Length of YAY I CAN CRAWL pause?

[nilatti]

My DS has just really gotten awesome at crawling. We've had two poop misses in the past week (after not having any since April). DH is pretty stressed about it. 

We've tried using books, toys, songs, even nursing, to keep him on the potty long enough for a poop. Even pees are not going well.

I know this is a natural time when a pause happens...I'm just curious, from those who've btdt, how long does this pause last?

[mamaemilie]

I got on the computer today looking for exactly the same answers.  My DS is just three days older than yours and going through the same stage.  I will just add a few questions: What should I do while waiting for this pause to pass?  Can I do anything to shorten the pause?

Should I just go back to diapers while waiting?  

At the moment I have him naked so I can make the ASL sign for him when he pees but I don't like cleaning poop off the floor and I worry that naked will be too cold soon with Fall weather setting in.

Looking forward to any advice.

[heatherr30]

My DS started crawling a little bit yesterday! strangely our situation is the opposite of yours... thinking he needed less bulk to get around better I now have him in non waterproof training pants most of the time we're home.  I have moved the potty into the living room and made a little "potty corner" with clean trainers,clean-up rags, waterproof changing mat and potty.  (I got the idea from Montessori method of PT--eventually he will explore that area and play with the cloth trainers, practice getting on and off the potty himself, etc.  For the time being he takes great interest in the little spot of pee that leaks onto the carpet and watches me clean it up.)

So with more diaper free time (ie in trainers which still catches the brunt of the uh-oh) we're getting more hits.. which is still far from perfect!  As for poops I take him to the toilet and hold him when I know that is coming... so he can't get away.  We have 2 toilets and when I suspect he is getting bored with the main one I take him to the guest toilet, use a sink or bathtub, I suppose if he hated all those locations I would find somewhere new! 

From what I've heard the time span from crawling to walking is pretty bad for a lot of ECers...  I figure the main strategies for me would be not to sweat the accidents nor turn it into a power struggle...  and use the level of back-up that you need to protect your house and lap...  :)

[nilatti]

I hate to jinx it, but I think we're done with that pause. It was about four weeks, I'd say.

Things that helped:

 * Remembering that it is just a phase.

 * Not relying on timing as much (which he resisted) and paying closer attention for cues.

 * Letting him eat cheerios while sitting on the potty when I was pretty sure a poop was coming. Hey, it kept him on the potty!!

 * Showing him how I flush the contents down the toilet.

Ermm...I hope this helps someone. How are you guys doing?

[nilatti]

Jinxed. :(
 

Originally Posted by nilatti 

I hate to jinx it, but I think we're done with that pause. It was about four weeks, I'd say.

Things that helped:

 * Remembering that it is just a phase.

 * Not relying on timing as much (which he resisted) and paying closer attention for cues.

 * Letting him eat cheerios while sitting on the potty when I was pretty sure a poop was coming. Hey, it kept him on the potty!!

 * Showing him how I flush the contents down the toilet.

Ermm...I hope this helps someone. How are you guys doing?

[heatherr30]

Awww thanks for these suggestions!  We are full-blast in the crawling pause! 

I am getting into night time EC here, it actually seems easier than day time! :)

[mamaemilie]

We seem to be unpaused for the moment.  Once he could really stand up on his own my DS was happy to sit on the potty again and let me or Papa read to him.  We're not back to as few misses as we had before but at least not missing poops anymore.

Thanks for keeping in touch.

[heatherr30]

Yay!!! I just discovered the GREATEST way ever to potty an inquisitive crawler. 

The last 2 days if I know he needs to go, I take him to the sink or tub, turn on the tap and let him play in the water while he goes.

We had our first ever "dry diaper" morning.  I am wondering how long playing in the water will keep his attention... today I also bought him his first toothbrush and when he gets tired of the tap I might try giving him his toothbrush to chew on.