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The Good, The Bad, and the SmellyJun 29 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line My first and foremost recommendation in Potty Training is BE CONSISTENT! I believe it is key in this process!
Ok, I'd like to preface this by saying that had DD#2 come along before DD#1, I wouldn't be writing this because I wouldn't understand what all the fuss is about potty training. However, that isn't how it happened, so, I'm here to share my experience in hopes it may help someone else through the dreaded potty training experience. All in all DD#1 has been more of a handful from nursing, to sleep, terrible 2's, to potty training. I told everyone that potty training was THE hardest thing we'd had to go through. She used the potty around age 1 and showed interest, but I was pregnant and just plain lazy about it. It was a very slow process. The Bad Essentially it took from about 12 months of age until 2 1/2 to potty train my older daughter. We went through a lot of diapers, pull ups, padded cotton panties, wet floors, wet EVERYTHING, and even much more "messy" messes, if you catch what I mean. She would rip off her diaper, pull up, panties, whatever, and go on the floor. I was near insanity. I went through I don't know how many living room rugs. I knew she knew when she had to go (obviously), and was frustrated. I was torn between do I scold, don't I scold her. I tried reading to her while she was on the potty, a potty chart- reward system, putting the potty chair wherever she was, you name it, we tried it. Finally around 2 1/2 she really started getting it, and was potty trained during the day. Nap time came later, and nights, well, she is almost 4 now, and we just conquered nights. And she still has accidents. Mistakes My one MAJOR mistake was CONSISTENCY. As I said before I was pregnant, and was not consistent about training her when she first showed signs of being ready. I regret this now. I believe this is the one most important strategy in potty training. From using one kind of underclothing (panties, pull ups, etc.), to putting them on the potty at the same times(upon waking, nap, before/after meals, whatever. My second mistake- and this is only my OPINION as they didn't work for us...Using Pull-ups. These did not work for us. They were too much like a diaper and she used them as just that. And lastly- I drew the process out much too long. If the child is the one drawing the process out, that is one thing, but I, as I said before, was just lazy about it. I think if you are consistent, you won't even have to worry about this. The Good Fast Forward--DD#2 is 20-21 months old, and showing interest. I would sit her on the potty every now and then and she used it on occasion. We had a trip coming up so I chose to wait until after we got back from that. I decided to do a crash course in Potty 101 for her. We woke up one day, and I took her diaper off. We put on the padded panties and I put her on the potty every hour and had her sit there as long as she could without having to hold her there. She got bored quickly. We did read books and play patty cake etc. I was trying for at least 10 min. After a few sittings with nothing, and a few wet panties, we had a success!!! She got excited and would run to the bathroom often, so we were on the potty more than once an hour, and sometimes she just wanted to sit there, but she was getting it. She was still having accidents, but was using the potty more and more. I knew she was definitely ready the next day when, as she was running around naked, she went, got a diaper, laid it on the floor, then sat in it and peed because the bathroom door was shut! All in all, this only took a couple of days until I put her in panties even when we went out. She still has good days and bad days (she is still only 23 months), but is essentially potty trained even during naps. Recommendations 1) Begin process when child shows signs of readiness. Begin showing him/her the potty and talking about when you use it, etc. even when they are young. 2) Be consistent with underclothing--use padded panties/trainer pants, or pull ups if you prefer. 3) Be consistent with the potty you use. Use a child potty or seat for the big potty, but get them used to one of them. 4) Go to the potty at prescribed times--upon waking, before and after meals, naps, sleep, every hour, etc. Make a plan that works for you. 5) Use positive reinforcement...lots of praise. 6) Keep books handy in the bathroom, you can read to them on the potty 7) Rewards(candy, food, toys etc.) didn't work for me, but you may choose to try this. Different kids are different=) 8) Just BE CONSISTENT! The Smelly Ok, it's all smelly, but in conclusion I just wanted to say All kids are different, so when they are showing signs of readiness(no matter what age), jump on it. Be gentle, and I still believe in not pushing, but guiding them. My experiences were at each end of the spectrum and I would take my recent experience over my previous one any day, but each was certainly normal. Make it fun and before you know it your little one will be out of diapers!  |
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