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Elizabeth Pantley, Going to the Potty (First Experiences), Motherhood, No-Cry Potty Training Solution, Potty Time, Potty Training, Toilet training
Adeline is running around the house naked from the waist down – her new favorite thing. Suddenly she runs into her bedroom and grabs a diaper from the diaper drawer in her dresser. She brings it to me and asks me to help her put it on. A few minutes later, she poops. Then she comes and tells me, “I pooped”, and we change her diaper. This is just one of the reasons I think we might be getting close to potty time.
Adeline putting on her undies. All six of them.
But I don’t want to push it. A recent article suggested that potty training too early can lead to all kinds of health problems for your child. At our 18-month doctor’s visit they gave me a handout that similarly stressed the importance of not potty training too early. And, as long-time readers will know, my instinct is to be gentle and easy-going about all changes and developments with Adeline. I’m not even all that bothered with changing diapers.
On the other hand, Adeline seems really interested. We have a mini potty for her and she loves to sit on it. She thinks flushing the toilet is awesome, and she LOVES her undies. She’s getting better at dressing and undressing herself and she can communicate really well. She hardly ever wears a diaper at home any more, which does lead to some peeing on the floor. Or on me. Which is warm. And wet. And disgusting. But I digress.
All of this got me wondering if the time was right, so I pulled out my copy of The No Cry Potty-Training Solution. I’m lucky enough to have the whole set of No-Cry books, which I LOVE, but I’ve been pretty good about waiting until they’re actually needed to get them down and read them. So this one was still brand new. I managed to read almost the whole thing in one evening. I guess potty-training is more enthralling than I expected.
The book was great, as usual, but the best part was a really in-depth analysis of whether your child is ready to potty-train. It looks at all the important factors, including your child’s awareness of going, her ability to communicate and undress, her understanding of the process, and, perhaps most importantly, your own readiness and willingness.
It turns out, Adeline is ready. And yet, I don’t think we’re there yet. Maybe I’m not ready. Not ready for going to the potty every thirty minutes. Not ready for pit-stops at gross public restrooms when we’re out and about. Not ready to actively teach her how to use the potty. But really, maybe what I’m not ready for is to let my baby go. Because even though I know she’s a toddler now, once she’s using the potty, she’s really and truly a big girl. Can’t she just stay this age forever??
When did you potty-train your kids? How did it go? What process did you use? And how did you know both you and your child were ready?
we started potty training our daughter when she was around 3 I guess… But you dont have to worry I guess… the transition will be smooth.. But one thing you may have to be careful about potty habit is potential urinary track infection. When we remove diaper we invariably clean the area completely. But when the potty habit starts make sure you wash front to back…
I am the wrong person to ask about this (not that you asked me) and that “article” INFURIATES me. I suppose sitting in your own shit for 10 minutes (or more!) doesn’t increase your chances for urinary tract infections? I also don’t feed my kids fruit loops and fritos and whatever other garbage he accused parents of feeding their two year olds. So maybe I can’t relate to a damn word he said.
As you noted and as I hear so many parents say (it was in fact my own experience with my son) children of a certain age already hold their poop – for a fresh diaper or for a quiet spot in the corner. Potty training will not further encourage that.
Most AP devotees think it’s crazy to teach your child to pee and poop in their pants rather than practicing elimination communication. I see their logic though I also understand your dilemma.
I do not know when we will potty train our daughter yet. But if she continues with the horrific diaper rash that she regularly suffers from now it will be far earlier than this doctor recommends and I will have not a moment of doubt that it was the right choice for us.
My three boys were training and trained between 2 and 3. It’s been awhile now, so the memory is a little .. out of sorts. Basically, I would say your daughter is ready if she knows to put a nappy on before she poops.
I’ve not read the article or other information about it, but potty sitting every 30 mins. Seriously. that to me is only encouraging them to not be able to hold it. My idea, and what I have seen works, is to take notice of when they wee and poo and then use those times to encourage potty sitting. Straight after breakfast, before you leave the house, (when they said there weas nothing to do, we would ask if maybe there was a sneaky wee, and invariably they went) let them sit on the potty and see what happens. Mine would sit on it as a chair, and before you know it they are doing all the right things.
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