K is no longer allowed to hit tennis balls in Nana’s house. Too many crystal vases are at risk.
Tennis Tot from Rachel T on Vimeo.
Archives for May 2009
On potty-training
May 13, 2009 · By ·
‘Toilet training is best delayed until the months following the second birthday, when the child can consistently identify the signals from a full bladder or rectum and wait for the right place to open these muscles – physiological developments essential for the child to cooperate with training. A toddler who stays dry for several hours at a time, stops playing during urination or a bowel movement, and is bothered by a wet or full diaper show signs of readiness.’
(Berk, 2008, Infants, children and adolescents.)
Recently I have been asked by someone if K is potty trained, when I answered not yet, her answer to me was, “My sons have been potty-trained since they were 9 months old!” Good for her! She must have saved alot of money on diapers.
I have started initiating K to the potty, starting with books like ‘Everyone Poops’ by Taro Gomi. A book that takes a matter-of-fact attitude towards the bowel activity and its outcome. For a toddler, it is informative and it has worked to ensure that K has regular bowel movements every 2 days. But for me, this probably qualifies as ‘toddler toilet humour’, quite literally, with its quirky illustrations.
Cognitive association without muscular development of bladder or bowel control does not help. K understands the concept but has shown that he is still not physically ready to be potty-trained. He goes about his normal activities with a heavy diaper and wants to sit on the potty if he sees dh or me using the toilet. He then ends up sitting 5-8 minutes on the potty waiting for the bladder movement to happen. From that few times he has asked to use the potty, he has only succeeded twice. This is a sure indication that he is still not able to tell if he has a full bladder.
Before I am able to start K on a ‘potty-going’ routine (morning, after meals, before nap time), his reply has been “Don’t want,” whenever I ask him if he wants to use the potty. I have also decided against using ‘underwear training method’, until I see more signs of potty readiness.
‘Children whose parents postpone intensive training until the early to middle of the third year are generally fully trained without four months. Starting before 27 months simply makes the process take longer.’
(Blum & Nemeth, 2003, Pediatrics 111)
I have decided that K can dictate his own pace for potty-training, and I will not be pressured by the 90% of 2 year olds out there who are already in their training pants.
Related posts:
Techie tot
May 10, 2009 · By ·
K’s new technology milestone…he has learnt how to use the mouse. Mummy, the wannabe techie is so proud of his newly acquired skill.
Techno tot from Rachel T on Vimeo.
Tech tot caught on camera by the ‘mamarazzi’…
