The Diaper-Free Baby_ The Natural Toilet Training Alternative - Christine Gross-Loh [24]
POTTIES AND POTTY COVERS
When your baby is a newborn, you will probably EC her either in your arms over a toilet, or into a small bowl in your lap. You can use any bowl or container that you find useful, but there is a specific, specially shaped bowl called a Potty Bowl available from The EC Store designed to fit right between your thighs, making it easy to position an EC baby when she is in your lap. The Potty Bowl also helps you EC discreetly, which many parents like. The bowl is small and light enough to pop into your diaper bag and take with you when you’re on the go. My friend Melinda finds that an empty sour cream container fits perfectly in the bottom of the Potty Bowl, making cleanup even easier when you are out.
Soon, your baby will be able to sit on a real potty. For some babies, this could happen as early as two months of age. There are lots of potties out there, but the universal favorite of EC’ers is the Baby Bjorn Little Potty. It is small and low to the ground, and very, very stable. It comes in a variety of colors. There is also a clear potty, called the Babywunder Deluxe Clear Potty, sold by The EC Store, shaped exactly like a Baby Bjorn Little Potty. The advantage of this is that you don’t have to lift your baby to see if she’s gone to the bathroom, and you’ll be able to cue her exactly when she’s going!
You might also be interested in Potty Cozies and Potty Turtlenecks—fleece covers that fit on the rim of the potty bowl or the potty. These are especially helpful during cold weather or at nighttime, when the feel of a cold plastic potty might startle your baby.
When your baby is ready to sit on a toilet with a toilet insert, again, you have many choices. Personally, I really liked the Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer, which is a seat reducer that fits right on the toilet seat. This one is particularly nice if you have a boy because it has a raised rim in the front, but it’s smooth and comfortable and obviously great for a girl too. There are many other good toilet reducers on the market as well.
When they’re on the go, some parents report that they like to use a travel potty, such as the Potette On the Go Portable Potty. This potty comes with disposable liners that are designed to be small and portable enough to toss into a diaper bag.
By the way, none of these purchases are necessary to give EC a try. You can just hold your baby over a toilet or a plastic container from your kitchen, and you can use plain old washcloths or flannel squares instead of prefolds; that’s really all it takes! But if you’re in the swing of things, you’re definitely going to find some of this gear useful. Now it’s time to learn how to really start the exciting process of EC with your baby!
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Newborn Bliss: Getting to Know Your Baby, Getting Started on EC
Congratulations! You have a sweet little newborn baby. This is such an incredible time in your lives, as you and your little one begin to learn about each other for the first time. It can be a blissful time, but it can also feel overwhelming. Recovering from pregnancy and birth, getting off to a good nursing start, dealing with interrupted sleep, and incorporating your baby into your family if you already have other children can make this a joyful but tumultuous time.
Your first priority should be to get plenty of rest, eat well, get as much help