Miracle Boy isn’t quite there yet, but when summer comes, it’ll probably be time to at least think about potty training. Knowing me, and how consistent slack I’ve been in the past, he’ll be toddling around with no nappies (diapers) on sunny days, only to have his little bottom tucked in again at the first hint of having to go inside. Which, of course, doesn’t constitute potty training – it’s just a case of getting a little tan on the little bottom…
For me, the most common potty training problems are the practical problems that arise with social life. Having to go off somewhere in a car, going to visit people with poophobia – that sort of thing kinda puts a stop to me hanging in there. One thing is perfectly clear to me – if you can’t be consistent, don’t start on potty training. All that will achieve, is frustration for both you and the child, and the whole thing becomes a harrowing experience all around.
With the three others, I haven’t done potty training at all, not until they’ve shown very clearly that they were ready for it. The result of that approach was that they were “house trained” rather late, but on the other hand, there was no confusion, no frustration, and things fell into place quite smoothly – with no embarrassing relapses. I don’t know what’s the right thing to do – all children are different. Some may be ready for it quite early, some have no interest in the matter before the ripe old age of three or four. The best recipe for failure, I think, is lack of consistancy in the parents…
My advice then, is as follows: Start potty training when you’re ready, and you think your child is ready.
Don’t start if you’re not sure you can see it through without going ballistic when accidents happen at the worst possible time. They will.
Most people over the age of four go to the toilet by themselves. If your child is “late”, he/ she will work it out in the end!
Stumble it!
