This post is not for the poop-adverse. I suppose most of us are poop-adverse, but after having a dog and kid - I guess I'm more poop-weary than adverse. It is what it is, you know?
There were actually very few accidents during Julia's potty training - which I'd say took place during the first two weeks of May - although I suppose it only officially ends when we no longer congratulate her everytime for using the potty successfully. Wayne and I were lucky in that once Julia seemed ready to try this time around - she did not require much in the way of rewards (like hot wheel cars, princess dolls, or sticker reward charts). In fact, as she loves birthdays, the happy birthday song and simulating birthdays - all we had to do was light a candle, sing her the happy birthday song and let her blow it out. For "number 2" we gave her a lollipop. She still expects one when she remembers.
As long as she needs us to help her get up and down the potty, I suppose it'll be hard not to congratulate her for going pee and poo. I mean we're right there and it seems so jaded not to be happy about it. Julia has no concerns about privacy - I think it's more nature than nurture, even though Wayne and I have had an open bathroom door policy. Some of my friends' kids, unlike Julia, would leave for another room or go behind a curtain to go poo poo. Julia has been kicked out of the bathroom twice, once by her cousin and once by her friend, who must have been thinking, "Why are you hanging around when I'm doing my business?" I'm going to admit that as much as I look forward to not having to help Julia everytime she has to go, I am sentimental at this point, at the thought of not being part of that aspect of her life someday. Twisted, I know. Reminiscent of Stockholm's Syndrome, I think.
So, while it was relatively painless with potty training this past month - it was a long journey to get to this point. It started when I briefly considered the "early toilet training" or "elimination communication" movement, in which parents supposedly learn their childrens' rhythms and how to cue babies to poo or pee. I had thought it might be a nice environmental gesture to reduce Julia's diaper waste. And at 5 months, I did hold Julia over the toilet once for a succesful bowel movement, but I just couldn't follow through with it - didn't really believe I could pick up on her rhythms and teach her how to go on cue. Supposedly though, more than 50% of kids worldwide are potty trained by age 1, so if you have the initiative, go for it and let me know how it goes.
Then, when Julia was only 21 months old, she made a connection of what poo poo and pee pee were and used the potty successfully for a couple of weeks. We gave her stickers and stamps when she was successful. Why did the potty training fail back then? For one, I don't think we were ready for the work involved. For all the complaints about diaper changing - they are actually pretty convenient. But I guess she might not have been that ready either, we'd have to wait a long time while she'd sit on the potty readying books, singing songs, for anything to happen. She also had many accidents, and didn't really seem to mind the fact.
I can't remember for sure, but I think it was one particular accident that got me to postpone potty training last year. Ready for most awful diaper training story, ready? While cleaning up a poo poo accident, Julia had another poo poo accident - semi-diarahea. Not realizing the latter, I turned around to find Ralphie eating the poo. The Horror - The Horror! Julia got her squinty-eyed puzzled look face. I just explained that yes, Ralphie is eating the poop, he should not and we're going to have to wipe his teeth. For all those who must still go down the path of potty training, here's hoping things go more smoothly.
To end, I just wanted to share a fun book and video (youtube link) , both with Japanese origins, that have been helpful in Julia's potty training. Enjoy and marvel in the honesty!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFVoLz88hiU
http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Poops-My-Body-Science/dp/0916291456
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