To Potty Train or Not To Potty Train! That is the Question!

That is a good question! How can you determine if your child is ready to begin the process of potty training.

According to some studies, the average age of potty training girls is between 20-29 months and boys is closer to 31 months.

However, every child is different and you have to pay attention to the signs of readiness your child exhibits.

It usually takes three months on average to toilet-train a child, and normally 98 percent of kids are toilet-trained by 36 months of age.

Summer time can be a good time to begin toilet training because children are typically wearing fewer clothing layers, which makes it easier for a toddler to undress himself.

Times to avoid starting the process are during high-stress periods such as around the time of a move or the birth of a new sibling.

Signs that your child may be ready to potty train include the following:

• Your child stays dry at least 2 hours at a time during the day or is dry after naps.
• Bowel movements become regular and predictable.
• You can tell when your child is about to urinate or have a bowel movement.
• Your child can follow simple instructions.
• Your child can walk to and from the bathroom and help undress.
• Your child seems uncomfortable with soiled diapers and wants to be changed.
• Your child asks to use the toilet or potty chair.
• Your child asks to wear “big-kid” underwear.

One particular potty training aide we are currently using is the Tinkletoonz Potty,  a musical potty that plays a tune when your child goes in the potty. The moisture-activated sensor in the bottom of the bowl plays “It’s A Small World After All”, a long-time children’s favorite.  If you are having difficulties potty training, try this. It makes it fun and challenging for your child to activate the music.

We found some great tips and advice from parents at babycenter that helped us with our daughter.

Perhaps, the most challenging part of potty training is when you and your toddler are on the go or someone else is taking care of them for the day such as a babysitter or pre-school teacher.  Just remember to plan ahead and prepare for those days and just keep being persistent and don’t let a set-back ruin days of training.

And remember, hardly any children end up going to college in their diapers, so worry and stress out! Your toddler will get it when they are ready!

Porcelain Goddess

There are a lot of things that have changed about me since becoming a mother. Some due to lack of time, some due to lack of money, some due lack of a clue, but the one change I have seen the most is my personal relationship with toilets in public restrooms.

More specifically my new level of intimacy with toilets.

I mean up close and personal.

I was the girl that would hold her pee so long that there would be a serious risk of kidney infection or the need for catheterization because I would do ANYTHING in the world not to need to pee in a public place.

After potting training twin boys I can honestly say I have spent more time with my face mere CENTIMETERS from public toilets in every venue imaginable. I am strangely familiar with the rim, the interior shape and can tell you unless you are that close to any toilet you can see angles of it you never could otherwise.

I used to open every door in site with paper towels, yet I can’t count the hours I have spent with my face basically in a toilet, STARING at my son’s penis – praying for just a DROP to come out so I could leave the bathroom with piece of mind that he actually went and I would not be pulling over in another 20 minutes to either  deal with the mess a urine soaked child in a car seat brings, or stare at YET another toilet in another public restroom 2.3 miles down the road.

And the funniest part of all….is the amount of time and intensity I would stare into that toilet…Heaven forbid I MISS the small stream of urine that would come out and then spend even more time WAITING for him to pee, because I missed it and was waiting for what would appear to never come.

It makes me uncomfortable to think about the fact that I am staring at my son’s penis so frequently, and so intently.

Seriously there may some therapy in future.

And I may need some too.

I just hope the doctor’s office has a REALLY nice bathroom.