Adventures in EC land

After what has seemed like a potty pause (Taliese getting upset when placed on potty - prob coz it was cold, and generally missing a lot) we are having a new breakthrough! YAY!

It started about a week ago when I noticed Taliese whacking herself on the side of the head. It was very funny, and I was a tad worried that she would hurt herself. Later that day it happened again and it really seemed like she was trying to tell me something.

It wasn't until the next day that I remembered that ages ago I had dabbled with a sign for potty that was tapping just above your ear with your hand. (I don't think i had done it for at least 2 months - given up really)

So I asked her if she wanted to pot and she grunted enthusiastically!

I took her and she sat happily and produced a large wee and poo! Since then we have tried to respond to this signal, resulting in MANY less dirty nappies and a happier girl on the potty.

She still gets very upset when we miss it and she has a dirty nappy, and she seems to be more consistent with the sign, when she is not tired and already has our attention (either that or we just miss it at other times altogether?)

Anyway it is progress and clear communication, so that is VERY exciting! Yay for less pooey nappies!

What is the opposite of EC?

The last week has been awful! i caught a wee today yay! But apart from that we have caught hardly any for days! And just when I was thinking of trying at home nappy-free.
On the up side we have been getting a few poos each day - but that is only because all of a sudden she needs to go MANY times a day! Once a day, morning poo was nice!
We are missing a lot too!
I fear teeth may be on the horizon! Either that or an entire day (Stefan's party) of no EC bothered her a lot!
I guess we sill just persevere and keep up the potty-tuinities from our end and hope she will settle down again soon!

Taliese's 6 month EC Update

Age of EC tot: Taliese is 6 months old now! Wow how time flies!

We started at... 6 weeks old

Generally speaking we are doing... better than last week when I started writing this! We have just had a great week! One almost completely dry night, day, night (if that makes sense) We missed the start of one poo and that was all! The next day of course was terrible (EC - wise), but a busy day too.

How do you know your baby has to go / when do you offer baby a wee?
Timing: After wake up, and a while after feeds or if she hasn't been for a while.

Signs and signals: I must be picking up on some signs as we are having a drier patch but not observant enough to say what they are. generally i think it's her who is doing more amazing than me or hubby. Maybe wriggling or unsettled?
Farts are a good sign a poo is on it's way ... My hubby is better at just taking the time waiting around til they happen,. I tend to give her an op, no result then off to do something else again. I am very thankful for his involvement in this way and what that has taught me about the benefits of spending a little more time waiting! I am starting to experiment a bit with some sign language but not very consistent yet. I think it will be cool if she starts to push our hands away or something when not done as someone on here said their DD did.

Intuition: Just when I think it's been a while, or when I need to go.

Is there a difference for poos and pees? What cues do you use? We use 'pssss' noise for both and blow on back of head. Often just being over the sink is enough of a cue in it's self.

Which positions/receptacles do you use? Mostly the laundry sink (classic position) as right next to change table. At the moment she often looks down to see what's going on, so that is interesting. Also sit over toilet using classic position if out (me sitting too facing wall) and have used the potty a bit, but i often forget to do this at home. Potty is great for in the car after shopping and while we were away earlier this year! Still not great at going outside where there are LOTS of distractions, but will do it for a wake up absolutely busting type wee. Must admit I am often nervous she will poo too (and what would I do then) so I wonder if she is picking up on that?

Nappies, training pants or other? Cloth nappies between nuddie times and occasionally her big sisters training pants.

What are you doing away from home? Often nothing, if I am not out for ages she will often be dry anyway, esp if in sling. I do use the toilet when I can when out, but she doesn't tend to go often. Or a garden bed. We try to keep a potty in the car (but keep forgetting to put it back when it comes in for a wash) which is good for both girls esp after the weekly food shopping trip!

What are you doing at night? I try to take her at night feeds, sometimes she is already wet and other times she will still be dry. i have been keeping a bucket next to our bed, but keep forgetting about it and going to the laundry anyway (so tired!)

Who takes baby to the toilet? Me or DH. I'd like to support others to be involved, esp those who will care for her if we go out. Was very excited that my mum gave it a go (with success) while hubby and I saw a movie a few weeks ago. I hadn't said that the had to, but it was heaps good that they felt comfortable enough to try and toilet her.

Catches or Misses - how many and what times are especially interesting? we have BRILLIANT days and then normally followed by a day with every nappy wet. Thinking about looking at how my food affects her as I have seen some people write about that? (but also scared at what I might have to give up - LOVE chocolate!) Also probably related to busy days and my own levels of distraction.

