Night time toilet training

Not that I'm doing the toilet training much. Little Miss 3 has been keeping herself dry at night and we haven't had to change her sheets since she decided to wear her panties to bed about 2 weeks ago.

She's probably been dry for a long time now, but we're just too lazy to get her into her panties at night. But I'm glad we went with her suggestion to go without nappies because it's saving us tons of money!

I've heard so much horror stories of parents waking up in the night to change sheets and some had to change the mattress because there was just so much wee, I have held back with the night time toilet training. Another excuse? I was horribly sick with morning sickness.

But one good advice given by all parents is : Do not rush, let your child decide at their own time.

How very true! It really saved us a lot of hard work and sleepless nights. No doubt the expenses spent in buying and throwing away nappies was huge, but we're glad we let her decide on her own. Hopefully this next bub will follow in her sister's footsteps and be just as mature and well-behaved. Sphere: Related Content

No nappies during the day!

Very pleased with Miss 2 today. We had a nappy-free day! No accidents, but constant reminder. I would ask her every 45 mins if she needed to go to the toilet.

Sometimes she would voluntarily tell me that she needed to do a wee. Once, she went to the toilet on her own.

Sigh.. my baby is finally growing up.

We bought some nappy pants for the night and for going out.. just in case the idea hasn't quite stuck on her. Maybe I underestimate my daughter's ability. Maybe I just don't want her to grow up yet?!

Nevertheless, nappy-free is good. Less things to add to the landfill. Less spending on wipes and nappies. But there could be quite a lot more washing to do. Sphere: Related Content

Toilet training gadget

Bought one of those marketed toilet training gadgets out there to try on Miss 2. It is more for boys, but I thought maybe it will encourage Miss 2 to go to the toilet.

It works as a target to be stuck to the back of the toilet seat for boys to aim and pee on. There is a suction cap at the top of the target. When the target meets warm urine, it'll turn from a black spot to a ball picture. There are a few designs, but I thought a ball motif would be more generic for boys and girls.

So, for Miss 2, I stuck it to the front of the toilet seat. It worked some times. Not always. She doesn't have enough urine to wet it enough for the motif to show up. But she enjoyed the toilet a lot more now, until friends come over and play, then it's nappy time.

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Midnight wakings for a toddler

Just when we thought that Miss 2 is sleeping through the night, done with her teething for now, she came up with something else. Not really sure what it was. My guess would be either dreams or needing to urinate.

She is definitely more aware of her bladder and bowel movements as well as what goes on in her brain at night. There were times when she woke up screaming for mummy and would say that she's frightened. Slept in her room most of last night and could hear her calling out once in awhile in fright. Then there were times when she sounded like she was very uncomfortable and wanted to get out of something.

Apparently children do dream after googling on dreams and toddlers. They start dreaming as soon as they were born. This website, www.drgreene.com has an article on dreams and night terrors. You can read more about it here.

As much as I'd like to remove all forms of fear from my child, I realise too that it is a part of growing up. Learning to overcome fear is a form of problem solving and understanding oneself.

If dreams were not the reason of her wakings last night, then my next guess would be the need to urinate. She does tell us most times that she needs to go to the toilet. Sometimes after she has done it in her nappy, sometimes before. We put her up on the toilet anyway and let her decide in her own time when she can be in panties totally.

There are differing theories and methods to toilet training, and I agree to most that parents need to make a conscious effort in helping and guiding them to the toilet. However, as far as I am concerned, that's about all that a parent can do - to teach them what and how to do it. After that, it is up to the children to want to be on the toilet all the time.

Perhaps it is a security and comfort thing for children to want to get it done in their nappies. It is also probably the last thing that they can use to retain their 'babyhood'. Once that is gone, they would be 'all grown up'. So, I must say that it is really up to the child to move on in its life. After all, we are teaching children to make decisions and not force a decision upon them.

Hopefully, we'll have a better night tonight. Sphere: Related Content

3 wees in a row!

Miss 2 went to the toilet on her own accord from 5pm - 8pm, doing 3 wees in the toilet after announcing that she needed to go. We did have some false alarms in-between. She sat down but didn't have any output. She did not want her nappies back on after the first success and only had them on for the night sleep.

