If you are like me, I was dreading the thoughts of potty training Izzy. Every week I put it off! I tried taking her nappy off a few times at the start of the summer & I brought her shopping to let her pick out her own knickers… but each time I put knickers on her she just did her business everywhere ~ on the sofa, kitchen chair – basically everywhere! She would do her business in her nappy & would be happy to sit in it all day, I’d have to wrestle with her to get it off! She was terrified of the toilet too. I knew in my heart she just wasn’t ready… and I wasn’t either!
As the summer is coming to an end & she is starting full time in playschool in September, I knew I had to start again. This time I could see little changes in her that she might be ready.
- She wanted to be called a big girl & not a baby
- She started to want knickers on & not a nappy
- She would tell me she had a sore bum & had a poo in her nappy!
Other signs that Lily showed when she was ready was hiding behind the sofa to do her business (in her nappy)! And also wanting her nappy off immediately after it was soiled.
Checking the weather for the week I saw it was going to be raining so I made it my mission to train her while we would be stuck inside!
We got up & I told her that she was going to be a big girl now & her nappy’s were all gone. She was going to use the potty & tell mummy when she felt like she needed to go.
I told her if she did her business in the potty she would get a sweetie. I also asked Lily to help me & she showed her how to use the toilet & I rewarded Lily with a sweet every time she went too!
I took Izzy’s nappy off straight away & left her without anything for the day.
I couldn’t believe how quickly she started to use the potty. Because she could just go herself without any fuss of pulling pants down she got the hang of it pretty quickly. I rewarded her every time, even if there was just a dribble! I gave her so much praise & hugs & we were cheering her on all day!
I reminded her to try the potty every hour, but she just seemed to go herself!
I left the potty in the middle of the sitting room when they were watching TV & playing. And moved it to the kitchen when we were in there.
It was a very successful first day. I couldn’t believe it! It was like a switch went on, completely different to a few months previous when it was such a battle. She was ready.
The next day I did the same thing. I took her pull up off & told her she was a big girl now & was going to use the potty again.
I left her pants off again for the day. I noticed she was getting annoyed with me constantly reminding her to try the potty so I stopped asking her & she just automatically went herself. Again a successful day, no accidents!
Day 3 we had a long 2 hr drive to visit friends. I was nervous of putting knickers on her but I didn’t want to go backwards & put a pull up on again.. so we had to put some faith in her! I let her pick her own knickers out & I brought the potty in the car. I forgot to put a pad or towel on the car seat (that was a good suggestion by my followers!)
We headed off & stopped at a garage half way & she went in the loo, I couldn’t believe it!
She had one accident in our friends house (she poo’d on their kitchen floor!) but other than that she was off on the potty or in the loo all by herself.
I really feel waiting until your child is mentally ready is the key to success. It can be very stressful & cause regression if you start too early.
I was very emotional knowing this is a big milestone, no more nappies & allowing her to grow up & be a big girl! Sometimes it’s mummy who is not ready to let go!
I hope that’s helpful for anyone starting to potty train. I’m sending you lots of luck!
Katie