Potty Training - Final Installment

4 months after we last embarked on this journey to diaper-freedom, I can finally say that my Dear Baby En, you are truly ready, and your progress is spectacular!!

Today, my Dear Baby, you actually woke up from your nap to tell me that you needed to pee. That's as good as telling Mummy, "Mummy, Baby is a big girl now. You can sleep more peacefully."

Though, you'd been accident-free for the past 2 months or so, and we no longer put the mat that made you sweaty and hot underneath when you went to bed, even at night, it was this moment, no it wasn't because we limited your fluid intact, no it wasn't because we woke u up in the middle of the night (did you notice Mummy hadn't been waking you up for more than a month??), it was because En En was aware of your own bladder activities!

My little Baby, you are great!

Oh no not again!

2.40am.

"Shee shee, shee shee...", whined Baby En. "Do you want to shee shee?" Mummy asked. Next came, "She wet the quilt...." There, we got our answer. Not again, this time with the changing mat in place.

So, in the middle of the night, Daddy went about clearing the mess as Mummy cleansed the now awake Perpetrator.

You may think, it must be safe now. Right, it was indeed, for the night.

Rise and shine, hmmm, let's do some Flash Card activities. Baby En thoroughly enjoyed herself, running around picking the right cards, tapping the numbers Mummy called out. Then, "Mummy, shee shee." Nothing strange. That's her usual request for me to bring her to the loo. Oh no! Not this time! It was an indication that we didn't manage to get to her potty on time again. 2nd time "lucky".

Sigh, guess I just have to resign myself to doing what SY suggested - Wake her up once in the middle of the night to pee (and risk the wrath of a Sleepy Grouch).

Potty Training - Tips

Just sharing some things I picked up from this 1 plus month of Potty Training experience.

Firstly, how do you know if your child is ready to go diaper-free at night? Check the diaper in the morning. If it's usually dry, you can give it a try. It'd be better if little tot indicates that she wants to go without her diaper.

How do we go about it then? Get ready a few of the following items.

1. Changing mat - There are a few types in the market. The plastic/ rubber ones make it easier to cleanup after accidents. The fabric anti-seep type provides more comfort for the child, but you'll need to wash it if she peed.

2. Training pants - I'm referring to the clothe reusable ones. Although it doesn't totally prevent leakage, at least it can hold more urine. Thus, your mattress will be better protected even if urine somehow flows out of the mat. Does MOST EXPENSIVE = BEST QUALITY? Answer is NO. COMFORT = GOOD LEAKAGE PREVENTION? Again NO. Happy choosing if you decide to get some.

Why not use disposable trainers? Then you might as well stick to disposable diapers. Don't feel that they help the child to be aware of their bowel activities once you decide to go for potty training.

What else to take note of? Try not to give your child any liquid half hour prior to bedtime. Even if you do let them wee just before bedtime, liquid does not pass through our body instantaneously. So, chances of accidents will be higher. Some parents wake their kids up in the middle of the night to wee them, I don't, unless Baby En wakes up on her own, as she can be pretty grouchy if woken from her sleep.

All the above tips are what I gathered from my personal experience. I don't profess that they are absolute answers but I do hope they are of use to those who have no idea how to start off.

Bearing in mind all children develop at their own pace, it might not be necessary to wait till yours reach the "correct" age to be ready. Baby En just celebrated her 2nd birthday 1 month ago. However, if yours seem slower than the norm, relax. This is not a race!

When "luck" went out......

2.20am. "Daddy, help!"......

The shifting and jostling beside me woke me up. As usual, I ran my hand on En's bottom to check if she's dry. WET!! Very WET!!! Immediately, we whisked her off the bed to do "damage-control". Too late, the quilt was soaked. The consolation was, it hadn't reach the mattress. Phew!

For the past 3 nights, we had the changing mat under her and there was no accident at all. Why did things always have to be that dramatic? Just when Baby En requested not to use to mat, then TEDAH..

Oh well, at least she's doing better than when we just embarked on daytime training during her nap.

Potty training - Night

Yeah! Baby En went through her first diaper-free night without accident.

Well, Mummy wasn't the one who wanted to put her to the test at such a tender age. She insisted on wearing her training pants, instead of diaper to bed last night. Who can ever refuse the BIG GIRL who goes around telling people "don't want nappy, don't want nappy".

This is the second night, hopefully it'll be a breeze as well, for she's sleeping in our bed tonight (was sleeping on the mattresses in her room last night)!

BTW, for mummies who might be interested in getting the foldable travel potty which I'd mentioned in my previous Potty training posting, you can find them at Mothercare. They are available in blue and pink, at S$26. Ya, pricing is quite steep indeed. However, it's a good investment if you're planning to travel where WCs might not be that accessible (or rather 'acceptable') ;-p. Very compact and light.

Baby En's Exploit - Potty Training Again

It's the 9th day of Baby En's new round of potty training session. I think she's going to make it this time round (after 3 or 4?? previous rounds of disaster). Phew!!

First 3 days were a mess. She simply couldn't do it in the WC with her potty seat. Right after putting on her training pant again, she'd either pee or poo in it. So it's was like washing, cleaning, mopping, cleaning, washing, mopping...... endless reminders, nagging etc etc.

On the 4th day, the day I finally see some LIGHT, she peed for the 1st time in her small little red standalone potty at dad's place. Hmmm, so that's it, she has some kind of phobia for her potty seat I guessed. So the next few days, we saw more successes, including poo poo in her little red potty (with no exclusion to the occasional accidents).

Monday came, it was time for her to go back to school (childcare) after 1 week away. All of a sudden, she requested to do her 'business' in the Big Potty (WC with her potty seat). Walah!! She did it (after I bought her 2 extra standalone potty for use in school and at home, plus a foldable travel potty :-p)!!

Well, it's the 9th day and there's still the 'accidents'. However, she's getting better. Looking forward to the day she goes diaper-free for her nap and outings.

Wish me luck!