Quote Originally Posted by mickyc View Post
I don't understand why kids are being given the option! Around here we have "potty time" no matter if you have to go or not. I wish parents wouldn't ask and start telling their kids!!
Because it is hardwork and they are lazy...there you go I said it lol Very rarely do I find a family who are 100% committed and follow my lead. They either want to start too early like its a race and something else to brag about and rub in other peoples faces, or they have a million and one excuses why they can't. I have two boys, 1 just turned 2 last week and the other turns 2 next week. I have made it clear to both sets of parents that we will not be starting training till May at the absolute earliest, I always like to wait a few months past their 2nd birthday for boys anyway although we start working on recognizing the signs and independently undressing and verbalizing their needs beforehand, but unless your child comes to me themselves to ask to use the bathroom, I'm not starting a boy earlier than 2 1/2. Girls...that is a different matter but a lot of parents just want to eliminate the cost of diapers without giving any thought, realistic thought too, to the readiness of their child. I had another parent of a just turned 17 mth old asking to train her daughter in the spring. Can this child verbalize her needs let alone be physically ready? Absolutely not. This kid has a few words but pretty much babbles. Why on earth would you think she is able to independently toilet then??

I have a checklist for training readiness. I don't think toilet training starts at home, I think it is completely collaborative. They are with me more hours than their parents so it actually makes sense for me to take the lead, especially as my methods need to work while caring for other children simultaneously. I do not use pull ups or diapers...they are the same thing.... and if they have not been started to early, or are ready to train, it only takes about 1 to 2 weeks and beyond that accidents are less and less frequent.