My mother's answer to any childhood rearing strategy or problem was 'summertime'. More often than not for some uncanny reason she was right.
When it comes to toilet training, she was spot on. Summertime is the best time to toilet train your child. The best summertime is the one where your child will be 2 to 2.5 years of age. Any earlier, you'll be wasting your time and diminishing your sanity, in winter, you'll be fighting a battle you just cant win. A cold toilet seat doesn't quite emit a welcoming hello to a new and permanent stage of life.
I believed that mum used to use the excuse of summertime so that she could sing her favourite song,"Summertime". Scarlett Johansson does a fabulous sultry version, her cover can be found for a pittance on ITunes.
From the very first time I could remember mum sing that song I instantly learnt the art of selective deafness. Though my mother's eyes would light up and she looked positively beautiful when she sang it, as long as I wore my invisible earmuffs, just watching her sing was delight enough, I was never going to rain on her parade. Unfortunately years later the grandchildren weren't quite so diplomatic.
Now that you know that summertime is the best time to toilet train and pack away the nappies for the next baby, there are a few other tips that come in handy.
1) boys are way easier than girls! that's because they have the fun appendage to point and squirt with.
2) start with a potty on the ground, not straight on the toilet. This is as terrifying as the Santa Claus in the shopping centre.
3) best to do it in 2 stages, No 1's (pee's) then the No 2's (poo's)
4) To 'warm' little one's to the whole idea of toilet training, start with taking them to the toilet with you for a while and show them the "grown up" way of doing things. A few weeks of showing them No 1's before the No 2's. For most parents it's an invasion of privacy, but lets face a fact, once you became a parent, privacy went permanently AWOL. Leading by example, and 'showing the ropes' so to speak are very effective learning techniques and leads to quicker success in the whole toilet training process.
5) a good indication that your child is ready for toilet training is when they start to hide when filling their nappies. A lot of toddlers will seek privacy away from others.
6) Day time toilet usage should be successful for around six weeks before the night time part.
A lot of toddlers will become naturally 'dry' anyway.
7) Clothing - make it easy! no button up shorts or overalls. Elasticised shorts with pull up nappies should be living in the wardrobe for this time.
8) Toilet training should initially be staged at home, once they are comfortable then trial the 'out & about' part. Take a couple of extra pants along.
9) never 'toilet train at gunpoint', expect it to be a hit and miss affair. The right kind attitude will make it more a hit affair than a miss. Encourage with 'high 5's' or being told how grown up they are. The first time they actually tell you they need to go to the toilet, should be given the same fanfare as the Nobel Prize for Peace. Your child will be so proud of themselves and to see how much joy it brings you, they will want to keep doing it.
10) If your child has been toilet trained for a little time and a new baby arrives. Don't be surprised that they might 'need' nappies again for a little while. Regression of this type is normal if they are the oldest child. Don't get cranky, but overcome this hurdle by encouraging them to be 'grown up' again by helping with the baby. If they feel that 'mummy needs me', their sense of self value will return as they now have a very special role in the home, the 'big brother or sister'.
Patience, praise and perspective, let's face it, you won't find any 21 year old still in nappies!
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