Potty Mouth

May 8, 2014

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There are several subjects I swore I’d never talk about on this blog.

These include things that are too personal, too boring or, well, you know, too icky.

I don’t think anyone wants to hear about the time that happened. Or anything about the strange thing after I gave birth. Or the intimate details of our married life (like our evenings at home, on the sofa, watching property porn aka Location, Location, Location).

But there’s one of those types of topic that’s just on the tip of my lip…I’ve been biting my tongue until now but I’m just going to have to come out and say it.

Potty training.

I once went to a blogging conference where one of the speakers said ‘there are two types of mummy bloggers. Those who talk about the contents of their children’s nappies, and those who don’t.’ And four letter words starting with p and s aren’t ones I’ve ever really written about. It’s not so much that I am uncomfortable talking about bodily fluids. I spent my gap year in India; we talked of nothing else. I clearly much prefer discussing the glamorous side of motherhood instead; teething, being miserable, and tantrums…oh.

But yes, back onto that subject. I can’t really ignore the loud signs saying my daughter is ready, for much longer. The biggest sign being a note from nursery today, saying ‘Have you thought about potty training? We think she’s really ready.’

(Well yes, we had thought about it. She’s had a potty for a while, which has been sat on…usually fully clothed. And mostly it’s been sat in the cupboard).

We’ve been hesitant because of a) wanting to wait till the warmer weather as everyone says it’s wiser to wait and let her run around outside b) not wanting to rush into it, then spend months and months scrubbing the floor with bleach, pretending it’s all going so well, and c) wanting her to be really, really ready so we could take our usual relaxed parenting route (read: the path of least resistance. Or the pants, in this case).

But we really, probably do need to start thinking about it. And soonish, before we get brand new carpets and the baby arrives. But help, where do we start? What works, and fast? Tell me. I’m all ears, I swear.

6 Comments

  • mamasvib

    May 8, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    When you find out please let me know?!? Seems to be all my NCT grinds are talking about – and I think it’s way too early! My daughter is 19mths!

    I want to avoid it for as long as possible… And the accidents! I freak when she tips her drink on the floor?!

  • Foz

    May 8, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    Oh I have a post about potty training to do soon too!

    Although Bee is 19 months am starting her early and see if we can do it. Am managing to get her to do a wee on it before bed

  • Mummy’s to do list

    May 8, 2014 at 9:58 pm

    It seems to be the week for posts on potty training! We’ve been luck enough (!) to have had two wees produced on the potty this week, which Little Miss sits on just before her bath. This is after months of just having it around and occasionally trying to encourage her to actually use it. Like you, we’re going for a ‘relaxed’ approach (I do like the phrase ‘path of least resistance!). I don’t see the point in getting her all stressed about it and then not wanting to go anywhere near it. She seems to be getting it a bit more now but she’s not ready for full-on training yet. And I’m definitely not! Good luck. Nursery does seem to help as they see the older ones and like to copy – I’m sure that’s part of the reason Little Miss is suddenly showing more interest as she recently moved up to an older room there.

  • Thursday’s Girl (@ThursdaysGirl1)

    May 8, 2014 at 10:37 pm

    You are right to be reluctant! My niece wasn’t ready when her parents started to potty train her, and at three years of age they are still struggling.
    Just be relaxed, don’t make any threats or you’ll make things worse. And just ask her lots and lots: ‘is it time for the loo now?’…

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