New here - where to start?

[ears73]

I am just hearing about this idea for the first time, although it makes perfect sense! My question is this: where do I start?? My son will be six weeks tomorrow.
Thanks!

[tri31]

My experience has been take your time. I will be starting ec again in April when our little one arrives. With my ds, we started ec when he was like 6 months, so. The other mom's will have more help to offer as far as a tiny one is concerned. With Jaden, it unfolded quite naturally, though. They are such wise little teachers.

[Kim B Lynn]

Relax and only take as much of it at a time as you can. Don't feel like you have to start all at once with all suggestions, but just try a few and stick with what works.

Waking pees are pretty easy for us. He always goes after a minute or two....just enough time for me to get his diaper off and get somewhere appropriate.

Spend an hour or two watching baby without a diaper if you can. It'll help you see if baby cues or not.

Stop disposables as soon as you can if possible. I've been ECing with sposies, (it is possible) but it makes it harder than it has to be I think. I'm getting cloth this week and can't wait!

Once baby can sit with support 3 or 4 months, consider investing in a Baby Bjorn Little Potty. These are wonderful!

DON'T BE A PERFECTIONIST. I struggle with this. Perfectionism doesn't work well with EC. It only makes you want to give up. Just be relaxed and don't feel bad if you don't do it for a few days or a week for whatever reason. Don't feel bad if you use sposies or don't do regular naked time. Just do what you can.

HAVE FUN...EC is a blast!

[hrsmom]

Great advice so far! I think a great place to start is to offer the potty when they wake up, during diaper changes, when you take them out of a sling or carrier or carseat, a few minutes after feeding, and when you think about it. (Any or all of those times!) Changing a wet diaper as soon as you notice is a good starting place as well. (You may already be doing this!) There are some great online resources. Try the tribal baby website (tribalbaby.org?) Enjoy and congratulations on your little one!!!!!!

You can hold them over a sink, toilet, bowl, diaper, whatever.

[hrsmom]

I wanted to add, EC can be as full time or part time as you want it to be. I don't think it's possible to catch everything!!! Even one catch is a huge success! It's more about keeping your baby clean and dry all the time and providing them a place to eliminate when possible and tuning in to what's going on with your babe. A lot of fussiness can be explained by the need to eliminate!

[rzberrymom]

The book Diaper Free Baby really helped me when I was getting started.