A question about signals

[HappyFox05]

I liked the sound of EC when I was pregnant with our 1st, but didn't try it because there was already enough I didn't know about babies - about the only thing I DID know was how to change a diaper, rofl. But I gave our LO lots of free bum time, on waterproof pads, etc, when she was tiny, & never noticed a signal for pee or poo. About the only common thing I noticed was: I'd turn my back for a few seconds, turn around again, and she was sitting in a puddle. I know I didn't have my back turned for very much longer than that because we lived in a small apartment by ourselves (DH & I were stationed apart at the time) and I had nothing else to focus on other than Korean TV and, when she was napping, books & internet.

I'd like to try EC with our next LO, but am planning on keeping some sort of diaper on her most of the time - I have a toddler & don't want to deal with any more mess than I have to. So my question is - How does EC work with a person who never (or hardly ever, I guess I shouldn't say 'never') lets you know when they have to go? I'm not assuming LO #2 will never signal either, but that's the main reason I never went further with DD 1 - I never knew when she had to go (other than just after a nap, when I just assumed & held her over the toilet/potty). Thanks!

[BarefootScientist]

Besides signals, there is timing and intuition. I did a LOT of timing with mine. Not necessarily "set a timer" type of timing, but just...oh, it's been a while since he's gone, I think I'll try taking him. That's where the cue sound comes in. Pssssssss and he usually went. Or I would just get a sudden thought that he probably needs to pee. Maybe I was picking up on really subtle signals unconsciously, I don't know. But, yeah, timing could help you. And if they're in and out of a stroller or a sling or a carseat, or up from naps or you change activities, those could be good times to try too.

[hrsmom]

Hi! My dd has worn a diaper or training past for most of our EC journey. Ideally it gets changed right away, but sometimes even that didn't happen. I agree, go with timing and when you think they might have to go. I would always offer after waking up, when taking her out of the sling, and if it had been awhile. Some people recommend a certain time interval after eating as well. It took awhile for me to figure out her signals, and at some point they disappeared anyway. It really is ok in my opinion if you don't try to catch every single pee, I don't know how you could with another LO!

[Lia & Eva's Mama]

It takes a lot of practice for you and baby before you will see signals. Some babies never signal. Crying and fussiness is a cue...but not all babies and not all the time. From a small age 2 months we started patting our chest two times and breaking up the taps in sylables Pot(tap) tty(tap) all elimination one sign. Around 6 months they were signing fairly consistently.
You most likely won't see any signals the first time you try...baby has to figure out what you want of him/her first.
In the begining its all about timing! So pull out the water proof pad and start timing between eliminations, you will see a very clear pattern of time.

[lisavark]

Or you might not see a clear pattern of timing, which is ok too.

But you could also get your toddler involved in helping watch for baby's cues! I've heard awesome stories about older siblings being the best at noticing when baby needs to go.

[JMJ]

DD rarely does discernable signals. When she was smaller, she's pop on and off the boob when she had to go, but now she can just hold it till she's done eating. She said "ththththth" to me for a bit, but now she says it all the time. She's also worn a diaper almost full time. We do a lot of intuition and our fair share of timing. I'm getting really good at telling when she doesn't need to go and when she has gone, and one of these days, maybe she'll start signing to me soon when she needs to go... I can dream...