Nappies to Knickers.....

We began our journey from nappies to knickers at the end of last year.

Lola started becoming more aware of when she needed to go and picked up the concept of what a potty was for very quickly.

However, what we originally thought would be an easy enough transition from nappies to knickers, turned out to be……um, a little challenging.

Chapter One

From the very beginning, we decided not to let potty training upset Lola in any way. We wanted it only to be fun and exciting. We didn’t want to get cross when she had an accident – because it’s just that, an accident. They have spent the first 2-3 years of their life weeing and pooing in a nappy, blissfully unaware this is not socially appropriate in later life. They have never had to worry about it and don’t know any different.

The Book

So, the first thing we did was buy a book.

I’ve found books to be a wonderful way to introduce change or an upcoming event to Lola. As an adult, I don’t like going into something unprepared or feeling like I’m in the dark – and I imagine, for a small child, this feeling must be 100 times worse. The potty-training book made Lola aware of what was happening, told her what she had to do, why she was doing it and that it wasn’t anything to be afraid of.

There are probably hundreds of potty training books out there, but we had “Princess Polly’s Potty” by Andrea Pinnington (Penguin Books LTD, Ladybird). The book has a button to press every time Princess Polly goes on the potty – cue CHEER sound effect. Lola was so excited to be like Princess Polly, so we began….and so did the cheering.

The Potty

Our potty-training experience has involved three “toilet types”.

We have:

“My Carry Potty” - JoJo Maman Bebe £26.99

Lots of fun designs, lightweight, leak-proof and incredibly portable due to its handy compact sized shape and nifty handle.

“BabyBjörn Smart Potty Grey” – Amazon “21.99

To be completely honest, I bought this mainly because it matched my bathroom. There are very few pottys out there that aren’t bright green with dinosaurs or baby pink with butterflies. But, this potty is stable, comfortable for little bottoms, and has a separate inner potty that makes emptying and cleaning much easier!

A normal, regular toilet

We moved to the toilet once Lola felt a little more comfortable and confident. I was warned not to use a potty as you then face the challenge of getting them off it and on to a toilet, but it worked fine for us. She did it herself naturally and wasn’t daunted by it at all. Now, she mixes it up, uses whichever she fancies – and why not!?

The Knickers

This bit was fun. We went shopping! We bought several packs of knickers in all sorts of colours, featuring a variety of Disney Princesses. She felt independent, grown up and spoiled to pick something of her own. More importantly, it got her excited each morning to pick a pair she’d bought, ready for the challenge ahead of not getting them wet.

The Sticker Chart

To begin with, Lola spent most of her time at home without any clothes on. Less to remove, less to think about…...less washing.

We then introduced a sticker chart. I looked these up online and there are some great ones available but they’re so easy and fun to make yourself! We set aside an afternoon to buy all the materials we needed (large piece of card, paints, pens, glitter, stickers) and then let the little artist create her very own sticker chart. I drew two columns, one for wees and one for poos and Lola helped me put it up on our notice board – she literally couldn’t wait to start sticking on those stars!

We decided to give Lola stickers for trying as well as going. It was important for her to feel proud of herself for giving it a go. Trying to work out the feeling for needing to go is almost as important as actually going! By the end of the second day, our sticker chart was full. She was so proud of herself – and so were we.

Chapter 2

Lola goes to nursery twice a week. The nursery was happy to support us with potty training which was great - we didn’t want her to forget what she had already learnt. However, this was where our first hurdle came.

At home, naked, with a potty nearby and Mummy and Daddy’s undivided attention, she’d mastered it. Out of this scenario, with people she was less familiar with, lots of other children and other people's toys, she didn’t find it as easy.

Every time I picked her up, I’d ask, “Any accident’s, Lola?” and, as she held up her little hands counting “1,2,5,7,9 accidents, Mummy!”, very proud of herself, it became apparent.....we weren’t getting it. I debated whether now was the time to get a bit firmer and generally just started to doubt myself and my Mummy potty training abilities.

This went on for about 4 weeks. At home, naked, we were fine – the stickers were sticking, the potty had been upgraded to the toilet, we were all cheering away! However, out and about, we were having several accidents a day. She would have a wee on the toilet and literally 3 minutes after, I’d sit down in this lovely cafe, smile to myself all proud she’d done a wee, take a sip of my now cold cappuccino, glance over and they’d be a puddle on the floor.

Because we were having accidents, I hadn’t helped the situation by putting her back in a nappy when we were in the car for long journeys, or out and about for extended periods of time, where toilets were few and far between. Looking back, this must have been so confusing for her. So, goodbye nappies in the daytime.

Chapter 3

After ditching the nappies completely, we slowly started to get it. I don’t know whether it was completely down to the no nappy rule, or that she was that little bit older. Either way, we were making progress – cheers, cheers and more cheers!

I also got a great tip from a friend - make Lola take off the wet clothes herself and then have a wash. The thought of having a wash after having “1,2,5,7,9 accidents” definitely triggered something.

The END…. sort of.

I am not under the illusion that we will never have another accident, however we have been “dry” for about four weeks now. I couldn’t be prouder of my little poppet and whilst I definitely made a few mistakes along the way, I know that we did it without getting cross and without upsetting her too much, which was the most important thing for me.

Never would I have thought I’d come to write 700 pages on potty training! And so, to summarise as briefly as I can, these are my 10 top tips:

1. Wait until they’re that bit older and/or showing signs of being ready – don’t worry if Judy next door potty trained her kid at 9 months old.

2. Buy a Book – sound effects, optional.

3. Go Potty Shopping and find what works for you – and your colour scheme.

4. Go shopping together – buy lots of underwear. LOTS.

5. Get a sticker chart – or let your little potty Picasso do the work.

6. Embrace nakedness – less clothes = less washing

7. Ditch the nappies COMPLETELY – be brave!

8. Let them help you “fix” the accident and have a routine for when they do – you won’t have to do it for long.

9. Try not to get cross when they have an accident – just have a constant supply of chocolate to get you through.

10. Lastly, don’t stress about it…….

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how long it takes. How many adults do you meet still wearing a nappy because they never quite mastered potty training…. It will happen. Every child is different, no way is the right way and if you see a fully grown adult crawling down the street with a dummy in their mouth, still drinking from a bottle and wearing a nappy…...let me know.

Thanks for reading.

Sophie and Lolly x