I have always been somewhat of a worrier (read: ridiculously anxious, over-analytical, and slightly over-reactionary), but parenting has seen my worry reach new levels. Why isn’t the baby sleeping? Why is the baby sleeping so long? Why is the baby feeding so much? Why hasn’t the baby fed for the last two hours? Is the baby stimulated enough? Am I over stimulating the baby? Ad infinitum.
The current ‘crisis’ is potty training. Or rather, lack of it. The Princess has always been bright and keen to get on with growing up. She was teething at ten weeks, sitting at five months, on her feet at eight months and she now has the language skills of a five year old. Yet she is still in nappies, and showing no signs of being ready to leave them behind.
Or, at least I don’t think she is showing any signs. This is my main problem – I don’t know what I am looking for. I’m kind of half expecting The Princess to wake up one morning with a wee-free nappy, asking to put on a pair of pants and go sit on the toilet. Anything more subtle than this I’m not sure I’ll pick up on.
I’ve read bits and pieces on being ready for potty training; dry nappies after naptime, when the child is able to tell you they need a wee, neither of which is happening with The Princess. She can tell us when she is doing a wee, but not when she needs to go. Her nappies are always wet after naptime and bedtime. Deep down I don’t think she is quite there yet.
On the other hand, I really don’t want to miss the window of opportunity. I know leaving it too late to potty train can cause as many difficulties as starting too soon. So what do I do? What am I really looking for? Should I keep waiting and seeing if she gives me a really screamingly obvious, unmistakable sign, or should I just start now and get on with it? Help me readers, please, what should I do?!
The potty has seen more bottom-action from the toys than it has from my toddler
I wouldn’t push it. I would put the potty chair there. Make sure she knows it’s there – but I wouldn’t force her. Every child does things at his/her own time.
She’ll get there in her own good time. Girl1 grasped what to do after she’d sprayed the house like a puppy for a day or so. That was Joyful. Girl2 refused point blank to have anything to do with it, despite having dry nappies and all that. As we began to despair, she decided for herself to stop wearing nappies and just use the toilet. She was never going to be persuaded, she just had to decide for herself. Both of them got there, their own ways.
I’m only one mum and no expert, but I would definitely encourage you to stay as chilled as possible about it. If she picks up that it’s a big deal she’ll likely dig her heels in! It has been a v long process doing potty training with T, but because we’ve let him do it in his own time it has been completely stress free, and he has literally only had one accident ever. I think we left the potty in the bathroom for nearly a year (starting when he was 2) before he showed much interest in it. Nursery were a big help – when we transitioned from nappy to pants we first said that he had to wear pants for his mornings at nursery but could still wear a nappy at home. Then we said pants at home too but nappy if we went out anywhere. It was just a gradual thing of building up his confidence. We found that holidays and weekends away helped too (which is the opposite to what some people recommend I know). He seemed more willing to try sitting on the toilet if we were somewhere new. Biggest thing I ‘d say is not to stress, talk to her nursery/daycare about it if she goes & see if they will encourage her without being pushy. Bring it up as a suggestion but don’t push it if she says no – leave it a few days and then suggest again. They’ll all get their eventually and there is no right or wrong time to do it. Trust your instincts
xxx
I literally could have written this myself! I am wondering exactly the same thing at the moment and I’m not sure what to do as I either want to try and potty train Iyla now, before having the baby or in the Summer when things are hopefully a bit more settled with a new baby. Knowing her she will ask to start using the toilet when I’ve just given birth! Iyla can also talk at a level far about her age and I think maybe she just doesn’t tell me when she needs to go because she hasn’t got a reason too? I think maybe once we have spent a day getting used to no nappy she would prob pick it up but then I don’t want her to regress when baby arrives! It’s tricky! X