New To EC

[Ambie1979]

I am new to this board and to EC. I just ordered a BBLP, Diaper Free Baby, & Infant Potty Training Basics. My LO will be 2 months old in a few days. What would be the best first step for me to take with her (seeing as my tools are not here yet)? I do not know anyone who practices this so I am at a loss.  Thank you!

[riboflavin]

Welcome! I couldn't wait to start trying EC until my tools arrived either! We started at about 5-6 weeks, so pretty close to your child's age. After devouring info online (and thinking it was pretty crazy btw, but also utterly intriguing) I woke up one morning with my DS, took a wipe box and put it on the floor in front of a full length mirror, put him in position and he went! I couldn't believe it! I know it isn't always so easy, but my DS was pretty reliable at that age. I'd say just get a container ready and put your LO over it at commonly predictable times like after waking in the morning, waking after naps, and a short time after he or she eats. Also if your LO is really comfortable and relaxed and suddenly gets squirmy and/or agitated that is also a good time to try. For us EC was a great tool in itself because my baby was pretty much always content unless he had to go to the bathroom. We would pee him and that's it! Back to content baby. Be prepared for lots of pees at that age, btw! They can go as often as every 20 minutes until they get a little older. 

Also, I would make sure you are using a comfortable, cozy position. Have your LO close to you and warm. I started by sitting on the floor with the wipes box container between my legs. I was sitting on my shins with my feet tucked under my butt and legs spread enough for the wipes box to fit between. My baby would have his back resting on my stomach and I would have my hands on his thighs positioning him correctly. He loved this position because we were comfortable (though I know this position may not work for everybody) and in front of a mirror so we could see each other and watch and learn about the pottying!

Have fun!

[Ambie1979]

So far I caught a pee on my first try... almost on my second (couldn't get the diaper off quick enough and she peed just as I unsnapped), and my third was a success. After that no sucesses, but after reading yo.ur response I can see part of why. I would try and potty her randomly... as I figured she may need to go. I know when she has to poop typically since she goes still and makes a face, but it is typically while nursing. How do I work with that? I like the mirror idea! I also wasn't holding her properly I guess, especially the last few times. I did buy a few bowls just for this at the Dollar Tree today, so tomorrow I will sit on a towel with the bowl between my legs. Do you think near the changing table would be ok? She only gets changed on the changing tables (one upstairs and one downstaris). People act like I am a nut when I call to talk about her peeing on the big people potty. I am beyond stoked!!! Hurry up Amazon!

[theboysmama]

riboflavin has some great ideas!!!

You can just hold your lo over the big people potty and don't have to worry about cleaning out bowls, etc. Keeping somehting by the changing table is what we do and it is really helpful bcs there diaper is already off so that is a great time to offer. There is nothing wrong with offering just because but it really does help to focus on the times you know they need to go. With dd1 she never gave me clear clues so I went off of timing and our schedule looked something like this:

wake up

before nursing

after nursing

before being placed in something (eg: car seat, swing, sling, etc)

after being removed from something

at diaper changes

By doing that she was in undies at 7 months with only about 3-4 misses a day.

dd2 is giving me way better signals so we do some timing but can mostly use her cues.