Potty Training

Long detailed blog mainly for my records…

In March, our pediatrician said James was ready for potty training.  He was telling us when he’d go #2 or when he was “all wet”, he’s a great talker, and he was loving his diaperless afternoons outside.

The Easter Bunny brought potties and potty books.  I didn’t think James was quite ready, and he doesn’t like anything if it’s forced so, we decided to take it really slowly.  Starting with sitting on the potty with clothes.  Key words: “Only if you want to.”  And he did.

Our doc said to sit him on the potty when the bath is running.  So we did for the first time Easter night… for about one second.  James said, “I no yike it.”

We read potty books and talked about the potty.  Then, we dropped the subject.  This child doesn’t like anything that he has to do.

With all the naked time outside , James quickly became aware of going #1.

He was very cautious of anything dripping down his legs…  Even while wearing a swim diaper.

He had all the signs of being ready so, we gave it a shot.  I’ve had some people ask me my ‘potty training secret.’  It’s time.  I’m a stay at home mom of just one little rascal, and we did this at a time when there really wasn’t much going on.  So at the end of April, we sat

and sat

and sat.

Each time he went, he was rewarded.  {Reward is my other secret.}  We did little presents at first.  And boy did he catch on quickly.

Nothing cost more than a couple of dollars, and we also did stuff that he needed anyways.  Like underwear, a pillow, summer water toys, movies that we already owned and books.  But after about a week, the presents were a little much.

But mission accomplished; he had no problem using the potty.  Number one and number two.  We had also switched to the big toilet, because cleaning the little potty is way worse than changing diapers.

James was using the potty five to seven times a day.  We did M&Ms now and then, but mostly he was just so proud of himself.  He still claps each time and says “Mommy’s so pwoud of me!” 

He wore underwear here and there, but it really didn’t bother him to wear diapers.

I had a kid that could easily use the potty, but only cared to do so on his terms.  Resistant to stop playing or interrupt a TV show.  I even let his diapers get fuller and fuller just to feel uncomfortable.  He didn’t care.  When I said “do you need to use the potty?”  He said “no.”

So finally I put an end to a two year old calling the shots.  We said goodbye to the diapers, and we started to wear underwear all the time.  The first hour of the day was great.  Then the accidents began.

We either ran to the potty or cleaned up accidents every 30 minutes.  We covered the couches with blankets,

and we went through eight pairs of underwear the first day.

Day two, we only used two pairs of underwear.  He continued to do great as long as I reminded him.  We weren’t doing much of a reward system.  Just a coin for his piggy bank every now and then.

We started leaving the house without diapers and using public potties.  James LOVES the adventure of using public bathrooms.  I’m relieved he’s not scared of them, glad that he complies while we’re out, and completely repulsed at it all at the same time.

Then two molars started coming in.  James had trained himself to hold his pee for a couple of hours, and I thought he should be telling me when he needed to go.  He had a fever, no appetite, and completely regressed with potty training.  I was convinced he had a Urinary Tract Infection at this very moment...

I bribed him with candy at the doctor’s office to pee in a cup.  Not a proud parenting moment, but it worked.  No UTI.  Just one stubborn little boy {who had other pains on his mind}.  The doc said don’t go back to diapers after two weeks under our belt.  If he’s smart enough to use the potty on his own terms, he can learn to do it all the time.  And to keep reminding him.  And use rewards again.

One balloon,

one sticker chart,

and one “I know you don’t want to use the potty, but you’re a big boy now...” talk, and we are officially… not potty trained.  But we are very close to it. :)  We are officially, what I like to call, Diaperless!  James is in the summer program at his preschool.  He is even diaperless and using the potty at school.  Three and a half weeks of no diapers {except during sleep time}!  James, Mommy is soooo proud of you!

If you are still reading this forever long blog, here is a short video that pretty much sums up our life right now. :)