Toilet-training
Following suit of being late was toilet-training. I read on parents who introduced the potty to their less-than-a-year-old babies which means Munchkin would come off as extremely delayed. I was hoping that it would be one of the things she'd be naturally ready about so I waited till she was 2.5yrs, I introduced her to training pants but upon putting them on, she hated it. She needed diapers for security. At that moment, I could see the problems I’d be getting into.
Since the time I kept persuading her to go diaper-free, she relented only a couple of months ago. Even then, she started trials on weekends since she didn't have to go to school. It was only last month when I decided to go full-force during her June hols. The things is, I skipped potty and put her straight to toilet with the child seat cos knowing her, she has difficulty adapting to changes in routine so from a potty to toilet would take another series of persuasion.
As I haven't been blessed with the virtue of patience, I found the whole issue more frustrating than weaning her off pacifier (which was horrifying but still do-able cos it was within my control). I was frustrated with not being able to control the whole toilet action- I wouldnt know when she'd have the urge; it took a lot of persuasion to get her to go to the bathroom; if nothing came out, I was not to let her sit too long (or she'd take it as a punishment); and if she had accidents, I was not come off disappointed or she'll be discouraged and want to turn to diapers instead. I did a motivational chart as a form of encouragement for her to go to the bathroom, but eventually, the novelty wore off. Pretty underpants didn’t appeal her either so the lazy mother just got more waterproof training pants to minimize cleaning up ‘accidents’. These pants are brilliant though cos not only can the child feel the wetness, but the pants itself is able to hold urine until child gets to bathroom. I kept wondering if Munchkin was not able to recognize the urge or did she forget to ‘feel’ that she needed to go so.. after the 3rd week, I sort of ‘gave up’ and just let her wet her pants in hopes that she will eventually recognize the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom. She’d usually say she’d want to pee after she did or just a second before she peed so a couple of days before her month-long holiday ended, when she said she needed to pee, I was expecting wet pants as I removed for her in the bathroom but lo and behold! It was dry!! She peed slightly afterwards (still in the bathroom) and made me feel like I just won a million dollars (ok maybe a thousand dollars).
She had been quite consistent since, a couple of accidents but not enough to cause disruption though I have not taken her off diapers when outdoors and bedtime. But the whole point is, I realized it’s a super big deal for a parent, that the lateness (at almost 3.5yrs) didn’t kill off the proud parent-moment of every accomplishment. In fact, it’s a bigger relief cos it was a task long overdue but finally completed.
A star-sticker progress chart I made for her. Oh the effort. And the prize - anything that comes in a box with ribbon excites her so I didn't need anything pricey.
Since the time I kept persuading her to go diaper-free, she relented only a couple of months ago. Even then, she started trials on weekends since she didn't have to go to school. It was only last month when I decided to go full-force during her June hols. The things is, I skipped potty and put her straight to toilet with the child seat cos knowing her, she has difficulty adapting to changes in routine so from a potty to toilet would take another series of persuasion.
As I haven't been blessed with the virtue of patience, I found the whole issue more frustrating than weaning her off pacifier (which was horrifying but still do-able cos it was within my control). I was frustrated with not being able to control the whole toilet action- I wouldnt know when she'd have the urge; it took a lot of persuasion to get her to go to the bathroom; if nothing came out, I was not to let her sit too long (or she'd take it as a punishment); and if she had accidents, I was not come off disappointed or she'll be discouraged and want to turn to diapers instead. I did a motivational chart as a form of encouragement for her to go to the bathroom, but eventually, the novelty wore off. Pretty underpants didn’t appeal her either so the lazy mother just got more waterproof training pants to minimize cleaning up ‘accidents’. These pants are brilliant though cos not only can the child feel the wetness, but the pants itself is able to hold urine until child gets to bathroom. I kept wondering if Munchkin was not able to recognize the urge or did she forget to ‘feel’ that she needed to go so.. after the 3rd week, I sort of ‘gave up’ and just let her wet her pants in hopes that she will eventually recognize the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom. She’d usually say she’d want to pee after she did or just a second before she peed so a couple of days before her month-long holiday ended, when she said she needed to pee, I was expecting wet pants as I removed for her in the bathroom but lo and behold! It was dry!! She peed slightly afterwards (still in the bathroom) and made me feel like I just won a million dollars (ok maybe a thousand dollars).
She had been quite consistent since, a couple of accidents but not enough to cause disruption though I have not taken her off diapers when outdoors and bedtime. But the whole point is, I realized it’s a super big deal for a parent, that the lateness (at almost 3.5yrs) didn’t kill off the proud parent-moment of every accomplishment. In fact, it’s a bigger relief cos it was a task long overdue but finally completed.
A star-sticker progress chart I made for her. Oh the effort. And the prize - anything that comes in a box with ribbon excites her so I didn't need anything pricey.
posted by Sally Cinnamon at
11:09 AM
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