tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62775526197745002032012-01-27T00:26:57.103-08:00A blog About IPT, Parenting, and Life In GeneralKaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.comBlogger811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-247023072552584472011-12-30T09:56:00.000-08:002011-12-30T09:56:10.787-08:00

As I sit here, I'm 10 weeks, 5 days pregnant, which means my first trimester is blessedly coming to a close. In case I haven't mentioned it before, I have the most awesome husband in the world. Since this is our third pregnancy, and we've been married for close to 8 years, we've learned to communicate well. But I know that many couples are going through pregnancy who might not have the best

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-63496768229760529742011-12-29T06:34:00.000-08:002011-12-29T06:34:52.412-08:00

This blog has been sorely neglected. Of course, the thing about this blog is that the outdated posts are really quite helpful, because Infant Potty Training Techniques don't really need to be updated. However, I do have some exciting news! I am pregnant with baby number 3! My husband and I are extremely excited about this. Now that this blog is established, I plan on thoroughly documenting

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-4723392847372124412011-10-29T07:03:00.000-07:002011-10-29T07:03:09.912-07:00

One of the huge bonuses you get from practicing Infant Potty Training is the fun you'll have with your baby! Infants are by and large exhausting little bundles of joy, but there's something that's just so entertaining about a baby who poops on the toilet. The typical baby poops between 8 and 10 times a day. If parents do the traditional diaper thing, more than likely they will argue with each

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-79038561054718132272011-10-28T11:09:00.000-07:002011-10-28T11:09:41.900-07:00

These days many more people are considering homeschooling their children. The reasons they choose to home school are varied. As a mom of a five year old, this is something I debate in my head constantly. I do not want to harm my children. I only want the best for them. But yet I can see possible harm in either choice. So today I'll lay out what I see as the benefits and risks of both choices.  

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-73591300405387752212011-10-20T12:36:00.000-07:002011-10-20T12:36:38.210-07:00

It's ironic. Even if you're not much of a neat freak before you have a baby, odds are you'll be much more paranoid about a dirty house when your little one arrives. The ironic part, of course, is that your life is much more hectic than it was pre-baby, and keeping your house clean is much harder. But there are some easy ways to get your house in order, and keep it that way. A Load Of Laundry A

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-80481738238320780842011-10-08T12:22:00.000-07:002011-10-08T12:22:19.632-07:00

Everyone always talks about how expensive it is to raise a baby, and with good reason. The estimated cost for baby's first year is around $10,000. For most people, that's a lot of money. Fortunately, there are several easy things you can do to make having a baby a whole lot cheaper! Daycare The biggest chunk of money is spent on daycare. A lot of moms had jobs before children, and assume

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-18002121365067530942011-10-05T11:44:00.000-07:002011-10-05T11:45:05.819-07:00

One important thing to remember when you're practicing Infant Potty Training is that to get to "graduation day" in the shortest amount of time, you're going to have to get out of that comfort zone. When you start IPT, you'll definitely be stepping out of your comfort zone. Unfortunately, infant potty training isn't the norm (yet!), and it takes some courage to step out and do something different

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-22508720736295205752011-10-01T03:44:00.000-07:002011-10-01T03:44:28.225-07:00

In my last post, I went on a bit of a rant about how we are not helping kids when we reward mediocrity and punish success. And wouldn't you know it, I saw this story yesterday that is a shining example of just how screwed up we are in America (and especially in the public school system). Here's the video: Boy Banned From Scoring Touchdowns So, what is the school teaching the kids by enacting

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-28993902764322342732011-09-26T07:18:00.000-07:002011-09-26T07:18:41.915-07:00

The other day I was listening to the local Christian radio station, which I normally really enjoy listening to. However, on this particular morning they brought up a bone of contention with me. They started talking about how a coach was being mean if he didn't give much playing time to kids who weren't very good. The reason this irks me to such a great extent is that it's indicative of the

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-15825932526267715612011-07-29T02:47:00.000-07:002011-07-29T02:47:48.223-07:00

