Back in April I wrote about Bunny peeing in the toilet for the first time after showing interest in "all things potty" for months. ("Hooray for Peep" April 2004 archives.) We were so proud. Since then she has not peed in the toilet once and seems to have become completely disinterested in, if not repulsed by, the toilet. I was lamenting about this on the Craigslist Parenting Forum and was told that I "missed the boat" on toilet training and should have been more aggressive when Bunny was more interested. The window of opportunity had closed.
Was a time when she followed not just us but every houseguest into the bathroom to watch them use the toilet. Was a time when books about pooping and farting were her favorites. Now, when I ask her if she has a poopy dipe she runs away. When I change her diaper she shamefully covers her face with her hands and fake-cries no matter how vehemently I tell her that "Mamma loves poop!" and that "Poops are so nice!"
Back in April I thought that she was too little to be pushed into toilet training. After all, she wasn't yet two. And back in April I was in my second trimester of pregnancy and feeling "too tired" and like I "didn't have enough energy" to pursue it. Heh. Tired. What the hell was I talking about—tired.
A couple weeks ago, spurred on by being told I was too late, I decided to force Bunny's hand with the toilet training. We bought sparkly Hello Kitty and Dora panties that she chose herself. I promised her all the chocolate she could eat if she went pee-pee in the toilet. We put the panties on for a couple days and she held her pee until the diaper was on. (We had to leave the house.) On the third day she actually wet herself which is what I wanted her to do. We cleaned up and put on a diaper because I ran out of steam. We haven't busted out the panties for a couple days now. She hasn't asked. I haven't offered.
I was researching toilet training over the weekend and from what I've read, I don't think she is ready. She probably won't be ready until she is closer to three. So no more bribes. The panties have been put away in a drawer. She can wear them if she wants but I am not going to force it. It just didn't feel right.
I learned once again that I should just trust my parenting instincts about such things. They haven't let me down yet.














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