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just starting to try EC need a little help please

post #1 of 6
Thread Starter 
so my DD is 3 months old and i had never heard of EC but came across it the other day online and once it said its about respect I decided I needed to try it. my DD and I are very in tune with eachother and I know when she needs everything lol well almost I cant figure out when she needs to pee! She has always let me know when she needs to poo and we have that down pat now but the urine isnt working out so well. shes a very active baby and is always kicking and squirming and what not. any tips?
also can i EC during the day then use diapers at night? what about naps? how do you guys handle it? lol
post #2 of 6
I started to EC with my son when he was about the same age. I wasn't really familiar either and mostly looked here, at diaper free websites and some youtube videos. You can decide what type of back up and how often you want to EC based on what works for you and your baby. Some people do it all the time. Others, like me, use cloth diapers (or sposies but I found that to be too expensive as I was contantly going through them) as back up all the time. What I found works best for pees is timing. I take him first thing in the morning when he wakes up, after naps, and usually a few mintues after he has a big nurse. I will also take him right before he nurses down for the night. You might want to consider getting your DD a potty. My son was already 15lbs when we started at 3 mos, so he was really awkward to balance over a sink or toilet and it was uncomfortable for both of us. I got him this Bjorn Potty Chair because it has a high back and he couldn't sit up unassisted. He loves it! I have also found that things get much easier as time goes on and my son is used to going on the potty. He keeps his diapers dryer longer, and even stayed dry all night this week. Poops were a little harder for us, but we are starting to get those down too and I can count on one hand how many poopy diapers I have changed this month And it sounds like you guys already have the hang of those. So, hang in there Mama, and you and DD will soon find your rhythm and it will get easier! Hope this helps!
post #3 of 6
Thread Starter 
i actually bought that potty on sale for 5 bucks yesterday at babies r us lol we have gotten one pee in the potty so far today lol but its better than nothing! thanks for the advice
post #4 of 6
mu guy uses his potty chair as a drum; has no clue otherwise how to use it. LOL

we've always jsut used the sink or the toilet with him, and he likes to squat when he goes (i actually prefer this too, honestly), so it's been interesting these last couple of months (he's 16 mo today!).

but anyway, to get going on pees with him, i just kept him diaper free for a day and cleaned up whatever i missed and learned his signals. he gets a bit fussy and grabs toward his crotch when he needs too pee. when he needs to poop, he's very clear about his signals.

when he was little--before he was dry all night--i started by pottying him in the night as well as the day. but he would want to nruse and thus start screaming, even though he was going. that would wake all of us (sometimes DH did nite time potty, sometimes i did), and none of us were getting enough sleep. it also "jangled our nerves."

so, we did diapers at night. right now, he does sometimes and othertimes just likes to air everything out.

i also use diapers when we travel (we often have an hr or two in the car when we do have it at all), and i use them if i'm particularly distracted (eg, tomorrow, we're doing the final pack and purge of our house before closing on monday. so i'll keep a diaper on him, and take him to the potty, but this way i don't have to pay close attention while i'm very busy).

otherwise, he tends to be diaper free during the day or i just se a diaper as "back up" while we are out and about (when i use diapers, i use one diaper for 24 hrs and change them like underwear).

right now, he's napping and diaper free. he's got on a long sleeved t, baby legs, and socks.

it does get easier over time, and the signals become clear. i wouldn't call him a "graduate"--but he knows what the potty is, what it is for, and when he is going. he usually signals, and we catch it.

but, there are misses and that's ok. it's just communicating. sometime syou catch everything, sometimes you don't.
post #5 of 6
Thread Starter 
yeah im planning on more part time. so far its working great! she already knows what to do and wen i say psss she either starts going or she'll go ah which means i dont have to go! its AMAZING i mean i wanted to try it but figured shes so young it wont make a difference but i have been pottying her before her nap then shes dry when she wakes and we potty again! also a little while after nursing and soemtimes if i feel like she may need to go. im using backup too.
so her father has seen it work and he cant believe it...but he wont do it with her which really erks me b/c this morning he was watching her and he let her poo herself which really made me mad b/c shes very clear when she needs to poo. he says im not putting a 3 month old on the potty its ridiculous she wont know the difference anyways. I explained to him that its about respect and bonding and what not and he aparently doesnt give a damn! (we arent together btw but we do live together for Aniela's sake and financial reasons) anyone else dealt with a dad whos not on board with EC?
post #6 of 6
ihe only person who isn't,r eally, is my father. he is supportive, but he doesn't do anything with diapers or pottying at all.

i really just decided that i would do it.

early on, my husband would complain about "having to do everything." when he was stressed, he didn't want to do his "potty time" with Hawk. it was only 2-3 hrs per night (usually one or two potties total), but he felt stressed and pressured and then i was "nagging" him and "making him do everything."

so, truth be told, i would just do it myself. then, he started to volunteer to do it when he felt less stress.

all in all, it is important to just take responsibility for whaty ou are doing and not expect anyone else to do it. i'm glad that my mother and ILs do it, i'm glad that my husband does. i'm even glad that my baby sitter does. but, i don't really expect them to--even though they are all on board.

and, sometimes that means that they won't do it, and the needs that i see my child as having don't get met, but nevertheless, i can do my best for him when i am with him, etc, and it will all work out.
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