A week or so ago, on Fox News I saw a news story about a breastfeeding doll. Apparently there's a kerfuffle because this doll comes with an apron that the girl wears. There's a magnet or some sensor in the apron in the general vicinity of where breastfeeding happens, and that activates the doll's sucking reflex. Dr. Manny was claiming this was horrible, because it was "blurring the line between

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-12057727341148317812011-05-26T21:11:00.000-07:002011-05-26T21:11:00.281-07:00

Pregnancy is a wonderful time for a married couple. Sure, there are the mood swings, uncontrollable horomones, and sometimes downright crankiness, but there are things a good husband can do for his wife. He might not be able to take his woman's place although he claims he would, but there are 5 great gifts that can help a woman get through the next nine months before the joyous arrival. 1. Sea

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-50509071628449511992011-04-25T08:30:00.000-07:002011-04-25T08:30:00.775-07:00

Infant potty training is such a neat adventure. But when you're first starting out, you might wonder just how good your kid will be at going to the potty by a certain age. Well, my daughter just turned two years old. She can now tell me clearly when she needs to go potty. She can also undress, climb up onto the toilet, and go all by herself. The only thing she really still needs help with is the

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-26348914310035521682011-04-23T21:29:00.001-07:002011-04-23T21:29:57.753-07:00

It has come time again for Easter. It causes a lot of confusion for believers and non-believers alike, because they wonder how bunnies and eggs have anything to do with Christ’s crucifixion. And they should be confused too, because they are totally unrel...ated. Easter comes from the pagan worship of Ishtar, Astarte, Ashtoreth, and even Venus. These are different names for

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-72586567500187476052010-12-04T06:13:00.000-08:002010-12-04T06:13:55.481-08:00

1. It can save you tons of money! Disposable diapers cost parents about $1,000 a year until you potty train your child. Nowadays, that means you could spend three or four grand on diapering you baby's bottom! With IPT, you don't have to buy diapers, wipes, or new clothes because of all the diaper blowouts. 2. You have a lot less laundry! When you start from day one, you'll notice extremely quick

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-81997903806557794792010-11-16T05:31:00.000-08:002010-11-16T05:31:06.404-08:00

Remember reading Charles Dickens' classic, Great Expectations? Well, that's today's theme. Don't worry, there's no pop quiz at the end. Infant potty training is about expectations. When we as parents expect that our kids will potty train by the time they're three, you know when they potty train? When they're three. When we expect that they can't understand the word "no" until age two, they

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-82578383504262060342010-09-28T08:49:00.000-07:002010-09-28T08:49:27.609-07:00

Welcome to installment 4 of our What To Expect When You're Infant Potty Training Series! Overview Nine to twelve months is such a cool age. I love this stage. Your babbling baby is crawling around and trying to take those first steps. It's an exhilarating time. If you've been doing baby sign language, your baby will definitely be using some signs consistently. My babies always master "more"

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-91679252779838869372010-09-27T08:32:00.000-07:002010-09-27T08:32:01.893-07:00

Welcome to episode 3 of our What To Expect When You're Infant Potty Training series! Check out episode 1 and episode 2 if you haven't already. (NOTE: I am in no way affiliated with Heidi Murkoff and her What to Expect Series.) Overview Today we're talking about your 6-9 month old baby. It's such a cute age. With this cuteness comes challenges to Infant Potty Training, but there are also some

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-60068534019944313942010-09-24T05:24:00.000-07:002010-09-24T05:27:01.681-07:00

In our continuing series, shamelessly ripped off from the What To Expect When You're Expecting book series, we're going to talk today about What to Expect when Infant Potty Training your 3-6 month old. Each stage becomes easier in some ways, and more challenging in others. Overview 3-6 months is a great age. You're finally getting on a semi-regular sleep schedule. You're somewhat out of the "

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-16762123702369488802010-09-23T07:56:00.000-07:002010-09-27T08:34:44.275-07:00

Today is the start in a series of posts in what you should expect when you're doing Infant Potty Training (IPT) at the various stages of your baby's development. There are different challenges at different ages, so I thought this would be a useful way to break it down into simple stages. We'll start today with newborns. When I say newborn, I'm referring to babies ages 0-3 months. Overview:

