19 month update

DS 19 months old on the 1^st October.

This is our latest month update.

* We started at...

Birth

* Generally speaking we are doing...

Great - new things occurring.

* How do you know your baby has to go?

signs: behavioural - grabbing at pants, willy, trying to pull down pants, pulling off socks, agitation/ sudden increase in activity, noise level increase - squawking or grizzling, inadvertent sign language.

signals: saying 'wee wee', saying 'toyee' looking for potty, sitting on potty himself, very clear sign language, coming to me and climbing into my lap, flipping himself around to the 'position', getting up and then flopping into my lap repeatedly. Saying 'wee wee' can be before - to tell me he needs to go, or after, saying he has done 'wee wee' and needs new pants. Another 'signal' is him walking past with a flannel in his hand to clean up a wee!

intuition: sudden burning need to take him to the toilet. Busting to go to the toilet myself, 'suddenly'.

* Is there a difference for poos and pees?

For poos this month he is definitely going at varied times. Some in the morning, often a day in between. No accidents, though - I always 'happen' to be available, and he just takes advantage of opportunities to go.  I realised I have spotted a certain 'piggly wiggly' look that means he will poo. Often I feel by his muscles as I hold him in arms a lot of the time.

* Which positions/receptacles do you use?

In arms over bowl at night, sinks, toilet, potty, in nature. Some sitting supported on potty. (holding his legs) Independent wees in potty. Used a seat reducer at library loo for first time - at his choice!

* Do you use nappies or training pants?

Neither - pants mostly, sometimes knickers and pants. (when out) Socks, too. Split crotch pants, plenty of nakey time in spring weather at home. I leave him in pants when we come home - often this is really good for him - he'll signal quite obviously in pants. 

* How are you doing away from home?

Pants, wearing socks in case of a miss. No accidents for AGES! Want to make some slim line pants - he looks so cute in them with a little tush.

* What are you doing at night?

- same, baby in top, nakey bum. He wees around 9pm, going once or twice overnight between 3-5 am, occasionally 12 or 2 am.

* 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. Completely random, often in a cluster of days - ie no misses for a week, then four in one day, two the next sort of thing. 

* Other new insights:

-Phase 2 Grad while out at 18 months

If Phase 1 is "Staying dry pretty reliably with mum's help" that is Maven at home. He signals in some way pretty well, so some of the time he is a phase two grad at home. Generally pretty dry, occasional accidents I am unfussed over - part of the process.

When out is the fascinating thing! He will use sign language really clearly, he will take my hand and point, pull me to the toilet, he will head for it and bang on any intervening door, tugging at his ear and going "wee wee" or "toiyeee" and pointing. He will see signs for toilets and carry on about it. I discovered he could read the word 'toilet' when at a hardware store and he agitated until I saw the sign and took him - to a toilet we had never been to, after seeing a sign with 'toilet' tacked onto a pole with an arrow. 

This has all become really evident in the last few weeks. It is amazing! However, the funny bit is that this happens a lot! He seems to like going to the toilets in other's houses - he signals to go frequently, though he always squeezes out a wee - even if TWO drops! I know it is a phase that’ll pass, but it is funny to take him three times in a short space of time or he gets upset (plus I don't want to second-guess and have wet pants to change!)

If Phase 2 is “Signalling rather consistently, needing occasional reminders”, well Maven is there. I need to change it to: “Signalling rather conscientiously, consistently reminding Mum” He never ceases to astound me.

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

- Running out of reasons. It is easy? I'd rather wipe the odd wee up than nappy full time.

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

No.

* A tip for this age/stage?

Expect 'glimmers' of brilliant communication between plateaus of little overt signalling. One minute Maven does a 'gymnastic pee' on a chair, the next he is saying 'wee wee' and climbing onto the potty in the other room, then bringing it to the toilet. Another time he'll squat and do a surprise wee, then another time he'll wander around whinging and crying until I take him to the toilet. 

Charndra

Ds Maven 19 months