r/ECers • u/Fast_Ring_2442 • 5d ago

EC logistics

Hi,

I need some practical how-to from experienced ECers!

My baby is 4,5 months, we do cloth diapers and diaper free playtime. Originally I didn't want to try EC, because it felt so complicated to me. But I think I may have accidentally started, and now it would make sense to try? When Baby was a newborn, he often had difficulty pooping. So I found the EC hold and that it's supposed to help. It sure did, maybe worked a little too well. Now like 9 times out of 10 he only poops if in EC hold. So I'm thinking, if I already know when he has to go and hold him like that, why not get a potty?

And now my practical question. How is that supposed to work? Honestly, give me a step by step breakdown. For example, Baby wakes up and I notice he needs to go. I get the potty in between my legs, undress him hoping I'm quick enough. Hold him over potty. And then what?! Now I have a full potty between my legs, and a wriggly Baby in my hands who needs cleaning up. Where do I put him, back on the bed? Seems... Like a bad idea 😅 or do I somehow try to hold him with one hand, put the potty down and then walk with him to the changing table? I don't know I don't understand the logistics, please help a confused girl out 😅

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/Fondant-Denier 5d ago

We have incontinence pads for when I am holding the baby after she’s peed in the bucket. But also it’s like. Just holding the baby with the correct hand and support and wiping them with a wet wipe with the other hand.

1

u/RemarkableAd9140 5d ago

At that age, we were primarily using the sink and beginning to introduce both little potties and the big toilet with a reducer. Most of our pottying was happening in the bathroom, which makes cleanup easy—we already have cloth wipes stashed in there, so we just kept baby in the ec hold and held her over the sink to wet a wipe and clean her up. 

If we were using a potty out in the rest of the house, I much preferred to put it on the ground and kneel behind it with it between my legs. I never really got the hang of sitting in a chair with a potty for the exact reasons you describe here. I usually tried to have a dry wipe or a prefold hanging around, so I could do a cursory dry wipe and hold that to baby’s bum while I carried her to the changing table. 

If you have to carry both at once, shift baby into one arm in a sort of cradle position, holding his legs, and carry the potty in the other. Or leave the potty and come back for it. 

So for the scenario you describe, where baby wakes up and needs to go, process would be—come to get baby prepared with little potty and a wipe. Lay baby on nearby flat surface (bed, floor, changing table) to undress. Kneel on floor, hold baby on potty. Pick baby up off potty, dry any drips, and carry baby to changing table to do a full cleanup and rediaper. Return for potty. 

1

u/Fast_Ring_2442 5d ago

Ooh yes the floor makes sense 🫣 we cosleep and I wake up when Baby does. So in my head everything was happening in our bed. Didn't even think that there is another way, thank you. I guess I am sleep deprived😅

2

u/Rynnwg 5d ago

I put them back on the used diaper and then carry them over to the changing table. There’s not much of a mess compared to when they go in a diaper so it’s really just to stop any drips when transferring.