Starting the Potty Training Journey

[Cenchan]

So, I think I'm going to update journals about my trials with potty training here. For those of you who have just stumbled upon my journal, I'll give you a brief background of how I've been raising my daughter.

I have taken to a more, "listen to your child" method for the common issues with a growing child. This doesn't mean I let her walk all over me but more like I don't force her into new situations but present the change and let her tell me if she wants to take the step. Case in point: Sleeping in her own room. I started her off in my husband's and my room when she was first born. With us, with me, until she was comfortable. By the end of week 1, I was able to get her sleeping in a bassinet with no problems. When she out-grew the bassinet, she graduated to a crib without any issues. She stayed in our room until she began to get upset with our nightly routine (talking in bed) so that is when we moved her to her own room (by 8 months). We didn't have any issues with the separation, I just listened to her.

So with potty training, I started with allowing her to not feel uncomfortable with the bathroom. No shooing her out while I go, letting her flush the toilet to see what it does, explaining to her the whole use of it, I've dumped solid waste from her diaper in it to show her that's where it goes... that sort of thing. We've had a travel fold-up seat that I've allowed her to sit on the toilet before and she doesn't seem to mind it, but she also hasn't put 2 and 2 together yet.

I also must note that I've been very fortunate with my daughter. She shows no signs of interest in holding onto her excrement (no 'anal retentiveness' as it's called) and she also doesn't have any issues with flushing it down the toilet either (she gladly has waved into the toilet and said "bye bye poopie!" as it goes down the hole), so, so far, we have not had to deal with any of those hurdles. (Sorry I can't be much help for that if you're looking for answers there!)

So here's my plan of action. As I've read on a few parenting sites, they suggest letting your child get use to the potty. (Note: I am not using a separate potty. My husband had issues with that and equated anything with a lid outside the bathroom -- eg: toy chest --  was ok to go to the bathroom in. I'm fine with teaching her to use the large potty as she's already as big as a 3 year old at 24 months.) Also they suggest to put your child on the potty at regular points in time. At first, I'm going with after she wakes up, after breakfast, after lunch, after snack or before nap, before daddy comes home, before supper, before shower and once more after shower -- this is until she finally goes in the potty and experiences what it is for.

I am also going to offer her 1 square of toilet paper to 'wipe' with even if she doesn't go so she can learn she needs to wipe after using the potty, allow her to throw it in the water and flush it even if she doesn't go. Praise her for sitting on it because she did what mommy said. (make a huge happy deal out of it when she does finally go so she knows /that/ is what I wanted her to do.) Of course, this is all followed up by handwashing with soap. :)

Right now, I'm sticking with diapers until she shows more of an interest in the potty because right now, it's only a 'eh' kinda thing with her. She knows of it's existence and it's where mommy and daddy go to the bathroom, but it's not a huge deal right now. I'll let her get a feel for sitting on the toilet and when that first time comes, we'll go from there. Hopefully that will get her interested and we'll be able to get her some training pants to help her know when she's wet (because honestly, that girl has never had an issue with running around with a wet diaper, she's only come running to me when she's peed when I allowed her to run around without one on).

Which that reminds me, any mother out there have any suggestions for training pants? Where to get them, what's good, what's not? Even sew-your-owns, where I might get a pattern or something? Like I said, she'll probably do the best with things she can feel she's wet herself.

Thanks a bunch for reading and for any comments. I'll post again when we've had a success!