The signs your baby needs to go

People often think you need some kind of sixth sense to do EC. You don't, you just need to know what to watch for. Once you do, your baby's signals become surprisingly easy to spot.

The common cues

• A sudden pause or stillness in the middle of playing
• A little grunt, a squirm, or a focused, faraway look
• Fussing that doesn't settle with a feed or a cuddle
• Squirming or stirring out of a light sleep

The timing cues

Just as useful as body signals are the predictable moments: right after waking, shortly after a feed, and when you first take a nappy off. If you only ever offer at those times, you'll catch more than you'd expect.

What to do when you notice one

Offer the potty, calmly and without pressure. Hold your baby securely over a newborn-friendly potty like the Potty Plane, make a gentle cue sound, and wait a moment. If nothing happens, that's completely fine. If it does, you'll both feel a little clever.

The more you watch, the more fluent you'll become. It really is a conversation, and your baby has been trying to have it all along.

Larissa xx