Help! Completely EC-ignorant mama with 13-mo-old

[Mother in Mercy]

I've always been a little wary of EC, thinking it sounded like more trouble than I was up for, but for the past 3 days I've found my 13-month-old son peeing on the floor EVERY TIME I set him down, undressed, before we get into the shower. He's just getting good at standing on his own and walking a little, and lately while I get the water going I just stand him up, leaning against the toilet (lid closed) or the side of the tub. Our usual routine is that I undress him and clean his diaper area, then take him to the bathroom to get the shower ready, and I think we've had one "accident" in the past 9 months. But he's seen his dad do his "business" so we think that now that he's standing on his own, and finds himself with no diaper on, in the bathroom, he makes the association and lets it loose! Is my child telling me he's ready to start "potty-learning"?? At one year???

If he is, can anyone offer any advice and/or direct me to some good resources for figuring out what I need to do to facilitate this? Should I just get one of those little kid-potties and stand him up in front of it every morning? This morning I tried to hold him up over the toilet but he just kind of laughed and wriggled as I tried to keep his heavy little body up! Is there anything else I should be doing??

Thanks for any and all advice!

Amy

[emmaegbert]

if you are comfortable with what you are doing, keep it up.

first pee in the AM is a good one. well, and any predictable elimination that you notice (does he poo at a particular time or give a particular sign he is going to?). Or, you can just have him use the potty whenever you or DH does.

I'd never heard of EC (or rather, it sounded totally crazy and I never pursued any info) w. my first and he seemed interested in the potty around age 1 and was doing all poop in there and morning pees by some point between 15 and 18m. So yeah, I think it can be a good age to introduce the potty. You can just do it child-led and low-pressure and that may work great for you.

My DS was out of dipes by 22m- so it wasn't like a week and he was done. Also I just wasn't pushing it- just taking it slow and seeing what he seemed to be able to handle.

With DD, my second, on a whim I read the book on EC by Gross-Loh and now I definitely recommend that. It was very clear and helpful, discussed starting at any age, discussed doing part-time ec, etc. I started EC with her at 2 1/2 m and she was in undies by 16m (could have done earlier but I just felt more relaxed using dipes in many situations... still do).

[Marissamom]

we introduced the potty at 11 months. I would get him a potty chair, because DD freaks at the idea of going on the regular potty. I take her first thing in the morning, right after naps, when I go to the bathroom, before bathtime, and anytime I catch her pooping. she's no where near being completely diaper free at 17 months, but we're getting more hits a day. I really think that some kids need potty learning to be a gradual process. but since he's showing interest I would go ahead and try starting.