Potty training

Below are notes extracted from babycentre and judging from Natalie's development, it seems she is all ready for 100% potty training.

" Your child may be ready to start potty training if she: "

• Has regular, soft, formed bowel movements - She does this regularly everyday at approximately the same timing. We would get her to sit on the potty or either that she would come running to tell the helper that she needs to poo poo.

• Can pull her pants up and down - Nat knows how to do so, but when seated down. We'll need to train her to help herself whilst standing.

• Imitates others' bathroom habits (likes to watch you go to the bathroom, wants to wear underwear, and so on) - She would talk about wearing underwear and seems to like wearing them whenever she wears a dress.
• Makes a physical demonstration when she's having a bowel movement (such as grunting, squatting, or telling you) - She would tell us when she feels like doing the big one.. but not so much the little business.

• Has words for stool and urine - Definitely, but  she mixes them up once in a while.

• Can follow simple instructions (such as "Give me the toy.")  - Oh yes she can and she would give commands such as " I want", "No", "Out", "Give me" and so on. She has the management style of  a commando when it comes to ordering the males around.  However, Papa and Gong Gong seems to not mind her protective / aggressive stance and in fact finds it amusing to provoke her. But we all know she is joking as she smiles and asks for more provocations in her own way...

• Understands the physical signals that mean she has to go and can tell you before it happens - Yes, sometimes she would go sit on the potty herself.

• Dislikes the feeling of being in a dirty nappy - She would ask to be changed after waking up from sleep. She would say " Mi Mi ( name of helper), change diaper".
• Has "dry" periods of at least three or four hours (this shows her bladder muscles are developed enough to hold her urine in and store it) - Seems so but the little businesses are the ones she hasn't verbally mentioned.

• Isn't negative about everything - Except if her Barney gets taken away. But she understands the bath concept so.. it's not so difficult to manage when we tell her Barney needs to take a bath too..

• Understands the value of putting things where they belong - She could keep her toys on her own. We've trained her since 1 year old.
• Demonstrates a desire for independence - She could play on her own and make up stories about her toys.  But preference is still to have someone playing together with her.

• Can walk and sit down - oh yes she can.. run, turn, spin, roll over... erm except jump. She has not grasped the fun of jumping up and down yet.
 
We'll take one step at a time. Catch the big and small businesses will follow.... can't imagine her going to toilet on her own! Kids grow up so super quick! In no time she would be able to speak fluently, command us, and go to school on her own... Scary!