Potty Training Or Not!

Potty training is an important time for toddlers and parents. There’s so much information out there about this topic, tricks, tips, timelines and the list goes on.

I always say that every kid is different, such as every family, therefore we have to do what is best for our kids and family. And that’s the reason why I don’t like to give advice. I like to share my experiences as a Mom, knowing that they might not work for others, but who knows maybe it can be helpful.

Isabella started her official potty journey when she was two. It was a process with ups and downs, we had to make changes, adjust and sometimes just go with the flow.

Before Isabella was two we got her a little potty chair and started telling her all about using the potty. At that time it was just to let her know, maybe sit on it and get her familiarized with what was coming. When she turned two her pediatrician suggested to start the potty training. She told us that we can start by letting her wear undies when we were at home, and taking her to the potty frequently.

We followed the pediatrician’s instructions and went and bought the cutest undies we found and pull ups to help with the process. We talked to her and told her all about it. Explained to her that she was now a big girl and she needed to learn how to use the potty and that we were going to help her.

Isabella was kind of excited, when we were at home we took her every half hour or so to the bathroom. She sat on the potty, pretend, even use the toilet paper, but no pipi.

She would hold it for hours, and when she couldn’t hold it anymore, explode and would start crying, shaking and even will say “I’m so sorry Mami”. That same scene happened twice, because the second time I just went and put her a diaper back on.

Our New Approach

Sometimes you think is the right time, you are doing everything how your supposed to and things don’t work out. Isabella was not ready. I didn’t want this experience to be terrifying for her and didn’t want to see her as upset as she was. We talked to the pediatrician again and she said it was completely normal and that maybe she need another approach or none at all. That’s how we decided to not potty train her.

We would still talk about it and have the potty chair and all that, but we figured, well if she learned how to talk and walk and she didn’t have any training, so she will learn this too. Surprisingly I started reading about the topic and there was a lot of other parents doing the same thing. I was not bothered about the diapering and not very excited about using the public restrooms with her, so we waited.

Without the pressure and regimen she managed to do it. Yes, it was several months down the road but we were not in a hurry. She started going #1 at our house, some time latter she started #2. We always praised her and made a big deal out every time she went and even when she just tried.

I remembered her coming home in the afternoons and asking for undies (for school she wore the pullups) because she was a big girl now. No need to take her every certain time or anything she just knew when to go. Little after that she said she was ready to leave the pull ups at home and that she was ready to go to daycare in her undies. A few weeks after, no pull ups at night time. It was all pretty quick once she started. Barely no accidents during the day and just a few at night. No matter what, we always told her she was doing an excellent job and that we were very proud of her. After all accidents happen even to grownups!

It is important to listen to our children even though when they can not speak they’re always telling us something. As parents sometimes we want things to go smooth, perfect or according to some social calendar, but you all know that’s not real life. Every kid is unique with different timelines, needs and wants. Is our job as parents to listen to them and change the plan if necessary to meet their needs

Survival Kit

This is our public restroom survival kit, call me crazy but these products had given Isabella and Mami peace of mind.

• The Seat Cover— A friend of mine introduced me to these covers and I absolutely love them. They are big enough to not only cover the seat but also the edges where kids put their hands. They also have like a tape that sticks into the toilet making it stable in the toilet. I always carry one pack in Isabella’s backpack.
• Baby Wipes- We still use them all the time.
• Disinfecting Wipes- You never know, so better to have them.
• Post its!- Well turns out that Isabella is extremely scared to automatic toilets and their noise. At the beginning it was very challenging, she will not use public restrooms and hold it the entire day. One day while I was completely desperate, it occurred to me to put a sticker on the toilet sensor. So after I convinced her about my new magic trick and that it was going to work, she trusted me!! At first we kept using stickers but then one of the pediatricians that I follow on Instagram mentioned that post its are lifesavers for this matter and that’s how we started using them.

Do you have any advice for us? We want to hear your story, tell us about it?

Isabella’s picture in this post taken by: Marie Photography.