Adventures in Part Time Baby Pottying
Discover Valuable Insights in The Stories of Parents Practicing EC!
How do they combine their busy modern lives with being part time
diaper free?
What can your learn from someone who has a similar story to yours?
Shell, Ben and
Tommy, in New Zealand...
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"All up, I spent nearly 4 years cleaning poopy diapers with my first
2 children. With Tommy I had months of not cleaning *any* poop!"
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Shell and Ben live in Auckland, NZ with their 3 children. Tommy is
their first EC'ed child. They planned to do EC in pregnancy, and
used predominantly (old-fashioned) cloth diapers with a splattering
of biodegradable "disposables". They decided to go diaper-free at
home when he was 7 weeks (completely when he was 12 weeks).
Oh The Thinks You Can Think! is their family blog.
When did you begin practicing EC with your little one and how did
this look?
I began making the cueing sound ("sssss-pssss") in the first week if
I noticed him peeing (when his diaper was off). He wore diapers
full-time from the start. I had intended to be diaper-free right
away, but when he arrived- I really couldn't imagine how that could
work, so I didn't object when the midwife put a disposable on him.
I offered him a "pottytunity" when he was 15 days old, and he went
immediately the very first time it was offered. He didn't want to
know about it for the next few weeks, but picked up again at 6
weeks.
Which diapers and alternatives did you use in the process?
We used 2 packs of biodegradable disposable diapers over his first 3
months. Mostly though, we used cloth diapers, and had him in them
full-time. At 6 weeks, we had a full day away from home (in a
different town), and only 2 disposables left. When we got home after
a 5 hr drive, at 11pm- his disposable was still dry! That week, I
decided he really didn't need diapers...and I was tending to be a
bit lazy about ignoring signs, because I knew a diaper meant no
drama.
When he was 3 months I bought 2 pairs of tiny training pants, which
could hold one pee without it going through to his clothes.
What differences/changes did you notice in your baby after beginning
EC?
Tommy wasn't a very happy boy in his early months- I didn't notice
much difference when he went diaper-free, except possibly that he
was more mobile than other babies. When we worked out he had food
sensitivities, and eliminated them from my diet, he became a much
happier baby.
Actually, one thing was that he seemed to be able to hold on a lot
longer after he woke up- initially, he needed to pee right away,
later he could wit up to 45 minutes, so long as I was holding him.
What difference did EC make to your day-to-day life and your
relationship with your baby?
I felt really close to him, I held him often because that was a good
way to keep him dry. I loved that he could "tell" me about his need,
even though he couldn't speak or control his movements properly.
The biggest difference though, was with Ben- he was so much more
involved with Tommy, because he wasn't just changing diapers (which
is pretty dull, especially for dads)...but he was really tuning in
to his tiny boy. Also, we had both noticed before that a Dad doesn't
have as much to do with a breastfed baby as his Mum.
With EC, Ben could take care of one of Tommy's most basic needs,
every bit as well as I could...he couldn't feed him, but it didn't
matter (whereas with our older children, I had pumped in order to
give him a chance at feeding- he was perfectly happy to have his
"turn" when Tommy started eating solid food).
How long before you were feeling confident including a few 'pee
breaks' into your day?
We seemed to go from "not much" to "everything" all at once...it
began on Boxing day, when I had not brought enough diapers to the
family Christmas...it was kind of out of necessity- but it gave me
the inspiration to really make a go of it, when I had probably only
dabbled before then. That was also the time when my in-laws showed
their support in very cool ways, and Ben got fully on-board with the
whole thing. Tommy was 6 weeks old.
In really busy times, what do you do?
The easiest thing for me to do in really busy times once we were
diaper-free was to put Tommy in a sling- that way, he could hold on
for so much longer.
When he was very little, and I knew he would need to pee, but didn't
have time to wait for it- I put a folded diaper under him. He
started rolling at 7 weeks, so I needed a few around him, and often
got that wrong- I bought a waterproof (big) mat for him to lie on,
but it wasn't long before he could get off that and pee on the
carpet.
I just figured if life was busy, then that was that- and a little
puddle on the floor was no big deal.
What impact has reducing diapers had on your budget?
Well, we never really got in to buying diapers, so I haven't noticed
anything much. But, we must be saving plenty compared to parents of
diapers children.
What else has been significant to you?
It has made me see how often my older two children tried to
communicate with me, but I just didn't get it. If I had been told
about this when my first son was born, I wouldn't have believed it.
Working out which foods he is sensitive to, has been brilliant for
us. I wish I had had that info when my older two were tiny (we
discovered their issues when they were 5 and 2). It was because of
EC that I was able to see the different ways food affected him.
Nights with a diaper-free baby are brilliant- I still get excited
about a dry night in the morning, even though it is the norm, rather
than an exception. However, if I eat wheat, Tommy *will* pee the
bed...usually not just once either, more like 3 times. I am
reasonably certain he has no idea it is happening- he wakes for
feeding and is wet. The same thing happens through the day- he can
pee 3 times in 10 minutes, which is very unusual normally.
What message do you have to share with parents beginning their part
time diaper free journey?
Being a parent is hard work, so go easy on yourself. EC can be
started much later, and still be "successful" if it is all too much.
If you find EC is stressing you out, then stop...it should be a
pleasure for you both.
Don't worry if other people think it's odd...it used to be normal in
any society, and still is in much of the world. It's so cool to have
a naked baby on the furniture, for instance, and be certain it will
be safe. I didn't have my other 2 naked inside for very long until
they were 2 years old!
That's another thing...all up, I spent nearly 4 years cleaning poopy
diapers with my first 2 children. With Tommy I had months of not
cleaning *any* poop!
How would you practise EC with another baby?
We would definitely do EC again. I would like to try from the very
start, and I see now how that could be done. I would have the potty
already there, and probably just use the toilet as soon as possible.
I think I would probably buy some of the nicely fitted cloth
diapers, and not buy *any* disposables.
I also have a much better sling now, that I didn't get until Tommy
was 6 months old- I would use that from the start (skin-to-skin and
as often as possible) with the next baby to encourage closeness, and
also work out the new baby's signs more easily.
Shell in New Zealand
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