35 months old and FINALLY toilet training!

[sushee]

I am a big believer that kids will toilet train when they're ready, and Charlie's been showing signs for about 3 months now, asking to be changed just before he soiled himself, and being interested in what DH and I do in the toilet.

So a month ago, I got him a toilet seat insert and a step stool and started encouraging him to sit on the loo every night for a bit, while we sang songs and read books.

And each time, after a while, he'd announce that he was 'finished' and then as soon as I put a nappy back on him, he'd wee in the nappy.

Well a few nights ago, when he proclaimed that he was 'finished' I encouraged him to stay on the loo with more songs and games. I could see him getting more and more agitated, and finally I guess he couldn't 'hold on' any longer and peed in the loo.

Me and DH made a huge fuss over him!!

Yesterday, he asked to go 'wee in the toilet' 3 times, and once at the shops (which I couldn't comply with, because I was in a queue) and he soiled in his nappy. We've yet to get him to poo in the loo, but I suspect that now he's not scared of 'going' it won't be long (I hope!).

So he's getting there!! So excited because I was under pressure from a few people about the fact that he was still in nappies, but I stayed fast to my belief that he would get it when he was ready, and he did!

Now to slowly wean him off nappies altogether!

[Lulu]

WOO HOO!

I always giggle when I look back and think of the song and dance we made over wees/poos in the toilet. Standing ovations, stickers, jelly babies...so much fun

[sushee]

Lol!! It did occur to me as DH and I were applauding wildly as we were all cramed in the toilet that parenthood requires a certain amount of insanity.

Charlie's reward of choice is grapes!

[Arimeh]

Oh yay!!! thats brilliant!!! Thats the same approach I'm taking with DS... hopefully he trains at around the same time (he's 26 months with no idea whatsoever...)

[sushee]

That's the thing, isn't it, Arimeh? It's not like you see 20 year olds in nappies, so they do learn to TT at some stage. What does it matter if it's 12 months or 48 months? My mum was convinced Charlie wouldn't TT unless I 'forced' him. Who in their right mind forces a kid to TT?

My sister's DD only became completely TTed at almost 3.5 years of age, despite my mum putting her on a potty religiously since she was 12 months old. I don't think it's politic for me to mention to her that Charlie will probably TT around the same time despite me never 'forcing' him to do anything.

[Liz]

Yep, and if you wait til they're ready, it happens really quickly too.. no real "training" required.

Hooray for Charlie!

[sunshine_sieben]

Congratulations. I had to giggle so much at the picture of 3 people crammed into a tiny toilet making a fuss over a little trickle into the loo. I have been there, so I know about the "insanity" of the situation.
DD started really early, at only 18 months she decided to wee in the potty or toilet a few times a day. We even had a poo in (and all around) the potty. I was soooo excited. Yes, she used to get rewards, too. I hadn't done anything apart from buying a potty when she started taking her nappy off jsut before she needed to wee. It took her a couple of months to get the idea what the potty was for. She just liked sitting on it. Until one day she weed into it.

But, then she stopped again. Now we only have the occasional wee in the loo (or shower). So I guess I'm trying to say that even if it happens on their own accord, don't be upset or disappointed if they revert back to nappies for a while.

They do say that boys often take a little longer. and if they're quick with TT, they might be a little slower with something else (DD only says a handful of words), and vice versa. And someone else said: even when they're ten, nobody will ask at what age they TT'd.

Sasa
xox

[briggsy's girl]

hehehe just imagining you all crammed in the loo for a little party - way cute!!

all kids train in their own time - if you force it too early, they just revert back cos they're not ready - mum's godson was ready to train from about 2.5 but his dad would put him in nappies cos he worked from home and got distracted so C would often have accidents - mum worked full time, and could only work on training him at night and weekends - he came to stay with us one week and we just used some rewards to get him to use the loo all the time - it meant one of us getting up during the night to take him to the loo - but by the end of a week he was accident free - he ended up using the "nappy money" dad sent with him to buy a special outfit to go home in (his pick - he was about 3.5 by that time) and some jocks - he never had an accident again!

keep up the good work Charlie - you're doing great little buddy!

[sushee]

Sasa,

Charlie's been slow at EVERYTHING! Lol! he talked late (still can't talk in sentences), he walked late, he crawled late, he sat up late. He's a late little boy!

My 3 older kids were all TTed by the time they were 2 and a 1/2. In fact my DD was completely TTed by the time she was 19 months. But DS2 too 'reverted' to not being TTed for a few months, and that was cool too. If Charlie goes backwards, I'm okay with that. The boy has taught me that I have patience I didn't think I had!

[morgan78]

Woohoo Charlie, Well Done

[Floweryfields]

WOO HOO!

I always giggle when I look back and think of the song and dance we made over wees/poos in the toilet. Standing ovations, stickers, jelly babies...so much fun

This happens at my work too - ever seen 4 grown childcare workers jumping around because 'x' has just done their first poo in the toilet!!!! Must look hilarious!

[Willow]

Awesome job Charlie!!

I found the same thing with DD Sush, when she was ready, it just happened. It is hard though when you start feeling the pressure about them being in nappies.

[paradise lost]

Oh LOL Sushee.

DD is also 35 months. Since about 30 months she's been able to go in he potty or toilet on and off. I've been trying everything i could think of (also under a LOT of pressure from others, especially because she's a girl) to help her get the idea. 2 weeks ago i decided to bite the bullet again nd put her in pants. For the first 6 day she wet herself on average 3 times a day. I took spare clothes everywhere i went and it was a MASSIVE hassle. On the 4th and 5th day my dad was visiting and he said to me "becca if she was ready you wouldn't be getting all this" - the trouble was that she could physically hold it,. but she was stubborn and WOULDN'T go in the potty when we asked if she needed to. Then she would pee immediately after in her pants. So frustrating as she was great with the potty before we moved house but she just refused. I said "but dad she CAN do it" and he said "but she won't and you can't make her" and so i decided i would stop caring.

That was Sunday. Monday i kept her in pants because we were at home anyway, Tuesday i stuck a nappy on her because we had guests staying and she'd peed on the hall carpet and i was trying to make them breakfast while i cleaned up. That morning the health visitor came to introduce herself as we'd just joined the new local practice. She asked about TT (actually i didn't much like her; she brought a student midwife with her who told me "most babies die" at more then EDD+10 and was shocked i'd been "allowed" to HB at EDD+11, and the HV told m i couldn't possibly give DD what she needed in terms of mental stimulation and she should be in nursery 5 days a week by now (not 3 yet!)) and while she was there Esme took the nappy off and did an wee in the toilet and she has been dry DAY AND NIGHT since then! She just decided to do it, and that was that. She has been a bit patchy with poos, but she just shouted me to "see the cack!" in her potty in her room and she'd done a poo and wiped no problem.

Next time i won't be actively TTing AT ALL!

Bx

[rhyb]

WTG Charlie
Love the toilet dance would be great to see