EC Or Elimination Communication

This is strictly personal opinion, as I have done no research on the benefits or lack thereof. I think having one 1yr old is tough, having two would be even tougher...I would not want to make myself crazier by trying to incorporate EC!! You are not training them, you are training you and Im pretty sure you already know how to use the bathroom. I say let them be babies and enjoy what little time you have with them anyway!! I've yet to see a kindergartener in diapers...LOL...and I haven't seen a child who has been developmentally advanced by practicing Elimination Communication as a baby.

Good luck whatever you try!
~L.

Just be aware that it seriously grosses people out. In our culture, all the bathroom stuff is expected to be private, and EC makes it necessary to do some of it immediately, not whenever the bathroom can be located. This means that you have to be willing to stare down the looks of disapproval and disgust, or live your life very, very close to home.

I read the anthropology about EC when my kids were really young and it struck me at the time that the cultures that do that don't have upholstery and expectations of being securely dressed at all times. They also live where communal toileting doesn't involve walls of any kind (think 'holes in the roads in China' where everyone 'goes')...

It seemed to me that it would create a lot of different-kind of work for mom... not less. I have not known anyone who successfully did so in a city after the child was about 9 months old. I've lived in *very* hippy areas, and the people who succeed for longer live the vast majority of their lives actually AT the farm... not in cars, not in libraries or at coffee shops...

Know yourself and your preferred lifestyle, and be willing to try it out and see how it goes rather than committing completely to it as 'the best idea ever.' Always make it possible to change your mind without hurting your pride...

Keep it stress free and fun. When I started my daughter early, we would blow up a baloon every time she was successful. This reward was fun and cavity free! Use what you think would work with your daughters, and be VERY patient and supportive. Good Luck!
KPC

There is a yahoo group for ecing parents that I have found extremely helpful :-) It will take awhile to get your girls on board since they are older, but it is possible. I began ECing my delayed 2yr old (he was about the level of a 10-11month old) it took about 4months total but he got it...then I got lazy HA

My first daughter was potty trained by 1 1/2yrs old. I simply took her potty with me everytime I went and she would sit on her potty while I sat on my and that is all I did. Expect of course we sing Peepee on the potty song when she went and bragged to family about it. Good Luck.

Pesonally I don't know what EC is excuse my lack of knowledge in that area. I suggest giving them am interest not forcing it upon them.
My Story:

I simply encouraged my 2 year old about 4 months ago to start using the potty. She loves Elmo so I got her some elmo panties and told her she couldn't pee on elmo.

She had a small regression because I was afraid she would potty on herself while we were out so I put pull-ups on her and she just used them cause she could. I stopped doing that and at that time I was at home with her everyday so I had more time to work with her.

I also put her potty in the living room because it was easily acsessible to her when she had to go she just sat down on her own. Gradually I put her on the toilet.

I also brought her elmo's potty time DVD at Christmas and she watches it still it is very informative and helpful for them. Its in the usual Sesame Street format it breaks down the process: get the feeling to pee or poo, go, wash hands, etc. It tells them its ok to have accidents and talks to parents (Elmo's Dad does). Not sure what yor kid show tolerance is but I love it. :-D
Hope it helps I found that DVD at Best Buy I believe(Try Toys R US To)
Good Luck!!!
Peace and Blessings!!!!

As a parenting instructor for MSU ext, we taught that if you choose to do this sort of early potty training, (and end up being"successful") you are only training yourself, not the kid. They do not have the muscles to physically be trained this early, but you have the brainpower to remember what time of day they usually releive themselves so you can catch it. (#1 and #2) Get ready for cleaning up.... A LOT.

I felt that "Potty Free Before Three" was an excellent book. I can't remember the author.

No experience...yet. But we are going to start soon. I am doing all my reading right now, and researching potties. Diaper Free by Ingrid Bauer is supposed to be the best book on it. To get ready for it, we are emphasizing during diaper changes, you are WET now, let's get you DRY. I, also, try to give her some naked time, and observe her for signals that she is about to eliminate. And I use the shhhh sound when I catch her urinating. Hope that helps...good luck!!

Oh and interesting tidbit (in case you haven't heard it yet)...Before disposables were invented, the majority of American babies WERE potty-trained by 18 months.