Our baby on the potty from newborn. Elimination Communication Tips Newborn
Elimination Communication Tips Newborn.
Looking back on the first month of Elimination Communication (EC) with our newborn.
EC was much easier than expected.
However, we did had our challenges.
Let me share my personal EC story. As a first time mum.And, all our Elimination Communication tips for your Newborn.
Hopefully it inspires to start EC yourself.
Enjoy the journey mama!
Read on to find out:
- How to start Elimination Communication from newborn
- Elimination Communication from birth
- EC in the First Month
- Tips for EC with your newborn
- Summary
How to start Elimination Communication from newborn
Preparation
During my pregnancy I’ve gathered a lot of info on EC.
First of all. I read this book: ”Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene”.
Secondly, I watched all videos on YouTube that I could find.
And I signed up for an online EC course. EC with a newborn by Go diaper free.
Expectations
I felt determined to give EC a try. But I thought it would be difficult.
It turned out much easier.
This video was a life-save. About the different kind of sounds babies make. As I could easily identify Saoirse’ EC cues from birth.
It is a much watch for all mamas.
Elimination Communication from birth
During a magical home-birth our daughter Saoirse came to us.
The first thing she did was wee-ing on me.
This was the start of our EC journey together.
With lots of fun, some wee’s on mama and only a few poopy diapers.
The first day on earth: already catched a poo!
Saoirse was born on the 8/8/2020. A super hot sunny day, in the mountains of Spain.
As it was so hot we didn’t need to wear any clothes and enjoyed our skin to skin time. After a few hours on earth, Saoirse started to get fussy.
The moment she got a bit fussy and looked upset we put her above the potty that we placed on our bed. And yes!
We caught the first wee and meconium poo.
Although I felt super happy with my newborn baby in my arms. Catching the first wee’s and meconium poo made me feel even happier! We did it!
I was amazed how easy it was.
She was just drinking and sleeping. The moments she got fussy I put her above the “potty” and yes: there she goes.
This really showed me that from instinct baby’s don’t like to wet themselves. cWhich makes perfect sense.
EC in the first 4 weeks
From the first catches on day one, I felt more determined to catch them all. Every time Saoirse was wiggling her legs or got upset I put her above the potty. Which was after every meal. And, every-time after waking up.
Honestly, it felt like she needed to go all day.
During pregnancy, I needed to wee all the time myself. So I thought I’d be perfectly fine with her frequency. However, it was asking a lot of energy.
The first days when we were just naked on the bed it went smoothly.
With some misses. Too late, or next to the potty. As we weren’t wearing a diaper most of the time to practice naked observation.
Second week: EC at home
From the moment we went out of the bed it started to get more intense. We were having our parents over. Therefore, I felt like Saoirse needed to be dressed.
Which was more challenging. Because she didn’t enjoy to be dressed and undressed.
So when Saoirse was signalling that she needed to go. I went straight into ACTION!
Almost running with her to the bathroom. To give her a “Pottytunity”. Fast, as babies can’t hold up so long.
Which felt like I was doing all the time: Drinking, sleeping, potty time.
Intense week 2: Cluster-feeding and Elimination Communication
Around week 2 she also experienced her first “cluster-feeding“.
Which basically means she wanted to drink all the time. And, was getting super fussy.
I wished I knew about cluster feeding at that time. Because, honestly, I felt like my sweet little angel baby changed into a milk junkie.
Luckily, this only lasted about a week. I was so happy to have the sweet girl back around week 3! Now I appreciated her sweetness even more.
Newborns cry while changing clothes
Newborns cry while changing diaper and clothes. This makes Elimination Communication more challenging.
Also our newborn baby Saoirse needed to cry.
Saoirse wanted to be naked all the time. Totally understandable in the heat! (Saoirse was born in Spanish summer.)
I felt sorry for putting her clothes on. However, when checking with my mama friends I wasn’t the only one. They all experienced crying when changing clothes or diapers.
Now, after 3 months, she is smiling at me while changing. It takes a bit of patience, but they get used to it.
Newborns cry while wee-ing
Saoirse was also crying while pee-ing. Which is normal too: almost all babies cry when wee-ing as it is a new sensation. I felt better by knowing this.
Anyways, this started to ask a lot of energy. If I could do it again I would just place a potty near and let her go near me. Instead of taking her to the bathroom all the time.
More about lessons learned a bit later.
EC at night
During the nights I let her go to the potty every time she woke up. Which was about 4 times more or less.
We where co-sleeping which really helped.
Saoirse didn’t cry at night. She only started to make soft noises. Which I heard it straight on. As a mama lion protecting her cub.
I gave her a potty moment, changed her diaper and was breastfeeding her.
