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Boys + EC

Andrea Branding

EC with boys – is it really that different than doing EC with girls? Boys bring both unique advantages to and a need for creativity with EC. Today on Ask Andrea, I address three common situations (that actually, girls can experience, too) – touching self on the potty, touching pee in the potty, and spraying while peeing. Listen and then weigh in with your insights, below!

You Will Hear:

  • my answer to the “to touch or not touch” question
  • how to address playing with pee in the mini potty
  • alternative outlets for kids who need to touch
  • tips for practicing aim in peeing
  • tools to assist with cleaner pottying
  • inspiration from a mom with a Down Syndrome toddler

Links and other resources mentioned today:

Download the Transcript

If you can't listen to this episode right now (um, sleeping baby!?)...download and read the transcript here:

Transcript download: Boys + EC

What are your questions about or tips for doing EC with boys?

I look forward to discussing with you in the comments, below!

xx Andrea

Watch the Video Version

If you want to watch me record today’s podcast episode, you can do that on my youtube version right here:

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Andrea Olson

About Andrea Olson

I'm Andrea and I spend most of my time with my 6 children (all under 12 yo) and the rest of my time teaching other new parents how to do Elimination Communication with their 0-18 month babies. I love what I do and try to make a difference in one baby or parent's life every single day. (And I love, love, love, mango gelato.)

13 Comments

  1. Avatar Stephanie on October 4, 2022 at 2:49 pm

    My baby boy is 14 months old, and I’m wanting to transition him into getting used to potty training. He has started grabbing his diaper to attempt taking it off. and started even grabbing himself. I tried half a day yesterday of naked time, wasn’t able to catch anything with the tiny potty. How often should I do naked time? I have been slacking with EC recognition while he’s been in a diaper.

    • Andrea Olson Andrea Olson on October 7, 2022 at 7:44 pm

      Hi Stephanie! Naked time is a great starting point! Incorporating naked time consistently for three-seven days can begin to give you a great picture as to his timings and signals are. Working on finding a baseline can help in getting those catches!

  2. Avatar Vero on October 4, 2022 at 5:19 pm

    Loved this article! Thank you Andrea for all the tips and everything you do.

    My boy is now little over 2 and we started some version of part time EC when he was 3 weeks old. Completely potty trained at 20 months and I give a lot of credit to EC for how easy that went.

    What helped us with the aiming was to tell him to spread his legs as much as he could when getting on the potty or seat reducer (or help him with it). the penis would just hang most of the time, pee went in. Otherwise, he’d just pee on his lap, even without intending to. And to keep hands busy, we’d play finger games, count toes, read books etc. I’d also place him on the toilet seat reducer, facing backwards and explore the animal and foods stickers I had put on the lid of the toilet. Distracted well, the legs would be high enough for good elimination and toes reachable for having some fun, looking for lint, etc.
    Along the way we’d consistently teach him to push the penis down (at the base, touching more the pubic area than the penis), so we can “hear the pipi song”. I still push it down for him every now and then, even though I am well aware he can well do it for himself. Some days they just need us more.

    And tugging at it, yeah, same as poking the belly button, the nostrils and ears :))))) I try to focus on limiting public performances. It did get better though once we were done with diapers for good. Probably the novelty wore off a bit, especially as we didn’t make a big deal out of it. But I don’t expect it to ever go away fully :D

    • Andrea Olson Andrea Olson on October 7, 2022 at 7:49 pm

      Happy to be of help! And, yes, incorporating games, counting, books etc, is a great way to distract littles and give them the space they need to relax.

  3. Avatar Colleen on October 4, 2022 at 10:39 pm

    My little boy (18 months) has the spraying issue that was dicussed in the episode. Whats the best way to introduce peeing standing up? He’s so used to sitting everytime now he can’t pee standing.

    • Avatar Lauren Fogell on October 6, 2022 at 4:37 pm

      We’re 12 months (boy) and having the issue with now that he’s walking has zero desire to stay on the potty to pee! We haven’t caught a pee or poo in weeks due to him crawling off the potty. How to keep them on the potty?

      • Andrea Olson Andrea Olson on October 7, 2022 at 8:02 pm

        Using a seat reducer on the big toilet and some distraction tactics, like books, songs etc., tends to help!

  4. Avatar Alex on October 5, 2022 at 9:25 pm

    I have a daughter (18 months) who always wants to touch herself while sitting on the mini potty.

    I am relieved to know this is normal and typical of many children. I have been encouraging finger plays/songs with hand motions, reading books, looking at family photos on my phone. We have tried the big toilet with a seat reducer. This solves one problem, but creates another. One the big toilet she can reach the toilet paper! 😉 I guess it’s all about setting expectations and boundaries.

    • Andrea Olson Andrea Olson on October 7, 2022 at 7:59 pm

      Yes, totally normal, nothing to worry about! I have been there with the toilet paper situation, gently setting expectations has helped a lot.

  5. Avatar Mim on October 6, 2022 at 2:50 am

    I love this topic because although I have tons of daughters, I am practicing ec with my first boy! So I have never done ec with a baby girl and this is a fun journey for me… something I have only so far ever done w a boy babe so I’m learning as I go! He is 7 months now and we have been ecing from birth! Yay! Its been a journey of learning and connection for sure.

    • Andrea Olson Andrea Olson on October 7, 2022 at 8:00 pm

      So happy to hear of your progress! It is quite the journey and each baby is different, learning together is crucial to making it work! So proud of you!

  6. Avatar Anna Decker on October 22, 2022 at 4:21 pm

    Hi! Thank you so much for your work and all you’ve brought to my life through EC trainging!
    My boy is almost 1 and we have done EC since 6days old. We’ve always done the reverse sit on the big potty with his back against my chest and holding his legs, and I’ve tried the little potty and he WILL NOT GO without grabbing his penis and playing in the pee! He never reaches in the reverse sit, but when he faces out either on the big toilet with me holding him, or on the tiny potty, he just doesn’t cooperate. I’ve tried to potty him standing as well, and he resists. Have I created a dependent pottier who always needs to be held to pee?? The idea is independence! Help!

    • Andrea Olson Andrea Olson on October 23, 2022 at 11:15 pm

      First off, Thank you so much! Secondly, You got this momma! EC can be quite the trial sometimes. It’s totally normal for boys to grab at their penis or play with the stream, even some girls will reach down to feel the pee on their hands. He is still so young and may still want you around while he potties, most children grow out of that and will begin to ask for privacy, but beginning to teach standing up as you have can help, especially if he is able to see dad stand to pee, it might help click for him as he continues to grow in his EC journey.

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