Elimination Communication



Bugaboo (4 mos.) on his potty chair

 What is elimination communication?
Elimination communication (EC), also known as infant potty training or the diaper-free method, is teaching infants to recognize when and where to go potty. Although the focus is on potty training, the real goal is to bond with your baby through communication, trust, and respect.

Can infants really be potty trained?
Yes. Babies already know when they have to "go": you can tell when a newborn is going by his or her facial expressions, body language, and sounds. We untrain infants by putting them in diapers and letting them get used to being dirty. Then when they become toddlers, we have to teach them how to recognize their urges, hold it, and relieve themselves once on the toilet.

Is infant potty training easier than toddler potty training?
Not necessarily. You may find traditional methods easier than EC. It takes time, effort, and patience--the last being vital. In fact, it is recommended that if you cannot be patient then stick to traditional potty training. EC is all about being positive; there are no punishments for accidents or not going.

How long does elimination communication take?
The length of time depends on how you define "potty trained." Obviously, an infant will not be potty trained in the same way that a toddler would simply because their capabilities are different. Babies will always need help and may not verbally communicate their need to go. Even so, most infants who start EC end by 18 months to 2 years.

If it takes so long, then why should I try elimination communication?

• EC is not any more inconvenient than having to change diapers all day.
• You change less diapers.
• You save money on diapers.
• Your child is potty trained sooner.
• It eliminates the battle you may face with potty training a toddler.
• Most important, you bond and learn to communicate with your baby.

Where should I start?

1. For a few days, record when your baby eats, sleeps, and eliminates. Look for a pattern.
2. Watch for signs your baby makes when he or she is pooping and peeing. Common signs include obvious noises (passing gas, grunting), concentration, tensing, kicking legs, fussiness, crying, look of relief, gestures, and smiling.
3. Start by putting your baby over the potty--or wherever else you choose: sink, tub, toilet, bowl--at the most obvious times, such as when he or she wakes up in the morning and after feedings. Your baby may or may not go.
4. Make an association with EC through a cue, such as a noise (sssssssss) or gesture (ASL for potty is shaking your fist with the thumb between the first two fingers).
5. Next, try to recognize your baby's signs and get your baby on the potty as soon as you catch a sign. Depending on age, your baby may try to tell you by the cue you chose.

What else do I need to know about infant potty training?

• Newborns should be held in a comfortable position until they are old enough to sit up on their own on a potty chair, though you may choose to hold them for as long as desired, especially if it's working for your baby. For more information on positions, read Infant Potty Training by Laurie Boucke. I got all my information and motivation from this book (and I only browsed through the first few chapters).
• It may take time for your baby to get used to the potty or being held in certain positions. Distract them with songs or the bathroom mirror. If your baby does not go after a few minutes or gets fussy, stop. You do not want him or her to associate potty time with negative feelings.
• The best time to start is before your baby is six months old. However, it is never too late to start! The aforementioned book addresses how to adapt EC for late starters.
• View every caught poo or pee as a success and appreciate every milestone your baby makes. If you focus on the end result too much, you may become discouraged.
• Although EC takes a lot of effort, it is easier than you think! You can even do it part-time. I just started on Saturday and have already experienced success.
• Other family members and caregivers can be involved. Just make sure you are all on the same page.
• EC is harmless, fun, and doable. Others may laugh at you, but you'll be the one laughing in the end when your child is potty trained at 2 and theirs hasn't even started!

Read an update on our journey with infant potty training!

Twigs and Tweets Review

Another giveaway blog introduced me to the Etsy shop Twigs and Tweets. Her business is so successful (which tells you something about her products) she no longer has time to provide for giveaways, but she kindly discounted an item for me. She makes crinkle toys and blankets, some with ribbons for babies to suck on. I chose the millipede crinkle toy with ribbons. My baby is not much of a toy player, but he does like this one.



Bugs playing with his new toy

Smiles
*The crinkle sound is crisp.
*The underside is super soft minky dots.
*The fabric and ribbon patterns are adorable and varied.
*It is machine washable and dryer safe, both of which I tested. What mom doesn't appreciate that?

Frowns
*Because she is so busy, orders take a couple weeks.
*Update: a couple ribbons have fallen out, not due to rough play, making me concerned with choking. And some of the patterns on the ribbons have flaked off, which I hope my baby didn't ingest.

Hand Maiden Santa Cruz Eco Felt Toys Giveaway [CLOSED]

I discovered this really cute Etsy shop called Hand Maiden Santa Cruz that makes eco-friendly, felt toys. Her shop is new and currently consists of play food. She sent me three products to review, and let me tell you, they are adorable!

deluxe pancake special

whole wheat quesadilla

donuts and tea

Smiles
*Cute. How can you not love how adorable and yummy the food looks? Makes me hungry!
*Environmentally friendly, child safe, and long lasting.
*Easy to fix if necessary, even if you can't sew, like me.
*Made with love. You can just tell by the quality and creativity of her products.
*Quiet: perfect toys for church or other places requiring silence. No noise from playing with it or if it falls or hits a chair (or kid, for that matter).
*Easy to pack and take along because they are small, flat, and light.

