Infant Potty Training- Part 2

Infant Potty Training with Zuzu is going quite well. She has a few accidents every couple days, but mainly she goes number 1 and 2 on her little potty. We keep it next to the bed and our bed is a king-size pad on the floor. We keep it next to the bed for convenience' sake. She usually will go after nursing and in the middle of the night and when she wakes in the morning. If she hasn't gone potty in a while, I just put her on there and she plays with toys in a basket nearby. Sometimes she goes, sometimes she doesn't.

We keep the bed as a pad on the floor because of the rolling. She began rolling around 4 or 5 months and it was dangerous. Since I nurse her to sleep many times, she would fall asleep on the bed and I could not move her to the crib without waking her. So, I would let her lie there, but I feared to leave the room in case she rolled and fell off onto the hard wood floor 2.5 feet below. The pad we have is only 3 or 4 inches off the ground and very soft so it gives at the edges. I feel much better about leaving her in the room while I go to the bathroom or kitchen while she naps.

After she goes potty, we wash her bottom with our filtered water because we don't want the chlorine getting on her private parts multiple times per day. Then, we gently dab the area dry with a towel, which is freshly changed every day.

At night, I am often dizzy if I get up since I am pregnant and carrying my baby while that is happening is a hazard, so I have opted for using Earth Baby chlorine-free wipes. I only need one since they are so moisturized. This is my favorite brand of wipes.

I love Infant Potty Training! Nine months after her birth, I am so glad we did it!

And I had a dream last night that I was doing IPT with a little baby boy... so maybe that's coming in future days... So long for now.

Infant Potty Training- part 1

Infant Potty Training (IPT), also known as Elimination Communication (EC), has been a blessing in our life. We read about it on Dr. Sarah J. Buckley's website- she is the author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering.

My husband was determined to have us do this with Zuzu. I was less sure, knowing I would be carrying the major portion of the load while he was away at work. So, we started on a Saturday when Zuzu was 3 months old. We removed her diaper and left her onesie unbuttoned on the bottom so it would be easier to take her to the restroom.

Joel handled the better part of that weekend and to my surprise, Zuzu would usually pee on cue for him. On cue? you ask. Yes, at first, in order to train a baby to pee, it is recommended to make a sound to cue them- Psssss.

Well, this was encouraging, so I told him I would keep trying it for a day or two and I couldn't promise him anything since it was a rather tiresome task. She wouldn't go for me quite as easily. She would squirm or cry while I was holding her over the sink. But, sometimes.... she would go- success!

How do we take her potty? you may be wondering. Most of the time, we took her to the bathroom sink, pressed her back against our chest and hold each of her thighs with our hands, so she is in a sitting position. Then, make "the sound." If she didn't go within five seconds, we might persist gently with the sound for about 30 seconds or so, not pressuring her. Like Sarah Buckley wrote, it cannot be a battle of the wills.

We found that at 3 months old, she might have to go once an hour and more often following a feeding. Remember that I am exclusively breastfeeding her at this point (pretty much on demand) and until 6 months.

After awhile, she associates her urge to go with either being wet or feeling relieved and clean after going in the restroom. So, she learns to hold it until we take her.

We do not make her wait if we think she needs to go. She will usually signal us with a certain type of cry or uncomfortable squirming.

As you can see, we have continued IPT and its been 3 1/2 months. She no longer wears diapers to bed or in the stroller or when we go out. She does not wet the bed at night either. She signals me and I get up and take her to the restroom.

We have saved hundreds of dollars. But the best benefit is feeling closer to our baby and more in tune with her and her needs. Just because she is little does not mean she cannot learn to use the restroom like the rest of us.

Recently, my grandmother purchased a kid's potty for her. So, now she sits on that when she needs to go. Her feet don't touch the ground, but she is able to sit and do either number 1 or number 2. :) What a blessing IPT has been for us.

If anyone is thinking about doing this, I encourage you to try. Your baby will never have to sit in wet or soiled diapers and you will be more sensitive and thoughtful toward your little one as you practice Infant Potty Training.

Empty-Nesting Not For Me

Empty-nesting is the term used for parents who are home alone together once more when all their children are grown and living away from home or have homes of their own. I would like to say that I hope I am never an empty-nester.

Some people really look forward to it, calling it a return to their honeymoon days. Others struggle with depression and need counseling to make the transition. Either way, I have found that the couple does have to learn to cope somehow- they might throw themselves into work or ministry, recreation or entertainment.

I don't know. Maybe God calls some to this place in life so they can minister to others outside their family in a way that wasn't possible with children at home. Me, personally, I would never wish it for myself.

Children! I love them. I want so many that I die before I become an empty-nester. Hope that wasn't too abrupt... or something.

Two examples are Sherri at http://ladyofvirtue.blogspot.com and Linny at http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com. They are both close to 50, I believe, and have toddlers running around. :) Oh, to be so blessed!

Who wants an empty house and plenty of time to "do whatever you want" when you could be having, adopting, and raising children for the kingdom of God?? Not this mama.

"Your wife like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house,

Your children like olive plants all around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD."

~Psalm 128:3

Brittany