So, I've been thinking about times that we go to the potty and nothing happens. Maybe since I'm full time diapering, these are more frustrating to me than misses. Sometimes these become misses shortly after, and sometimes they get caught on the next trip.
I've been noticing some reasons, and I thought I'd share and ask about others' experiences.
Main reasons the baby won't go potty when offered:
1. isn't time yet. (duh!)
2. working on a poop
This seems to be a reason for an empty trip and then a wet diaper right after - the baby wanted to poop but it didn't happen so then he goes ahead and relieves some pressure with a pee in his diaper. Often, this can be followed up with a successful pee and poop in the potty. When I suspect this is happening, I tell him that I see he's not ready yet and that sometimes when I go to the potty, I'm not ready yet either but that I'll take him again when he's ready. ;-) Then I try to offer again pretty quickly - maybe 15-20 mins.
3. too hungry
This one is pretty obvious, because it's accompanied by strong crying. If the baby's crying hard, he won't go no matter how long it's been since he last went. Light crying might be just pee/poop pain or frustration, and he will go in that case.
4. too tired
I'm just starting to figure this one out. I knew that he's too tired to go in the middle of the night (mostly), but I've noticed that as bedtime nears, he's also too tired to go. It's actually helping me to see when he's ready for nap or bed. Earlier today, he didn't go so I set him in his bouncer and he was asleep in a few minutes.
An aside on nighttime EC - if his eyes don't open during nursing session, he won't go potty either. I just change his diaper and put him back down. But if I get open eyes, I take him. i might need to encourage him a little to go with lights on and talking, but as soon as he's gone he can be easily rocked back to sleep (2-3 mins). So I figure it's worth it. Otherwise, he might waken a lot sooner with potty needs.
So, that's how mine does it at 4 mos, anyone else have ideas about this?
I've been noticing some reasons, and I thought I'd share and ask about others' experiences.
Main reasons the baby won't go potty when offered:
1. isn't time yet. (duh!)
2. working on a poop
This seems to be a reason for an empty trip and then a wet diaper right after - the baby wanted to poop but it didn't happen so then he goes ahead and relieves some pressure with a pee in his diaper. Often, this can be followed up with a successful pee and poop in the potty. When I suspect this is happening, I tell him that I see he's not ready yet and that sometimes when I go to the potty, I'm not ready yet either but that I'll take him again when he's ready. ;-) Then I try to offer again pretty quickly - maybe 15-20 mins.
3. too hungry
This one is pretty obvious, because it's accompanied by strong crying. If the baby's crying hard, he won't go no matter how long it's been since he last went. Light crying might be just pee/poop pain or frustration, and he will go in that case.
4. too tired
I'm just starting to figure this one out. I knew that he's too tired to go in the middle of the night (mostly), but I've noticed that as bedtime nears, he's also too tired to go. It's actually helping me to see when he's ready for nap or bed. Earlier today, he didn't go so I set him in his bouncer and he was asleep in a few minutes.
An aside on nighttime EC - if his eyes don't open during nursing session, he won't go potty either. I just change his diaper and put him back down. But if I get open eyes, I take him. i might need to encourage him a little to go with lights on and talking, but as soon as he's gone he can be easily rocked back to sleep (2-3 mins). So I figure it's worth it. Otherwise, he might waken a lot sooner with potty needs.
So, that's how mine does it at 4 mos, anyone else have ideas about this?
