by K Bert

Created on: March 25, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

Is Your Child Ready To Be Potty Trained?

MOTHER OF FIVE

I have five children ages between 1 and 10 so potty training has been an issue and I am surprised how much pressure there is to have your child potty trained in certain age. It seems like everyone else knew how to do it and every other children except yours were out of diapers as soon as they could walk.

You get the understanding looks while changing your two year olds diapers from the family with the stories about their children who basically run to the bathroom to do their business as soon as they stood up according to their mothers.

Some blame the diapers, yes they do absorb better than the older ones, so your child is not so uncomfortable. Maybe a huge rash or yeast infection will get a child to use a toilet quicker but I prefer my child not experiencing any of those delights if I can help it. Even if it means that I am buying diapers a bit longer.

Every mother has spent some frustrating moments with her child waiting for her or him to "deliver" in the potty. I know I spent hours and hours waiting and coaching. And finally you will give up and diaper your child again and oops there it is. Kids feel more comfortable in their diapers when they do not really understand this whole "poop in the potty" concept.

YOUR CHILD IS NOT POTTY TRAINED YET?

Family and older friends seem to either have very bad memory or exceptionally smart children. I was told that my husbands younger sister was totally potty trained before she was one. She would rip her clothes off and run to the potty according to grandma. Thankfully her children are not as quick to learn as she was.. I feel for her because it is her own mother telling her that story!

THE BOOKS, THE VIDEOS

There is plenty of literature available to read with your children. I like that. But if you assume that your child will just watch a show or read a book with you and BINGO he or she knows what to do you are much luckier than I was. We did the cheerios sinking and discussed plenty how nice it is to use underwear instead of bulky diapers but frankly I doubt it helped that much.

TRAINING PANTS

These are the expensive must haves that todays families are supposed to buy to get the kid to understand the whole thing. There is all the cartoon characters, the "cool" feel when you pee etc. My kids are plenty "cool" but do not have to pee anymore after feeling the sensation. I do like the fact that you can open the training pants with the velcro from the sides but does it make them

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