At 18 months Charlie began noticing when he had done a poo, he hated it. By 20 months he would back up to me and stand there until I checked his bum; you guessed it poo.

Now at two years old he will tell me before he needs do to wee's and poo's.

When Charlie was 18 months and showing those first signs of toilet training I went out and purchased a stool and a seat for the toilet. For us, toilet equals distraction! Wanting to flush and use toilet paper is all we were accomplishing.

20 months I went out and got a potty, after two hours of him wanting to push it all around the house and play in it, I decided to pack it away. I was getting frustrated and I didn't want a negative atmosphere with something so important.

Now at 24 months we are attempting the potty again, it stays in the bathroom and the only difficulty we have is that I also have a newborn to attend to. Helping Charlie with the potty isn't always so easy. 

I don't think we will try again tomorrow, I think we will just work with Charlie. When he wants to use the potty I'll sit him on it, instead of forcing him to use it.

I will still struggle to find time to do the dishes, vacuum or even shower. Nap whilst the baby naps you say? Which one; the toddler who is cutting his molars and throwing tantrums or the newborn who won't sleep without being held. There is no way they will nap in sync surely; even if they did I wouldn't dare nap! I would shower alone and wash my hair; I would vacuum those floors and possibly even mop and if I had time who knows I might even wash the dishes which have sat there since before babe was born. So please don't expect me to have this shit down pat. It may be my second baby, but it's still new in a lot of ways. 

If your planning on popping in, just send a text let me know your coming. I fall to pieces under pressure and stress so if I have ten people turn up at once there is going to be one crazy emotional bitch,  and two children which will be feeling my stress. 

When your visiting please help yourself, make coffee or tea I'll probably need one too! Ask me how I am coping. I know the baby is what you have come to see, but reassurance that people are there for me too will take a weight off my shoulders.

I know some family or friends will snicker and gossip about this post, but it's honest. This blog is a coping mechanism, a place to voice my opinions share experiences and learn. It's not a list of rules and no you don't have to “schedule a visit”. Just show respect and note that we don't just have this in the bag. 

I took the cot sides off and turned his beloved little haven into a toddler bed. 

After a long confused discussion between Shane and I we came to a decision! No side rail. Charlie is super rough, he would bounce around in his cot because he knew it was safe and secure. The side rail I purchased didn't convince me that it would support his aggressive behaviour. 

Not once did Charlie climb down out of bed, during putting him to sleep or the period of the night. In the mornings he gets out on his own and runs over to his baby gate and yells out until someone let's him out haha (: 

WOW.. Back up a second. Are you reccomend ing this? Or are you forcing it upon me? 

The above quote was what was said to me recently at Charlie's 12 month health check. But, a few things have me a little confused. 

Why am I being told to take him off formula, when there are toddler formulas out there? 

Once upon a time you were super encouraging breastfeeding and now telling me to take him off the substitute of breast milk? Would you tell me to stop breastfeeding if I was still nursing him? 

I've decided to do what I believe is right for my little man and my family. In a perfect world I would love to still be breastfeeding Charlie but I haven't been since around 7 months.
You can read about my breastfeeding journey by clicking on this link... It will take you to all posts including topics of breastfeeding! Your Mummy Blogger - Breastfeeding Blogs
So now I am facing the transition to cows milk. Charlie currently has two bottles a day. One when he first wakes up of a morning around 6.30/7am and another after his bath, before bedtime at night at 7.30/8pm. I have decided to take on hand what my health nurse suggested but also tweak it to fit with my own beliefs. Charlie now has one bottle of full cream cows milk in the morning and 12 month + toddler formula as his night time bottle. Once he adjusts to this dietary change which now includes more dairy I might consider changing his night bottle over to cows milk too. But for the time being I like the idea of him having those extra vitamins ect which are in the formula.

But what to do about the "no bottles after 15 months" comment she made. I personally believe its all preference. I do understand the reasoning why my health nurse made the suggestion. Changing up a 15 month olds routine to incorporate a sippy cup of milk instead of a bottle of milk would be a lot easier. Rather than attempting to cold turkey take bottles and milk out of your 2 or 3 year olds routine. By that time it would be a comfort and a habbit, which would be stressful to break all at once at that age.
For Charlie his night time bottle is a relaxation and calming part of our nightly routine, which I don't want to disrupt at this stage. When I think that his at ready to attempt the sippy cup instead of bottle transition I will introduce this only with his morning bottle to begin with.

My little boy is no longer a baby. Its hard to believe so much time has past! soon he will be transitioning into a toddler bed and revamping his room from the classic nursery to little boys room. But at this point I think ill focus on one thing at a time.

 

Untill we threw the wraps and swaddles away! He absolutely hated being "trapped", instead we tucked his blankies over him firmly. He could wriggle free if he wanted to though. 

This was a success!

So for me, transitioning from swaddle to no swaddle once your baby is rolling or at an age where you no longer feel the need to swaddle was not an issue at all. 

To give you all a little bit of information and first hand example of how she transitioned her little boy. I have a lovely friend of mine, Melissa from @one_of_a_kind_shop_55 on IG (: