17 month update

DS 17 months old on the 1^st August

* We started at...

Birth

* Generally speaking we are doing...

Pretty well! A very odd month.

* How do you know your baby has to go?

A lot of timing/intuition this month, again. In an 'overt signal' plateau phase - he has dropped his vocal signal 'grrrr' this month. He is signalling with signs - pulling his ear  Subtle behavioural signs such as agitation, racing, irritation / squawking even crying have been signals responded to positively. He waits for wee breaks really well - does massive wees.

* Is there a difference for poos and pees?

He flaps in bed, scratches at his hips, belly for poos - usually goes in the morning. He got the trots after having antibiotics for his first cold. Yet he had excellent control, let me know by patting his bum, subtle signs. One instance we went to the museum, Maven in regular pants, had lunch, I took him to the loo, where he had a massive runny bum, I wiped, asked if he'd finished, he shook his head! He had another runny bum , I wiped again, asked if he'd finished, he pointed at the loo, went again. Then indicated he was finished by no reaction. It was the first time he had been so clear, and the first time he had done a poo out of the house that I can remember. (since he was a tiny baby that is)

* Which positions/receptacles do you use?

In arms over bowl, sinks, toilet, potty. Some sitting supported on potty. (holding his legs)

* Do you use nappies or training pants?

Neither - pants mostly, sometimes knickers and pants. Socks, too. Split crotch pants, some nakey butt after a miss - but mostly pants in the cold.

* How are you doing away from home?

Pants, wearing socks in case of a miss. (They soak any flow, he will only have a part accident, and actually none since last month anyway.) Sometimes knickers if I think he might have an accident - to help catch flow.

* What are you doing at night?

- same, baby in top and perhaps socks. I have the thin bed mat under the sheet as we had a short spate of night part misses. I also had a flannel between his legs in case of a miss for a while. A few night misses - in retrospect I think related to teething, tiredness, possibly wheat overload. I've noticed I can have some now and he isn't effected during the day, but may have accidents at night instead. I have cut right back again and we are ok. Also related to my having the same gastro and being stuffed with waking hourly for that, then two hourly for the recovery phase. He had his first ever poo accident in bed - straight into my hand! I was cuddling him, waiting for the next spew, when I heard the sound! Poor thing. We were surprised how easily we cleaned up at 2am - much easier than I thought really. Thank god for the boobs - he recovered so fast.

* Who takes baby to the toilet?

- me and dad.

* Accidents - how many do you have and what times are especially accident-prone?

- 0-3 a day. Mostly one or two. Random in timing, he often cried immediately after.

* Other new insights:

- Maven used the potty totally independently! I was typing on the computer, and he did a dollop on the tiles, and was pointing to it as I turned around, making noises. I popped him on the potty, and he did a wee with me holding his legs, then got up (I wiped his bum) Then I was cleaning up the dollop, only to turn around to see him in the next room sitting and 'working' on the potty! He got up to show me a little 'Mr Whippy'. I was so excited I nearly took a photo! I wonder if the previous day of going to the toilet every half hour or so myself had something to do with it, as he always accompanies me and I tell him I'm going "toilet" with his cue sounds etc. I was certainly surprised that his first independent activity would be a poo. Since then he is the same as usual - sits on the potty, tries to go then goes in-arms later.

- His use of the 'finished' sign (we do rubbing hands together for this sign) is excellent and really helpful - he does it really often when he is done - in bed after his morning woopsie, after a wee - I can ask him if he's finished, and he'll sign when he is.

* What do you like most about ec'ing at the moment?

- It is simply so easy to do this in the day - I simply find myself holding him for a wee sometimes - amazing, and don't find it an imposition on my day - it is part of the usual pattern.

* Do you ever wish you'd have never heard about it?

No.

* A tip for this age/stage?

Accept the process is cruising along - baby keeps displaying amazing self awareness at odd times. Plateaus are part of the process, mean nothing at all.

Charndra

Ds Maven 17 months