20 month update

DS 20 months old on the 1^st November.

This is our latest month update.

* We started at...

Birth

* Generally speaking we are doing...

Cruising along.

* 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', 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. Taking my hand and saying 'wee wee'. Taking my hand and doing the 'poo' sign, pointing at the potty. Arranging the potty, getting a cushion, putting it down and pointing for me to sit on it and keep him company!

intuition: 'chi pee', sudden burning need to take him to the toilet. Busting to go to the toilet myself, 'suddenly'. He is very obviously signalling to me when we are out that I need to go to the toilet - taking me there, opening and shutting the door, pointing to the toilet. This is when I DO need to go, but am more interested in yapping.

* Is there a difference for poos and pees?

For poos this month he is definitely going at varied times. He does the poo signal clearly - hitting thigh with his fist. He is using the potty independently for poos - to the extend of taking it and emptying it himself in the toilet! He does like our presence, though - enjoys us sitting alongside for moral support I guess! Funnily, if Dad is home, he wants Dad to empty the potty, takes it to him ONLY with pride, pointing to the bathroom.

* Which positions/receptacles do you use?

In arms over bowl at night, sinks, toilet, potty, in nature. Independent wees in potty. Independent poos in potty always (except if we are in bed when he needs to go first thing - we use the bowl then) 

* 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. Used One Wets twice when out as I hurt by back and knew I wouldn't be focussing clearly, or lifting well. They got wet, he let me know asap. At home for those couple of days there were a few puddles - it seemed to throw him off kilter as well that I wasn't acting normally, though he still did use the pot pot at clear times. 

* How are you doing away from home?

Pants, wearing socks in case of a miss. See above.

* What are you doing at night?

- same, baby in top, nakey bum. This month sleeps between feeds moved out to 8 even 9 hours, no wee breaks. Awesome. Weeing around 8 then around 6. Then had a night of endless weeing and feeding as I did a food challenge and found he wasn't ready as I had wondered! Put mats back down for a couple of nights, as usual, once I did that, no problem catching them. Pattern returning to new normal of little overnight weeing. So nice.

* 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. Hasn't changed from last month - we seem to be in a plateau, though he is always improving - more independent wees. Must admit to be cruising myself, happy with current situation, know it will change again towards 2.

* Other new insights:

- Entering more into "Phase Three" behaviour - taking himself independently to the pot pot. Not all the time, in bursts - like he'll go several times in the morning on the pot, then have an accident or two (seemingly with no awareness), then just when I am thinking 'huh?' he says "wee wee" goes and gets the potty, sits down, wees, picks it up saying 'wee wee', takes it to the bathroom with me and lifts the lid as I pour it down and he then climbs on and flushes the loo. I expect he'll just do this more and more often.

- I fell asleep on the lounge one day only to wake with him saying "wee wee" and showing me a potty to empty for him. I woke up fast as there is nothing worse than a spilt potty - unnecessary clean up!

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

- Easy.

* 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 -same as last month. 

Charndra

Ds Maven 20 months