Elimination Communication: A Comedic Journey of Expectations vs. Reality

home insemination Kit

When my daughter was just 3 months old, I was convinced she could use the toilet. Cloth diapering made laundry a chore, and when I stumbled upon elimination communication (EC), also known as infant potty training, I was all in. I was ready for this!

Fast forward to 6 months, and I had mastered reading her cues. I made it my mission to keep her diaper dry, much to the delight of friends and family who were genuinely impressed. I thought I was a parenting rockstar. Little did I know, the real challenge was just around the corner.

By 9 months, we had introduced baby sign language, and my little genius was signing whenever she needed to go. “She’s going to be potty trained by her first birthday!” I bragged, proudly showcasing her skills to everyone. Oh, the naivety!

When she hit the one-year mark, things took a turn. If I had taught her the sign for “no way,” she would have used it every time I tried to rush her to the toilet. She was aware she was a tiny human, not just a novelty act for my amusement. But I was determined to make EC work.

Despite my enthusiasm, I continued to tout the joys of EC online, sharing that she was still using her potty—technically true, but my reality included lots of cleaning up after mishaps and desperate sticker charts. I tried to keep it positive, avoiding candy bribes, but stickers seemed harmless enough.

As the months rolled on, my excitement faded. By the time she turned 2, I had given up on the magic of EC. Grocery store trips turned into candy aisle visits, and I let her pick any treat she wanted—M&Ms, Smarties, you name it—anything to encourage her to use the potty.

At 3, while her diaper days were over, she still resisted using the toilet. I tried everything: heartfelt conversations, gentle reminders, and even desperate pleas. “Do you want to be the kid who pees their pants in college?” I asked, but she wasn’t having it. I often questioned my decision to pursue EC in the first place.

Eventually, I threw in the towel. I stopped asking her to use the potty and let her choose between diapers and underwear. It was tough watching younger kids ditch their diapers, but I refused to let her feel my disappointment.

The breakthrough came during a special shopping trip when we found a beautiful new dress designed for potty-trained girls. This was the motivation she needed, and within weeks, we finally moved past the struggles.

Now at 4, she still wears that dress and fondly recalls, “Remember, Mom? This is my potty-training dress.” Oh, how I remember!

While I refrained from sharing diaper-free photos on social media, I do see friends chatting about their kids’ potty achievements and the wonders of EC. I genuinely believe it works for some families, and I hope others recognize when it’s time to step back, unlike I did.

Now that I have a second daughter, I hear the familiar question—am I going to try that “baby potty-training thing” again? I resist the urge to shout, “Are you kidding me?!” Instead, I simply say, “It’s too much with two kids.” Plus, my second daughter arrived during the challenging potty-training years of my first. No way am I diving back into that power struggle. She’ll figure out the toilet when she’s ready, and I’m completely okay with that.

If you’re looking for more insights on home insemination and parenting, check out IVF Babble—it’s a fantastic resource. For practical tools and advice, Make a Mom is a great place to start. And if you want to learn more about the ins and outs of EC, you can visit our other blog post on intracervical insemination.

Summary:

In my journey with elimination communication, what began as excitement turned into a humorous struggle with reality. Learning to navigate potty training with my daughter was filled with challenges, disappointments, and eventual successes. Now, with a second child, I’m opting for a more relaxed approach, allowing her to find her own path to potty training without the added pressure.