Toilet Training

Mike Douglas
1 hour ago
3 min read

Over the last month we’ve been toilet training Henry, and he’s been doing really well. After a perfect first 3 days, we had 2 weeks where Henry mostly got it but struggled some days, and we are now getting towards three weeks of no accidents; just the occasional post wee dripping.

**Content Warning - This ones about potty and toilet training

Wow, is there lots of information online about this. Like most things, working out what’s helpful, and what's not, can be tricky. While I’m sure there's so much helpful information and lots of factors that add in, I honestly think he’s doing well for two main reasons.

We tried the nappy pants and while they seemed good at first. I think Henry struggled with these because he didn’t feel wet soon enough. This prevented him from learning what being wet meant and why he was wet. After a recommendation from Henry’s preschool, we swapped to regular cotton pants. It did mean the accidents are messier. But Henry loved being in ‘big boy’ pants and is now much more able to go to the toilet himself; which makes a huge difference. His independence has also helped him learn to realise when he needs to go before going.
Our reaction to accidents and toileting. We have always been calm and balanced with Henry. It sounds simple, and I guess it is, but that’s doesn’t also make it easy. When you’ve asked every 15 minutes, "do you need the toilet?" and they just wee on the floor. When you’re trying to wipe a pooy bum, but they just up and run round the house. Linked to this we've always let Henry see us use the toilet, its not a hidden thing and I think that openness about toileting creates an open space and conversation about it. We've never said it's 'yucky', it's just something everyone does.

This is definitely one of those situations that I feel my response is so influenced by my experience with depression. Stay with me…

My experience of/ with depression and dark thoughts have one hundred percent affected my ability to react in a calmer more measured way to so many things. An element of, I’m lucky to be here, I’m lucky to experience this, and whatever situation this is, it’s not life altering or ending so we’ll be ok. It really has been a rare positive, in helping rationalise so many things.

My calmness hasn’t always been helpful though. On a few occasions when cleaning up Henry poo, I’ve just laughed. It’s a response I really have enjoyed, it’s just the humour of the situation. While that’s been nice at home, to chuckle along with Henry about poos, we did hear from preschool Henry was sometimes laughing and rolling around when they were changing him. And it’s not very helpful. So I’ve tried/ am trying to minimise the maybe too fun part we have with any changes. That said we are getting to the point where he just doesn't need changing now, because he's always pooing in the potty or toilet.

While I miss just laughing with him at the poo, I think this is another change that’s helped him learn to take the lead with toileting.

All in he’s doing well, and I feel extremely lucky and proud of our little poo machine.

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