Are You Ready to Potty Train Your Child?
I have been asked if I shouldn’t be potty training my almost 22 month old.
Yes, even after four kids, I get treated like a first time mum but… don’t we all? If you have a child, people will judge you and they will want to teach you the right way to mother. Yes, that is something we moms, irrespective of one kid or more, will have to deal with everyday.
I am not going to tell you how to potty train. I already wrote that part when I was feeling so super-mommy. I don’t feel super-mommy anymore. I am just too selfish now. I want my me-time and I want as less stress in my life as in possible. I have just-turned 35 this past week and I think, I am getting smarter everyday. I have had four kids and it is about time too. No?
If you are a second time mama or more, you’d know too that potty training needs time. It needs time, patience, a lot of care and so much attention. Two of my kids are under two right now. That means, usually, I am bathing two together or feeding two together and almost always rocking one on my lap and the other in my arms at nap times. How in the world am I going to squeeze in potty training?!
Let’s talk about potty training readiness today. Does it really matter if you start early or late?
Are you really ready to potty train your child?
I mean this is not like starting solids. If you start solids early, there will be chances of allergies and if you delay it long enough the chances are of the baby loosing interest in food. What about potty training: Does something go wrong if you delay it till they are three?
No, actually not. In fact, that is the right age to potty train. You can potty train them in less than a week when they are between 2 and half and 3 years of age. The reason is because they are older and more aware and able to understand you better.
Also, you can bribe them then. 😉 No, this has to be reason number one really. If it isn’t for stars and candies, would we ever get ever children potty trained that easily?
Potty training requires a lot of hard work on the part of the mother. You have to remember to take them to the potty so that there aren’t any accidents. Then, you have to remember to remind them to let you know when they feel the urge. You also will need to wipe or wash them after Poo-Poo too. They never learn to do that part well till they are age four, at least. That means, if I started at 18months of age, I am going to be training them till they are around 4 years old. That is 2 and a half years of training? Does anybody ever wonder what it will be for the mum with a 5month old baby sister for the toddler?
Even when they are partially trained to Pee-pee, are they really that independent? No. You have to assist them to the potty. You have to diaper them at night or wake them for the Eleven-ish ‘get up and go’ and the 5am ‘get up and go’ . Who is getting up and going with them again?
Mum is.
So now, I think I’ll go back to being the smart, selfish, guilt-less mum. I’ll start potty training my kid when she turns almost three. I never really do care what people think and I am not going to debate. May be if they came here, they’d know how smart I really am. Even then, they are welcome to my home and potty training my kid for me all the time.
Here’s a book that I highly recommend: Everything you ought to know to breeze through the potty training transition!
Click here to visit Your Modern Family.
Really, do you think I am being smart or do you think I’m being too selfish? Have you ever been in this situation? When did you start potty training your child?
Potty training is pretty much the worst. For REAL! I had the awesome dilemma of being a first time mom to twins. I had no idea what I was doing or when I should do it or how long it would last, etc. And ultimately the key to potty training success is whether the mother is committed to it! So, yes, you are being selfish, but that's okay! If you aren't ready, neither are they!
I don't think you are being selfish. It sounds like you're making life easier on your entire family by waiting. My daughter is almost two and a half, and I've just started to think about starting potty training, but obviously, I don't know the first thing about it. I'm sensing from your post, that I don't need to rush it. Which is good to hear, since I'm really hesitant about it right now.
I hope you think of buying Becky's book Tiffany. It has everything you need to know and step by step.
Yep… that's what I feel too… how can we get them ready when we aren't.
I have rheumatoid arthritis so I'm not always able to get up at the appropriate times to take
my 2yr old to potty. He wears undies for a little while then I just end up changing him back to a diaper. He is also very obviously not ready for this yet. I end up feeling super guilty because like you said we're always expected to be super mom. But this post laid things out for me. I feel like I can take things slow and pick it up when we're both ready 🙂 Thank you!
I am glad you felt re-assured Nadine. If it is any comfort, I started my first born when he was 3 yrs old and we were trained in 3 days. When the time is right, you will both find a way. Until then enjoy him and take it easy yourself! 🙂