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-54819429787340889782010-09-04T17:07:00.000-07:002010-09-04T17:07:33.289-07:00

There are lots of different parenting philosophies out there. But one of the most pervasive ones in this day and age (and in my mind the most dangerous one) is that we shouldn't "indoctrinate" our kids. When people use the word "indoctrinate" they mean teach your kids traditional values, like don't have sex before marriage, or don't do drugs. But perhaps the worst thing you can do, to these

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-80963906757483606412010-09-03T13:00:00.000-07:002010-09-03T13:00:19.185-07:00

<p><p><br><br><br><br><br>&

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-16570006895903871922010-09-01T13:27:00.000-07:002010-09-01T13:35:24.103-07:00

So, even though I practice infant potty training, I'm a Conservative gal. Lots of folks who practice IPT are very anti-spanking, and that just doesn't jive with me. Maybe it has something to do with being raised in the South. If one of us kids got out of line, we got a swift swat on the rear, and you know what? We quit misbehaving. Bill Cosby does a great bit about his parenting experiences with

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-36916816108777980452010-08-26T15:55:00.000-07:002010-08-26T15:55:00.943-07:00

I think one reason why some parents are afraid to try infant potty training is because they are afraid IPT might have some sort of adverse side effects. Some might worry that babies who are trained from birth might exhibit pottying problems down the road, like wetting the bed, or withholding poop. We're parents. We worry. We look around and see what other parents are doing, and we're pretty much

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-28266252502704086002010-08-16T16:36:00.000-07:002010-08-16T16:36:14.429-07:00

Infant potty training is cheap. You really don't *have* to buy any products. But as with anything, there are some tools of the trade that make infant potty training much easier, and so I thought I'd make a list of the things that are smart buys for those of you who are just starting out in your IPT adventure: 1. A Baby Bjorn Little Potty is a must have. Do yourself a favor and buy one.

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-36424015042664263542010-04-15T09:34:00.000-07:002010-04-15T09:34:28.417-07:00

So at 13 months, my little girl doesn't say many words. She can say mama, her brother's name, dada, papa, and dog, but that's about it. And most of the time, she's not really consistent. And that's why I love baby sign language. She's cutting her molars right now, which every parent knows is an intense teething marathon. This means she's frequently fussy, and if she didn't know some sign

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-34743860347214918052010-04-14T14:08:00.000-07:002010-04-14T14:08:22.720-07:00

My little girl is now 13 months old, and as I said in a previous post we're working on independence. She has very few misses unless we're not consistent. But she's also been very dependent on us to realize she needs to go and to take her to the potty. But lately she has been better about being clear with her actions, and being more independent. She'll go into the bathroom sometimes when she needs

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-13941326303642625242010-03-27T20:38:00.000-07:002010-03-27T20:38:16.272-07:00

I know I've talked before about how a baby signals you when she needs to go to the bathroom. She might turn red, or start grunting, or if you've taught her sign language, she might even start signing that she needs the potty. But every baby is different, and sometimes, babies just start doing things that are downright weird. For example, I have noticed that when my daughter crawls under our

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-45838995001503223732010-03-21T16:49:00.000-07:002010-03-21T17:57:54.776-07:00

There is definitely a time when disposable diapers have an excellent function: when your family has the stomach virus. My daughter (now 1) got it first, and so we decided to put her in a diaper since we figured she'd get diarrhea. Unbelievably, throughout the whole cycle, she didn't have a single accident. The diapers were a great ease to my mind though, which is important. (Side note: if you are

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-86653212806206543932010-03-13T13:22:00.000-08:002010-03-14T11:38:12.711-07:00

Lest I mislead anyone, there are times when infant potty training is less convenient than traditionally diapering a baby. Well, maybe.Take last night for example. We went out to eat with some friends, and our girl kept acting like she needed to poop, but wouldn't. I took her to the restaurant's bathroom, and she pooped a tiny bit. Normally that means she needs to do a lot more, but for some