Other insights: It is soooo worth it! I never used to know the bliss I read on here of no pooey nappies, but now we hardly get any from either of the girls.

What's your next EC goal?
My last EC goal was ...to be more observant, consistent and attentive regarding signs and signals. (Maybe getting better as we are getting more hits, or maybe she is getting better at putting up with my lack of observance?)

and to start using potty more and to get more confident wit Ecing out and about. Yes we are more confident generally and she is OK with the potty, but we still tend to use the sink more ... i think it's just such a perfect height.

A tip for this age/stage? 6 month olds are just delightful! How much more with sweet smelling cute little bottoms, on your lap and not worried about getting messy. :)

EC Report (4 months)

I'm part of an EC forum and submitted this post, so thought I'd put it here too!


Age of EC tot: Taliese is 4months Sara is 2yo (really being toilet trained using EC principles)

We started at... 6 weeks old with Taliese. Sara, we introduced to potty at about 18months (we didn't know any better then) in a very relaxed way and I only realised last week that I was kind of ECing her too but in a different way! (But the rest is just about Taliese)

Generally speaking we are doing... Taliese continues to amaze me! We are Ecing part-time and hubby and I are very happy with the progress. We ave good and bad times – normally more related to me not being tuned in (or giving her enough time to go) though. (thanks for all the encouragement when I was frustrated last month!)

How do you know your baby has to go / when do you offer baby a wee?

Timing: after wake up, and a little while after feeds. Finding day time wake up wees hard to catch this week as Taliese wake up in cot and makes no sound at all (soo contented, pity I didn't EC Sara, I always knew the instant she was awake!) so have to use intuition to catch these too. OK when we nap together or hold her.

Signs and signals: I find this tricky, but it seems at the mo if she gets really noisy in her chatter/ cooing a poo is on it's way. Seem to see poo signs for hours before poo , farts, stiffening at wee-ops etc., whereas a month ago there seemed to be no signs at all! She is generally so distracted during breast feeds at mo that I tend to miss plucking unless my husband says 'maybe you should EC her!'

Intuition: Just when I think it's been a while, or (since Monique suggested it), when I need to go.

Is there a difference for poos and pees? What cues do you use? We use 'pssss' noise and blow on back of head. Often just being over the sink is enough though she starts going before cue, on other occasions I really have to count to sixty (esp before poos) or I am too impatient and don't give her long enough

Which positions/receptacles do you use? Mostly the laundry sink (classic position) as right next to change table. At the moment she often squirms to look at us while going (cute) Also sit over toilet using classic position and have used the potty a couple of times (but she doesn't like it much) I find she is too distracted to go outside in classic pos. at moment.

Nappies, training pants or other? Cloth nappies between nuddie times

What are you doing away from home? Often nothing. I do use the toilet when I can when out, but she doesn't tend to go often. Probably because I'm not relaxed enough, or just a strange place. I do talk to my friends about what I'm doing, most are interested, but then it can feel a bit like performance pressure when I take her to toilet.


What are you doing at night? I try to take her at night feeds, but mostly already wet (with a bit more to do) as she starts the night in the cot (and as I said doesn't make a lot of noise about it) and then comes into our bed for feed til morning.

Who takes baby to the toilet? Mostly me, although my husband is getting more confident with it and is doing it more. I'd like to support others to be involved, esp those who will care for her if we go out.

Catches or Misses - how many and what times are especially interesting? Still a lot of misses, but interestingly she normally still has more to go, like she just got rid of a bit cos she was busting, but saved the rest for wee-op. Having said that I get a wee at most wee-ops and a lot of dry nappies too!

Other insights:

What's your next EC goal? To be more observant, consistent and attentive regarding signs and signals.
To start using potty more and to get more confident wit Ecing out and about.


A tip for this age/stage? Give time at wee-ops even if he/she has done a wee. Sometimes there is more.


A burning question? An tips to relax her (and or me) when out.
Also any tips for using potty. Is it best to start out by putting it on change table and use classic possition of facing me? I think when she gets used to idea she will like the interaction here.

A bit of everything really

Just using this space to record some thoughts!

Welcome to the world little Nathan Bryan Mathiesen! (Well done Naomi you are fabulous!)

Brothers! - David and Nathan

Also his birth got me thinking about birth etc and today I stumbled across this homebirth site (through a link in an email) and wanted to recorded the link as I think it will be interesting to read, but not really interested enough in it all right now.
(As I may not have an option about home birth next time, it will be best to be prepared! Also heaps cool!)

