2.5 years
Tuesday, 29th Dec 2009 we started toilet training day 1.
How little we knew the amount of ‘learning’ that the parents have to go through for the whole toilet training process!
So day one, the poor little one had been asked if she needs to go pee about every 10 mins from 3 different people! Eventually, she stopped responding and just pees as she normally would. Every time she did that, she looked a little confused, as if she’s wondering why there’s a wet puddle under her and her underwear is wet!
It took a while and I had to explain the difference between the pull-up nappies vs underwear!
Towards the end of the day, with some convincing, we had a few success towards the evening. At night time, she also insisted on wearing underwear instead of nappy. So we let her make the decision and went with it, knowing that we had to get up to sort out a wet bed later.
The other big change for her that night was, we took the side of the cot off. So she can get off to go pee when she needs to.
Around 3am, she called for us and it turned out, she couldn’t get to the potty in time, peed on the couch next to the bed.
Day 2, it went very very well, as she only had 1 accident for the entire day. She knew she has to go to the potty to pee and she was doing it all by herself. She also was happy with getting rewarded with chocolates and stickers! So, all was good. I think she’s got it! Only 2 days!!
Day 3, given Day 2’s great performance, mummy was expecting, this will be it, she would be totally toilet trained by now and all will go well today!
Because day 3 is also 31st Dec, we have a New Year Party to go to! Well, it was more 4-7pm but still… a New Year Party and her success in toilet training will affect the plan!!
Sadly, it was the day for mummy to learn to let go and let nature take its course. Emma seemed to have gone back to Day 1, with more accidents than successes. The more this happens, the more we keep asking her if she needs to go pee; the more we do that, the less willing she was to respond.
So we called to cancel our attendance for the party. Luckily, our friends didn’t mind and were willing to take the risk of her peeing on their carpet. She did very well and went to the toilet 3 times and pee/poo there instead! She quite like the positive comments from those successes.
Day 4, we decided, well, if she’s going to pee, might as well not worry about it and go out. So we went off for a picnic in the morning. I think there were a lot less accidents on day 4. By then, mummy was told that kids do regress on day 3 for some reason; also been told that, toilet training, pretty much they just have to keep peeing in their pants until they learn to read the signs from their own body and stop doing so.
Just like that, day 5, she seemd to have just got it and would tell us when she needs to pee or poo!! Very surprised!
I forgot to mention, Day 2 and 3 in the evening, she was dry overnight. She did that for 4 nights in a row! That wasn’t easy, as it means controlling the amount of liquid consumption for her, from about 4pm onwards.It was tough at times as she still enjoys her night time bottle! Also the first 2 nights were tough for mummy, as she kept waking up every 2 hours to go check if the bed is still dry… until she gave up and decided, she will hear it if it is wet! So relax and sleep!
Until the 7th night, we thought, she’s been doing so well, so we thought, let her drink a little more between 5-6 is okay. But, she woke up with a wet bed! All panicking! We comforted her and put her back to sleep.
The next night, she really wanted her bottle. We gave her the choice of wearing the underwear still, or pull-up nappy. With both, she can still get up to go pee when she needs to, just with the underwear, if she doesn’t, she will wet the bed. She took the underwear until she heard the bit about wetting the bed. She then decided on the pull-ups.
So for the next week, it was fine and she seems to do her norma thing, not drinking enough water for the day and only asking for it at the evening time! But now, it is fine! She can drink as much as she likes! It’s so much easier for everyone!!
Another week has gone by, she only used 1 pull-up nappy over the course of 8 nights! On the last night, the nappy got a little wet when she ran for the toilet but realised it was too dark, came back to get daddy before she goes back to the toilet… probably couldn’t hold some of it. Still, had a good wee on the toilet.
So, nappy costs is now a lot lower. I’d say, 1 or 2 a week (even 3) is pretty good! 
Looking back, it wasn’t all that bad. Pretty much when you realise, the accidents are part of the learning. They need to know how to recognise their own body to know when they need to go pee; how long they can hold and when they must go now or they will wet the pants.
Since day 5 (2nd Jan), I think she only had 2 accidents, both at daycare. Too busy playing and couldn’t quite make it to the toilet in time. Surprisingly, when we went out with her, she’s been fine so far.
The only downside of the toilet trained kid is, you have to locate all the toilets wherever you go very quickly!
For Emma, she also had the case of eczema spreading onto the bum, now that they are accessible for scratching!! ^^;;
Otherwise, it is a big milestone for her and she’s done really well!
I think toilet training for parents are really learn about helping them to go through this experience and learning; rather than actually “training them” in a way.
So, we are nappy free! (well mostly! 
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