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-24793585362078477292010-03-12T11:48:00.001-08:002010-03-13T13:44:10.200-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, the thing we're going to be working on now, since we basically have our girl potty trained is to become independent. Of course, until she's a bit older she'll need help with things like wiping and dressing, but I really want to encourage more independence. I just bought a book called "We Help Mommy" at a consignment store last night, and as I was flipping through

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-59115278029579102172010-03-03T05:30:00.001-08:002010-03-14T11:39:40.399-07:00

It's so hard to believe, but my darling daughter is turning one in a few days. If you're wondering what infant potty training looks like at one, then this blog is for you!Misses: We have about 2 pee misses a week, but sometimes more if she happens to be teething. Last week we had a bit of a missy week with her waking up and peeing before we got her out of the bed. Poo misses are extremely rare,

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-87288638932873624812010-01-18T07:17:00.001-08:002010-01-19T09:43:46.306-08:00

Ah misses. They're bound to happen. And when you're a perfectionist, you find them annoying or even frustrating. I know I've written about this before on here, but misses are bound to happen, you will be annoyed, and it's only how you deal with that annoyance/frustration that will determine if you a) quit IPT altogether, b) becoming increasingly weary with IPT and eventually give up, or c) put it

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-17499914312409445512010-01-15T09:53:00.000-08:002010-01-19T09:43:46.307-08:00

Infant potty training might seem far out or bizarre to some people (despite the fact that worldwide, it's actually more common than waiting until 2 years or older to potty train). Because it's so uncommon here in America, many of us who delve into IPT have low expectations. After all, there are very few books on the subject, and how can we really know something like this really works when we've

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-91807143003269363462010-01-06T07:24:00.000-08:002010-01-19T09:43:46.308-08:00

Hey all you readers! I have been considering hosting a chat or doing a podcast of some sort where people could call/write in and I could answer your questions. I know that sometimes you're left with questions, and this might be a way to communicate more effectively. Would anyone be interested in this? Please let me know what you think!

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-8121792049026179942010-01-05T05:54:00.000-08:002010-01-19T09:43:46.309-08:00

Infant potty training is a bit of a balancing act. You want your baby to stay clean and dry, so you'll take them to the potty often (maybe sometimes a little too often), but you also don't want your entire day consumed with potty visits. You also don't want your baby to hate the potty. So, how do you achieve this balance?When my husband saw the title of today's blog, he joked that I was letting

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-76912215719633726942010-01-04T06:23:00.000-08:002010-01-19T09:43:46.310-08:00

It's hard to believe, but our daughter is now 10 months old. I know when I was researching infant potty training / elimination communication, I wanted to know how quick the progress would be. When would a baby who does this be potty trained? I got so frustrated when I would read things like "every baby is different" or "it depends on how you define 'potty-trained.'" So, at 10 months old, here is

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-21200083357206134592009-12-08T12:47:00.000-08:002010-01-19T09:43:46.311-08:00

If you're pregnant and think you'd like to do IPT with your little one, then it's a really good idea to prepare. It's best to prepare:1) Your house: A waterproof mattress cover is a great idea if you'll be co-sleeping, because accidents will happen, (and even if you never have a miss in the bed, chances are, your breasts will probably leak). Over at tribalbaby.org, Charndra describes how she

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-3569153104350181822009-10-24T04:19:00.000-07:002010-01-19T09:43:46.312-08:00

Infant Potty Training at night sounds daunting doesn't it? Do you envision waking up every 15 to 20 minutes to take your baby to the potty, all the while listening to her screeches that can only mean "how dare you take me out of my nice warm bed?" Well, in my experience, that's totally not the case. Let me tell you about the experience I had with my first baby.Baby E is a very high need baby. The

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-4060042994532569802009-10-15T06:26:00.000-07:002010-01-19T09:43:46.313-08:00

I love the bathroom sink when doing infant potty training. Yes, it may sound gross, but it's just oh so handy. I have used the sink much more extensively with my daughter than with my son (boys make more of a mess with the sink, unless you're good at aiming), and we're just now starting to use the sink less often, but here are the top 10 reasons why I love it:1. My babies like the security of

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-9350434626533143422009-10-04T06:32:00.000-07:002009-10-06T08:24:06.063-07:00

