Friday Find: The EC Store

Well, I think it is official – I no longer have children in diapers! Malena started using the potty consistently at 13 months. Lautaro has taken longer and has been using the potty consistently for the past few months (although he was first introduced to it around his first birthday). So, what a better time for me to tell you about some of the products that helped us get to this important (and happy) moment. As luck would have it, when I decided to write this Friday Find, The EC Store, decided to have a sale to celebrate their re-designed website. The EC Store is my favorite online store to buy all things related to helping your child learn to use the potty.



First Stage: We used cloth diapers from birth (but you can start anytime and achieve the same results) and practiced Elimination Communication. I didn’t learn about EC until Malena was one. We started practicing EC methods then, but it wasn’t full time. With Lautaro I started a little bit earlier, but was less consistent and even less full time. I think using cloth gave them a more acute awareness of when they were wet and thus uncomfortable. They quickly made the connection that if they are changed they are comfortable again. I think introducing EC methods showed them there was an elimination method that was not uncomfortable. I bought several Baby Bjorn little potties and placed them around the house. A quick run to a nearby potty reduces accidents. I even keep a potty in the back of my car – definitely a cleaner option than a public bathroom! I love the simplicity of the Baby Bjorn potty – no licensed media characters, no jarring music plays when you child pees into the potty. The design of the potty also seems comfy for children.



Second Stage: Once my children were using the potty more frequently, they used cloth training pants. We bought an assortment of Bright Bots, Gerber Training Pants, SIMPLYCloth, Under The Nile Training Pants and Imse Vimse Organic Training Pants – all from the EC Store. They did not use pull ups (except on rare occasions like a plane trip, long car rides, birthday parties when they used Seventh Generation). I still don’t understand the point of a pull up – aren’t they just like a diaper, unless they let your child know they are wet? Bright Bots are very trim and have an absorbent and waterproof liner – making these training pants our go to training pants for days out of the house. We used Gerber and Under The Nile training pants around the house because I could afford to buy more and they were comfy for my kids. We used the Imse Vimse Organic Training Pants at night – they were a bit bulky for my kids and they are more expensive than other training pants.




Final Stage: We started using panties/undies (or mackies as my children call them – who knows where this came from?) when Malena was fairly confident using the potty. We are still using training pants with Lautaro. Since Malena was wearing panties before she was two and she is super slim, it was difficult to find panties that fit. Fortunately, The EC Store sells a selection of tiny undies. We also introduced Baby Bjorn potty seats that adjust to fit snuggly on your toilet. Once again – no licensed media characters. The seat is contoured and was more comfortable than other potty seats that are flat-shaped. I also liked that the seat is removable, so adults don’t need to fumble with a potty seat when it is their turn to use the potty!

The EC Store Sale: Currently, almost everything in the store is marked down 10%. Use coupon code NEWSITE to get an additional 10% off any order of $50 or more. Check out the clearance section for items 40% off. The EC Store also sells Baby Legs, EC-friendly clothing, Sigg water bottles, baby carriers and nursing bras. One of the best nursing pads I ever used was from The EC Store. I am so glad to see they selling these thin, contoured and absorbent pads again.

For a little extra reading… some interesting facts about diaper and potty training historical usage in the US from Mother Jones and Diaper Jungle.