Potty training is often an overwhelming experience for parents. Whether it’s because you have a limited time to do so or a reluctant kid, it can feel impossible. But some parents claim that they’ve cracked the code on potty training, suggesting different methods they found effective.
Parents of super young babies have touted elimination communication as the most effective way to potty train. Many start when their kids aren’t even old enough to hold up their own heads. They believe that using the method allows them to be intuitive to their babies’ needs, and that it’s easy if you know what to look for.
One mom is using the method with her newborn.
Mom Chloe, who posts about her life on Instagram using the handle @infinite.creators, shared a video of her and her daughter Sequoia. “What if I told you my baby has been potty trained since three weeks old?” she wrote on the video.
“It’s actually a LOT easier than you think,” she captioned. “I couldn’t believe how quickly I was able to tune into her body language and cues — and start catching nearly all of her pees and poops in the potty.”
She started elimination communication, believing babies are smart about their bodies.
Going on, she claims that babies know when they need to go to the bathroom, even at only 3 weeks old. She says that parents believe their babies are being “fussy,” when in reality, they need to go potty.
“Fun fact: newborns *do* have a fully developed bladder sphincter. They can hold their pee — and they don’t actually want to soil themselves,” she wrote.
They have a specific potty schedule already.
Chloe detailed her entire process when practicing elimination communication with her daughter. She bought a tiny plastic potty to put Sequoia on and get used to going by herself. The mom noticed her daughter usually needs to pee within minutes of waking, so she puts her on her potty quickly.
They also use sound cues to train the baby’s body into releasing. “I use sound cues: ‘pssssssst’ for pee and a fart sound for poop. She now associates those with releasing,” she said. She also praises the little one, just as you would while potty training an older child.
Reactions were mixed.
The mom admitted that she doesn’t always catch Sequoia’s pees and poops, but claims it’s not about “perfection.” She believes it’s about “consistency.” Some people praised her process, while other’s claim that it’s bogus.
“EC isnt potty training,” one person wrote. “It’s parent training. So I wouldn’t say your baby is potty trained. Youre trained to take them to it.”
Another asked, “If they are potty trained then why are they still wearing a diaper?”
“I would highly recommend it,” a mom who practices elimination communication commented. “It’s amazing how baby’s communicate.”
