So I've been going back and forth about whether or not V is ready for toilet training. The first time I ever put her on the potty and asked her to go she went! I was amazed. Perhaps, she is ready. Since then, she's gone a few times consistently in the morning and about once or twice since then in the afternoon. Granted on our NY trip we were unable to "train" her, but she's shown a few signs she's ready. Sure it would be AWESOME if I could train her before the new baby arrives, so my dilemma is this. If I wait until after I have the baby then it'll be a while since there is an adjustment period with a new sibling for both her and I, but if I start now would I just be backtracking when the new baby does come? And of course if she's ready, why not? So I need your opinion. Here's a checklist of what are signs for them being ready from Babycenter.org. I'll let you know where she's at and you give your opinion...please. :)
Physical signs:
Can walk and run steadily. YES
Urinates a fair amount at one time. SOMETIMES, mostly it's still whenever
Has regular, well-formed bowel movements at relatively predictable times. NO IDEA
Has "dry" periods of at least three or four hours, which shows that her bladder muscles are developed enough to hold urine. NO
Behavioral signs:
Can sit down quietly in one position for two to five minutes. YES
Can pull her pants up and down. YES
Dislikes the feeling of wearing a wet or dirty diaper. SOMETIMES (she'll care one day and not the next)
Shows interest in others' bathroom habits (wants to watch you go to the bathroom or wear underwear). YES
Gives a physical or verbal sign when she's having a bowel movement such as grunting, squatting, or telling you. YES, well sometimes
Demonstrates a desire for independence. YES
Takes pride in her accomplishments. YES?
Isn't resistant to learning to use the toilet. YES, she likes sitting on her potty
Is in a generally cooperative stage, not a negative or contrary one. YES
Cognitive signs:
Can follow simple instructions, such as "go get the toy." YES
Understands the value of putting things where they belong. NO
Has words for urine and stool. YES
Understands the physical signals that mean she has to go and can tell you before it happens or even hold it until she has time to get to the potty. NO
3 comments:
Here's my opinion... I don't know either. I faced this same dilemma. Emily was showing signs just before I had Sarah but I decided to wait until after the baby because I heard the same thing that they will "backtrack." Also I was moving her into a big girl bed at the same time so I decided one change at a time was enough. Emily is just over 2 and I still haven't potty trained her because I haven't found that it was the right time. Recently she has been trying to change her own diaper and that is telling me that it might be time.
So what I did is wait, not sure if that's the best option for you but I thought it might help to hear that someone else did it. I will update you as soon as I potty train Emily but we are still going to be waiting until we move back to UT. So good luck :)
I say try it...why not :). (I know nothing about raising kids).
From what I've read about potty training, no matter when YOU start to try to teach them, it won't work until THEY are ready. And I don't think that means that EVERY sign/signal has to be there for them, I think it has a lot to do with their own desires. Do they want to be potty-trained? If so, it'll work.
I would say go ahead and try it. It won't hurt her for you to try, and you have seen that she can do it a couple times. Positive praise is a big factor--try to make it a big deal for her. I know with Elsie, she likes to be told that she's "such a big girl", so maybe going at it from that angle will help. : )
Anywho, good luck!
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