ECing my one month old

Allison - posted on 03/14/2010

Hi! We started ECing at about 3-6 months, and didn't stick with it after 1 year because with daycare and working full-time I got a little stressed trying to show his other care-givers how to do it; I know it works for some, but I wouldn't recommend that! Because it seemed to confuse and frustrate him, other people trying to get him to pee or poop when he really didn't need to. Anyway, I would just have them in diapers when someone else is caring for them, unless that person is really "in tune" and gets the whole EC mentality (we had a nanny for a short time who did, and that worked fine). Also, our son didn't sleep well until we put him in his own bed at 1.5 years old and stopped the night-time EC, so although lots of people do EC at night and it works, I don't think I would do it again, if my next one isn't sleeping well :) BUT, in retrospect, I wish I had just made accomodations and been more laid back and kept doing it during the day when we were together, and not worried about using diapers even when I was there to prevent some accidents.



Also, try not to "show off" for other people. I didn't realize I was doing it, but when we would visit family (I have a big family, so there was always a LOT going on) he would be distracted/excited and wet himself a lot, and also because other people were holding him I didn't always know he needed to go, but I wouldn't put him in diapers at that time because I wanted them to see he was diaper-free. That was silly, I should have realized right away that diapers would have worked better during busy family parties, and listened to his desire NOT to use the potty at those times :) Now I've learned to put my child's needs and cues before my own silly pride!



So we took a year off of EC, from when he was 1 til he was 2, and then we had to do real 'potty training' at age 2 and it did take him a couple months to like using the potty again. Teaching an independent toddler is WAY different than teaching a baby, but it was still fun. A lot of the nurturing side of EC really does carry over to toddler potty training, and it made potty training easier for us than anyone else we know. By 2 1/2 he was dry all day AND night, which is so great. Now he is almost 3, and he teaches his 2 and 3 year old friends how to use the potty now :) Besides stressing myself over the small stuff, I really do LOVE EC, and I will do it again with my next, just in a more laid back way!!! I would definitely suggest sticking with it through obstacles, but do whatever you need to keep the potty part relaxing, fun and in line with your baby's cues :) I bet it will be even easier for your second one, because they can see their older sibling using the potty and will probably want to copy them!

Regina - posted on 07/01/2009

how do you do that? i usually, at night just feed him side lying, because he sleeps the me and his dad. But during the day, in a normal cradle hold, how do you position a potty under him so that it isn't uncomfortable for me or him?

Allison - posted on 06/08/2009

We started EC from day one with our first, Judah. Are you breastfeeding? If so, what I found helpful (especially in the middle of the night!) was to hold Judah over a small potty, or a large bowl, while I was nursing him in my lap. This prevented me needing to stop a feeding to take him to the potty, especially because at that age he was not willing to interrupt a feeding. My only advice would be consistency, but also not to stress about it...just take it easy and have fun! Judah is now 20 months old and is pretty much completely "potty trained". My friends are amazed! It will make life so much simpler once I have another baby - I won't have "two in diapers". Good luck!