Potty training is one of the less celebrated parenting milestones.
Is it worth all the worry? asks
Elle Kwan
.
T
hree years ago, I devoted one long weekend
to helping my daughter, who was two years
and three months old, to ditch her diapers. It
was Easter break, my brother was due for a
visit, and the start of the school year, in which I was told
she would need to be nappy-free, was looming.
I prepped by reading her a picture book on potty
training, and by letting her choose a potty and some
princessy pants. Then, on the designated day, I pulled
the pants on her doll down, stuck it on the potty, shot
some water underneath and threw a huge celebration
giving the doll high fives, kisses and candy for the pee
“
she’d” made.
I led her to a table of celebratory potato chips (salty
to induce thirst) and fizzy drinks (a rare exception that I
knew she’d devour) and told her she’d get her own potty
party when she went in the potty too. Then I waited.
That first time, urine gushed out across the f loor like
Niagara Falls. I ushered my aghast husband off to fetch
more knickers, and I ushered my daughter to the potty.
After that, I led her back to the treat table. The second
time, she made it to the potty and I handed her the
telephone. On the line was her favourite hero, Minnie
Mouse. (I’d enlisted a friend to play the role). Fake-
Minnie told her how fantastic it was she’d been to the
loo like a grown-up girl. My girl still talks about that
moment today.
The next day, we took her out – my brother had
arrived and there was sightseeing to do. She asked to go
to the posh hotel bathrooms numerous times. I indulged
her. She was, after all, a newly trained and dry big girl.
Potty pressure
Depending on who you listen to, potty training should be
attempted anywhere from the age of zero to three years, or
whenever the child tells you he’s ready. It can take one day
(
bootcamp-style, like above), a week (British parenting guru
Gina Ford’s method suggests taking time off work), about
six weeks (Britain’s national guidelines), or a few months.
The only thing that’s certain is some confusion.
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