[mckittre]

We've started EC very casually - just holding him over the potty when we were changing his diaper anyway - not really believing it would work. Now (8 weeks old) he pees just about every time we do this, and poops occasionally. I'm pretty sure it can't be a coincidence. So he must get it!
But we don't. We've never really looked for cues, and it seems a little daunting to start. He often poops when nursing still, and sometimes makes a face a couple seconds before that, but not always.
I'm not sure we're ready to jump into this whole hog. So what's a good next EC baby step for us? And are there any benefits to doing just a bit of EC, or do we need to go all the way?

 

[sgmom]

I view early EC as more of a EA (elimination awareness), as opposed to communication (I believe that comes later). You're building the foundation for easier potty training, when the time is right (you can't "potty train" a newborn). The face your baby makes before pooping IS a form of communication. If you can shift him onto a potty and cue him when he makes that face, even better yet, but if not, then cue him as he goes.

I don't really think there IS a next step, aside from watching for signals and changes in your baby (just when you think you've got it figured out, they seem to change the rules). Wearing my daughter helps me learn her signals (as hard as that is), and I believe it helps her learn to hold it (for a short time) until I put her down (always on her potty after wearing her).

Keep doing what you're doing, as often as you can do it, and you'll be fine!

 

[sapphire_chan]

:
Sounds like you're doing just fine. I'd read some of the lists of ways babies signal (http://www.tribalbaby.org/ECprimetimes.html) and just continue to cue him as you realize he's going.

Also, in the early days babies are really tolerant of being offered the potty a lot, so offer every time you think he *might* have to go and you'll start getting a better sense of when he does have to go.

 

[hrsmom]

I think there are benefits to just doing a bit of EC, sure! A good next step would be to offer the potty as soon as your babe wakes up. Offering right after taking them out of a sling is good, too! Some babies seem to be vigorous signallers, others seem not to be. Mine was at first, but now she's not, so we just go mostly on timing.