The Diaper-Free Baby_ The Natural Toilet Training Alternative - Christine Gross-Loh [31]
Newborns grow so quickly! Once your baby is starting to enjoy more time on her tummy or on the floor playing with toys, you may find that you need to figure out some new ways to tell if she has to go to the bathroom. When your baby is no longer in your arms as much or becomes distracted by toys, you may have a period of increased misses until you are both used to a new rhythm. But remember to think of misses as a normal part of life with an EC’ing baby; keep a relaxed attitude about them.
Martha was two weeks old when we started. It went very well—she just seemed to know what to do. I felt as though this was fulfilling her expectations, and it was actually I, not she, who was learning. (Our older two children were conventionally potty trained.) I was still at the stage of constantly staring at her and checking her, getting to know her in that all-absorbed way you do with your newborn. It’s a good time to learn about her elimination needs—it just felt like another thing that you naturally learn about your baby, along with learning when to feed, when to comfort, when to help her sleep, etc.
—PAULA, MOM TO ELLIE, 4, JOE, 3, AND MARTHA, 2 MONTHS
EC’ing my newborn (the second child I’ve EC’ed from birth) is going great. She sleeps all the time, so it’s easy to potty her when she wakes up, and I have a Potty Bowl nearby so I don’t have to go all the way to the bathroom to potty her. EC is going so well that we’ve been changing diapers only because she’s been in them for a whole day rather than because they are wet! Even her grandma has peed her with success, and she and I are both amazed at how the baby fusses and fusses until she starts to pee. We can feel her relax when she lets it all go. So sweet for someone so tiny.
—KYLENE, MOM TO CAMERON, 5, EDDY, 2, AND MARGARET, 4 DAYS OLD
On the day that Jason was born, catching that first pee was a high. Then to catch a meconium bowel movement and not have to clean up a tarry mess off of delicate skin hooked me! I felt in sync right away, as compared to my first child, who was conventionally potty trained.
—KATHERINE, MOM TO JEFFERSON, 4, AND JASON, 14 MONTHS
PARENTS’ FAVORITE EC’ING POSITIONS FOR NEWBORNS
Sitting facing the toilet with baby cradled in arms
Over a Potty Bowl (or other container or bowl)
In a loose diaper while baby is cradled in arms
Over the sink, shower, or bath tub drain (many babies like over the sink because they can see the mirror)
Squatting outdoors (this can be done very discreetly, since baby is covered by your body)
In a potty (for bigger babies)
TROUBLESHOOTING Q AND A
Q. I’m having a really hard time holding my newborn in position to pee or poop. She is so tiny and it feels very awkward.
A. I know—at first, EC (and everything else!) can feel awkward with a newborn. How do you position baby, wipe after a poop, clean up a loose diaper or bowl that’s been pooped in while holding her, and hold her correctly? If you’re finding it hard to get the hang of holding her in the EC positions, start out by letting her lie diaper-free on a loose cloth or disposable diaper, then cue when you see her going. You can gradually experiment with new positions as she gets bigger and you gain more confidence. If you’re spending a lot of time holding her, you can even hold her on top of a few cloth diapers and pull the top layer off if she soils it. If you don’t want your baby totally diaper-free, place her in a diaper and wrap her in a blanket (or use BabyLegs or socks to keep her legs warm). This will help avoid the hassle of taking all her clothes off to figure out whether she’s going to the bathroom. Having a partner nearby to help with positioning or to take away a bowl to clean is also helpful while you are first getting the hang of EC. With practice and experience, things will seem more effortless.
Q. My newborn, a boy, sprays everywhere when I try to pee him in a bowl or potty. It feels awkward to pee him and try