Anyone else practice elimination communication?(LONG)

[Cam & Coco]

I first heard about elimination communication (EC) in a magazine a couple of months ago. We are expecting our first bub late October & I started researching using cloth nappies. My partner was not very keen on the idea of cloth nappies but I still hoped to be able to persuade him. Then I saw an article about EC, I could not believe I had not heard about it before or at least wondered myself about the fact that in the majority of countries worldwide & traditionally through out the centuries there must have been other ways.

Anyway I want to find out as much as I can & see how we go when bub arrives, I imagine if we manage to practice EC it will be on a part-time basis but am really excited about giving it a go, it sounds like it would really enhance the communication & intuneness (making up words ) between us & bub. I have been getting updates & information from the Part Time Nappy Free website as a free member but am wondering if anyone has joined & received access to the online learning recourses? If so, would they recommend it? As we still have a while to go before bub arrives & this is our first baby, I am really not sure how it will go & I imagine to start off there will be so much going that I will not be able to be using an online guide. Just wanting to hear others experiences.
Thanks,

[*Ash*]

yes, cam & coco, EC definately does enhance the intuitiveness and communication with your baby. Our EC journey has been wonderful, eye-opening, bonding and frustrating (at times).I am much more relaxed ECing the second time around. As I said in an earlier post, I have no trouble noticing my DS signals, and I couldn't ignore them if I wanted to!.

I guess I call myself a part-timer, as my DS (4months) wears nappies. This is mostly to do with the weather. Come Spring, he will be nappy free most of the time. However, I find that I have no trouble getting his clothes and nappy off in plenty of time. One of the most obvious signals is when I am BF him, and he starts popping on and off the breast and groaning and wriggling. When my DD did this, I thought it was a BF problem (I didn't practice EC with her). It was so liberating to discover with my eldest DS that it was not a BF issue, but a clear signal that he needed to eliminate.

With DS2, I realised at 10 days old that his signalling was really clear. As soon as I opened myself to it, it was unmistakeable.

I definately recommend that you give it a go. Once your bub knows that your are responding to their signals, they will keep signalling.

I found the tribal baby site useful but haven't subscribed to the 'paid' content ( I am sure I would have if it had been available at the time I had DS1). Also, check out the oznappyfree yahoo group.