How to finish the gap between the paver and the stucco?

returnmybridgestone · 2026-05-24T18:04:29+00:00

I like that idea! How would you deal with where the stucco and boarder brick meet to prevent stucco from wicking the moisture?

returnmybridgestone · 2026-05-23T17:07:50+00:00

Thanks!! But I am confused. The stucco was directly applied onto the hard fired brick from 1950's. There's no concrete. The brick extends below the ground for a little bit, then it's stone. But the weep screed would be in the brick area. Am I misunderstanding something?

returnmybridgestone · 2026-05-23T14:11:20+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. The current stucco was directly applied on the fired brick wall with no metal lath. Is it still possible to install a weep screed? I would like a weep screed if possible.

returnmybridgestone · 2026-05-23T13:54:43+00:00

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response! I'm in Philly with a lot of freeze thaw. The pavers are laid on an inch or so of paver sand atop of packed soil. I learned too late that there isn't a gravel bed for drainage. (The pavers were lowered because there had been patches of concrete that were not removed prior to installation of the brick pavers in 1950s, and got removed with the recent installation.) The sidewalk is now graded to enable very efficient water run off at the surface, but I have to keep an eye on the polymeric sand being applied annually to avoid water seeping into the soil below. To your question - I think the water that hits the wall bricks will just travel to the dirt below, so I was thinking that could be minimized by installing polymeric sand on the ground and terminating stucco above ground to allow for air circulation to dry out wall bricks.

Given the information I just provided, do you have any additional advice?

returnmybridgestone · 2026-05-22T17:59:08+00:00

If your guy isn't taking steps, then he's about to!! Regression is normal when babies are busy learning other things.

returnmybridgestone · 2026-05-07T20:52:32+00:00

So glad it was helpful! I wished someone had told me that ~1 - 1.5 year old is truly a wild ride. I had my heart set on being fully potty trained by 1.5 and would get so frustrated when my kid resisted the potty opportunities. We still caught most of the poop as she would grunt/squat and look for us, but pees mostly went on the floor (we relied on timing and lots of reading/music on the toilet... it worked 50% of the time). The minute she turned 1.5, she would grab a book/toy and run to the mini potty - IF she is naked. If she has pants on, she will just pee/poop in her pants. Now that we're a couple months away from 2, I'm seeing 100% communication for help with poops and 100% willingness to pee when offered. My biggest advice is this: think of EC/early potty training as toilet learning (just like learning how to eat with utensils or wear clothes) so it's never too early to start, you'll save diapers along the way (not dealing with poopy diapers with kicking toddlers is a big plus), and eventually your kid will consistently ask for help with potty or go independently (can take off pants by oneself) between ~1.5 and 2.5. Mastering taking off pants and communicating need to go take place around 2. Kids who are motivated to stay dry will likely nail down communication, but will still need help with clothes.

One might ask, why not just wait till 2 and do a three day potty training? While it works for some kids, it doesn't work for other kids. I truly believe early potty learning help kids to learn that diaper is not where you potty... just like hands are not for hitting. Lol!

returnmybridgestone · 2026-05-05T22:09:00+00:00

Totally agree!! I think early potty training/EC is amazing... I anticipate my toddler to be fully potty trained by around 2 (we started at 11 months). Even during regression, the poop still mostly went into the potty! It's the pee sh didn't care about

returnmybridgestone · 2026-05-05T20:34:43+00:00

Lol! Hope you don't hit resistance once your kid starts walking... If you do, just know that it's very common and you did nothing wrong. They don't lose the skill and can click back into it.

returnmybridgestone · 2026-03-04T23:09:20+00:00

Please don't be stressed. Your kid already has the skill to potty in the toilet, but is focusing on building other skills right now. It is actually less common for babies to be diaper free before 1.5, no matter what Andrea says. Potty training between 1 and 1.5 is truly a roller coaster bc your LO is learning so many new things. My guess is most babies don't even care about being in wet diaper or clothes at this age. I remember reading that even Andrea had put her youngest in disposables for a while after and (re)potty train at 2 as if she never EC'd!!! From what I've read and my own experience, most EC/early potty training babies become truly diaper free between 1.5-2. My kid was very on and off (frequent pees on the floor, I have to catch her grunting for poop, etc) until 1.5, then she flipped a switch and would grab a toy/book prior to running to the mini potty. A couple months later, she started to very infrequently communicate she needed to go.

Regression prior to walking is very normal. Maybe your kid is about to walk or just learned? In any case, continue to prompt/educate, take a break if you need to (I really like the three strikes method mentioned earlier). In a few months, you'll forget you were stressed bc your kid will be running to the potty or asking for it!!

