Potty Training: We're Doing it Wrong

Dear Delilah,

You've been showing signs of readiness for potty training (or learning, if you prefer) for so long that I can't even remember exactly when it was that we introduced the potty. Close to a year ago? Anyway, we've never pushed it, just had it available to use here and there. In the past few months, you do "Number 2" almost exclusively on the potty, but pee has been a bit more elusive. I understand that this is exactly the opposite of how it goes for most kids. Another tally in the "Delilah does it backwards column." Hey, at least "Walking before crawling" is now in good company!

While you've had no problem using your little potty chairs, you react to the actual toilet as though it is actively trying to kill you. We tried one of the little seats that fits under the regular seat, but you were still not convinced that the big potty was your friend. Daddy and I decided that it was time to start trying to transition you to the big potty and started looking around for some good solutions that would help your tiny little body feel safe and secure on the great big scary toilet.

We settled on the Kiddyloo Toilet Seat Reducer and made it seem super duper special and amazing by wrapping it up and putting it under the Christmas tree. We threw in a cute Potty book to up the awesomeness factor even more.

It worked! Perhaps a little too well, as you have spent the last 48 hours walking around the house declaring "POOP" at every opportunity so that you can sit on the potty and look at your book. I'm happy to oblige, because it is a major step forward from recoiling in horror at the suggestion that you could try getting up on the big potty. You also thoroughly enjoy unfurling yards and yards of toilet paper to wipe your perfectly clean and dry bottom with. Ultimately, I intend to use cloth wipes with you, but I'm nervous about them getting tossed into the toilet before I can intervene.

Since you'd warmed up to the idea so much, I decided to experiment yesterday with some classic potty training advice. You spent most of the day with a naked tush, getting on the potty regularly. We had a few successes that were met with much celebration.

Unfortunately, you discovered another favorite thing ever. Cleaning up puddles of pee on the floor! What fun! Shortly after an unfruitful trip to the bathroom, I'd hear the unmistakable splatter of pee hitting the floor. You'd smile and proudly proclaim "PEEPEE!" before running to the kitchen to get a towel and then happily cleaning up your mess. Cute? Adorable. Funny? Hilarious. A sustainable potty practice? Not even close.

Lesson learned, you won't be one of those naked bottom potty trainers. Yet another reminder that no piece of parenting advice is one-size-fits-all!

Love,

Mama


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