My Toddler wants to Potty Train and I’m Not Ready!

I realize that I’m probably at the opposite end of the spectrum on this but when it comes to potty training, I’m a fan of the later the better. Diapers are far easier for me then running through a store trying to find a bathroom while carrying a toddler who gave me 30 seconds notice that he was going to pee.

I’d rather deal with the diapers.

It wasn’t always this way though. With my oldest son, I was so excited when he so much as looked at a potty for the first time that I started telling everyone that he was going to potty train early because he was so, so smart. I put him in underwear for the first time at 18 months and when he peed on the potty for the first time I may have thrown away all the diapers to celebrate.

I had no idea then that potty training is a process and just because a toddler has the ability to pee in the potty, does not mean that he’s ready to do it all the time . . . and do all the stuff that goes along with it.

I don’t consider my kids potty trained until they can go to the bathroom completely on their own — and keep everything clean. If I have to take their pants on and off, wipe, and lift them up to wash their hands afterwards, I’m more potty trained then they are.

That’s why when my 21 month old stripped her diaper off and asked to use the potty I was less than excited.

I’ve sad her on the potty a few times from time to time just as a slow introduction so she generally gets what the potty was for. The other day she had her first successful potty experience though and she was so proud of herself that she ran upstairs and raided her brother’s underwear drawer.  She was determined to keep wearing that pair of way too big Buzz Lightwear underpants no matter how many times I tried to sneak a diaper back on her.

So we did the potty thing yesterday. I set a timer and put her on the potty every 30 minutes. It was a novelty for her and she loved it.

She had her first accident half way through the day (honestly, she lasted way longer then I thought she would) and decided that it was completely gross to pee on her legs. I can’t say I was disappointed when she finally let me put a diaper back on her.

Many moms told me, “just go with it. Follow her lead”. And honestly if she’s ready maybe I should.

But the thing is I’m pregnant with twins and I know what change does to a newly potty trained toddler. Besides the fact that physically it is exhausting for me to be constantly chasing her back and forth to the potty at the moment, I know she’ll regress when the twins are born and I really don’t want to have to potty train her twice.

What side do you stand on? Are you anxious to potty train as soon as you can or wait until your child is ready enough to simplify the process?