Elimination Communications - Is it time to transition to potty training?

I first told you about our experience with infant potty training or elimination communication here. 

My goal from the beginning was to make our daughter think all just was simply part of her daily routine. This goal has certainly been accomplished. She fully expects to sit on the toilet first thing every morning, as well as after breakfast, after lunch, after nap, and before bath time. We've had many days where she only uses one or two diapers in the day. Sometimes we will go a week or more without changing a #2 diaper. That is saying a lot from a girl who does 2-3 BMs a day.


We started toilet training T Rex at around 14 months and he was mostly done with diapers around 18-20 months. My memory is a bit fuzzy since I was in my first trimester of pregnancy with Bebe Sister and suffering morning sickness basically 24/7. I do remember we were highly motivated to not have two kids in diapers or be paying for two kids in diapers either.

Until recently, I would say our daughter was at about the same point our son was at this age. The big exception, and I feel this is the best part, it that it has been so unbelievably stress-free with her. 

With T Rex, there was always the feeling that it was a chore to take him to the toilet. Plus, we were constantly running there. T Rex was not always happy with us constantly interrupting his toddler activities to take a restroom break. With the process we've followed for our daughter, it is more Zen-ful and tranquil and just easier. She knows the routine and does it.

Significantly, in the last week, she has also learned to do #1 on demand. This is huge. She is clearly at a more advanced stage than her brother was at the same age. When T Rex mastered this, we were set. After that, it all fell into place. Hence, this is where I believe elimination communication has given her the edge. It could possibly be a girl thing. I have read and heard anecdotally that girls potty train easier than boys. I'm not sure.


We could probably be 100% if we pushed for it. But honestly, we're not ready to cart a portable potty chair on outings for use in public restrooms. (She cannot stand on the toilet seat like her brother used to.) She is far too small to use a toilet without a seat. Often, she just waits to go when we get home. I think a time is coming soon when she will make the transition to training pants instead of diapers. However, I have already been using a fitted diaper that allows her to feel moisture. I use this on her with just a t-shirt. If I loosen the snaps, it works perfectly as training pants. She is still too small for most training pants, too!

I know a few folks thought we were crazy when we introduced the idea of toilet training via elimination communication with a baby, but I can now report nothing but smiles all around. Well, except that I do get a little sad thinking that all my cute cloth diapers will probably be going into storage soon. 

What kind of process did you follow with your kids? How long did it take? Did you have any motivating factors like us or was it just time?