Potty Training made Fun

Warning: Some of the author's recollection might make you cringe

Yes, as the title suggests this entry will be about potty training. I know for some this wouldn't be blog-worthy but I've thought of writing it anyway because I also have some Pinay friends asking me for tips about the subject.

Now, I am not claiming to be an expert on this matter as I could barely remember how we toilet-trained our eldest, who is now 9 years old. Didn't we just asked him nicely to sit on the toilet one day and then in one fell swoop was nappy free ever after? Now, that sounded like an excerpt from a book of potty training fairy tale didn't it?

Well, let me tell you a real potty training story I know:

The Past

There might have been wee targets, soft toilet cushions for babies and child-size portable potties available in the Philippines then but I don't recall using any of those products. Probably because growing up, I didn't see my mum use any of those items for my siblings. So then, without any aid from a step stool or toddler potty, we had to lift J up to the toilet and hold him so he doesn't slip down into it.

I was a first time mum then and the closest to a portable potty I could remember was the arinola, as shown below:

The dependable arinola
English translation: Chamber pot, urinal
Photo source: http://gelat.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/dsc_0119.jpg

I could only recall a few techniques we've tried to ease Jian into using the toilet. Below worked for him:

• After J turned two, we started talking to him about the use of that "white porcelain thing" in the bathroom. 

• Steve and I would act out sitting on the throne; waiting patiently while making the sounds...psssssss...psssssss for wee and uhhh...uhhhhhuh for poo. 

J was ready and soon enough, he has mastered doing number one by the age of two and a half.

The second stage of potty training got more interesting for us. Now, I am not exaggerating but I could remember vividly how Jian-so repulsed by the smell of his own poo, would gag up every time he does number two. We managed to solve this issue by giving him a bar of soap to smell while he was on the throne. He did get over this stage and by the age of three, it was permanently goodbye diapers for J.

That story happened more than five years ago.

The Present

Now, for the second time we are part of another toddler's journey towards toileting independence. Our sweet little girl is nearly two and a half and has ticked all the boxes for potty training readiness.

Before she turned two, we bought her a toilet step trainer for our upstairs bathroom to get her familiar with using the toilet. We started asking her to sit on the potty and helped her with her clothing. She excitedly participated in this routine and we even tried going nappy free for one to two hours a day. There were many accidents cleaned and ignored and lots of praises for little things accomplished.

Hannah's upstairs potty set up

Say wee!

To refresh my memory about potty training, I borrowed this book from a local library;

Author: Elizabeth Pantley
It's a very helpful read full of simple and effective potty training ideas

and looked for some picture books related to this subject matter for Hannah. I found this one:

Hannah also adore cats at the moment. She tries to run after our neighbour's cat every chance she gets. We would also watch videos of funny cats online and she would giggle like crazy.

This sparked a project in my mind- to make a potty training corner for H in our downstairs bathroom. It wasn't a very original idea but I was enthusiastic because it's a "two birds in one stone" concept:

•  It would make potty training more interesting for H and would mark the transition from our  pre-potty training routine to a more active toilet training
•  It would solve my problem of having to go upstairs to get H to her upstairs toilet step trainer

I knew instantly what theme to go for- she's cute, wears pink and she's a CAT!; she's HELLO KITTY!

Shhhh!
I added the bubble to remind me to be patient and serious about this whole journey.

Hello Kitty on the toilet..how cute!
Image source: http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050414221534/uncyclopedia/images/a/a1/Hello_kitty_toilet.jpg

With a little computer magic I  personalised this Hello Kitty inspired
potty/reward chart for H

Potty training essentials within reach:
Wet wipes
Lots of books to keep H busy
Spare undies, shorts, some nappy
Antibacterial wipe/ handgel

Hannah's downstairs  Hello Kitty potty training set up

Hannah was delighted when she saw my little surprise for her. I recalled her exclaiming, "It's HELLO KITTY!!." We spent a while in our downstairs bathroom that day talking about Hello Kitty and her new potty corner. I explained to her our reward policy and later she sat down on her portable potty and grabbed a book to read:

Great! She seems comfortable :)

Rewards

Two days after introducing her to her Hello Kitty corner Hannah made a big progress. It was in the morning and I was busy in the kitchen when I saw her come out of the bathroom without undies. She told us, "I did it mummy...there's a yellow thing on my potty". Jian and I almost ran to the bathroom at the same time to check if she actually has done it. I never thought I would be that happy seeing yellow urine in a potty. We were so proud of her.

Aside from a stamp on her chart, I decided to make breakfast a little special that day and reward her for a big accomplishment

Hannah's Hello Kitty Pancake reward

I'm a cat!
Hannah's reward for doing number two on the potty :)

The following days were marked by a big progress on H's training. She still needs reminding and assistance but she can now go nappy free during daytime and only have to wear a nappy for sleep time.


Cleaning up

Hannah did make breakthrough with her toileting skills but it didn't mean the process was without any accidents.  Here are just a few examples:

• Her bladder control is still developing so sometimes the wee comes out before she could fully pull her pants down.
• One time the  bathroom door was shut, so she couldn't get in and went right outside 
• She still forgets to pull her pants down first before sitting on her potty 
• She's busy playing or watching her favourite cartoon and I forgot to remind her to go

I found it handy to keep a potty training journal for H's :

Hannah's potty training diary shows me her toileting patterns
 and progress so I could plan ahead and learn from previous mistake

I have also prepared this cleaning solution especially for H's accidents:

Love the smell of Eucalyptus on my freshly washed laundry too!

This is great for squirting over the soiled area of a carpet or hard floor. It leaves the area smelling fresh with Eucalyptus scent.


Ingredients:
1 cup of water
1 capful of Eucalyptus oil
2 drops of dishwashing detergent

Mix all the ingredients together in a squirt bottle and voila! You have a natural deodoriser and disinfectant cleanser.

Talking from experience

• Both parents have to be committed to potty training their child/children. It's not just a mum's job.
• PATIENCE and DEDICATION. Tons of them.
• Make the routine fun and engaging for both of you. Use pictures, music, movement and other creative expression to your advantage.
• Ask for advice or do some research before you start your potty training journey with your child/children.
• Remember to show your 'joy' when encouraging and praising your little one. They can tell when you are genuinely proud of them.
• Think of fun ways to reward your child's progress.
• Resist the urge to scold them after an accident. Rise above, clean up and move on.

Below are some related links to potty training that I have read and found helpful:

http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/837059/differences-between-potty-training-and-
poopy-training

http://connectability.ca/2011/03/14/steps-towards-toileting-independence/

The End. 
Wow, this is one long post! Thank you for reading it up to this point.
Now here are some toilet humour for you:

Source: http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/284/2/f/toilet_humor_by_inhaledone-d30kogo.jpg

Source: http://stevenmarkham.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/bathroom-games1.jpg

Source: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z146/grandad_03/008-13.jpg