Also while talking about parenting topics i finally looked up the wrap site and am keen to try and make my own one of theses days!

Been learning a lot more about additives in food, through a talk at GEMS and stuff my Mum has been going to and some reading too! It helps to inspire healthy eating!

Still doing the EC thing part time, with off and on again success! I love it though and it has just become the norm to offer both the girl a wee stop when they wake up or i think they need to go! Normally one of them has a good day while the other wees in their nappy all day!

And that brings me to cloth nappies! I am amazed at how fun they are! Naomi told me how to do the no-pin fold which i have been having fun with today. Also i am inspired to in the new year try my hand at sewing my own fitted modern cloth nappies (with my Mum's help!)
I am amazed at how Sara enjoys wearing cloth nappies so much more than disposable (and this preference had remained for some months so it's more than a fad or novelty! they must be more comfortable even though they feel wet. we are almost full time cloth nappy users now! Wow! V. interesting for me as i really didn't care about using cloth when Sara was little!

And now for a few fun family pics from our time on the beach friday night!

As you can see Sara enjoyed our Spaghetti picnic!

David and Taliese admiring the Sunset!

So hows that for a mishmash post!

Dry ALL night!

Wow can you believe it but the nappy was dry from about 7.30 til 7.30 in the morn(or later, I'm not sure when she wet her nappy but we got up for the day then)
She even did a poo on the pot over night! What a clever little chicken Taliese is!

A very nice week!

I have had a very nice week this week, starting with birthday celebrations on monday... for Me this time ! Yay!
Taliese and Sara were very good for me and Dave was very sweet too! I also enjoyed the use of a 'trumps card' for the day which was fun! (Not that a really needed it!) I think this might be the start of a new tradition for us!
We visited the museum and had a nice time there and basically just chilled around home in the arvo!! then out to tea with Dave's fam that night! Last night we had my fam around for a very yummy meal including poffetjes! yummo! Only downer was no candles to blow out.
Taliese has been ECing well today, which is encouraging as i thought she might be on strike after all the upheaval of the past few weeks. ahhhh!
thinking of moving Sara to the big bed this week, just need to pick up bed rail from a friend.
Oh and My friend Jacinda had a baby, Caleb on my birthday! I'm a twin! Yay!

(Addit: And then everyone started vomiting!)

More on EC

This blog is in part for me to record some useful links I have become aware of, and also for those of you interested to get more info on this weird hippie thing we are doing. LOL (I'll add more links here if I find them later)

EC related links:
www.tribalbaby.org
www.bornpottytrained.com
www.diaperfreebaby.org

Oh an by the way, while we have days off as needed (which Taliese doesn't like much) we are still catching a lot of wees and some poop too!
I am finding this so fun, feel good about not using so many nappies and meeting a need I never new about. It is so cool sometimes, Taliese will be unsettled and I try comforting her, then think, maybe I'll give her a chance to wee. When I do and she does then often she will become more settled! WOW!
I have a lot more to learn, am basically at this stage just doing timing and intuition wees! Not observant or patient enough to read her cues too much yet! Also excited about making some modern cloth nappies soon!
Only sad thing is that bonds suits and the like, are significantly less attractive to me these days. Cute, but not very practical for outside of nappy wee-ing unfortunately :(

EC can work!

Wow that web site was heaps helpful, have alot more to read still and lots to learn, but we are now giving the EC thing a go and have 'caught' lots of wees and poos! Very exciting for such early days! Can't believe it actually works! (Also missed quite a few, but thats all ok)

Stefan (my lil bro) is so cool! It was so fun watching him WIN last soccer game this morn! Some really impressive dive rolls too! Go the Tea Tree Gully Wanderers!



Also I am so happy that our garden now looks a little more tame! Thanks SOOOOOOO much to Eric and Stefan's help yesterday! It's a whole new world!

Baby stuff

Baby carriers

I have been lent a hug-a-bub baby sling! I think it is great! Actually I think it might be one someone made as there are no tags and is slightly different to ones on web site, but it does the job and is sooooooo comfortable! Can't wait for next opportunity to use it again!

Elimination communication

I am sooo frustrated with this topic, I just want to know how to do it in reality, but can't get hold of a book. Amazon won't post it to Australia, not in the lib or any book stores or on ebay!
Info on the web is too sketchy and doesn't answer my questions!
Maybe we will be a nappy family after all! Oh well... just would have liked to have given it a go!

Edit: Just found a much more helpful web site!

In other news

Really enjoying Taliese's smiles and coos and Sara's gorgeous affection! So sweet