Was so pleased with herself and I was too!

Wonder when she can be nappy-free.... Sphere: Related Content

Cloth nappies

My daughter will be pooing me into poverty at the rate that she's disposing of the disposable nappies.

She seemed to have a better sense of her bowel movements and that unfortunately also meant that she wanted a change of nappies everytime she did a wee or a poo. She'd still insist on sitting on the toilet before being changed though.

So, my only other alternative is to look up cloth nappies and came across Monk N Bear. They're much cheaper compared to other cloth nappies online and quality and review seemed to be on par.

I've asked for a couple of nappies and extra inserts, but because the inserts are out of stock, I'll have to wait a few more weeks before I can get hold of my cloth nappies.

I've chosen to go with Monk N Bear not only because of its cheaper price, but also because the nappies work a bit differently from others. Some brands have different sizes for different ages, but Monk N Bear is a one size fits all. The other thing I like about it is that the inserts can be removed and replaced, instead of changing the whole nappy. The inserts are clip-ons over the waterproof cloth nappy and can be removed when soiled. Less washing to be done and money saving too.

Looking forward to the nappies and will be trying them on Miss 2 once they arrive! Sphere: Related Content

Mummy, I want to do a wee

Yup, my 2y.o. said that to me this morning while having breakfast. Usually, when she say that, it's because she had done one in the nappy already and just wants to sit on the toilet. We walked to the toilet, pulled off her nappy and sat her on the toilet seat.

The next thing I knew, I heard this gush of urine into the toilet! Wow! I was impressed! she could actually hold her bladder till she was seated!

That's the start of something positive and I look forward to more demands of "Mummy, I want to do a wee." And hopefully we'll have a toilet-trained young lady by the end of the year. Sphere: Related Content

Day care mishaps today

Today certainly didn't start out well for my day care.

We went out the front yard to pick some flowers and just as we were about to get back into the house, Miss 2 was bitten by a green ant. They are ferocious, these ones. The last time she got bitten, she has nose bleeding the whole night and a swollen finger that required antibiotics. Today she was bitten thrice in a span of a few seconds. All on the same big toe. She cried. Poor girl. Half an hour of crying. Applied ice, white vinegar, banana skin and panadol but they didn't work. Finally had aloe vera rubbed on her and that soothed her down greatly. Maybe it was from all of the above, but it didn't matter. So long as she's playing and not crying, I'm glad.

So, while all the crying was happening, the other 2 day care children were having their morning tea. After settling Miss 2, I cleaned up the morning tea crumbs and one of the day care girls told me that she had done a wee. On my couch cushion and the carpet.

Off I went then to clean her up and to my horror, Miss 2 decided that it was water play time, so she stomped on the wee on the carpet. Had to get her feet washed as well. Removed the cushion into the bath tub and covered the wetted carpet with salt to absorb the urine. I found that effective for me. Blocked off the area, but Miss 2 decided that she would like to have a taste of urine and salt and licked some off the carpet.

That sent her to the bathroom for some mouth rinsing and a good talking to.

That was all within an hour. I was exhausted by the end of it and my day was not even half gone. It is afternoon sleep now and I am off to my bed too. Sphere: Related Content

Miss 2 woke up with a dry nappy!

Woo-hoo! She had a dry nappy this morning, from 8pm last night when she went to bed. Sat her on the toilet seat and she actually urinated within 5 minutes! So proud of her! Wonder if I can start my toilet training this weekend?

Tried to get her to the toilet last December, when it was nice and warm and we didn't have to wear lots of clothes, but I ended up cleaning the floor, the rubbish bin, carpet, chairs, etc.. Stayed home with her for a week in the hope that she could be out of nappies, but it didn't work. By the end of the week, I was cranky and impatient and disappointed in her and myself. So, we decided to leave it till later. Could this be the later?

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Alright afternoon edit : Don't know how ready she is.. She would do a poo or a wee, get to the toilet and take off her nappy.. sigh.. if only she had a toilet-ready sensor. Sphere: Related Content