EC Update 2.0

We've been practicing elimination communication for about five weeks now.
We've come so far!
Other than the random day we have once in awhile where he just WON'T go in the toilet, we are really getting the hang of this thing.
We rely more on timing than on cueing because even though we do spend some diaper-free time, I just haven't been able to find anything this kid does to cue me regarding his need to go #1.

enjoying some diaper-free time

 For diaper-free time, I just put down a water-proof pad that goes under the sheets on his crib, and since we don't actually use his crib, I figured we might as well make use of that pad. He enjoys diaper-free time, as is evident by how wriggly and squirmy he gets sans diaper.

He even started pushing himself backwards while going diaper-free. This is closest to crawling we've seen!

Burkley is almost crawling, but not quite. I think he will be there in the next week or two. But, without his dipe, he loves to move around and he pushes himself backwards while on his tummy.

Anyway. Back to EC. We take him to the toilet every time he wakes up from a nap (he still takes FOUR naps- what can I say, this kid loves his sleep) or in the morning and he goes potty. We even do this while out at other people's houses or even if he just takes a nap in the sling, like at church or somewhere public. When he wakes up, we just take off his dipe, do the sign for "bathroom", say, "Potty, Burkley?" and take him to the toilet, and...he goes!! And....get this....he stays dry inbetween (for the most part). We are still using diapers though, because when we are out and about, he generally stays awake longer than he would when we are at home, so he's going longer "wake ups" and therefore between being taken to the toilet. So, sometimes we do have some misses while out. But, more often than not, he is dry and it's been so great going many, many more days between washing diapers.

As for #2- well, I pretty much haven't changed a poopy diaper since we started this adventure. I can tell when he needs to poop, but for the most part, he just goes when I put him on the toilet for his first-morning pee (lol, I haven't thought about that phrase- 'first morning urine'- since taking a pregnancy test, haha!). So, we are learning his rhythms and patterns. Plus, bonus! He is also now going for Daddy.

All in all, we're doing great with our EC journey. I did find that for a few days last week when he was getting his new tooth (On top! It's so cute!) we had some issues where he fought me when I brought him to the toilet. He was generally cranky for a few days, and not sleeping well, (and not nursing well- actually, I think I need to do a post about that as well...), but he was writhing and twisting his body and whining to get off the toilet for a couple of days during that teething time, so I didn't force the issue.

I wonder when we will go completely diaper free? I'm interested in trying out some of these training pants that will hold just one pee-- goodness, they're so cute and just imagine his little bum without a puffy dipe! He's a very light wetter too, so I think we could at least use these around the house when we rarely have a miss. Hmm...maybe for his birthday? :) 

I also wanted to say that if you're reading this as your first of my EC posts, please do some research on EC before judging me. So many people, when we're in public, will ask me with an eyebrow raised, "You're potty-training him!?" Most ask it with curiosity, but some ask with concern and quite evident disapproval. No, I am not potty-training him. I've giving him the opportunity to go in the toilet rather than in his diaper and based on the fact that he DOES go in the toilet and NOT in his diaper, I'm going to assume he prefers that option. Wouldn't you?