Diaper-Free?

Lina has been using the BumGenius 3.0 diapers since she was two months. The diapers have been working well for her; she has no diaper rash at all so far. Though we enjoyed no trip to the store for paper diaper, it is sometimes a hassal to wash diapers with lots of poops on. When my mom was here, she was trying to teach Lina how to pee or poo on the cues. I thought it was a little too much for the little baby at that time. Recently, I was reading online and found some talks about "diaper-free baby" --or elimination communication "EC". More follow-up reading suggests that it is actually easier to communicate with baby about their need when they are young rather than they are two or three years old. According to the reading, most baby losts their ability (or interests) to communicate with adult about their need when the requests are not responded (heard). And this happens normally after 5 or 6 months. This weekend, I decided to give Lina a try since it is a long weekend and we are home for a longer time. Lina and I went to get a potty that will sing when the babies do their business.

First try, late Saturday afternoon, half an hour after Lina's meal, I put her on the potty, and "shhhh", she went and the music was on. She was happy.

Second try, early Sunday morning, just after Lina woke up, she peed on the potty. The music played; dad tried to turn off his alarm without realizing it was not his alarm. Then she did it again half an hour after the breakfast.

A few other tries, I put her on the potty too late and she already went. It did not work every time. We need to listen to (watch) her signal more closely.

Here comes a good one. Recently, Lina really likes Rice Cracker "Mum mums", and she will pick up little pieces and feed herself. Since she has been eating too many of the cracker on Saturday, she has been constipating since then. We decide to treat her with milk diluted with water and prune paste Monday morning. In the afternoon, while we were playing in the bed, she was giggling and suddenly her face turned grimace. I picked her up and offered her food. She refused. So I put her on the potty, and you can see her trying from her facial expression. Then the music comes, Lina pooped. What a relief! Her sitting on the potty lasted for about 2 minutes till she was completely done and protested. It was a funny moment.

The next step is to let Lina associate the cues with her potty using. Maybe by the Christmas time, she could be truly "diaper-free", then all the two-years-old in the daycare will be very jealous. :-)