Toilet Training a Toddler: What To Actually Expect! (Part 2)

Well… here we are.

I thought my child was toilet trained — and then I found a log in her pants.

Let me take you back.

On 20th Feb, we decided to start toilet training our little one. We did three days of rigorous chanting, gentle encouragement, and what can only be described as S.A.S-style tactical training. By day four, she’d pretty much got the hang of it.

She wouldn’t ask to go — but we asked a lot.
We pleaded a lot.
And yes… we bribed a lot.

Fast forward to today. Approximately Day 11 (I cannot be bothered to count properly anymore).

She came home from Nanna and Grandad’s and greeted me with a log.

This, by the way, was after my mum had just finished telling me how amazing she’d been. “She’s used the toilet loads!” she said. “She’s been brilliant!”

So naturally, she comes home and immediately defecates in her pants, gives me the thumbs up and trots away… next she wets herself…. twice... All within the first hour of being home…

Lovely.

So what’s changed?

My current working theory is that she is being lazy for us and showing off in front of others. Like one of those terrifying children in horror movies where everyone thinks they’re an angel — and then it turns out they’re… well… a killer…

Okay, maybe that’s dramatic.

But you know what I mean.

I don’t want to say we’ve taken a step backwards, because she can use the toilet. She has used the toilet. She just seems to be in one of those moods.

You know the one.

Where you simply cannot be bothered to interrupt your life to sit on a toilet… so you just poop your pants instead.

We’ve all been there right?

Right…?

Anyway. This is your reminder that toilet training is not a straight line. It’s more of a squiggly scribble drawn by a sleep-deprived toddler holding a poop.

Tomorrow may be glorious. Tomorrow may also involve more logs.

I cannot wait to find out.

Dad out!