too wiggly to stay on potty

[JessieBird]

Hi there - We were late coming to EC but had huge success very quickly. DS was about 8 mo when we started and is now almost 10. We started with an Ikea potty and until recently, he loved sitting on it with books. We were catching most pees and poops when we were at home and he really seemed to "get it" and enjoy the experience. We were almost diaper-free at home within a week of starting and it was so much fun for all of us! Now DS is a crawling machine and can even stand up from the squat position that his potty has him in (his feet firmly reach the ground), and he is always in motion. For the last ten days or so, he crawls off the potty every time I put him on and pees on the floor. This is fine - it's better than a diaper IMO - but I would like to get him back to the good old days of potty love.

What do you suggest? How did you get through this phase? Just putting him back on doesn't work - he gets angry and I really don't want any negative experience associated with the potty.

Thanks for your advice!

[sgmom]

My daughter did a little bit of that when she started crawling. ANYTHING that keeps her entertained helped. Toys, books, a mirror, etc.

Now that she's just started walking, FORGET about it. LOL!! She will sit when she wants and ONLY when she wants. She is however, starting to walk over to it and sit on it all by herself. She doesn't do anything in it, but I'm happy with sitting!

It WILL get better. My advice is to not push, and to make sitting on the potty a fun experience. Learning to use a potty has SO many levels. Recognize the sensation of having to pee, learning to hold the pee, how to release the pee, where to put it... The fact that he sits on the potty, crawls off and pees almost right away is a VERY good sign! He's putting two and two together. Keep communication open and have fun with it. It's a great ride. Sort of like a roller coaster. Sometimes exciting, sometimes frustrating, but it's never boring!

[riboflavin]

Sounds like he is really interested in learning and mastering these exciting new things like crawling and standing and exploring! Maybe potty is old hat right now. You can try to get his interest again by making it interesting. Maybe you could try making a potty cozy to garner his interest. Or a couple different ones. You can make them (free pattern here) or buy them at the EC stores.

If you have the cash get some new potties! That is always exciting. I found some great old wooden ones on craigslist for cheap. A weeman urinal might be really exciting to him too. If he can't stand all by himself yet for long, you could assist him. Then he could practice his standing and pottying at the same time. Imagine the thrill! heehehe

There are a lot of things suggested here that work for many people; moving the potty, going outside, going in tub, special toy only for potty use, songs and dances you can do for them while they are on the potty, etc.

I know it is hard going from all catching and then reverting, but it is normal for so many babes. Gotta go with the flow and ride it out! And have fun coming up with creative ways to get him interested again. There are a lot of threads with really great ideas.

Hope you find some things that get him interested again! Let us know!

[Sheryl1678]

My daughter started diving/launching off the bblp a few months ago. It was really frustrating for me because we were "almost there". sigh.

Anyway, much to my delight, I tried her on a soft toilet topper and she totally stays put. I don't know if she knows she is too small to crawl away or she might get hurt if she jumps off? I stay next to her and still give her toys and entertainment but the actual toilet saved our EC (pic).

[JessieBird]

Thanks for all your advice! We do have different potties in storage in the basement - fancier kinds with lids and seats, etc. I had thought of bringing them up but then decided consistency would be better. But now I'm going to try, thanks for that tip. And I'd never heard of a potty cozy but I'll try sewing one, they look like fun!

As for putting him on a real toilet, it had crossed my mind and a friend recommended the Bumbo seat because of its extra support but I dismissed the idea thinking that my guy would get angry about being trapped there. But who knows, he may love it because it's what mummy and daddy do so I think I'll try! Especially after seeing how happy your DD looks, Sheryl.

He does have his special toys and books for potty time and they help for a few minutes but then it's as if he suddenly remembers that he'd rather crawl away and off he goes. And my singing and dancing definitely don't help!

However, since I originally posted we have had a bit of a breakthrough - almost everytime I've put him on the potty, he has immediately gotten off and resisted getting back on but twice he peed right away and then got off! I take this as a great sign that when he needs to go, he'll go, otherwise he's got better things to do and won't wait around the way he used to. Now if only I could get him there at the right time more often... (we're not so great at seeing advance signs and go mostly on timing and intuition)

Thanks for the support!