Frowns
*Plastic toys are easier to clean. But that doesn't make them better!

Hand Maiden will be giving away your choice of the pancake breakfast or tea for two.

Mandatory 1st Entry: Visit her shop and tell me which felt toy you would choose.

5 entries: Blog about this giveaway, linking to this post and to Hand Maiden Santa Cruz. Leave the link to your blog post in your comment.

2 entries: Like Hand Maiden SC on Facebook.

1 entry: Heart Hand Maiden Santa Cruz on Etsy.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook.

1 entry: Put my button on your blog.

1 entry: Follow my blog.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be posted by 11:59 p.m. MST Tuesday, January 18. The winner will be announced Wednesday, January 19. Please leave your email address in one of your entries so I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

How to Stop Nagging Your Husband

The new year is just around the corner--time to think of resolutions. I am the queen of nagging and want to dethrone myself this year. The following advice I have gathered from numerous resources to help me in my quest to stop nagging my husband:

When the hubby first comes home...

1. Greet him with a smile, hug or kiss, and hello.
2. Ask him about his day (unless he's not the talking type).
3. Avoid talking about your day until after he has shared his and has settled in.
4. Give him 20-60 minutes to relax before asking him to do anything.

When you need something done...

1. Ask rather than command.
2. Use a friendly tone of voice. If you sound mad, he will feel resentful and not do it or do it with attitude.
3. Give him time to do it.
4. If it isn't done within that time, remind him much later rather than right away. If it is something that needs to be done immediately, explain so he knows why. Ex: "Could you please take out the garbage as soon as possible? There is rotten food in it, stinking up the house and attracting bugs."

After he does what you ask...

1. Thank him sincerely and enthusiastically.
2. If he didn't do it perfectly, focus on what he did right. Then the next time he does that thing, remind him specifically what you want done.
3. Let time pass before asking him to do something else. If he views this as interruptive or inefficient, then group small requests together.
4. Do something he requests in return.

WINNERS!

The two Skoy Cloths Giveaway winners are #26 "I now follow your blog :D" by Cory and Cherise and #16 "GFC follower" by pmj. I will be contacting you shortly. Enjoy your new cleaning cloths!

Several new giveaways are coming next month! Everyone was busy for the holidays, but now some great things are going to be given away so check back soon!

Making Cards on a Budget

I love to make cards, but I can't afford all the fancy stuff to make cute, artistic, scrapbooky, professional cards. So I do what I can with what I already have. You'd be surprised what you can use to make cute cards without spending a dime!

• Cut off the front of a greeting card you've been given and glue it to cardstock to use as the front of your handmade card.
• Cut out or remove cute items from other handmade cards or invitations you've received.
• Keep the punched-out paper from a hole puncher.



hole-punched paper and buttons

• Cut out words and pictures from magazines.
• Search your junk mail for useful items. For example, Disney sends out a package to join their club to get discounted DVDs and includes Disney stickers inside.
• Save ribbons from presents and packaging.



ribbon on the outside and inside

• Take stickers your kids get from the dentist, doctor, daycare, or school if they don't want them.
• Use extra buttons that come with clothes or remove buttons from clothes to be made into rags.



button and stickers

• Keep any cute, scrapbooky, or small item you find randomly in your house: a fake flower petal that fell off, leftover wrapping paper, a scrap of fabric, etc.

The Five Love Languages and Blogging

5lovelanguages.com

The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman, is a book about how to speak love to your partner in the way he or she understands it. The five love languages are words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, gifts, and physical touch. Each has its own dialects as well. For example, quality time could mean doing an activity together or engaging in meaningful conversation. You can usually tell what your love language is by how you show love or by what you ask your partner for the most.

 The five love languages also apply to blogging:

Words of Affirmation: You feel loved when people praise your blog and give you blog rewards and recognition. You feed off encouragement and appreciate when people leave comments. You most likely enjoy writing reviews.

Quality Time: You bond through discussion and sharing ideas. You feel loved when people read your posts and respond with their own thoughts. You also like feeling part of a group of people with similar interests and consider those people friends.

Acts of Service: You like blogging for the free services (advice, products, recipes, etc.) you provide and receive. You like to help promote others and have them promote you.

Gifts: You love when companies give you products to review or give away and you, in turn, enjoy giving them away. If you don't host giveaways, then you like entering them for yourself or others.

Physical Touch: Tough one. Perhaps you enjoy blog conferences and meeting in person all the new friends you've made online.

My love language is quality time (though acts of service is a very close second!) and my primary dialect is conversation. That is why I blog. Right now I use giveaways to bring people to my blog, but I hope one day my content will be more effective in winning me readers. I want this to be more of a discussion blog than a giveaway blog; I want the giveaways to be the icing on the cake. So please comment and share your ideas, especially if you're like me and quality time (conversation) is your love language.