The weather is turning cooler now, and while you and I may love this change in the weather, your baby might not. Especially when it comes to the potty. If your baby usually loves sitting on the potty, but has recently started arching her back and yelling at you for having the nerve to put her on there in the first place, a cold seat could be to blame. (Side note: potty protests are frustrating

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-29972065149880813862009-10-02T11:44:00.001-07:002009-10-03T06:50:31.089-07:00

For many of you today's post will definitely fall under the category of TMI. This post is only for those of you whose sensibilities aren't easily offended.For a variety of reasons, I cccasionally I like to try to look at the world through my baby's eyes. Sometimes I do it to see if my disciplining makes sense, or just to take a trip back to my own childhood, and other times, I do it to see how

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-82262442023599202162009-09-30T16:10:00.001-07:002009-10-03T06:50:31.090-07:00

What is IPT? IPT stands for Infant Potty Training, and it's the process by which parents or caregivers teach their babies to eliminate in a potty, bowl, toilet, sink, or other receptacle, rather than in a diaper.Are IPT and EC the same thing?It depends on who you ask, but the short answer is yes, it refers to the same thing. From what I gather, some people don't like the word "training" as it

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-6323058262131687382009-09-29T08:03:00.000-07:002009-09-29T12:41:55.555-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with vaccinations. On the love side, they protect my babies from horrible, horrible diseases that have, thanks to immunizing programs, have been eradicated from our country. Thanks to our scientists and doctors, my children will never have to fear polio, Hib meningitis, or whooping cough, to name a few. I am incredibly grateful for all that.Now, the hate part is, I

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-38445563071254267652009-09-28T07:49:00.000-07:002009-09-29T12:41:55.555-07:00

Okay, so maybe mama wasn't talking about a day where IPT seems to just go out the window. It's only 11 a.m. and we've already had 3 misses. What on earth?!?! One when I was actually holding her, which also never happens. Days like this do happen, and though they're rare, they're nonetheless frustrating.This is a time when I do some detective work, see where I'm going wrong. Two things immediately

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-25966368386012985952009-09-26T02:22:00.000-07:002009-09-29T12:41:55.556-07:00

I love doing IPT with my babies. I love that I get a little bit more into their world by potty training them from birth. I love the fact that I save soo much money by doing this. I really love that I'm not sending tons of disposable diapers to the landfill. I am really starting to get a kick out of the look on people's faces when I tell them my 6 month old poops on the potty. So, with all this

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-82240432010740253642009-09-13T08:30:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.791-07:00

Ah, the comfort zone. We all love it don't we? Well, maybe we do, or maybe it's kind of a love/hate relationship. We all love to be comfy in our lives, but then on the other hand, we can begin to feel like we're in a rut. Personally, I like to stay out of my comfort zone. Or at least, after I've been in it a while, I try to break out of it. It's kinda been a repeating theme through my life. I

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-33436842699013014722009-09-08T14:03:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.792-07:00

So, we just got back from a nice long weekend at Mt. Pisgah Campgrounds, and we had an awesome time! I was a bit apprehensive about taking a six month old camping, but she was a trooper. I wondered how IPT would go, since our routine would be completely out of whack, and there would be times when she might need to "hold it." We did have more misses than we normally do...about 4 over the course of

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-75393063131745469482009-09-02T07:36:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.792-07:00

Do you remember Blossom? I loved that show when I was a kid. Well, she's all grown up now, and guess what! She potty trains her babies too! Here is a great video of her take on elimination communication, aka infant potty training. Thanks, Lil Mama Karen for sharing it!