While daddy was still sleeping. He slept the whole night and didn’t feel tired at all. Which was good for the whole family.
As our doula left after one week. Daddy was the doula now. Making nice food for mama, cleaning the house and just being there with us. Enjoying our postpartum bubble. Which was an amazing time!
Read on:
- 7 Reasons Co-sleeping benefits for mama, papa and baby
- 8 Magical Breastfeeding & breastmilk benefits
- Postpartum ♡ How to take care of your body after birth
Week 3: What a change!
Week 3 was a blessing. Saoirse was done with cluster feeding. I was so happy that she was back to “normal”.
Our first trip out
This week we needed to go the town-hall to report Saoirse. As she was born at home this was the first time we really went out on a trip. Other than walking a bit on the mountain.
I was a bit anxious to go. Going with the car, I didn’t know how to give her a pottytunity and I didn’t know how she would respond to all the impulses of the village.
However, all went well! I felt so happy.
Sleeping in the carrier
Saoirse basically slept all the time in the baby carrier. She sleeps so good when I hold her close.
Also in the town hall she was a sleep. We even went into the supermarket. While she was still sleeping.
To celebrate we had our first drink on the terrace.
Finally, our baby was with us!
As Spanish bureaucracy is as bad as it sounds. We needed to go another 2 trips out to the town-hall. Both went the same. Our baby was sleeping all the time in the carrier.
First potty on the road
In week 3 we also had our first on the road Pottytunity. In the toilet of a supermarket. Which went good.
So again, a celebration!
Week 4: A big trip!
With 4 weeks we already made our first big trip. To Madrid, getting a passport for our little adventurer.
Around this time I decided it is ok if she pees in her diaper. As it was impossible for me to catch all wee’s. Especially while being on the road so far. Madrid is about 5 hours by car.
EC in a hotel
Anyways, we stayed in a hotel in the middle of the city. Which was ideal so I could go there anytime she was waking up. Breastfeeding her. Giving a pottytunity. As I didn’t felt comfortable yet to breastfeed in public at that time.
Everything went fine. Besides a miss on our bed. I made a changing station on our hotel bed. Where I took Saoirse’ diaper of to bring her to bathroom. On the way the she decided it was time to go.
As a result: all the blankets and sheets where full of baby poo.
Not ideal at all.
Overall the the trip went fine. Saoirse was sleeping (again) most of our city walks. In her favourite place: the baby carrier.
Staying in a hotel with a newborn is not ideal. But we managed. And, of course. We did clean the sheets. 😉
Tips for EC with your newborn
Tips for EC with your newborn.
Our lessons learned after the first month of Elimination Communication.
That these Elimination Communication tips help you and your newborn. On the road towards a diaper free life!
Babies signal when they needing to go to the potty
Babies signal when they needing to go to the potty: yes they really do!
I was so excited and surprised that Saoirse does signal. All the time she needed to go.
That is why EC is easier than I thought.
Learning her EC signals was easy.
Responding to them.
All the time.
Was the hardest part.
Impossible to catch all pees
It is too much to catch all the pees. Especially curing the cluster feeding times. When babies feed – and pee – constantly.
It is easy(er) to catch the poo
It is much easier to catch poo. As the poo is less frequent. The first month I’ve had probably one or two poopy diapers.
The poopy diapers happen in the morning. When I heard Saoirse signal. But I was still too tired to quickly get out of bed.
Response time
The key to EC successes is the ”response time”.
At least for us.
Saoirse does signal. If I’d response fast. I’d probably catch them all.
However, it costs a lot of energy to bring her to the bathroom all the time. Needing to undress etc.
To make your Elimination Communication easier. Make sure to get these inexpensive EC Essentials. Like the EC potty.
Be kind to yourself mama
Most importantly mama: be kind to yourself. You can only give what you have.
Therefore, it is important to keep balance and energy yourself.
That is why I gave up on the need to catch every wee.
At night I miss a few. So I have a better night of sleep.
When we are out I can’t catch them all.
And, I’m perfectly fine with that.
Summary
The first month with your newborn is so special. A rollercoaster of feelings and experiences.
What surprised me most was that Saoirse did signal. And I could tell that she needed to go. Both intuitively and by the sounds she made.
To catch all pees is a huge challenge.
As babies wee so frequent. Like every 10 or 15 minutes when they are awake. That is why I gave up the need to catch them all.
Looking back on our EC journey. I’m happy with the first month.
Only a few poop diapers and much laughter. When mummy and daddy make the pssssst and grrrrr sounds.
Elimination Communication is much easier than it seems.
Give Elimination Communication a try!
What are your EC tips?
Are you planning to do Elimination Communication?
Or are you practising EC with your newborn?
Share your story and EC tips in the comment section below.
Let’s inspire each other!
