On the local news tonight, there was a story about potty training your child in one day. They had my attention. My shortest attempt at this was 4 days. Four bad days, but then they were over.
Before I go on, let me remind you, the reader, that urinating and defecating are normal bodily functions that will happen no matter what you, the parent, do. Your child will learn to use the toilet and will not wear diapers forever.
Potty training is an interesting process. Some children will essentially do it themselves, as my husband seems to think ours did. Most will not. I have potty trained four children and they were all very different experiences and ages:
Child #1: 3 yrs., 3 mos. old
Child #2: 2 yrs., 7 mos. old
Child #3: 2 yrs., 6 mos. old
Child #4: Tried at 2 yrs., 4 mos., but after a month, gave up. Took an entire month to potty train at the age of 3.
Those were intense days with lots of frustration and tears from all parties (except my oblivious husband!), but we got through them. You will too.
Back to the story on the local news: A mom had attended a workshop put on by a woman who started a business to "help" parents potty train their child in just one day. The disclaimer was that it might take a week or more, and there's lots of prep time working up to the ONE BIG DAY. She sells a baby, a baby potty, and a bottle (grrrrr!) to give the baby so that it has to "pee." She charges a whopping $50! What a business woman -- playing on parents' fears and frustrations to make a buck. Think of all the human beings that have survived on the planet without paying $50 to teach their child to do something that they will do naturally. My husband says she is clever and she'll "make out like a bandit." I'm sure he's right.
Dr. William Sears advises letting your child run naked for a few days. He or she will figure out pretty quick where the pee is coming from and will start to recognize how it feels right before it comes out. I always made my kiddos help clean it up, which was a great deterrent from doing it again. Doesn't that sound cheaper?
And what about this "Elimination Communication" -- did I even call it the right thing?! I feel like John Stossel from 20/20: "Give me a break!" Do you want to enjoy your baby's babyhood, or spend it trying to potty train? The idea, apparently, is that if you read your baby's cues, you can put him or her on the toilet before they pee, or poop, in their diaper. Ok. But what if your 6-month-old has to pee and he actually knows it (which he doesn't!)? He can't get up, walk himself to the bathroom, undress, and situate himself so he can pee. Of course, I am exaggerating, but can you see how absurd this is? And what's the point? Do you care about not changing diapers that much to go through this? Do people who do this think their baby is smarter?
I could go on and on about this. It seems to be a new fad. One I think is totally lame. Changing diapers is part of being a parent. Your baby does not need this "pressure," if he's even old enough to understand that he's not doing what you want him to do. How much of a person's day must be spent doing this who buys into this crazy philosophy?
ENJOY YOUR BABY! POTTY TRAIN WHEN YOUR TODDLER IS READY. You cannot potty train a baby. Sorry.
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