If you're like me, you shudder when you hear the words "potty training."
I've been dreading it. I don't know if it's that word, training, which seems more appropriate for a four-legged friend, or the fear of trading in the cloth diapers and cute fluffy butts for soaked underwear and pants... and socks... and floors... but I've been putting off potty training for awhile now.
So imagine my disdain when my son, a few months before turning two, starting showing some SERIOUS interest in the "big boy potty." First, he started accompanying me to the bathroom. Then, he started watching me intently, as if he were memorizing all the steps to a successful bathroom break. Soon enough, he started insisting that HE tear off the toilet paper for me, and was always excited about flushing the toilet and yelling "byeeee!" as the water swirled and dissapeared. Around that time, he also started telling me when he had a dirty diaper, which was soon followed by him telling me BEFORE he pooped.
You're probably thinking, that's great! So you started potty training him then, right? Wrong. You see, everything I've read says that they aren't ready to start until they have aquired a number of skills {being able to undress themselves, climb up onto the potty by themselves, wake up from a nap with a dry diaper, etc}. Well... Elliot isn't really able to do ANY of those things. So I figured we'd wait awhile. Elliot, however, had other ideas.
Not too long ago, we started occasionally taking his diaper off and sitting him on the toilet. Every time he'd go, we'd clap, cheer and dance. It got to the point where he would try to hold it until I remembered to take him potty, so I decided to start having him wear "big boy" undies {SOOO stinking cute!} and that's where we're at now. He wears underwear most of the day at home. I take him to go potty about every 30 minutes and he, surprisingly, has not had any accidents. He gets pretty upset when he doesn't have his "un-jees" on. He's not able to pull down his pants on his own yet, or get on or off the potty by himself, and I seriously doubt that he'd remember to use the potty if we were out of the house so I know he's not actually "potty trained" yet. That's fine with me. The average boy in the US isn't fully "toilet trained" until he is 38 months old. Elliot is only 25 months old. So we've got plenty of time. :)
I've decided to call our little approach "potty practicing."
We have no set timeline or goal... just that he uses the potty whenever possible, and that we always remain positive along the way. There won't be any pressuring or punishing. Thanks to that, HE LOVES IT! He really does.
Ahh you're right, those undies are so stinkin cute!
ReplyDeleteAnnamarie shows that she's getting the idea of the potty, she tells me when she poops, she watches me go and tries to help wipe by handing me the toilet paper (a bit weird, but I like that she gets the idea). But she's only 18 months so I'm not pushing it, I put her on the potty but so far nothing.
I think it's awesome you're not rushing it. I honestly have memories of my childhood from the potty training time and it was less than pleasant, so I don't want to make my daughter feel that way either.
That's basically what we are doing. Of course when we are home and Presley is asking. She's only gone in the potty a few times and typically she wants to so we put undies on, go to the potty she sits, nothing happens. She goes to play and then an accident. Typically this happens a couple times and then she asks for her diaper back. I dont get mad at her. We just go with whatever she wants to do.
ReplyDeleteElliott is doing so well with it! SUch a big handsome boy!
Best of luck! Beatrice Kate was the one who decided to potty train, not me. It takes A LOT of time and usually she has to go to the potty the very second I get her settled into her car seat (in the rainy, cold, crappy weather, naturally).
ReplyDeleteI would so so so GO FOR IT! He's totally ready. Depending on what "method" you use when you say:
ReplyDelete" You see, everything I've read says that they aren't ready to start until they have aquired a number of skills {being able to undress themselves, climb up onto the potty by themselves, wake up from a nap with a dry diaper, etc}. Well... Elliot isn't really able to do ANY of those things. So I figured we'd wait awhile. Elliot, however, had other ideas."
Braden wanted NOTHING to do with the potty when I trained him at 2 years 3 months. He couldn't undress himself, he needed a step stool to climb onto the potty and he didn't wake up dry, that took awhile.
The 3 day method we used states they're ready at 22 months showing signs or not and they don't even have to have verbal skills to do it. Good luck with whatever you choose to do, but just know...there isn't a "checklist" of when he's ready, according to my experience and the literature I've read. Having said that - you are mama and you know best!
You are the cutest mom, Jess, and I think potty learning is a great plan. Kids do things when they are ready!
ReplyDeleteThere is so much pressure to potty train and people think they have the right to ask you why you haven't potty trained yet (can you imagine!?)
ReplyDeleteI know a few moms who pushed their kids into potty training and it took several LONG traumatic months to do it b/c the child wasn't ready. I am a believer in you do it when the child is ready not just because you don't feel like changing diapers anymore. So good job on recognizing that. Julianna is 2 yrs and 8 months - she knows what going on the potty is and wht is means - she knows she will do it one day - and she watches us and talks about it. But when we ask her if she is ready or wants to try it - she says NO MAMA. OK fine - no big deal - we have plenty of time. The average age is between 2.5-3.5 yrs anyway. No rush :)
I like that - potty practicing. I think that's the approach we'll take too, when W seems ready (probably soon . . .)
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