Okay my point here is, starting before your child is truly ready doesn't mean you'll finish sooner. Renzo is pretty advanced in terms of his communication skill. His physical and cognitive skills were relatively well developed too when we sent him to full day childcare at 19 months. But the first and only concern we had back then, was that he's not potty trained, although he should be more or less ready for it.Imagine at that time, he could already count from 1 - 10, recognize most of the alphabets, speak in simple sentences and follow most of the instructions, such as, "go sit on the potty", but nope, he would never tell anybody that he needs to pass urine or pass motion, neither at home, nor in school.
We introduced this potty to him since he was, 4 month old?
He passes motion in his potty most of the time since he was less than 1 year old. Usually he gives a physical or verbal sign when he's having a bowel movement, such as grunting or squatting. The potty is often placed right beside him as we have been consciously putting in efforts to train him ever since he started school. Unfortunately, things didn't work out till he turned 3+, when teachers in school feedback that he's the only one in his class, who's still on diaper.
Unbelievable isn't it? For a kid who's able to read short stories, do basic additions, sing complicated lyrics and speak in full sentences with proper grammar, Renzo just refuses to express his needs to go to the toilet!
Trust me, those methods that most parents tried such as introducing funny potty stories/toys, or even fancy looking potties, rewarding stickers, etc, we had tried them all! Eventually, we had to wait patiently for another good 3-4 months, till one day, he suddenly told us that he doesn't want to wear diaper to school, because teachers will be angry. Well of course teachers are not angry with him, but from that day onwards, he's fully potty trained during day time! Till now, I still have the feeling that the squat type of toilet bowl at my in laws place, might be the culprit, as he's using that at home daily but in school, it is the standard toilet bowl that he probably just didn't know how to use. And things got a lot better ever since we moved to our new house and started letting him sit on the toilet bowl with his potty seat on top. We were delighted with the result, but it never crossed my mind to give away that stash of diapers just yet, because he still needs them at night.
October 06, 2013, is probably a date other than our wedding anniversary, or Renzo's birthday, that we will never forget!! That night, Renzo insisted NOT to put on his diaper before we tucked him in bed.
Renzo said: "Mummy, I want to wear my underwear, I do not want to wear diaper. I will be very careful, I will control myself and not pass urine at night. You know, my pee pee is very funny, it will not come out at night, it will only come out in daytime!!!"
And.. he just did it!! I was a little nervous at first and checked on him a few times that night, and I was all prepared to bring him to the toilet at any time, but he didn't wake up till about 6am the next morning, he then rushed to toilet and passed urine on his own.. Since that night, he's been wearing his underwear and pajamas, with a waterproof sheet protecting his mattress, and he's formed a routine to use bathroom before he starts his day at about 640am every morning. Accidents happened for no more than 3 times in two months so hooray! I can finally pat myself on the back, now I won't need to think about diapers at all - at least, not for Renzo!
He bought himself a new Mickey Mouse book as a reward, using the money saved from diapers and boy, this is probably his biggest milestone achieved, that made us jump for joy!!
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