Call Batman! I need help: To potty or not to potty?
Someone call Batman. I need help!
To Potty or not to Potty that is the question.
For a few weeks now I have suspected that Pickles is ready for Potty Training. She ticks all the boxes in the ‘are they ready yet?’ Potty Manual and more. She knows when she is doing a poo and has had (what Hubby and I have aptly named) ‘Poo Corner’ for over a year now.
Then this morning…
With my head down losing myself in Facebook, Pickles came up to me wanting to take her top off. Then she was tugging at her trousers trying so hard to get them off. When I next turned around she was comfortably in ‘Poo Corner’.
Pickles has been telling me for about a week now when she has done a poo. She tries to take her nappy off all the time, she hates poo changes and after getting out of the bath, she promptly wees.
Anyway, I said nothing and moments later…”Mummy, Mummy” and pointing to her bottom she said “Poo”. I asked her if she had done a poo and she smiled back at me with a “yey”. Now this entire scenario has never happened before. On reflection, she obviously wanted her trousers off as she was aware of needing to do a poo and did not want to do it in her nappy. Two more poos today (none needing her clothes off) and I am now confused.
Pardon the toilet talk guys.
The problem: Is Mummy ready? Is Pickles ready?
I am aware I need to be ready for this and I have come prepared with my trusty manual of ‘Potty Train in a Week’ but should I do it? Ohhhhhhhh the pressure!!!!!!!!
Should I make a date next week or the week after and hide away from the world in an attempt to potty train Pickles. ‘Be afraid’ I told myself, ‘very afraid’. I am not a squeamish person, blood – no worries, I love CSI, I love Dexter, but poo, be it baby, adult, dog..I am crap at it (pardon the pun). I hate it. You would think after two years of dealing with it that I would be OK, and I am…when its in a nappy. The thought of it on the carpet…oh woah is me!
I began eagerly reading the Potty Training book this afternoon and realised that I have made a massive, I mean, according to Gina, MASSIVE boo boo when it comes to toilet training. A big NO NO is introducing a potty until you potty train. We have had a potty sitting in the toilet for months. Pickles sits on it all the time and pretends to do ‘wee wee’, but when it came to trying it over the last few days for real, all I got was a big “noooooo” from Pickles.
Ahhhhhhhhhh, help…my potty training has flown out the window, taking off after a flock of birds.
Help, help, help. If you are a friend of Batman, can you get him to email me? And if your a friend of Gina Ford, can you get her to call me. And if your none of the above, I would love your ideas.
Best
Jay Marie
7 Comments
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I just potty trained my 2.5 yr old. I just decided we were doing it and like you had had a potty in the toilet for months. Intially at night I’d take his nappy off after dinner and brought the potty in the room, showed him it and let him get on with it. Eventually he started going and sitting on the potty. My HV told me off because he needs to learn to pull his pants down etc to go. So I decided one week to just go for it. We got up and put pants on, no nappy and explained to him why. He did have a few dribbles in his pants at first but we haven’t looked back since. It took one week to get him from the potty on to the toilet and out of nappies. I’d trust your instincts and just give it a shot. She’ll soon let you know if it’s too soon. Reward charts are really good as well! After a few days of stars on his chart, the toilet fairy brought him a new book to read. Good luck!!
Hi there. Do it, She’s telling you she’s ready, it’s a great window, don’t be afraid, it seems daunting and a little more attention and focus is needed for a couple of weeks and then you’ll be away. Just finished training my youngest who is 21mths using EC (elimination communication). Followed this method (from around 14mths, part time) with both my girls, found it gentle and they were both out of nappies before their 2nd birthday.
Think of all the money you’ll save not having to buy nappies. Good luck.
My advice is have a potty to hand and leave her nappy free and remind her to use it, put it in poo corner that might help her too.
Some kids really are just learning about the sensations and are sharing them. My son does this and before his bath he uses his potty he’s 22 months. My daughter on other hand no interest in potty training until she was nearly 3 and now at nearly 4 is still incredibly lazy about going!
Definitely sounds as if Pickles is ready as you say, she’s ticking all the boxes, it sounds as if you’re the one who needs persuading!
There’s a lot less poo to deal with once you get potty training established if that helps and generally not that many poo accidents (I think they get more prior notice of poo coming if you know what I mean?)
We used the Elmo Potty training DVD to marvellous effect with no2 son, if you’re interested: http://www.cheekywipes.com/blog/2010/01/21/potty-training-for-dummies/
Sounds like she’s ready. Go for it. If she isn’t ready then stop and leave it for a while. If she is, voila!
It’s not the most fun time of your life… but it isn’t as bad as all that. At least, now it is a year ago I’m not remembering it as being as bad as all that…. Although I do remember the washing machine being on constantly and not having enough pairs of trousers ever. Good luck with it.
PS – someone had a poo carnival a while back. Could have been sparx. Read that for some entertaining poo related tales. Just found it here: http://notes-inside-my-head.blogspot.com/2009/08/poop-poop-all-aboard.html
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
You guys are just BRILLIANT.
Thanks to your fab advice I am taking the plunge next week.
Watch this space…I will let you know how I go.
I must admit, having the support from you all has put a smile on my face.
This blogging gig is just awesome.
Again, my gratitude is great.
Best
J
Do it, she’s ready. My toddler did the same and I got her on the potty quick smart. Don’t be put off if she’s a bit disinterested after an initial flurry of interest and excitement. Just leave it for a few days then go back to it. Don’t make a big deal out of the potty or she’ll never want to use it. I used stickers as a reward first, but then just did lots of clapping, praise etc. She’s ‘done’ now but it took a few weeks to get that point. Keep with it though. Good luck x