readiness technique involves waiting for the child to show interest in the potty, squatting while defecating, pointing to dirty diaper, etc. But the issue with this is like I said. How can kids show readiness for something if they can't feel what they're supposed to be ready for? Learning the feeling of elimination can be taught to young children, just like learning that eating is done in a high chair, and sleeping is done in a crib. Sure, infant training would be a longer process, but in the end, the child is trained earlier, saving a heck of a lot of diapers! And giving the child the gift of being in tune with his/her own body.

MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH EC SO FAR...HMMMMMMM...
Well, I admit, this idea sounds a little hippy dippy! And perhaps I'm a little overambitious with wanting to try it with twins. But I'm willing to pursue it, because I like the idea of becoming so in tune with my children, and because the idea of not having to wash as many cloth diapers sounds great! No wonder mothers trained their children so early in the pre-disposable age! Here is the problem though: there isn't much info about doing it with twins, and 15 months is considered to be a late start for EC. By this stage, the kids have already learned to go in their diapers, not the potty. Apparently there is a window at 6 months where it is easier to start EC.

I'm easing my way into this, just showing the hand sign for "potty" when I hear them grunting, observing elimination signals like staring off into space or shivering, and also allowing them to play with their potties, and occasionally setting them on the potty when it seems they are about to go. (No hits yet though!) I don't plan to force it on them, and of course, I'll give it a rest if they seem overwhelmed by it.

One day, I thought I'd allow them to play in the bathroom without a diaper since I knew they would be pooping soon, and I could just stick them on the potty. Well, I THOUGHT it seemed like a do-able idea at the time. But Joy was into something, and as I took it away from her, I heard a distinguished plop on the floor. When I went to grab Peter, he stepped in the mess, and tracked it further. In the meantime, I noticed a puddle of water forming at Joy's feet. AHHHHH! Somehow I had to keep both kids out of their messes while I tried to simultaneously draw a bath for them and clean up the floor! Whew! So, it's been a week since that time, and I haven't put either one on the potty again, even though I still try to make them aware of the potty hand sign and their grunting.

I view this as part of the learning experience, and I'm sure it would get better if I was consistent enough. But, I don't think they'll be going without a diaper completely for a very long time :). They will be wearing training pants at the VERY LEAST.