Posts In: Baby-led Potty Training

#voom 2016, 3 minute pitch. See video below.

Voom 2016: Vote, Shortlist, Pitch, Onwards!

22nd June 2016 Leave a comment

Voom 2016 was quite an experience! I didn’t get to #pitchtorich, but thanks to phenomenal support from friends old and new, I made it onto the shortlist and pitched Flaparaps to the panel of experts.

Here’s a roundup for those who want to re-live it, a hint at what the future has in store, and a big dollop of encouragement for anyone feeling inspired.

The Pitch (video) | The Pledgers (cartoon) | The ‘Why?’ | What’s Next? | Be Inspired!

The Pitch

Born Ready Jenn, pitching Flaparaps to the #voom judges. (The thumbnail isn’t me! Hit ‘play’ to start in the right place.)

Baby-led Potty Training

Pottying in the Pool and at the Beach

8th June 2016 Leave a comment

What should your child wear to the swimming pool if you ec?

In Summary

If you have ANY doubt about whether your child might poo in the pool, use a swim nappy.
If your child doesn’t have solid poo, use a swim nappy.
If your lesson stipulates a swim nappy, use a swim nappy.

Function over fashion | 5 tips | Travel potties | The beach! | Potty sign

Function Over Fashion

If you’re 99% sure they won’t poo, use a pair of swimmers with tight fitting legs i.e. trunks or bikini bottoms. If you want shorts for fashion / sun protection wear them over the top.

In a British indoor pool, you don’t need shorts. Anything that drags your child down or hampers their movement isn’t worth the fashion statement – in my opinion.

Flaparap, Flapperwrap, Flapawrap, Flapparap?

A-Way-Of-Life, Baby-led Potty Training, Flaparaps

I say Flaparap, you say Flapawrap. Flapperwrap. Flapparap.

14th May 2016 Leave a comment

I know, I know, the word ‘wrap’ begins with a ‘w’.

Flaparaps are drop-flap nappy wraps, so why aren’t they Flapawraps? Or Flapperwraps? Or Flappawraps? Flapper Wraps?

No good reason 😉 I just think the word looks nicer without that ‘w’ in the middle of it.

Born Ready Flaparaps. ‘W’-free nappies for nappy-free babies.

In case you haven’t guessed, this blog post is to help google to help you to find Flaparaps – no matter how you spell your search query.

Using nappies at night can be good for your pottying / ec and your wash pile.

A-Way-Of-Life, Baby-led Potty Training, Flaparaps, Toddler Potty Training

Why Night Nappies and Night Pottying / ec Are A Great Combination

7th April 2016 1 Comment

Having slept with four ec’d babies, I’ve done my share of being wee’d on, and it taught me some basic truths about wet beds and night time potty training.

This is the biggie:

Night time nappy free is not like daytime nappy free.

During the day, wet pants mean something. They’re cold and uncomfortable. And if you have a child commando in fleece trousers they must feel horrible when they’re wet! With no pants at all, your toddler can look down and see the wee forming a puddle around their feet. Cause and effect. Perfect conditions for learning.

Does your toddler use the potty sign to escape?

A-Way-Of-Life, Baby-led Potty Training, Baby-Toddler-Signing, Parenting-Strategy, Toddler Potty Training

How To React When Your Toddler Signs ‘Potty’ To Escape

17th March 2016 1 Comment

Shortly after your toddler learns to sign ‘potty’ they’ll realise just how useful it can be!

Not only are you delighted (and you will be delighted) but you respond to them every single time they do it! To your toddler, that chest slap means both ‘potty’ and ‘get out of jail free’.

Just wrestled her into the pushchair for the school run? ‘Potty’ she signs, still screaming and straining at the straps.

Just settled him into bed after the story? ‘Potty’ he signs, pulling off the covers and heading out of the door.

How to Prevent Chronic Constipation in Potty Training Toddlers

Baby-led Potty Training, Chronic Constipation

How To Help Your Toddler Avoid Chronic Consipation During And After Potty Training

3rd December 2015 4 Comments

Although diet, exercise and changes to routine can all play a role in constipation, situational factors also concern Dr Steve Hodges (the Paediatric Urologist who is all over the internet with articles like this one in the Huffington Post: “Don’t potty train your baby!”. You can read my response to Dr Hodges post here: Are there risks to ec / baby-led / early potty training? )

In this blog I’m going to look at situational causes of chronic constipation, give some tips on how to tackle them, and warn you of the child-led approach that can catch ec-ers out.

Baby-led Potty Training, Chronic Constipation

Are there risks to ec / baby-led / early potty training?

25th November 2015 Leave a comment

This blog post is a response to the many articles by Dr Steve Hodges that pop up all over the internet. I’m going to be quoting this one from The Huffington Post as an example: A doctor responds “Don’t potty train your baby!”

[Summary: Babies who use a potty really are at risk of chronic constipation. But so are nappy wearing toddlers who have their own ritual for poos and all fully potty trained children… Once you accept that, you can manage the risk while still pottying / ec-ing your baby. These are the signs to look out for in your baby or toddler: 10 signs of constipation every potty training parent should know.]

A-Way-Of-Life, Baby-led Potty Training, Flaparaps

10 Reasons Wool Wraps Are Way Better Than You Think.

13th October 2015 Leave a comment

I’d been using cloth nappies for three and a half children before I tried my first wool wrap. It was a Flaparap (of course).

I’d been listening to whisperings about the wonder of wool wraps/soakers for a long long time and decided I’d better give them a go before I ran out of babies!

So I did my research, chose a fabric and made myself some boiled wool Flaparaps. To my surprise, they quickly became the favourites in my stash.

Shortly afterwards, we camped in France for four weeks and my 14 month old spent every night in her wool Flaparaps. They were brilliant! More brilliant than I was expecting, actually…

A-Way-Of-Life, Baby-led Potty Training, Flaparaps

The Quick Start Guide To Night Time blpt / ec / baby pottying

12th October 2015 Leave a comment

Here you can find out how to do ec / blpt / baby-led pottying at night. I’m a big fan! I learned on the job with my four babies and I’ve hit every scenario out there. From cots and baby sleeping bags to co-sleeping with a naked baby in my armpit. What I discovered was it got a whole lot easier with the right approach and the right equipment.

Keeping up with Baby-led pottying / ec / blpt at night is entirely possible, totally worth it and not as hard as you might think. Read on for some ideas to get you started.

Baby-led Potty Training, Getting-Started

Discover When, Where and How To Offer The Potty For The Very First Time

17th January 2015 7 Comments

… By creating your own personal “First Pottitunity Cheat Sheet”.

Take the quiz to create your tailor-made first pottitunity cheat sheet. (It’s free!)

Baby-led pottying is straight forward, but it’s such a flexible activity that you might be wondering exactly how to start.

So many times and positions to choose from!

Don’t panic. To get started, you’ll need to offer the potty for the very first time. Focus on that one pottitunity and it will make all your decisions a lot simpler.

I’ve created a quiz to help you shape that first potty offer. To guide you to the best approach for you and your child and email you a nifty little cheat sheet to get you started.