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-15232224770904018292009-08-31T14:20:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.792-07:00

So, my daughter is an IPT champ. I mean, we've had much quicker progress with her than her brother. Misses are rare in general, but poop misses are like extremely extremely rare. Except...when my mom holds her. And it's not like every time that my mom holds her she poops, because that's certainly not the case. But in probably 3 of the last 4 poop misses we've had (over a span of a couple of

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-2141541754387237992009-08-30T04:22:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.792-07:00

I don't fit in. That's why I started this blog. I don't fit in with "mainstream parenting" especially here in the South, because I breastfeed (exclusive, extended breastfeeding at that), I don't use pacifiers, I start solids late, and I co-sleep.But I am so not of the hippie/crunchy persuasion. I have very strong Conservative Christian values. I do vaccinate, my son was circumcised, and I do use

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-43574806044303518652009-08-22T08:59:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.793-07:00

"I don't have time..." I've come to the conclusion that this little phrase is the biggest lie we tell ourselves. It is an excuse we use all the time. In looking through some of the blog posts I wrote before I had kids, I realized that back then I was always making the excuse that I was just so busy, that I didn't have time to do A, B, or C. It's easy to see in hindsight that I did have plenty of

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-44896094517452577322009-08-14T03:29:00.001-07:002009-09-29T19:48:15.638-07:00

So, an argument I've heard from people who think you've gotta be nuts to try IPT is that it's much more convenient to just let your baby do her business in her diaper and then clean her up. And why not just wait till she can take herself? Wouldn't that be more convenient?Well.....no. That's the short answer. But since it's always better to "show your work," I'll devote this space to argue my

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-30396294260747479142009-08-10T10:57:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.793-07:00

I always want to portray IPT or EC if you prefer, in a very positive light. I do this because 99% of the time, it is a very positive experience. But I would be leading you on if I didn't warn you about those frustrating times that you will inevitably go through when you potty train your infant. You will have days when you wonder "what happened?" Some days, rare though they will be, you will think

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-45963336892887102009-07-29T02:58:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.794-07:00

One of the most daunting tasks of IPT is using the public restroom to potty your infant. I avoid it when possible, and just use this wonderful thing instead (in the comfort of our minivan):However, sometimes there's just no getting around using those public restrooms. And when it comes down to my baby pooping on herself or using a public restroom, I'm all for the latter option. While it's not

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-7545510850911024452009-07-04T13:44:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.795-07:00

Infant Potty Basics, by Laurie Boucke (pronounced Boo-kay) is an excellent source for all people who practice IPT. This book is a simplified version of Infant Potty Training: A Gentle and Primeval Method Adapted to Modern Living. I read this book after I had my second baby, and I wish I had read it before my first was born. Since you are going against the grain of what is "normal" in Western

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-82361835047478764082009-06-27T05:11:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.795-07:00

There may come a time during your potty training adventure where your child begins to miss for no apparent reason. Usually you'll figure out what the reason is; normally it's either teething or hitting a developmental milestone. But occasionally you might not figure it out, and you may be tempted to do what we did, and that was bribe our child. Our firstborn had started having some poop accidents

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-22812459963653398062009-06-24T03:45:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.795-07:00

When you are trying to decide whether or not to potty train your baby, you might wonder how quickly your baby will progress. You might wonder if it's worth it. Now, I can sit here and tell you that every baby is different, that every parent is different, that it depends on the temperament, etc. I know that you'd rather hear what results we've had, and how quickly we've had them. So while those

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-24227720281802881702009-06-23T05:37:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.796-07:00

The world of cloth diapering can be highly confusing. There are so many choices: all-in-ones, pockets, fitteds, flats, pre-folds, covers, pins, snappis, organic cotton, the list goes on and on. With our first baby, we bought some flat diapers, a few dritz pins, and some snappis. We didn't cloth diaper him much at all, which I regret now. Part of it was feeling overwhelmed by having a newborn for

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-36048874771835957752009-06-22T03:32:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.796-07:00

One of the best communication tools to have in your arsenal as an IPT parent is sign language. We used Joseph Garcia's kit, pictured here:One awesome thing about infants is that they can sign much earlier than they can talk. How much earlier? While the kit says infants around 7-9 months will sign, we've experienced it much earlier with our kids. Our son started "mabbling" (manual babbling) around

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-29829703391536784012009-06-20T04:26:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.797-07:00

Given that with IPT you'll have very few big misses, when choosing a cloth diaper, I'm more worried about comfort and durability than I am about "leakproofness" or keeping the baby feeling dry. In fact, I prefer it if the baby does feel the wetness, as discussed in my post about awareness.I ordered my two Sweet Doll Baby AIOs from Ebay. I got factory seconds because I am a cheapskate. The

