Ups and downs

[almama]

These are just ramblings . . .

We started EC a few weeks ago just to see if it worked and were amazed that it did!

I love knowing when my baby has to go, not worrying about him peeing on me every time he is naked, not scrubbing poo out of clothes, and giving him credit for being able to tell me when he has to go and to hold it.

It is hard to do it all the time though -even when I have the time. I feel like I'm breaking up play time to put him on the potty (even when I put the little potty right next to his play area). When he is tired and fussy, I feel bad when he cries on the potty (even if I know he has to go), so I usually just take him off right away.

Anyway . . . I guess it is a process.

[loon13]

It is most definitely a process.

It is good that you are respecting your ds' cues that he wants off the potty. You don't want to pressure him in any way.

I have stopped interrupting dd's playtime to take her to pee. I found when I backed off in that regard, she was more likely to cue me. She would/will stop playing and crawl in my lap or crawl toward the potty. Or if we both miss it (she was busy and/or I missed the cue) she immediately fusses to let me know her diaper is wet.

You're doing great, though. Just relax and listen to your babe.

Oh, and feel free to ramble here anytime!

Loon

[HeatherSanders]

Ramble? Who rambles? Mommas here ramble? I don't know what you are talking about . . . this rambling. I mean what is rambling anyhow? Do I ramble? Do you really think YOU are rambling/were rambling/might ramble in the future? :LOL

Okay, all rambling aside, I think we've all experienced that. I don't push it when Kenny is fussy. I just change him really quickly if he does go - my point with EC'ing (and this is my personal stance) is that it is a PART of our lives, but doesn't take precedence in our lives. So, if he needs to go and is enjoying sitting on the potty - great. However, if he just wants me to hold him - and sometimes he doesn't want to sit on the potty to go . . . but wants me to hold him WITH DIAPER ON sort of in a back leaning position - well, he can go in his diaper that way and I'll change him. No matter what - he knows that I will not leave him in a wet diaper and that he doesn't have to scream to let me know. Communication - that's what its all about!

[pamelamama]

Heather, you are a hoot!

We are also having our ups and downs with EC, but we're still doing it!

As my 3.5 yo son said to me yesterday, "Mommy, being an A-dult is hard work." You said it, Sammy.

[MammaV]

My DD is a bit older 19 months, soon to be 20 mo. I tried to always make the potty activity a comfort thing. If she wet or soiled and I didn't catch it, I'd just tell her that I needed to clean her up so that she could be comfortable. I didn't chastise her for her natural elimination actions. I didn't want her to think that pee and poo were graoss or yucky or bad. There was never a struggle with the potty. She's been in panties since 10 months old. We still have an accident now and then. DD usually runs to me shouting MUM! and signing potty. We run to the bathroom so she can hop on her pot and finish her business and get cleaned up. FOr her it's all about being comfortable and she prefers to be clean and dry. Even with a bit of diarrhea with some of her teething, she used the potty. I think the process is greatly enhanced when your child and you come to the same place in attitude and expectation. I used to be afraid of accidents in public, but then considered the child who doesn't start training until 2 1/2 or 3 yrs old. THey're so accustomed to going in their pants that accidents are often frequent and more often un-reported to the caregiver. An EC child wants to tell you what happened. I used to dread the cleaning up of poo from the floor or panties or cloth diapes, but then I realised that I probably clean up less poo than my full time diapering counterparts, and it's rarely squished all around her genitals. A poo in the pot is an easy bum to wipe.
I guess my point to all this nonsensical rambling is that, the process is just that and imo easier and cleaner for both mum and babe with EC than traditional potty training. Elimination hangups are usually ours, not our kids'.

Almama - good for you for sticking to this. A posative caring attitude will make EC a pleasure for both you and your babe.

I hope I made at least a lick of sense in all that - only 4 hours sleep last night