musings and misadventures: HTT

9.04.2007

HTT - Potty Edition

Miss Dub is now TEN months old. Ten months, people! I'll be dropping her off at the mall with friends in no time. And she'll be telling me I'm unfair before I can blink. I mean, adolescence is at her doorstep.

So you'd think I'd be all over potty training - well-versed in all the various toilet techniques and associated parenting philosophies, but I'm not. I haven't thought about it for a moment. Even a little.

First, changing diapers doesn't bother me that much. I mean, I'd rather not unwrap a stinky surprise several times a day, but I'm not disgusted by it either. Everybody poops; Miss Dub just doesn't know how to dispose of hers, which is fine by me. She also doesn't know how to make cupcakes, but I'm in no rush to show her the Kitchenaid.

In fact, I have no idea what's the right age for potty training. I imagine it's somewhere around 2 years old, though you'll have to school me on the specifics. And I imagine that it's a Hot Topic because all child-rearing issues can get moms steamy under the collar. (And why is that? Do we really think our methods are superior, or do we just feel better by justifying our behavior?)

I recently read this article, which confirmed that potty training is, indeed, an interesting issue. And reminded me that there are some freaky people out there. People who not only eschew diapers from birth, but let their children relieve themselves in SINKS at PUBLIC restrooms. And then they wonder why other people look at them strangely.

And while the idea of a potty-trained newborn sounds appealing, I can't help but notice the irony. These people are so averse to wiping excrement that they don't diaper their babies, but they are happy to expose others to it - in a vestibule designed to remove germs nonetheless.

I just don't get it. Why can't babies just be babies? What's the rush? Diapers aren't meant to be enjoyable, just necessary. I don't feel like I have any less bowel control because my mom waited to potty train me ... so I fail to see the advantage.

But what do you think?

When have you or do you plan to potty train your youngins?

What's your strategy?

And on a scale of 1-10, how are disgusted are you by a mom who lets her baby use a sink as a bidet?

'Cause it's pretty much a 10 for me.

14 comments:

go boo boo said...: A sink as a bidet? That is dirty, 10. I am planning on around 2 for my 3rd child. My boys took longer, and definitely did it on their time, which was much easier for me than when I tried to force it. It is frustrating, but I knew I had to do it by 3 (for pre-school) which gave me a dead-line of sorts.; 6:59 AM
Ashby said...: Yeah, that would definitely have to be a 10 on the totally gross scale for me. I'm just not THAT kind of mom.

As for potty training, to each their own. However, I will add that I AM the kind of mom that goes cold turkey on the diaper. I did the 2 week boot camp type potty training because I swore I would not have two kids in diapers. And while others have looked down on me for "forcing" my child into potty training, I take pride in the fact that I got it done, and before she turned 2. We also accomplished our goal without force, more like LOTS of encouragement (but we did have our fair share of accidents).

But no matter when you do it, praise, encouragement, and example are KEY. I just had to remember that she was learning something new, and it would take accident after accident before she caught on. She was never punished for the accidents, just shown what to do next time, and when that next time was in the potty we threw a little party right there in the bathroom.

My youngest turned 10 months today, and by this time next year, I will probably start training her too.

To each their own, but I like to get it done by their 2nd birthday; 7:06 AM
stephanie said...: there are some very strange people in this world.

i potty train my kids when they turn 2. they both figured it out pretty quickly. (for the record, my boy took to it faster than his older sister.)

i think waiting til the kid is a sunbeam is gross.; 9:35 AM
Cichelli said...: My oldest son had zero interest in using the potty. Would NOT use the potty. Would sit in dirty, soggy diapers for HOURS, rather than use the potty. But we talked about it, encouraged him, reminded him, hyped it up, appluaded mommy and daddy for using the potty, etc starting at age 2. Then one day, right after he turned three, he just decided he was going to use the toilet and never looked back. No night time pull ups. Perfectly trained. Just did it when he was ready.

My baby boy turns 2 in January and we'll start the routine all over again. Talk about the potty, praise the potty, show him how big brother uses the potty, etc. And when he's ready, he'll use it.

