The Diaper-Free Baby_ The Natural Toilet Training Alternative - Christine Gross-Loh [57]
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How Older Babies Say They Have to Go to the Bathroom
Jack’s signals have changed over time. He has used the ASL toilet sign, tapped me on the shoulder, and crawled to the bathroom, but his new one is my favorite. Now he says “Bob” when he needs to go. Most people call the toilet the “John,” but “Bob” works too!
—ELIZABETH, MOTHER OF FIVE INCLUDING EC’ED LILLIAN, 2, AND JACK, 8 MONTHS
Our baby sat in a booster chair at the table when he was eight to nine months old. No matter what food or drink I’d put in front of him, he’d usually pitch it partway through the meal. This behavior continued for a long time. After we started EC when he was ten months old, I noticed that he always threw his food right when he had to pee! It was still a challenge to catch the moment and take him to pee before he threw his food, but at least we knew why he did it!
—CAREN, MOM TO MAXINE, 7, AND NATHAN, 3
At eight months, if there were no potty nearby, Nina would make a certain sound, kind of an urgent “uh, uh, uh,” that let me know she needed to pee. At home, sometimes she’d crawl over to the potty, grab it, and look at us expectantly. She still makes those signs today, but she’ll also try to climb on us now that she’s more mobile, as if trying to get our attention, and—most exciting—for a few months she’s been using the sign we taught her for potty.
—THEMBI, MOM TO NINA, 12 MONTHS
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Common Times You Might Have a Miss
My friend Melinda, DiaperFreeBaby cofounder, compiled this handy little list of common times you might have a miss.
While you are preparing meals
When baby’s siblings are requiring attention
After baby has a nap, if she is young or if you’re not right there when she wakes up
When baby is traveling in a car seat and you can’t stop for her
When baby is in a reclined position in a stroller or bouncy seat
Right after a miss—misses are often partial misses and baby hasn’t emptied her bladder. If you don’t put her on the potty she may then release more pee while being changed
When baby is on her belly
When others are taking care of baby
When baby is in an Exersaucer
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EC ON THE GO
If your baby is eliminating mainly in the potty at home, but you haven’t really ventured out of the home to try EC, this is a really good age to consider doing so. In fact, your baby will quite possibly be more comfortable this way if she’s growing more and more accustomed to the comfortable feeling of going in a toilet rather than in a diaper. Public pottying is not the hassle you might imagine it to be. Things are different from when she was a newborn. She is older and may have developed the sort of control that will allow you a little more time to find a bathroom for her. Sometimes, “preemptive pottying”—taking your baby to the bathroom when you happen to be near a restroom, if you know you won’t be near one later on—is helpful in keeping your child comfortable and dry.
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Clean Up Time
It’s useful to have a collection of spray bottles filled with water and disinfectant or your favorite natural cleaner. Some people like to use a vinegar-water combination, whereas others prefer a commercially made cleaner (with separate ones for rugs and wooden floors). Keep these at various places around the house, along with some paper towels or a little stash of washcloths or prefolds. Also keep spray bottles handy in the car, in each bathroom, and in most rooms where the baby tends to be located (stored out of baby’s reach). As long as you’re prepared, wiping up a little miss will be simple. I have even found that plain old liquid or dishwashing soap or laundry detergent is ideal for cleaning up any misses that may occur on rugs or carpets. Blot up the stain, dilute with water, apply soap, rub in well, and then rinse with clean water. One product that