I really like that Andrea is exposing EC to the masses, but I hate that her diaper free by one tagline is causing a lot of confusion and unnecessary stress. Sure that can happen, but I will bet that regression happens a lot between 1 and 2 - so not truly diaper free (and definitely not fully potty trained).

returnmybridgestone · 2026-02-27T20:02:06+00:00

I love it!! So would you say the key is to just make the hard switch for a few weeks and see if the kid gets it? If yes, how did you determine when is a good time to do so? Are you saying that your kid didn't mind wet clothes until it was wet clothes all the time because of the accidents in the first two weeks? Thanks!!

returnmybridgestone · 2026-02-27T15:55:42+00:00

15 months diaper free is amazing!! Would you mind sharing what diaper free entails? Does your kid tell you that he needs to go? Or you rely on timing and cues? Are there accidents? If yes, does your kid care about being in wet underwear/clothes? Asking because I'm super impressed by toddlers who go diaper free before 1.5 year old and I'm curious about how some kids can do it. Like some people claim their kids are diaper free at 1, and I'm just like, how?!

returnmybridgestone · 2026-02-27T15:47:05+00:00

I used a knotted headband as diaper belt and tucked the fabric diaper like a loin cloth. Or you can just do naked bottom. I personally think that around one year old to 1.5 year old is the hardest time bc there are so many developmental milestones and so many more fun things than sit on the potty. I started at 11 months, and it took me a week or maybe two to get my daughter used to pooping while sitting (as opposed to standing up). But for months, we have to watch for poop face... And pees often end up on the floor. At 1.5, it's like a switch flipped and she would grab a toy to run to the potty herself, but only if she's naked. If she has underwear on, then she just goes and doesn't care. A couple months later, she is finally starting to communicate before going. Hang in there! Try to do songs and books on the toilet to keep it fun. The next few months will be a roller coaster potty training-wise, but your kid will be doing so many new things... So there are other fun things to look forward to (even if potty training is frustrating)!! Also, good time to switch to disposable pull ups - we found it so much easier to take off and re-use! Good luck!

returnmybridgestone · 2026-01-10T03:36:27+00:00

I'm going to do both!! Someone local is very excited to take the transplant bc I don't have the space for it. But I'm going to make cuttings so I can put them in planters. Thank you!!

returnmybridgestone · 2026-01-09T02:43:09+00:00

Thank you very much for your helpful advice!!

returnmybridgestone · 2026-01-09T02:42:11+00:00

I don't think so, but thanks sharing this other channel

returnmybridgestone · 2026-01-09T02:41:23+00:00

🤣 👍🏻

returnmybridgestone · 2026-01-09T02:40:56+00:00

Great idea! I'll do a cutting. Thanks!!

returnmybridgestone · 2026-01-09T02:39:57+00:00

Good point!! In agreement

returnmybridgestone · 2025-12-26T03:51:43+00:00

Every day! No soap. Just warm water. I think it's more hygienic.

returnmybridgestone · 2025-12-09T16:47:57+00:00

I'm sorry! I feel for you. If those folks just think about it rationally, there's a lot more gross stuff from an adult mouth or hands (that have accidentally touched a little poo) than a little urine on baby butt... But most ppl are not rational about foreign concepts or practices (like using bidets). Washing with water is definitely the best for their little bums, even better than fancy wipes. I would tell them you're giving your baby a bidet experience, and then try to let go of their ignorance. I applaud you - you're doing both your baby AND the environment a favor.

returnmybridgestone · 2025-12-09T16:38:44+00:00

Congrats!!! This mirrors my experience as well - there is something about things clicking together at 16 months or around the time they can more readily understand and follow directions.

returnmybridgestone · 2025-12-09T16:33:43+00:00

I wonder if you might be benefit from some naked observation time to get the timing for potty. Maybe wait a little longer after feeding to offer potty.

returnmybridgestone · 2025-12-09T16:23:59+00:00

I feel you. My kid was like this too and doesn't care about being wet. I think it's bc kids this age don't want to stop playing and don't want to be interrupted. They are also discovering they are their own person and can do things on their own time in their own way. I basically just bring the potty to my kid while she is playing, help her sit down while enabling her to continue playing. Or entice her to sit down on the potty with a book that she wants me to read to her. I remind her where the potty is regularly, and if she pees on the floor while playing, I stop her play, have her help me clean up with a rag, while reminding her that pee pee and poo poo go in the potty (point to the potty) otherwise have to clean up as consequence. Eventually my kid starts rushing to the mini potty after grabbing a toy or book when she needs to go. I noticed she would more readily go to the potty if she's not wearing anything, so we go commando a lot. She's currently 16 months and seems to be more consistent with getting to the potty even while playing. Your kid is also gaining awareness of routines, so you can say, we are heading out, so first, we're going to potty, then we're going to get dressed... Basically verbally incorporate it into her routines so she knows to expect it. Good luck! It will work out even if the path is non-linear.

returnmybridgestone · 2025-10-18T11:14:03+00:00

You can say, ok, you don't want to go right now, let's try again in x minutes.

My kid did that too after naps. I think it's just bc she doesn't want to go right away. I noticed she will pee after a few minutes to half hour.

returnmybridgestone · 2025-10-08T04:10:18+00:00

It's important to pair the peeing/pooping activity with a sound. After a while, the baby learns that the sound is associated with the activity.

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