10! 10! GROSS!; 9:51 AM
hilari said...: so far, both were 2 1/2. we'll see what cruz has up his sleeve when he is old enough, or is it up his you-know-what? i am all for using a sink as a bidet. doesn't a newborn want to be refreshed too?; 10:26 AM
Kate said...: I too think- to each their own- if you want to start when they are a couple of weeks old- more power to you- but don't jeopardize everyone elses health by having them pee in the sink- that is just plain gross.

Each of my children had their own schedule- I am just the facilitator in the process. If they start showing the signs and want to do it... it's time.; 10:50 AM
Carina said...: After trying for about a year with number one son, we're not even going to try, not even a single attempt, until number two son is begging us.

Number one son didn't train until almost 3.5 years. It didn't matter what we did, like cichelli said, wet, cold, and mess didn't bother him. BAG IT!

I say, call me lazy, call me practical, I'm just not going to do it until they want to.

That being said, my tip of the day is to buy the cheapest, nastiest diapers you can find. No more comfort from the nappy downstairs.; 11:09 AM
Unknown said...: I have a friend in my ward who's baby pooped in the toilet starting at 8 months. She said that it was so obvious that her baby was pooping, that she just held her over the toilet. The baby soon caught on, and now tells her mom when she needs to poop. She doesn't, however, have any idea when she's peeing, so still wears a diaper.

I have another friend in the ward with a just-barely-trained 4-year-old. He had an accident at someone else's house, and let me tell you - it was disgusting. Man-Poo everywhere.

As for baby pee in the sink - can't the lady turn around and have her baby use the toilet? Come on.; 11:19 AM
Mandee said...: Ditto what Azucar said.

Because my #2 son is almost 3, and is NOT AT ALL interested. So I will wait until he is, because it is a total waste of time otherwise.

So I figure, since #3 son just turned 1. I've got 2.5 more years of changing stinky poo diapers. So depressing.; 1:23 PM
Anonymous said...: I will potty train when the child is interested. I have two under 2 and I do not have the time to be a slave to the porcelain throne right now. My daughter will ask to use the potty several times a day and I let her but I am by no means forcing her. My ped told me to just go with the flow (HA) and most kids get the hang of it before their 3rd birthday.

To each their own.; 2:04 PM
Leisha Mareth said...: I started both of my kids around 2-2-1/2ish. Interestingly, they both had small relapses a few weeks into it and refused to go further with the training. Then, a few weeks later they both just got on the bandwagon again and did great from that point forward. So my "theory" (and I do stress theory) is that you introduce them to it, be consistent, then let them take the reins and be in charge of their potty habits. It has worked twice for me, but I have a third just a few months shy of age 2...so I'll let you know if my theory holds true!; 3:53 PM
sara said...: My opinion: don't rush them. Most will want to do it when they're ready. I mean, don't let them wait until they're 5 or anything, but every kid is different and mine have all been around age 3 while one of my sister's kids were 2. My twins are now 3 1/2 and both potty trained but they didn't do it at exactly the same time. Any time before preschool is fine with me; it's much easier to change a dirty diaper occasionally than to clean up constant "accidents" by a child who wasn't ready to be potty trained yet.

And yes, this new "diaper-free revolution" is a bunch of bunk.; 4:41 PM
Anonymous said...: I hate potty training -I hate not potty training - its all a bunch of crap to me!!!; 7:35 PM
Anonymous said...: Sink as potty? No way. Gross.

After potty training 3, and looking forward to the 4th, I'd say start around age 2 to get them acclimated to the idea, but don't push. I pushed my first because I wanted her to start school because I am an idiot, and she still has accidents and she's 7 now. My second waited until he was 3 1/2, and I thought he'd go to kindergarten in diapers, but he just up and one day decided to use the potty and hasn't ever had an accident since. The third one wanted to use the potty because her big sibs did, but I was afraid to train because she had a new brother coming and I figured she'd regress, so I put it off, but I let her use the potty when she asked to. She trained herself, around 2 years 9 months, and she had an expected amount of accidents, but really it wasn't a big deal for me, and I think it's because we took her lead, not vice versa.

The whole diaper-free thing kinda boggles my mind, because at least for me, one of the things I struggle with as a SAHM is the isolation, and I would think it would keep you stuck to the house MORE than using diapers. I mean, if you have to drive the kid somewhere, you can't sit and stare at the kid while you drive, and what if the child has to go en route? What about road trips? It just seems like more work than I've ever been willing to take on - changing diapers isn't THAT big a deal.; 12:14 PM