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-10294550405559988782009-06-20T03:59:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.797-07:00

With our second baby, we've decided to go with cloth diapers to help with awareness. In other words, we want her to know when she's peed her diaper. We want her to feel the cause and effect relationship. That's the bad thing about disposables these days: they're so incredibly absorbent, a baby doesn't really feel the consequence of going in her diaper. To take it one step further, many times a

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-83359619629846058612009-06-20T03:06:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.797-07:00

When you enter the world of Infant Potty Training, there are many terms you'll want to become familiar with if you cruise other sites and forums. With that in mind, I've come up with a list that will help you understand what they're talking about.Infant Potty Training-The process of teaching your young infant to use the potty, instead of using their diaper as a potty. This is the terminology I

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-37715149593154819762009-06-15T12:13:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.798-07:00

One thing about IPT is you will become very familiar with your baby's poop. This is good because it can give you a heads up about changes your baby is experiencing. You'll become well acquainted with how often your baby poops and the consistency thereof, which sounds gross, but it's a good thing to be up on. It can help you know if a certain food you've introduced causes a digestive reaction.

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-26450094669740361922009-06-11T14:25:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.798-07:00

Should you try to practice infant potty training at night? Our first baby was very "high need." In the first few months of his life, we had lots of trouble getting him to go to sleep at night. We had decided right off the bat to put him in a diaper and try to get as much sleep as we could. Until he was three months old or so, he was extremely fussy at night. In hindsight, I wonder if maybe he

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-46005696195111764782009-06-09T07:23:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.798-07:00

In case you were wondering, it doesn't matter how old your baby is: you can still start IPT (or EC if you prefer the term) any time you want. The principles still apply. Start watching her cues, though you probably have already noticed a pattern of when they go. A great way to start would be after naps and first thing in the morning. Go off of timing while you're learning your baby's cues.It

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-4690744384434262472009-06-06T14:08:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.799-07:00

You might be wondering if this consumes every waking moment of a mom's life. The answer in short is, no. It does take some time and commitment, but I look at it as an investment. You put in a good bit of effort up front, but as your baby grows, they become more independent, and it saves you time. The way I look at it is, whether you do IPT or not, you are training your baby. If you do IPT, you're

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-33956399881141832362009-05-31T10:20:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.799-07:00

There are a few safety precautions you should take when practicing IPT:1.) NEVER potty your baby in a porta-potty, as drowning could occur. This danger is one reason why I highly recommend the Potty on the Go (about $20), found in my Amazon store. It's nice to always have a safe potty place available for your baby!2.) Never leave your baby alone on the toilet, as they could fall off. Of course,

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-55977133201304899212009-05-31T07:29:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.799-07:00

Distraction can be a good or a bad thing when it comes to IPT. On the good side, distraction can help your baby to relax, which means they can "go" more quickly. If your baby is crying or fussing, you don't necessarily need to take them off right away. It could be the reason she is fussing is that she needs to go potty. There are many good ways to distract your baby in order to get them to calm

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-49910298323268604182009-05-24T16:22:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:20:29.800-07:00

When you're starting out, it can be difficult to know how long to keep your baby on the potty if she's not going. It all comes down to trial and error, and your own judgment. The quicker potty trips are, the better. If your baby is not going right away, even after being cued, you should probably take the her off and try again later. However, there are those times when baby is stressed out and

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-31808527775796186592009-05-24T16:21:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.331-07:00

We all care about the environment, even (gasp) conservatives like me. I think it bothers everyone how much waste comes with disposable diapering. And while the jury is still out on whether cloth or disposables are better for the environment, IPT is definitely a better alternative than either one. If you do cloth only with IPT, there's no real waste, and with so few dirty diapers, your laundry

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-56423066218334909562009-05-20T12:23:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.332-07:00

Your baby can communicate from day one when they need to "go"! Sound impossible? Parents know from instinct when their baby is hungry or tired, so why not when they need to go? And if you really think about it, most parents are aware of when their babies are "going", they just don't do anything about it. But some might argue that by the time they realize their baby is going, it's too late. Not so

