Maybe there will be several of these posts, or maybe not.
But I feel I must share the bizarre turn of events that occurred this morning.
I changed DHH from his night time cloth diaper (an Econobum cover, Flip organic insert, and small microfiber insert) at about 8 AM this morning. It had been on for 12 hours, and if he had it his way, he'd have kept it on longer.
Of course it was wet - but not SO much so.
Of course it was smelly - its toddler urine, which reeks of ammonia.
I have been saying, "Its time to change from your night diaper. Let's clean you off and keep your bum healthy." I am saying it in my most cheerful, non-confrontational way.
He has been saying, "NOOOOOOOO diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie-per change!" and doing a fit.
Then we do a Sit On The Naughty Bench For Your Unnecessary Tantrum And Calm The Heck Down song and dance. And then change the diaper like its NBD. (No big deal, a phrase I am trying to bring back into common language!)
So during that morning it was a normal, at home morning. Play dough cookie making, reading books about excavators and motor graders, a foam sticker craft, and miscellaneous housework. About the time I was sitting down to fold a load of clothes, he said:
"Mommy, its potty time."
I asked if he needed help, but he said no.
I watched him run to get a step stool.
I heard him put it down in the bathroom and say, "Huh." I could tell he needed to be reminded about the next thing to do.
"Take off those pants, DeeDee."
"Okay."
"Now unsnap that diaper."
"Yeah. Do it self."
A moment later, there was a flush, followed by hand-washing noises.
He raced into the room and requested his "Blue potty training Ms".
He ate his candy and went about his day as if it was NBD.
This was a parenting success because :
a) He was the one in charge of the whole process
b) I trusted him enough to do it alone and didn't interfere
c) There was no power struggle involved
I won't lie, I've been a bit stressed over this life-skill for DHH. We've been doing potty learning and communication forEVER (since 13 months) and he goes from dry diapers to dry undies to fits about wearing undies to refusing undies to diapers to wet undies.
2 Responses:
Do you now think that starting that early was a good idea? What if he just needed to wait until now? Some say it's a lightbulb moment for each kid. Some say they are not physically able to do it until his age, sometimes older.
I do need Gabriel to have a lightbulb moment about poop! :)
I've tried to encourage Nathan to potty train but so far its not a everyday want to. But he took his own diaper off the other day and went on the potty so I think its coming soon. I hope!
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