One of the joys of toddlerhood is potty training. Oh joy! Most toddlers are potty trained before they’re three. However, some toddlers are ready earlier while others don’t show signs of being ready until much later.
So what’s a parent to do? The child may not be able to enter preschool if he or she is not potty trained. That’s a huge incentive for the parents, but not necessarily the child.
One of the signs of readiness is when the child doesn’t like wearing a dirty diaper. I’m so lucky. My daughter doesn’t care and fights changing. Strike one!
Another sign is when the child goes somewhere private to poop. My daughter doesn’t seem to notice that it’s happening or mind that it has. Strike two!
A third sign is if the child understands the words associated with potty functions. I’ve been working with my daughter via sign language for over a year. I use the signs for wet and dirty diaper, but she won’t mimic the signs or use them independently. She doesn’t say the words either. Strike three!
This doesn’t look good. Are we really out? Will I be buying diapers forever? Can I be assured that she’ll reach a point of readiness independent of any actions I take? I know I’m not the only parent asking these questions.
Every child is different and develops at his or her own pace. Toddlers don’t know what the milestones are, even though those same milestones may be all parents think about. How does my child measure up with other children his or her age? If she’s not potty trained, is it a reflection of me and what we do during the day?
I’m sure I’m the only one giving any thought to whether she’s potty trained. I know that she won’t reach high school without mastering this skill. If I don’t stress about it, she won’t stress about it, and it may just happen on its own.