elimination communication and the working mama

[Magnolia mama]

Just wondering if there are any working mamas out there that EC?  I have a 2 week old and have just learned of this and think its wonderful. My only dilemma is that I will have to go back to work 3 days a week and my DS will be with my mom those days. I don't want to have to put that on her on top of the other things I am asking of her. I'm sure if I ask her to try she will, but I'm not going to rely on it. So how do I EC 4 days a week and not lose any ground the other 3?

Any advice or help is welcomed! :)

[Ma Cactus]

I also work 3 days a week - my sister has him 2 of the other days and DH has him the third day (DS is 17 mos though, EC'd from week1).  My sister has always been open to EC in principle, but not so dedicated in practice, and it is fine.  I think it just puts us in the category of 'part-time' EC, which is much better than none at all.  I think it was even helpful to have some days with no pressure during periods when I was trying too hard.  The thing to remember, is it is about communication, not catches, and babies seem to get it that they have different relationships with different people.  Your Mom won't nurse him, but he will be ok with that too!

[nilatti]

I work at the office in the mornings and from home in the afternoons. My husband, who also ECs the baby, does the reverse. One morning and one afternoon each week, DS goes to a home-based daycare. The care provider doesn't do EC. I would say that it's ok to have him be in situations sometimes where the people he's with aren't doing it. You don't "lose ground." The baby just learns that there are different sets of rules in different places. EC is about maintaining that particular awareness, not about ... making progress. At least, I don't think it is.

Is it working for me? Well, in the past two days, we've had no misses while awake, and this afternoon, the baby scooted to his potty, patted it, and looked at me expectantly. I put him on the potty and he used it. 8 months old. I have friends who can't get their three-year-old to do that. If we're losing ground, it's not much.