Does this sound like progress?

[akayerich]

So, I started EC with my son at 14 months, which was 2 weeks ago. I know its late to start, but I figured it couldn't hurt to try. I'm really not catching too many pees yet, just the morning and after nap ones, and maybe 1 other during the day. And I haven't caught any poops yet at all. I didn't really expect to be catching much yet, though. I'm still mostly just leaving him in a coverless diaper and trying to get an idea of his patterns. And I make a cueing sound whenever I see him going so he can hopefully start to make that association.

But I've noticed a change in my son over the last couple of weeks. He never used to let me know if he was wet. Now as soon as he pees, if I don't notice, he comes over to me and pats the front of his diaper, usually with a big grin on his face- kinda like "Look mom, I did that thing you want me to do for some reason!" So I'm thinking that he's starting to at least be aware of his elimination, where before he didn't seem to be at all. What do you think? Does this sound like progress?

[sapphire_chan]

Sounds awesome. It's really great that he's communicating back to you about his elimination.

[akayerich]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Sometimes I feel like we're really not getting anywhere with this, but I think that at the very least, he'll be diaper-free by the time a child who's classically potty-trained is, and the process will be less stressful for the both of us.

[emmaegbert]

that sounds awesome. I did something like this w. my son at 15m, though I didn't know about EC at the time. Potty learning was a very long process with him, but he was out of daytime dipes by about 21m, and by 2yo had very few if any "misses".

[JMJ]

It does sound like he's becoming more aware. Progress comes in many forms, not just fewer misses. I have to tell myself that every time DD goes on a potty strike. She's learning to take control for herself!

[akayerich]

So now, he will actually come to me and make the "sssss....." sound when he goes. It's so cool that we're actually communicating about this! Even though he doesn't seem to know he has to go before he has to go, I'm just excited that he's aware and "talking" to me about it. And I've noticed that if I take him to the potty (which is still just a prefold on the changing table for us) and he doesn't have to go, he starts crying and squirming. But if he just sits still, it usually means he'll end up peeing.

Just wanted to share.