Today I’m fun. Today I want to share how we potty train our daughter, Italian style.
Which means with the use of a bidet!
As many of you might know, every Italian home has a bidet in each bathroom. Like seriously, in Italy it’s a legal requirement to have at least one bidet per household.
I can’t imagine what would be the punishment if someone broke that rule.
Anyway, apart from the bidet, you can apply my other tips no matter where you live!
Step 1.
We never move the potty from the bathroom.
There are at least 3 good reasons for that:
1. It’s much more hygienic to have the potty in the bathroom, so that any accidents that might happen are not going to affect other rooms or floors, especially if there are carpets, rugs and similar. Brr.
2. It’s much more practical if you know that, wherever you and your kid are around the house, you go to the bathroom straightaway and don’t have to wonder “Wait, where’s the potty? Where did we leave it the last time?”
3. Most of all, your child gets used to the idea that you complete certain tasks in a designated place, which is the bathroom. Not the living room, gosh, certainly not the kitchen. No: that’s what bathrooms are there for!
Step 2.
At the slightest signal, go before hell is unleashed!
Study your child’s “poker face”: is your child starting to push, is their face getting red, are they squatting?
Don’t wait for them to tell you “Dear parent, in about 7 minutes I would like to relieve myself. Would it be possible for you to accommodate your schedule so that you can facilitate this process for me?”. That’s not going to happen.
It’s your job to try and anticipate what’s happening so that, when it happens, your kid is already on the potty!
Step 3.
Sit. Push. Relax.
Get the nappy and the clothes out of the way, sit your baby on the potty.
Everyone else, out. This is not a show, potty time is an intimate time (this way you teach your child to expect that they also have to leave you alone, when you’re on the grown-up potty!).
Make sounds to facilitate the process: psss, mmm. (Hey, this is not me being weird. I mean, yes I am weird, but elimination communication is a totally legit practice, check it out!)
Finally, have a couple of toys close by, in case your child still requires some time. It has to be toys that can relax your kid, and that are not so entertaining that they distract your kid from the reason why you are both there.
It has to be a pleasant and relaxed time, not an overstimulating moment.
Step 4.
Once the deed is done, it’s time to cleanup!
Toilet paper first. Then, the bidet.
Those who have a bidet know how good it is.
- You use much less wipes, which is better for the environment
- It’s gentler on the skin, compared to the chemicals of some wipes or the harshness of toilet paper
- It’s fresh and nice
If you don’t have a bidet, after the toilet paper you go straight to
Step 5.
Changing table. We put the nappy back on, re-dress and praise our child!
Step 6.
Leave your kid in a safe place and clean the bathroom immediately.
Empty the potty, wash it, wash the bidet if you have it, if you don’t have the bidet go online and buy one!
That’s it.
It’s not a hard task per se, it just takes a lot of patience and consistency.
The most important thing to remember is to read your child’s cues and anticipate the “point of non return”, the release of the Craken, the liftoff of the rocket, the…ok, you got the idea.
Minie, stop being weird.
Let me know in the comments if you have a bidet and if you love it too!
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