Green Daily

Ok, so the diaper debate looms large in the minds of any parent-to-be. Will it be cloth, disposables or something in between?

Many kids these days are routinely in diapers until the age of three. If you're a parent, you may have heard your mom telling you how you were potty-trained at 18 months and you chalked it up to her romanticizing the past again. Toilet learning can be achieved even earlier, according to the proponents of elimination communication.

What is elimination communication? Elimination communication (EC) is "a process where a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues and intuition to address an infant's excretive needs." Successful EC will partially or completely avoid the use of diapers. According to Wiki, EC was inspired by the traditional practices of diaper-free baby care in less-industrialized countries. According to proponents, EC is most successful if it is started right at birth. If started later, babies run the risk of being "diaper trained" and the process may become more difficult.

EC sounds like a fascinating concept, although I have never known anyone who successfully did it. It does sound like a great way to minimize the use of any diapers though, whether cloth or paper. For more information see Born Potty Trained.