Yes, those folks who hold a 6 month-old over the toilet and let her defecate directly into the potty, not into a Pamper. Elimination Communication (EC) has committed fans, as well as people who think it is both useless and even punishing to kids. I am not taking sides here, but there is one thing that should get even the skeptics thinking: a large portion of the developing world deals with babies and elimination this way. It is very hard to buy a disposable diaper in Nepal, and it is a problem finding water to wash cloth diapers in the Sahara. I know there are a bunch of parents who roll their eyes whenever EC comes up, but some aspects of the process could help you train your child to use the toilet. Why not consider what you could learn from EC that will help your child?
First, parents who practice EC become very very good at anticipating when their kids are going to need the toilet. Signs such as grunting, flexing the trunk forward, even facial expressions are quickly noted. If you spend a lot of time watching your child then you probably know some of the signs. This makes it easier to tell them to sit on the potty when their attempts will actually be successful. You can also help them connect the physical feelings they are reacting to with language. Telling them that when they get that feeling in their belly, they need to go use the toilet sounds so obvious to us. But if you are little, you need help connecting the dots. If you are little and have learning issues, you need to hear it more often and stated clearly.
Secondly, EC counts on knowing that reflexive intestinal movement happens about 30 minutes after food enters the stomach, and kidneys dump urine into the bladder about 30-45 minutes after a big drink. Unless your child has digestive issues, this is a good start to create your initial potty schedule plan. Kids with constipation or slow stomach emptying may take longer, but you already know that you have to work on those issues as well to be successful in toilet training. Remember, if your child is roaming the house with a sippy cup, it is going to be a lot harder to time a pee break so that they have a full bladder (remember the issue with poor proprioception of pressure in low tone?). If not, check out Why Low Muscle Tone Creates More Toilet Training Struggles for Toddlers (and Parents!) Toilet training is a good time to limit drinking to larger amounts at meals and snacks. This will work for preschool preparation as well. Most programs would not allow your child to wander with a cup for hygiene reasons, and you are helping them get off the “sippy cup syndrome”, in which children trade bottle chewing for sippy cup slurping.
Think that embracing EC fully will fast-track your kid? Not necessarily. In fact, some EC kids struggle to become more separated from a parent as they are not cradled any longer while “making”. Taking responsibility for their own hygiene and awareness can be harder for some very attached children than if they were using diapers and used them independently. But EC concepts are something to think about carefully when you are making your plan to help your child with low muscle tone.
