So today, I’m offering some advice related to sleep and potty-training.
Question: How do you know when to stop putting a diaper on for nap and night if you didn’t do nap and night training when you potty trained?
Answer: Barrett was day-trained in less than 3 days. Jonah was day-trained in 6 months {proof that if you parent the same, all children are exactly the same}. So we’re pretty much pros when it comes to answering potty-training questions. We most definitely did not banish all diapers when we potty-trained either of the boys. I think I always believed that the answer to transitioning to underwear for naps and nights was simple. When they wake up dry. And then… well… then Sunday happened.
And my new answer… to How do you know when to stop putting a diaper on for nap and night if you didn’t do nap and night training when you potty trained?
Easy peasy.
When your child smears poop all over himself during nap. That’s when you change to underwear. Because if he has enough time on his hands {literally} to reach into his diaper, and spread poop on:
– his face
– his feet
– his shirt
– his legs {because, of course, he took off his pants}
– his sheets
– his pillowcase
– his comforter
– his blankie
– his guardrail cover
– his light up ladybug
– and everything else within reach
When he has enough wherewithall to spread poop from here to Tuesday, and communicate that he did as such, then he can certainly have time to get up, out of bed, and come tell you he needs to use the bathroom.
As I’ve said before, never ignore your nose. If you walk into your child’s room and it smells like a poop sauna, then something has gone awry. And when you confirm that you have in fact, reached Poop City, I have very important instructions. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Do not make your child sit for a moment to take an Instapic {note: the picture above was pre-poocident}. Disrobe the child, start the shower, let them soak. Strip off all bedding. Wipe down every nook and cranny. Run downstairs intermittently to check on the baby who has just put God knows what in his mouth and also pulled a cup of water from the table all over himself. Go check on the 3 year old shower boy. And let him know that tomorrow, he is wearing underwear for nap. Or at least a pull-up. And whoomp there it is, my friends.
So, to sum that up… Poop City = time to change your game. And the silver lining… Poop is brown and easy to spot. Unlike vaporub. Which is clear. And less easy to nail down.
It’s that simple, really. See. Parenting is easy.
And per my New Year’s Resolution, I didn’t yell one little bit. And yes. I high-fived myself when all was said and done. Good thing I have all the answers {said no mother ever}. And, that… well, that is my answer to one very crappy question.
You might also like
