|
Feb. 27, 2009
Infant Potty Training: My First Experience
For any of you who are interested or who have thought about infant potty training, I wanted to journal about my first experience with it--which I am currently undertaking with my 12-month-old (started at nine months). In the past, I have been mildly interested. I have thought about it. But I never tried it (this is my fourth baby). But after some prayer and feeling God's direction to try, I have now officially made first foray into this territory.
My last child, I started potty training at 19 months. It took just a few weeks. I was encouraged by that experience.
When this baby was 9 months old, I began by sitting him on the potty when he woke up in the morning, after naps and after eating. About five to ten minutes at a time, sometimes a little longer. We read books--lots of books. Every time he actually went potty, we said, "Potty! Potty!" and cheered and clapped. After a few days, he began to get the hang of peeing in the potty upon waking up in the morning or waking up from a nap. We said the same word every time. After he got used to sitting there, we began taking him in to sit for a few minutes about every hour or so, reading books, waiting to see if he would go, and saying "Potty!" and cheering and clapping when he did go.
I was concerned that I was teaching him to go potty every time we read a book! Sometimes it seemed he would subconsciously start going when we opened a book and started reading. But, I decided I didn't have any better methods, and since I rarely get the time to just sit and read books with the baby, we kept with this system.
It has been three months, and based on all the articles and testimonies I have read by other mothers who have done this, I am surprised at the outcome.
Is my infant potty trained? I would say yes. He knows exactly what to do on a potty. He knows how to control the muscles and make himself go when we set him on there. He knows how to let me know how to take him. You can see it register in his face and eyes that he knows what he's doing. I set him on there, I say, "Go potty!," he gets a concentrated look, goes, and then claps and cheers.
But does he stay dry all day every day? No.
I don't know if it is because of the size of his bladder, or if he can't always recognize the urge, or if he just doesn't care yet, but some days he will stay dry all day, taking him about every hour or so. He will even come and get me and do his "potty whine" if he needs to go. But some days, we take him every 20 minutes it seems, trying to get "on track," yet every diaper is wet when we go.
From the beginning, and this is still true, I have been using slightly more diapers potty training than I used when I wasn't. That is because when we take him potty, we take him about every 45-60 minutes. If he is wet, we change him. That's a lot more changes than he would get normally. Once he stayed dry for 3 days straight. Lately, he stays dry about one out of every three days. He stays dry overnight most nights. He stays dry for naps and goes when he wakes up. He does really well when we're not home. He will stay dry in the car, and goes potty at the store or at Grandma's (I got a great folding potty seat from Babies R Us that sits on top of a regular toilet seat. It folds up and fits in the diaper bag. But now, he is doing well when we just set him over the edge of any toilet seat).
In the next week or so, I plan to try putting him in training underwear with plastic pants, to see if the uncomfortable wet feeling will help his track record.
But at the same time, I have no expectations of this one-year-old to not have accidents at this point. I can guess at his knowledge and understanding of the process because I can see evidence of his comprehension level of when I speak to him and how he reacts, but I can't guess as what he's feeling physically and his ability to control it. I'm confident that now that he knows how to go and understands the process, the control will come more and more as he grows.
At first, my mindset was to potty train him so that I would not have the expense of two infants in diapers at the same time, since the next one is due in a few months. However, I realize now that that is not what is important. I have continued to train because it is part of life--it is training. He is learning what the potty is all about and how to use it, and I'm thankful I have the time and resources to work on this training with him-not every one has that opportunity. I like taking the time to sit with him and read books a little bit, which is something we don't often get to do with our busy schedule. Potty training the baby has allowed me more one-on-one training and teaching time with the baby in other areas. While sitting on the potty, we have learned to cheer, clap, wave, sing, growl, bark, moo, peep, hiss, and any other number of things while we look at books, sing songs, and more.
So, at this point, I'm surprised at the outcome of my efforts, based on the many articles written by mothers who have shared that their infants are fully trained by a much earlier age. That was not so with me. I don't think I have a consistency issue or a diet issue (he doesn't nurse bottles of juice or sippy cups all day). It has been a huge undertaking. It has taken a big investment of time and effort on my part, as well as the help of the whole family.
Has it been worth it? That's what I'm not sure about yet, considering the time investment involved. I enjoy the training process. I like watching my baby learn and grow in all areas: walking, talking, playing, eating, going potty. However, I do think I could have accomplished the same results in much less time if I had waited until about 15-18 months of age to start. But again, I like the one-on-one time, too. I'm undecided at this point. I may try it with the next one this early, I may not. But so far, in my experience, I had a much easier time training my 19-month-old (3-6 weeks total training time to wearing underwear) than I had training the 9 month old.
We're going to keep taking the baby potty, encouraging him, working with him, and help his habits and control continue to grow. I will continue to pray for training insight and wisdom, as I always do.
God bless you and your little ones as you continue to train for His glory.
--Mrs. E |
| •
Post A Comment! •
Send to a Friend!
|
Comments
|
Posted by 
Posted by 
Mar. 7, 2009 - Untitled Comment
That is strictly an opinion - obviously not a medical one - but I say just enjoy your babies - diapers and all! One day this will all be over - all too soon.