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—KEILA, MOM TO JANE, 27 MONTHS, AND HELEN, 8 MONTHS

My first son was potty trained conventionally. I started at twenty-seven months and it took a good three months before he was reliably clean and dry. I did think how strange it was that I’d conditioned him into using diapers, then switched to a potty. During this time I discovered EC. I had been putting four-month-old baby Oliver on the potty to encourage Jonathan to use it, and to my surprise he’d often pee when I did this. From then on I was hooked and convinced that EC was a far more appropriate and gentle method for toilet learning. Now Jonathan enjoys signing “potty” to Oliver and loves to help out whenever he can!

—KEZ, MOM TO JONATHAN, 3, AND OLIVER, 8 MONTHS

Even before learning about EC, I instinctively put my son on the potty to poop when he was seven months old, but only for a few weeks because I was intimidated when someone told me that children really aren’t ready until they are at least eighteen months old. I stopped because I was worried I’d done something wrong. However, I think the experience stayed with him because when we did start potty training, he seemed to remember, although there were some power struggles about it. Ironically, he eventually trained just after his second birthday, after he saw his baby sister peeing on the potty and recognized all the positive reinforcement associated with it. She’s been EC’ed since three months.

—CARRIE, MOM TO CONNOR, 3, AND RILEY, 17 MONTHS

Bekah was twenty-six months old and conventionally diapered when Lillian was born. Lillian was EC’ed full-time from birth, so it was fascinating to watch them learn and grow together. Sometimes their toilet learning was remarkably similar at certain stages, though they were more than two years apart.

—ELIZABETH, MOM TO FIVE, INCLUDING BEKAH, 5, LILLIAN, 2, AND JACK, 8 MONTHS

These are just a few of the many special situations you may encounter. Each family and child is unique. Many more tips on specific situations can be found if you join online or real-life support groups (see the resources at the end of the book).

FINAL WORDS

Congratulations for embarking on your EC journey! No matter how far you’ve come or how you’ve decided to integrate EC into your life, I applaud you all. Like so much else in parenting, the art of EC involves balance. Each moment of each day, you are balancing the needs of your child, your family, and yourself. You have recognized that practicing EC offers a unique opportunity to nurture your child’s well-being and happiness, starting in babyhood—a brief period of time that is as infinitely precious as it is heartbreakingly fleeting.

Every child and every family is different. The range of experiences among EC’ing families reflects this diversity. Remember that staying relaxed, gathering support and nurturing yourself, and listening to your baby will put you on a sure path toward parenting with joy and happiness. It’s my hope that your willingness to listen and respond to your young child by practicing EC will provide a solid foundation for the many parenting adventures that await you and your family in the future.

RESOURCES

For the most updated information on EC and other responsive parenting practices, see the author’s website at www.thediaperfreebaby.com

GEAR

Diapers, underwear, and EC clothing

www.theECstore.com (a wide selection of EC gear—diapers, training pants, underwear, EC clothing—including split-crotch pants and BabyLegs—PULpads, Baby Bjorn potties and toilet reducers, Babywunder Deluxe Clear Potties, Potty Bowls, potty warmers, and other items)

www.wonderbabydesigns.com (Poquito Pants™ baby underwear)

www.babyworks.com (cloth diapers and training pants, wool puddle pads)

www.diaperware.com (large selection of cloth diapers and accessories)

www.underthenile.com (organic cotton diapers and training pants)

www.hannaandersson.com (xs boys and girls underwear and training pants)

www.fuzzibunz.com—Fuzzi Bunz pocket