I have a confession to make. Jackson will be 2.5 at the end of this month and I have not started potty training him and I’m not going to.
I’ve been asked about potty training a lot lately. And the thing is he’s not ready for it. He fights me about diaper changes (especially the poop ones), he only recently became aware that he is peeing.
We have the potty in the house and we read the potty book, just to have the idea out there but that’s it. He has sat on the potty but he won’t go and that’s fine. He will do it in his time. I’m not rushing or pushing, I’m following his lead and I’m OK with it.
I have another confession.
Jack still sleeps in a crib and he will remain there until he’s ready. After one escape back in December, Jack has stayed put and tells me that he, “likes his crib” and “doesn’t want a big bed”.
We’ve had friends inquire as to why he still sleeps in a crib. And the answer is simply because he sleeps in a crib. He sleeps, he stays in, he feels safe, John and I feel that he is safe, that is why he sleeps in a crib.
I know a day will come sooner than later when we will have to push through these milestones. When we will have to transition to a big bed and have to move into underwear.
But that day isn’t today. And I’m not pushing it. I’m not rushing him along. I’m not willing to make these transitions harder than necessary. I’m not willing to stress about it.
I spent the first year of Jack’s life stressing about everything. About pacifiers and bottles and sleep schedules and food. And it did no one any good.
So I’m letting Jack lead the way and when he gets there, I’ll be there, ready and willing to tackle these next milestones together.
Wow, I wish I had been this confident about potty training and when to go about it as you are. It would have saved A LOT of headache. Good for you!!! 🙂
I don't know if I'ld call it confidence, I've just learned that if I get all wrapped up in pushing him along that none of us will be happy. Now if a year from now he's not trained, I'm sure I'll be pulling my hair out.
I didn't try to potty train any of my boys until they were 3. And my middle son LOVED his crib. He was almost three before we moved him- and then only b/c his younger brother needed it.
I'm so glad to hear that you didn't try till 3, so many people I know started trying at 18 months or before.
It's so much easier to make those transitions when the child is showing signs of readiness..not when society thinks they should move to a big bed, etc.
Good for you! As my son closes in on his 3rd birthday I have a lot of questions regarding potty training. But my answer is a simple, he's not ready yet. And he isn't. He's getting closer, I can see that, but he isn't there yet.
I didn't even start training Gia until after she was three. She wasn't ready and when she was, it was effortless. You are smart to know your child so well and not push him before he is ready. The crib? I wish I hadn't used Gia's first escape as a reason to get rid of it. She doesn't sleep AT ALL anymore. 🙁 You are a wise, wise mommy.
These aren't confessions, just facts. I was pressured into potty training my first when she was barely 2 and 3 mos. (we were living with my in laws for a few months while our home was finished being built)
It was a disaster and took forever. With my next I waited until around 2 and 8 mos, and it took 1 day!!! Literally, we asked her if she wanted to use the potty, she did, we were done. It was so easy. My input is you're doing the exact right and smart thing. And really who cares where they sleep. Good job momma!