PeePee in the Potty!
Published October 23rd, 2006 in L.A. Toddler.Not quite yet, but… we’re getting there. Any and all advice is appreciated. I’ve read countless books and websites on the subject and the one message they all blast loud and clear is that ‘when they’re ready it will happen’.
Couldn’t someone have just TOLD us this? We’re at the point where she sees her friends at day care going, and she’s all excited to run around naked, wants to wear her Monkey-George undies (Curious George to the rest of us), even keeps the diaper dry for hours at a time. So how do I give her the extra push without turning her into an anal-retentive, compulsive-obsessive, mom-you’re-the-reason-I’m-in-therapy adult? One of my friends recommended letting her have naked day -– and just cleaning up the accidents as they happen. But L.A. Daddy won’t go for that one – especially since we have new carpet (”Damn straight, ” says L.A. Daddy.)
Another suggested telling her she couldn’t pee on Dora (or whatever TV character happened to be on the undies at the time.) I’m liking that approach… but not sure if it will cause major disappointment and many more months of diapers if Dora gets wet.
One of the teachers at day care suggested putting the undies on OVER THE DIAPER and telling her that if she can keep the diaper dry and leave all her peepee in the toilet then she can go without the diaper and just wear the fabulous undies. I’m liking this idea as well. It’s getting the most votes at this point.
Anybody have any other suggestions for us?
no advice I’m afraid. i think you have it all covered. we did try using stars though for every time she went to the potty. good luck. what i wanted to say though was not to stress. my daughter only fully came off diapers at 3 during the day and then at night at 3 and a half and then still peed in the bed now and then. we went out with nappies and at home used panties. as they say it will happen when it happens.
with my second child i will be more relaxed, and not care so much about the pee factor because my first developed cronic constipation at 2 because she didn’t like to use the toilet or potty so she held back until it became a very big problem. it took over 7 months to figure out why she complained of a sore tummy and then to finally get it sorted. it was very traumatic for all of us. poor kid. with my second i will take it at her own pace. use nappies as long as it takes and never coax or beguile her to pee on the potty or loo. it will just save us all a whole lot of worrying.
with my second i also took a similar aproach to her eating solids. with my first i worried myself sick and she only started eating with all that coaxing and prodding at 20 months really. with my second i knew they all get there eventually so i didn’t coax at all. i just let her try what she wanted and if she didn’t want any she just didn’t eat (but for breastmilk). she’s now 19months and finally starting to eat more. it’s funny to see how my two children ate exactly the same amount and started to eat more at the exact same age and yet with my first i ‘encouraged’ and with my second i just took it as it came.
as my husband always told me when i got overly worried - ‘ all teenagers use the toilet dear’ *smile* good luck. you’re doing great!