Page 46 - MAY_2017

If child rearing sometimes feels like a “Sebastian and Tristyn were showing signs
David Attenborough dialogue in a BBC of readiness at fourteen months, so I started
documentary, don’t stress. You are not the toilet training. They were daytime trained
only one left searching for answers and by seventeen months; night time trained by
toilet training is one parenting topic that eighteen months. No more nappies from
can leave us most baffled. seventeen months old! I saved over $6,000 in
nappies with my twin boys by finishing toilet
There are definite signs of readiness when training early.” (Kylie, Brisbane)
your child is ready to start toilet training.
This means if your child is willing and able, Readiness = Easier. Don’t miss the boat
it will be easier to tackle this brand new simply because you didn’t know.
habit. There are three challenges though
that parents can face when dealing with 2. RELYING ON READINESS ALONE TO START
readiness. TOILET TRAINING
The second challenge is waiting for your
1. Missing the signs. child to show signs of readiness before you
2. Relying on readiness alone to start toilet can even start. The problem is your child
training. may not show you signs of readiness. There
3. Believing “independence” factors are are two personality types, which have a
necessary to start. greater chance of this happening.

1. MISSING THE SIGNS In the “Know Your Child” program, we teach
Missing the signs of readiness is often parents to identify their child’s distinct
due to simply not knowing what they personality type. This in turn provides a
are. This challenge is often coupled with greater understanding of your child’s needs
the expectation that your child needs and more confidence in raising them.
to be a certain age before you can start
toilet training. Age has nothing to do with The four Know Your Child personality types
readiness! Your child can display signs of are:
readiness at four months, fourteen months 1. Courageous Lion
or two years plus. 2. Loveable Lamb
3. Cheeky Monkey
“My six-month old daughter would go to the 4. Wise Old Owl
same spot on the mat every day at 9.30am
and do her poo. I would stand next to her
and wait for her to finish then go change her
nappy.”

Without any awareness that a regular
poo routine was a sign of readiness, this
Mum was missing a perfect opportunity to
have her infant poo trained. Imagine that!
No more poo nappies again at six months
old. Simply popping her daughter on the
potty in the same spot at the same time
it resulted in her daughter currently doing
a poo each day. Her daughter’s sign of
readiness made it so easy for her to be poo
trained but without knowing or believing it
was even possible.

46 may 2017 | mychild