I want to stress at the very beginning that there’s no one right way. We are all different, every creature is different. What I know is based on my own experience and stories I heard from others, but it doesn’t make me an expert on the topic. What works for me, not necessarily will work for you. Sure, there are some general rules which, with great probability, will get you from point A to point B. But remember, it’s never 100%.
Listen!
The best advice I’ve read when I was trying to get familiar with weaning off diapers’ subject, was to listen carefully to your child. And to yourself. You two have your own unique relationship and all the process has to be part of it. Nothing can be forced, nor sped up. But let’s skip to my story. Maybe it will help you somehow.
The beginning.
I had no idea where to start, what to do and how
A potty – to buy or not to buy.
I bought one before I’ve even decided on the way I want to get rid of diapers. And I must confess I’ve never used it as intended. It was one of my son’s toys. He put bricks inside or hid them under or throw them through the hole. I was imagining pouring out potty’s content and cleaning it afterwards many times a day and I didn’t like those visions at all. I thought primitive men didn’t have this thing. In some cultures, they still don’t. It had been just someone’s invention to make money. Well, I’ve bought the simplest one from IKEA, which costs around 2 euros. But there is a whole potty business out there. Anyway, I’ve decided to omit this stage.
Toilet seat.
So I’ve bought a toilet seat,
Poo.
I don’t remember the exact date, but it wasn’t long after my son’s first birthday, that I’ve bought a toilet seat and started to put him on it in all his
Pee.
In the beginning, I couldn’t catch the moment when he was peeing. It is more difficult for a child to recognise the need and more difficult to hold. Thus we had to use another method. When it became a bit warmer I tried to teach him simply by letting him walk around without diapers. We had few small
Outdoor.
Some say it should all go together. Home and out, day and night. We took it step by step and it worked well, so I’m just saying to listen, observe and trust.
My son was walking without diapers at
He had his toilet seat at home and felt comfortable on it, but in other places, there are just normal toilets, with a
Night.
The night is long and my son seemed not to have control over his bladder. However, with daily training going well, he wanted not to pee in diapers during the midday nap. I checked one day, nappy’s
Summary.
The main rule is to have patience. Sometimes it doesn’t work and you will burst. It’s not always easy with a child. I wrote once about the hardships of motherhood. Everything has its time. Weaning off the diapers too. Maybe your child will get it sooner than mine, maybe later. Doesn’t matter. Don’t listen to those who have everything on the schedule, seating: 7 months, walking: 12 months, weaning off the diapers: 24. You and your child know best when is the right time. Unless he is 5 and you still haven’t even started the training cause you don’t want to force him. Forcing is wrong, but encouragement together with patience, at the right time with the right method can make miracles.
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