Potty Training

 

When i started this blog, i had all my posts planned out in advance, what i was going to write about. I had just made the decision to start potty training Nyla, and wanted to document our journey. 

However, i am left amazed, as i feel like i actually am not having to potty train her. 

Her potty arrived 3 weeks ago, and within an hour of having it, i sat her on it and she used it right away. Not a single fuss, no trying to get off it, she just sat there and went. That day she used the potty twice. 

This is how her first few weeks of potty training have gone. 

Why did i decide now?

I had read online that people start as early as 18 months, and that it can take a while for them to get it. Nyla, at 14 months, had started to show signs of being ready. She would wake up from 2 hour nap dry, go and stand facing the wall to have a poo, and wait until she got home to poo in general. I found i was changing her nappy less and so i thought i would see how she reacted to a potty at 15 months. Due to her staying at her dads sat-sun, and us having an overnight holiday planned for the following thu-fri, my plan was to just introduce her to the potty.  

I found one that looked like a toilet, and decided to go with that one. This is the one i chose

Week One 

The potty arrived and she was very excited by our new parcel. She helped open it excitedly. As soon as i set it up she was interested and went to explore it. Lifting the seat and closing it again, she squealed excitedly. I also got her a book i was recommended called No more Nappies. A lift the flap book, she loved it straight away. 

I took the potty into her room, where she has mats on her floor, and allowed her to play without a nappy on. I sat her on the potty after a while, and straight away she had a wee and poo. I clapped and cheered and she was buzzing at my reaction. 

We tried this again later on, and again, she had another wee. She did have some naked time again and i caught her start to wee. I said "no no no ooo on the potty" and she stopped and held it in until i sat her on the potty. I didn't shout at her or scold her in anyway when she did this, i didn't want her to get upset and think she had done wrong when she is still learning how to control her bladder.

Amazingly, the next morning, she woke up with a dry nappy! We went to the toilet straight away and i sat her on the potty, while i had a wee myself. She giggled at the sound of the toilet, and used it too. 

Saturday morning, again she woke up with a dry nappy! Straight to the toilet for a wee. She was only home for the morning and returned on Sunday. I was worried she would have a set back since her dad hasn't got her a potty yet, but soon as she got home she went potty. 

Week one total accidents: 5 

Week Two

Thursday we were heading to blackpool for the night. I changed her nappy in the morning when we woke up (which was dry) and she used the potty. Arriving in blackpool at 1pm, i checked and she had a dry nappy. I thought i would just sit her on the toilet, i wasn't expecting anything, but she used it straight away! We were out 1-4 at the zoo and she came back with a dry nappy again, and used the toilet fine. She also used it right before bed. At this point she was on a 2 day streak of being dry all day and night. 

Another dry morning and a toilet trip. We were out all day again as this was the day we were travelling home. While walking along the promenade, she stopped and crossed her legs, i knew that she would have a wet nappy next check and i was right. I changed her and then back at the hotel she used the toilet again. Later on, she cried and wanted to climb out her pram, we were a little late for the toilet again this time. 

Back at home, she was playing in the living room, and came running to the kitchen where i was, stopping at the door and holding my gaze while grunting. I knew that she was going to poo so grabbed her quick and ran up, she did make it to the potty to finish, but a little accident had happened first. 

That weekend i decided to try and find her some underwear to try her in the daytimes while we were at home. Thankfully Tesco had some in age 18-24 months which is the closest to her age i could find. They fit so i was happy with this. She did a full day in her underwear the sunday. 

Monday morning, she woke me up at 2am patting my face and grunting. A quick toilet trip and back to sleep followed. I couldn't believe she had actually woke me to use the toilet. 

Tuesday night i decided to let her wear underwear for bed. She slept through the night (10 hours) and woke up dry. We went to the toilet at 5am when she woke and got back in bed. She fell back to sleep for an hour and when she woke up, she wanted to get off the bed. I was still tired and tried to stop her but she pushed my hands out the way and climbed off anyway. She stood and i knew by the look on her face that she was going to pee. Unfortunately we didn't make it to the toilet this time. I let her know that this was ok, and that it happens. I didn't want her to think i was mad at her for the accident. Later that morning while i got ready to go out, she cried for me, and thinking she was just bored of being alone, i carried on before going down. When i went down to see if she needed the toilet i was too late and she had gone (thankfully i had put a nappy on her.)

Deciding that maybe she wasn't ready for underwear, we stuck to pull ups that day as we had baby group. While at the session she tried to go out the door and when i asked her to come back she grunted and pointed. Another heads up that she needed the toilet. 

Accidents week two: 6

Week three 

We are currently 3 days into week 3 and NO ACCIDENTS. 

She has worn underwear 2 days in a row, including overnight, and has been letting me know most of the time if she needs to go. 

The issue we are having at the moment, is that she woke up to go toilet on friday at midnight, and it woke her up too much. This resulted in a 4 hour battle to get her back to sleep. This has made me question if maybe pull ups for bed a little longer is the right way to go, as then at least if she wakes up and goes back to sleep accidents won't be huge. At the same time, i feel like this would be a step backwards in her potty training. 

Nyla has also decided that she no longer wants to sit on the potty. She wants to use the toilet. I am fine with this (even though my toilet is upstairs so its more up and down), as it will make it easier when she is out etc. 

Like i said in my welcome to this blog ... i am totally winging motherhood. 

I have decided that tonight she can wear underwear again since she's worn them 2 days in a row and even had 3 shop trips wearing them. Wish me luck! 

Nyla is not yet at an age where she can physically say that she needs to go to the toilet, nor is she at the age she can pull down her pants to go. However, she has shown signs that she can control her bladder/bowel movements and has started to give me signs before she does so. Most of this potty training for now is based on guess work and timing, but is preparing her for using the toilet on her own. 

Potty training can take weeks, or months, and children are ready at different ages. If your little one is not showing signs of being ready yet, don't force them. 18months-3 years is the average age in which babies are ready for this journey.