101 Reasons [or soon to be 101!] to EC your baby

(adapted from contributions of the members of the YahooGroups EliminationCommunication group)

Health

1. Less irritation for child's skin by keeping urine and excrement off body, thereby reducing incidence of thrush or diaper rash
2. Keeps unnecessary chemicals off baby's skin
3. No need to catheterize a baby for urine sample
4. Supports positive views about bodily functions
5. Children learn how to urinate on cue (is not only convenient, but can prevent healthy problems due to holding urine or bowels)
6. Parent can develop a better sense of your child's digestive system and therefore react to irritants or detect problems more quickly
7. May save baby boys from some infertility problems later
8. Reduces likelihood that baby will urinate or have a BM in the bath or in a swimming pool
9. Helps parents overcome any fears/qualms/phobias about bodily functions.
10. Protects baby from germs in public restrooms
11. More sanitary than "swim-diapers," which don't prevent urine from getting into the pool (not to mention more comfortable for the baby)

Attachment Parenting

12. Encourages the development of a trusting relationship with children through communication about a basic human need
13. Provides more opportunities to hold one's baby
14. Another reason to carry your baby in a sling - sling-time increases parent/baby communication leading to "success" with EC
15. It is more comfortable to carry a baby not wrapped in a big nappy
16. Fosters greater security in a baby - "Mummy and Daddy listen to what I am saying and respond when I need to go."
17. Protects against practices of "crying it out" - the crying child may have to pee
18. A great explanation of why a baby does not sleep through the night - she sleeps without diapers and wakes to go potty!
19. Provides and additional positive response to a crying baby - see if the baby needs to go to the bathroom
20. Encourages the use of sign language for enhanced communcation with baby
21. Provides additional support for "extended" breastfeeding - not weaning the baby early will NOT cause the baby to remain in diapers "forever." The baby will be completely "potty trained" long before weaning.

Environment

22. Reduces the use of disposible diapers, a major contributor to landfill
23. Reduces the use of water and detergents used to wash cloth diapers
24. Reduces the use of disposible wipes used to clean baby's bottom
25. Does not support the manufacture of dioxins and other toxic chemicals used in the productions of diapers and diapering products
26. Reduces use of plastic bags used to individually wrap dirty disposible diapers

Sense of Humor/Fun

27. Getting peed on by an infant can be funny (the first few times at least!)
28. Pottying is more fun than changing diapers
29. Baby bottoms are only tiny for a short time; why cover up the cuteness?
30. Impress and amaze other people when baby pees or poops in the potty.
31. Teaches parents how to trust their intutions (and practice ESP with baby!)
32. As if we needed another reason to appreicate our babies...
33. Keeps one humble (on the misses!!!)
34. A diaperless baby turns the dullest shopping trip into an adventure in new territory
35. EC enhances one's creativity - many EC parents sew to make pants that fit without diapers or find the best restrooms in town
36. Creates fond memories of places where baby peed
37. After starting EC, it is very hard to find reasons not to do it
38. Meet great people on EC-mailing lists
39. The misses make funny stories (once you're done cleaning them up).
40. It's fun to see the looks on people's faces when you say that your 18 month-old is still nursing but is also out of diapers!
41. EC makes great material for silly nursery rhyme potty songs to sing while baby finishes his business.

Child development/Capabilities

42. Provides more opportunities to play in the mirror in the bathroom
43. Babies have bladder and sphincter control from birth
44. Babies are able to communicate their needs from birth
45. An EC child will be more active earlier in pulling up and down his or her pants because of earlier involvement (versus being forced to lie passively on a changing table)
46. Teaches you healthy skepticism about things "everybody knows," such as "babies have no control..."
47. Babies gain more skills as they grow, so help them gain confidence by starting with what they know and can control
48. Gives baby a chance to show how smart she is and how well she can communicate
49. You know in advance when your baby is about to reach a new developmental milestone - increased "misses" often preceeds a developmental change
50. It teaches older siblings about communicating with the baby.
51. It helps older siblings develop healthy attitudes about bodily functions.

Happy Babies and Happy Parents

52. A diaperless baby smells wonderful!
53. Babies think it is fun!
54. Wearing underwear is a lot more comfortable than disposibles or a wet cloth diaper.
55. Babies genitals are not out of reach for him, hidden under a fat diaper for the first formative years. Even when wearing pants he can explore his body much more freely.
56. Watering trees outside is fun for baby.
57. Baby doesn't have to be forced against his/her will to lie still while being changed

Money

58. Disposible diapering can cost nearly $3000 for three years of diapering
59. Cloth diapering can cost $1000 for three years of diapering

A different perspective

60. Conventional toilet training starts with learning to "hold it" while ec starts with learning to "let go" - this can make a big difference on a baby's perception of elimination and and of life in general.
61. Contrary to the promises in advertisements, diapers don't keep the baby clean and dry, but only his clothes and environment.
62. Who would want to wear his toilet?

Discipline

63. Will not have to struggle with conventional potty training later
64. Less frustration for parent and child
65. Helping baby learn to use the bathroom in infancy avoids inconsistencies with discipline (i.e.: "No, Baby, you are NOT allowed in the bathroom...." then "Hey Toddler, you are REQUIRED to use the bathroom."

History

66. People have been doing it for centuries
67. You will find out that your grandmother EC'd your mother or father before the "experts" told them what to do about toilet training.

Convenience

68. Fewer diapers to change
69. No more poopy diapers!
70. It is faster to flush than to lay down, take off, wipe, put on, sit up, etc.
71. You never have to worry about running out of diapers
72. Cuts down on washing
73. If you are (backup) cloth diapering and your washing machine dies on you, it's not much of a problem.
74. You travel light with baby - no diapers to lug around
75. A baby without diapers fits on your hip much better.
76. It's rather unlikely you'll have "two in diapers"
77. How do you change a diaper in a NYC restaurant bathroom (teeny tiny) or an airplane restroom anyway?
78. You don't need to worry about running out of supplies while travelling.
79. You can take your baby anywhere.
80. You don't have to find the super leakproof and absorbant diaper. If you are using diapers for backup, almost anything will do - it's just in case and won't have to hold much and not for long.
81. You've got more room for baby's clothes as you do not need room for diapers.

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