Myths Relating To EC

Below are some of the more common myths about EC that I have come across. If you can think of any others please comment and I'll add them to the list :)

MYTH 1. It's about training babies to eliminate when it is convenient for parents.
EC does not involve any baby training. It simply nurtures a baby's natural awareness of her urge to eliminate, and encourages her to let her parents know when she feels these urges. For more on this click here.

MYTH 2. Babies don't know when they need to eliminate until they are already doing it.
If you take note of the way a baby moves and the sounds she makes minutes before she soils her nappy, a pattern of behaviour will become clear to you. Quite often when a baby seems frustrated she is actually telling you she feels the urge to eliminate coming on.

MYTH 3. There is not enough time between when a baby lets you know she needs to eliminate and getting her into position over a potty, bowl, toilet, or sink.
There is :) Especially if you have your bub in EC friendly clothing.

MYTH 4. It's messy.
My partner and I were surprised to discover it was far cleaner to EC than use nappies. There is little to no mess to wipe off your baby because it has all dropped below her rather than against her skin. And your potty, bowl, or sink can be quickly rinsed with water, or your toilet flushed, and hey presto you're done. Unexpected baby vomit is worse, and happens more often! :D

MYTH 5. Children who EC struggle to move to toileting independence. This myth really confuses me! If anything EC kids will find the transition to toileting independence easier and quicker than nappy kids because they have not lost the awareness they have about when they need to eliminate. I think this myth comes from people's understanding that EC involves more parent than child training, and thus some people assume that the child doesn't learn anything. In fact the child learns that:

• her parents are listening to her and will respond to her communication,
• the sensations she is feeling inside of her equal the need to wee or poo,
• when she needs to wee and poo just let mum or dad know and they'll help keep me clean and dry,
• wee and poo is something you do into an object separate from herself and her clothing,

These are all things non-EC parents need to help their children learn as toddlers when it's time to toilet train. EC children grow up with this knowledge and experience rather than having it introduced to them two, three, or four years later.

MYTH 6. It's time consuming.
Often when people criticise my partner and I for ECing they say "too much time on their hands", "get a life". It really takes little time at all to EC, and if you count nappy buying, cleaning, drying, and disposing of, EC actually takes far less time. It can take time to learn your baby's signals, just as it takes time to learn anything new, but you will probably be surprised by how quickly you get it, and once you do, you'll never look back.

And as far as "getting a life" goes, almost all parents prioritise the well-being of their children in their own lives. They tune into their babies eating and sleeping needs, ever ready to comfort their children when hurt or distressed. Parents who EC are exactly the same, except that they also include tuning in and responding to their children's elimination urges as part of their everyday nurturing.

MYTH 7. It's not EC if you use nappies at all. It is entirely possible to practice EC and have your baby in nappies if you are nervous about getting misses on the floor. It is easier to EC without nappies because you notice the misses immediately, and you learn your baby's cues quicker. But as long as you are watching and listening for your baby's elimination cues, and responding to the cues by holding your baby over a bucket, potty, toilet, sink, bowl, or ground outside, it still counts as EC.

MYTH 8. EC is too hard to bother with if you have more than one child. This myth is based on the assumption that parents who EC have too much time on their hands. It is entirely possible to EC your baby while caring for their older siblings. The friend who introduced me to EC was practicing EC with her baby and caring for a spirited two year old at the same time. I also know of a family with seven children who EC'd their baby and toilet trained the next two youngest children! Older children can be great at understanding and recognising their baby sibling's elimination cues and can be terrific help to EC parents.