Rob, the other day, sent me an article from Salon titled Potty in the USA: Why Are We So Slow? discussing the differences between the US and other countries regarding potty training. Many moms in other countries are potty training their children as early as six months old, while here in the US, we wait until at least 2 years old and some wait as long as 4 years old.
This got me thinking, I do not want my son to be in diapers forever. Frankly, I do not want to pay for diapers much longer and we already had a potty. What was keeping me from starting this weekend? The real reason I have not started already is because I am a) lazy and b) I do not want to clean up accidents. I guess it all boils down to: I am lazy. However, if women in other countries can do it when their children are six months of age, then I can certainly train my child at 20 months of age.
Last Friday, I went to Target to buy Dustin some training pants. To my surprise, they only carry Pull-ups or underwear with the smallest size being 2T/3T. You are probably asking yourself why don’t I just use Pull-ups? In my opinion, they are the same as diapers, except they come off easier and cost more. Worst part is they do not allow a child to feel wet, which is a big part of how they learn when they have to go.
On Saturday morning, I get to Dustin’s call for rescue. Instead of changing his diaper, I take him to the bathroom and put him on the potty. We have the Royal Potty by Fisher-Price. It makes “royal” music your child voids into the potty. Dustin was excited to place his hand in the potty, but sitting on it was more of a challenge. I decided that going diaper-less was the way to potty change your child, so I let him run around naked. After he peed all over his high chair, I, soon, changed my mind.
The first day of potty training was trying and frustrating, but when he first urinated I was filled with much joy. Apparently, progress can be made in one day. Potty training is definitely requiring an amount of patience I do not usually have. Every other parent has survived, so with patience and love I will, as well.
Check back soon, to see how our potty training journey continues.
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Way to go DZ!!!! reading your post is an inspiration and hope to soon start this journey with C! Best of luck to you in your “royal” adventure
Good luck! Both of mine started around 18 months and did very well but still didn’t fully understand the sensation until close to 3. (Eddie just after his bday and Sophia well…right now and she’ll be 3 in September).
One trick I’ve heard recently is to put underwear under the pullup so they can feel the wetness but not have a mess. Especially in the car which is by far the hardest time to deal with training.
I hate the guilt people give you about potty training. I had to hear so many people tell me my kids should have been trained by a year. My son wasn’t even walking at year! I don’t understand how people think you can potty train a child who can’t walk or take off their own clothes. I know people do it but it’s nuts to me.
I do feel a lot of pressure to potty train, but it is coming from me. It all goes back to my preconceived notions of how I expected it to work.
Last night, we purchased some training pants. After I finally got DZ to keep them on, he peed all over the booster seat while having breakfast. I went through all 3 pairs in about a half hour, although I left the last wet pair on for about 30 mins. It did not phase him in the least. Then, I decided we would try commando, again. He peed all over the chair in the dining room. Needless to say, I put the diaper back on. He just does not seem to care if he is wet or not.
Stickers and Elmo’s potty book is helping, but this is a battle of wills for the most part.
Thank you very much, Regina. I may look into Pull-ups with underwear.