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-65744260544123953632009-05-19T01:40:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.332-07:00

One awesome thing about IPT is the serious cash savings. The average traditionally diapered baby goes through 5,000-8,000 diapers before being potty trained, which adds up to around $1,600-$2,300. Cloth diapering be expensive too, with costs between $800-$1,100 (source: http://www.surebaby.com/costs.php). Multiply these costs by how many children you plan to have, and we're talking about a load

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-73013158602899137672009-05-17T14:12:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.332-07:00

Consistency is very important when practicing IPT. The more consistent you are, the more successful you will be. This doesn't mean it has to be an all-or-nothing endeavor; plenty of parents do this on a part time basis for a variety of reasons. If you can't commit to doing this full-time, whether for work related reasons, or just your own comfort level, do try to be consistent with those times

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-39361295984910308332009-05-17T13:02:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.333-07:00

Misses can and do happen, and the best thing to do is to get over it when it happens. With our son, I was pretty hard on myself when we'd have a miss. Ironically, the tension I would feel made him tense, and we'd have even more misses. But once I would relax, we'd get back into the groove. It's best to just say to yourself, "whoops a daisy, we had a miss," and then get on with life. Don't beat

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-50737549998226148832009-05-17T04:21:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.333-07:00

The main concern I had starting out was, what on earth will people think when I tell them I'm potty training my infant? Will people think I've lost it? We all say that it doesn't matter what other people think, but we all know that deep down we do want the approval of others. While some people do give you strange looks, or a skeptical eye, many people think it's fascinating. With my son, we

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-1990525932701149182009-05-15T12:42:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.333-07:00

Where to take your baby potty depends on your own comfort level and your baby's age. For young, exclusively breastfed babies, the bathroom sink can be a great option. Simply hold your baby over the sink, and after she's finished going, rinse it all down the drain. Some people might be uncomfortable doing that, but like George Costanza said, "It's all pipes!"As your baby grows, a potty is a great

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-3177660616102958822009-05-15T12:29:00.001-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.333-07:00

What about those times when your baby just won't go, even though you know she needs to go? The key to fixing this problem, more than likely, has to do with your attitude. Babies are extremely sensitive to our emotions, and if you're stressed, your baby is stressed, and won't be able to relax and go. So many times I have found that if I just smile at my baby, my tension is released and she will go

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-20279505275164189332009-05-15T12:20:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.334-07:00

The best clothing for IPT is the one that you can get off and on the easiest, because, especially in the early months, you'll be taking your little one to the potty frequently. It's much easier to pull off a pair of pants and undo a diaper, or unsnap three snaps of a onesie than it is to undo and redo one of those full bodysuits with a million snaps. Most of the time our baby wears just a diaper

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-89021050283976911352009-05-15T11:50:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.334-07:00

One of the best ways to have success with IPT is to cue your baby consistently. Whenever you take your baby potty, communicate what you want them to do by making the appropriate sound. Use ssst for pee, and a grunt for poop. This helps your baby know exactly what you're wanting. You can also try blowing on the top of the baby's head, which is what the Eskimos do. It helps our daughter relax,

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-87642681090674888382009-05-15T05:37:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.334-07:00

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. That's how IPT is. You just have to try, and then you'll be hooked. No matter what your reasoning for wanting to do this, the biggest barrier will be your own fears of failure, or of being viewed as a loony. I know that I certainly felt silly the first time I held my 4 day old son over the sink and grunted to try to get him to poop.

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6277552619774500203.post-67089958209239684852009-05-14T03:53:00.000-07:002009-09-26T02:22:45.335-07:00

One of the main problems I could foresee was going out and about with a potty training baby. Sure, at home it's easy, but when you're away there are several factors: nasty public bathrooms, lack of changing tables in said nasty public bathrooms, and baby being unfamiliar with/scared of the public toilets. The answer, I found, lies in the Potty On The Go. Here are the great things about it:1.

Kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12594263554748207482noreply@blogger.com0