Posted on 09/18/2014 1:26:51 PM PDT by Vigilanteman
I'm curious how usual this is. Our oldest grandson just turned three. He's been going potty by himself for just a little more than one year, but has the most unusual method.
He shuns the training potty and the little seat which keeps him from falling through the big hole. If an adult tries to help (grandparents, parents, anyone), he pushes them out the door so we have to peek in a crack to make sure he's doing it right.
He climbs up on the seat, squats with one foot on each side and dangles his junk down so he hits the bowl with better precision than most adults.
He'll allow the door to be open only after he has wiped, flushed and washed and dried his hands. He's very matter-of-fact about the whole thing.
Other than being a late talker (he says little and neither did his mother/our daughter at 3), he's a normal little guy in every way-- bundle of energy and jumps out of the top bunk as a Ninja or Superman. His grandparents are afraid he's going to hurt himself (we only raised daughters) but his parents are used to it an totally nonchalant.
For the boys, put Cheerios in the bowl and tell them they get a nickel for every U-boat they sink.
= = = = = = = = = = =
Or Jane Fonda. (if they understand U-boat, they should understand JF).
Or BO.
The list is endless, but you get the point...
Before ‘famous’ people became ‘urinal helpers’, bars used to paint or put a fly in the bowl or water.....
So true!
Like, yesterday.
I’ve scanned down through this thread and have to say, I’ve been on FR for a very long time and don’t recall ever learning so much about the bathroom habits of freepers. ;^)
Thanks for the info. Be sure and not update me
Do you mean he CROUCHES ON the toilet, basically tottering on his feet on the seat?
If so, yes, I would be a little scared. I think if he can manage to do well with that, he could just plain sit on the seat instead. Is he too short to get his rear up on the seat?
As far as behavior, I wouldn’t worry about that. I’d just be more worried for his safety. The bathroom is the most “dangerous” place in the house given all the hard surfaces one can crack oneself on. I’ve told my young son many times (especially bath time), don’t mess around too much in the BR; you could fall and really hurt yourself.
If he is insistent, I’d say he needs to learn to back up a bit to who is boss. ADULTS should be insistent about how he does things, in this case so he doesn’t hurt himself. It can be a hard habit to break, too. My son is very much a creature of habit and it is hard to change how he does anything. You don’t want that happening with something that could be risky.
He does sound very independent. This is a good thing. But leaving footprints on the toilet?
Toilet habits are a very personal thing for children. It truly seems to be one of the aspects of their personality and habits which emerge first.
Unless he is making a mess or being truly off-the-wall, I would just let him do it how he sees fit (while occasionally explaining gently to him how it should be done)
Its called the Kimchi Squat...how most people in Asia (or as Joe would say, the Orient) go no. 2.
The squat position aligns your plumbing in more of a straight line than sitting, and over the years helps prevent hemorrhoids. Some people even put stools under their feet, while thy sit on a toilet, to get closer to that squat position.
I have to squat a few times while in the Army.
Don’t you think we have tried everything? They are just stubborn!
It was the traditional way in Japan too, though I wonder how many young people shun the western toire for the old-fashioned Japanese ceramic-hole-in-the-ground.
People like to talk about what they're good at.
Do you or does he have a cat? Sounds like potty behavior learned by mimicking a cat.
I would not worry about it, just be glad he’s independent relative to toileting, already.
I can’t speak to the specifics in technique, but it seems like normal 3 y.o. boy behavior to me. He is determined and is confident he can handle it on his own.
My observation was (and is) that those of the Oriental persuasion are more flexible in that regard than us Westerners.
I’ve seen ‘em squat and hug their own kneecaps under their chins.
He's a little small for his age. Normal height but seriously underweight.
He eats plenty, but he's perpetual motion. The leaps from the top bunk bed are more worrisome than the crouching on the toilet seat.
If he falls from the porcelain throne, it is just a little owie, but if he falls from from the bunk, it could be a lot more serious.
It isn't that the parents aren't attentive, they are. It is just that they can't keep up with the kid much better than the grandparents.
I'm not in that bad of shape for my age, but chasing this kid is like chasing a jack rabbit.
Fortunately, he's a lovable little guy and generally responds to verbal commands, but only AFTER he's done what he wanted to do anyway.
LOL Just like I’ve tried all the recommendations for how to get picky (that’s an understatement) eaters to eat. Bunch of nonsense! If they don’t like it, they don’t eat, and cannot be fooled!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.